Desc | Dragnet | Crime | Old Time Radio Downloads

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"Ladies and gentlemen…the story you're about to hear is true…"

Dragnet, a term which actually refers to the systematic and coordinated way searching for a wanted person, was also used to pertain to a police drama series that aired from September 1949 to February 1957 in NBC Radio. For 30 minutes per episode, the show featured real police stories in a simple, investigatory style.

The show was said to be inspired by a film called "He Walked by Night," which was released in 1948. In that film, Jack Webb, who portrayed Dragnet's main character Sergeant Joe Friday, was given a small role. Through the help of the Los Angeles Police Department, Webb was able to present true cases, which became the trademark of Dragnet. It narrates every facet of police work—from paperworks and patrols, to crime scene investigations, laboratory works, and interrogation of suspects and witnesses.

As the most popular and influential police series in the history of American media, Dragnet was able to provide its audience the impression of what a real police life could be like. It was well-liked by most radio listeners, as well as police officers. Due to its success, the series also had its television adaptation.

"From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action."

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Please enjoy these 332 old time radio episodes:

Air Date	Title	Synopsis
03.09.1950	the big thank you	+ "The Big Thank You". Sponsored by: Fatima. Annie Johnson, a woman on parole from a murder convict...
01.12.1954	the big switch	+ Dragnet. January 12, 1954. Program #230. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Switch". Mona Fenton is fou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.31.1956	the big strip	+ "The Big Strip". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A gang of car strippers is running rampant. A sixtee...
02.01.1953	the big strip	+ Dragnet. February 1, 1953. Program #189. "The Big Strip". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A gang of c... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.17.1956	the big string	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big String". Mrs. Wagner, the wife of a college professor, has been kid...
01.18.1953	the big string	+ Dragnet. January 18, 1953. Program #187. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big String". Mrs. Wagner, the ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
12.29.1953	the big steal	+ Dragnet. December 29, 1953. Program #228. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Steal". A wave of burglar... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.19.1951	the big speech	+ Dragnet. April 19, 1951. Program #97. "The Big Speech". Sponsored by: Fatima. A young kid has pis...
12.27.1951	the big sorrow	+ "The Big Sorrow". Sponsored by: Fatima. A dragnet is set up for two escaped convicts, determined ...
02.22.1953	the big smoke	+ Dragnet. February 22, 1953. Program #192. "The Big Smoke". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Old Mr. St... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.10.1956	the big small	+ "The Big Small". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A little old lady check forger is plaguing the city,...
01.11.1953	the big small	+ Dragnet. January 11, 1953. Program #186. "The Big Small". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A little ol... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.22.1953	the big slip	+ Dragnet. September 22, 1953. Program #214. "The Big Slip". Jesse McGowan, a used car dealer, bou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.31.1955	the big sisters	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Sisters". An old lady named Miss Dunbetter has been robbed or has s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.21.1952	the big shot	+ Dragnet. September 21, 1952. Program #170. "The Big Shot". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Mr. Kelby,...
10.11.1951	the big shoplift	+ Program #122. "The Big Shoplift". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A series of shopliftings are p...
11.30.1952	the big shirt	+ Dragnet. November 30, 1952. Program #180. "The Big Shirt". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. The co-own...
09.06.1951	the big seventeen	+ Dragnet. September 6, 1951. Program #117. "The Big Seventeen". Sponsored by: Fatima. A teen-age r...
07.12.1951	the big set up	+ Dragnet. July 12, 1951. Program #109. "The Big Set-Up". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. The cops...
08.09.1951	the big screen	+ Dragnet. August 9, 1951. Program #113. "The Big Screen". Sponsored by: Fatima. With the help of t...
04.26.1953	the big scrapbook	+ Dragnet. April 26, 1953. Program #201. "The Big Scrapbook". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. T...
04.06.1954	the big saw	+ Dragnet. April 6, 1954. Program #242. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Saw". A pair of bank robbers a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.26.1951	the big saint	+ Dragnet. April 26, 1951. Program #98. "The Big Saint". Sponsored by: Fatima. A 1949 Cadillac impl...
05.01.1952	the big safe	+ Dragnet. May 1, 1952. Program #151. "The Big Safe". Sponsored by: Fatima. After two false leads, ...
06.21.1951	the big run	+ Dragnet. June 21, 1951. Program #106. "The Big Run". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. Two old wom...

