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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
12.14.1952	the big eavesdrop	+ Dragnet. December 14, 1952. Program #182. While waiting to make a narcotics buy, Sergeant Friday...
05.10.1951	the big drills	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday has been assigned to burglary detail. For the past eighteen weeks a ...
02.23.1950	the big drifter	+ Program #37. "The Big Grifter". Sponsored by: Fatima. "Gentleman Wallace," a born con-man, takes ...
03.29.1953	the big dream	+ Dragnet. March 29, 1953. Program #197. "The Big Dream". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. An old man, p...
06.12.1952	the big donation	+ Dragnet. June 12, 1952. Program #157. "The Big Donation". Sponsored by: Fatima. Sergeant Friday ...
11.09.1952	the big dive	+ Dragnet. November 9, 1952. Program #177. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Dive". A woman is found mu...
12.07.1954	the big dig	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. A woman reports that her sister named Margaret Shayne has disappeared, and t... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.03.1950	the big dare	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday was assigned to homicide detail. A woman is knifed to death in her h...
01.18.1951	the big dance	+ Dragnet. January 18, 1951. Program #84. "The Big Dance". Sponsored by: Fatima. "The Kid Bandits" ...
03.09.1954	the big cup	+ Dragnet. March 9, 1954. Program #238. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Cup". Ethel Lawrence has been... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.22.1951	the big couple	+ Dragnet. February 22, 1951. Program #89. "The Big Couple". Sponsored by: Fatima. Mr. and Mrs. Tom...
08.02.1951	the big cop	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday is assigned to burglary detail. A gang of clever thieves are at work...
04.12.1953	the big compulsion	+ Dragnet. April 12, 1953. Program #199. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Compulsion". A lunatic has be... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.20.1955	the big close	+Program #318. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Closing". A corpse in a motel room leads to a "ladies ...
06.28.1951	the big cliff	+ Dragnet. June 28, 1951. Program #107. "The Big Cliff". Sponsored by: Fatima. An old woman named G...
11.02.1950	the big church	+ Detective Sergeant Friday is assigned to Homicide Detail. The life of a young woman is in danger. ...
02.01.1951	the big children	+ Dragnet. February 1, 1951. Program #86. "The Big Children". Sponsored by: Fatima. Mrs. Kessler is...
04.26.1955	the big child	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Child". A two year old baby has been poisoned, her mother nowhere to...
04.05.1953	the big chet	+ Dragnet. April 5, 1953. Program #198. "The Big Chet". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. A stutt... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.31.1950	the big check	+ Dragnet. August 31, 1950. Program #64. "The Big Check". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. Friday a...
08.24.1950	the big chance	+ Dragnet. August 24, 1950. Program #63. "The Big Chance". Sponsored by: Fatima Cigarettes. A highw...
05.03.1951	the big casting	+ Dragnet. May 3, 1951. Program #99. "The Big Casing". Sponsored by: Fatima. Marie Robertson has be...
02.08.1951	the big cast	+ Dragnet. February 8, 1951. Program #87. "The Big Cast". Sponsored by: Fatima. Over a dozen men ha...
05.03.1953	the big carney	+ Dragnet. May 3, 1953. Program #202. "The Big Carney". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Sergean... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.30.1950	the big car	+ Dragnet. November 30, 1950. Program #77. "The Big Car". Sponsored by: Fatima, Chesterfield. A man...

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
12.07.1954	the big dig	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. A woman reports that her sister named Margaret Shayne has disappeared, and t... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.09.1954	the big cup	+ Dragnet. March 9, 1954. Program #238. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Cup". Ethel Lawrence has been... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.12.1953	the big compulsion	+ Dragnet. April 12, 1953. Program #199. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Compulsion". A lunatic has be... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.05.1953	the big chet	+ Dragnet. April 5, 1953. Program #198. "The Big Chet". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. A stutt... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.03.1953	the big carney	+ Dragnet. May 3, 1953. Program #202. "The Big Carney". Sponsored by: Chesterfield, Fatima. Sergean... 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