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
03.27.1952	the big rose	+ Dragnet. March 27, 1952. Program #146. "The Big Rose". Sponsored by: Fatima. Rose Baker has disap...
04.19.1953	the big rip	+ Dragnet. April 19, 1953. Program #200. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Rip". A gang of safe-burglar... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.26.1956	the big revolt	+ "The Big Revolt". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Henry Borg has disappeared and for an unusu...
06.21.1953	the big revolt	+ Dragnet. June 21, 1953. Program #209. "The Big Revolt". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Henry... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.12.1950	the big quack	+ Dragnet. October 12, 1950. Program #70. "The Big Quack". Sponsored by: Fatima. Marla Hutchins com...
05.18.1950	the big pug	+ "The Big Pug". Sponsored by: Fatima. Two robbers hold up the owner of a cafe in the parking lot o...
02.21.1952	the big producer	+ Dragnet. February 21, 1952. Program #141. "The Big Producer". Sponsored by: Fatima. A trail of po...
02.07.1956	the big press	+ "The Big Press". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A pair of check forgers are at work in Los Angeles. ...
02.08.1953	the big press	+ Dragnet. February 8, 1953. Program #190. "The Big Press". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A pair of c... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.15.1950	the big press	+ Dragnet. June 15, 1950. Program #53. "The Big Purse". Sponsored by: Fatima. Two young purse-snatc...
11.24.1953	the big present	+ Dragnet. November 24, 1953. Program #223. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Present". The "Milk-Bottl... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.07.1950	the big poison	+ Dragnet. September 7, 1950. Program #65. "The Big Poison". Sponsored by: Fatima. Mr. and Mrs. App...
02.28.1952	the big plant	+ Dragnet. February 28, 1952. Program #142. "The Big Plant". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A wom...
10.19.1952	the big pill	+ Dragnet. October 19, 1952. Program #174. "The Big Pill". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Two Marines ...
12.07.1950	the big picture	+ Dragnet. December 7, 1950. Program #78. "The Big Picture". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. Serge...
12.08.1953	the big pick	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday has been assigned to Bunco Fugitive Detail. An organized gang of pic... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.14.1952	the big phone call	+ Dragnet. February 14, 1952. Program #140. "The Big Phone Call". Sponsored by: Fatima. The cops kn...
11.16.1950	the big parrot	+ Dragnet. November 16, 1950. Program #75. "The Big Parrot". Sponsored by: Fatima. Arson in a roomi...
09.21.1950	the big pair	+ "The Big Pair". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A couple run a racket of selling all the furnitu...
10.20.1953	the big paint	+ Dragnet. October 20, 1953. Program #218. "The Big Paint". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. An ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
12.13.1951	the big overtime	+ Dragnet. December 13, 1951. Program #131. "The Big Overtime". Sponsored by: Fatima. A banker's tw...
12.01.1953	the big odd	+ Dragnet. December 1, 1953. Program #224. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Odd". A furniture truck has... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.26.1952	the big number	+ Dragnet. October 26, 1952. Program #175. "The Big Number". Sponsored by: Chesterfield (health cla...
04.13.1954	the big note	+ Dragnet. April 13, 1954. Program #243. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Note". A young woman reports ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.23.1954	the big mustache	+ Dragnet. March 23, 1954. Program #240. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Moustache". A man with a fals... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
04.19.1953	the big rip	+ Dragnet. April 19, 1953. Program #200. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Rip". A gang of safe-burglar... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.21.1953	the big revolt	+ Dragnet. June 21, 1953. Program #209. "The Big Revolt". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Henry... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.08.1953	the big press	+ Dragnet. February 8, 1953. Program #190. "The Big Press". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. A pair of c... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.24.1953	the big present	+ Dragnet. November 24, 1953. Program #223. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Present". The "Milk-Bottl... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
12.08.1953	the big pick	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday has been assigned to Bunco Fugitive Detail. An organized gang of pic... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.20.1953	the big paint	+ Dragnet. October 20, 1953. Program #218. "The Big Paint". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. An ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
12.01.1953	the big odd	+ Dragnet. December 1, 1953. Program #224. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Odd". A furniture truck has... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.13.1954	the big note	+ Dragnet. April 13, 1954. Program #243. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Note". A young woman reports ... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.23.1954	the big mustache	+ Dragnet. March 23, 1954. Program #240. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Moustache". A man with a fals... 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