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
01.12.1954	the big switch	+ Dragnet. January 12, 1954. Program #230. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Switch". Mona Fenton is fou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.01.1953	the big strip	+ Dragnet. February 1, 1953. Program #189. "The Big Strip". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A gang of c... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.18.1953	the big string	+ Dragnet. January 18, 1953. Program #187. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big String". Mrs. Wagner, the ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
12.29.1953	the big steal	+ Dragnet. December 29, 1953. Program #228. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Steal". A wave of burglar... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.22.1953	the big smoke	+ Dragnet. February 22, 1953. Program #192. "The Big Smoke". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Old Mr. St... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
01.11.1953	the big small	+ Dragnet. January 11, 1953. Program #186. "The Big Small". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A little ol... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.22.1953	the big slip	+ Dragnet. September 22, 1953. Program #214. "The Big Slip". Jesse McGowan, a used car dealer, bou... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.31.1955	the big sisters	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Sisters". An old lady named Miss Dunbetter has been robbed or has s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.06.1954	the big saw	+ Dragnet. April 6, 1954. Program #242. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Saw". A pair of bank robbers a... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT

So enjoyed Dragnet on radio and of course watched every episode on TV. More than one HD channel here plays all of them.

Jeanette

Harry Bartell = always awesome.

John

Virginia Gregg was on everything! I love catching her in tv shows like "Dragnet."

Larisa

I wasn't expecting myself to enjoy Dragnet this much

Tyler

I love radio Dragnet!

Kristi

I like the radio version of "Dragnet" much more than the TV version.

Debra

The radio version is much edgier than the TV version.

Richard

they want you to make sure you get everything and make it much more exciting (say that fast)

Tyler

Harry Bartell, played many characters on Dragnet, both radio and TV as well as many other radio shows.

Walt

"This is the city. Los Angeles, California. I work here. I carry a badge. My name's Friday."

Rick

Excellent I love dragnet

John

My favorite show I love that and never tired to listen that again and again.

Andrew

I love that show

Michael

So enjoyed Dragnet on radio and of course watched every episode on TV. More than one HD channel here plays all of them.

Jeanette

"The story you about to hear is true, the names have been changed to protect the innocent"

Daniel

The Dragnets from the 1950's are very entertaining to me!

Mike

The Dragnet episodes "A .22 Rifle for Christmas" and "The Big Little Jesus" l recommend to here these episode in Christmas. my favorite.

John

I loved this old show, During the noon hour in our LA high school they would often play the Dragnet theme on a loud speaker. It was very popular!

Diana

Dragnet is really good. Good stories, acting and great sound effects.

Dan

Lately I have been listening to and enjoying the Dragnet radio shows. Dragnet had an almost seamless conversion to TV. I still enjoy both. At least some of the Dragnet episodes were the same script on both radio and television (with some narration added to radio to explain the action). The "Baby Jesus" story is one example that's easy to find in audio and video.

Ted

Recycling of scripts was more common among series in that era than it is now. Gunsmoke had many reused scripts both on the radio and also on TV. I prefer that to what latter came to be known on TV as the Montage Episodes .

Tom

Featuring all 309 existing programs as broadcast on NBC from 1949 to 1955 (excluding repeats). You will find this set has the best sound, as well the most complete set of programs available anywhere. Another feature in this set, is many of the programs are in high code to take advantage of the great sound. Dragnet is respected as the best crime drama on radio, later in movies and on TV. (Check out our OTV DVD Catalog for the black & white TV programs, as well the color 1967 to 1970 series).

DRAGNET