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
01.18.1955	big token	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Token". A man has robbed a liquor store and killed a man by shooting... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.28.1952	big test	+ Dragnet. August 28, 1952. Program #166. "The Big Test". Sponsored by: Fatima. Bruce Hamilton repo...
09.11.1952	big tear	+ Detective Sergeant Joe Friday is assigned to Burglary Detail. In a years time a burglar has taken ...
10.12.1954	big tar baby	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Tar Baby". Ethel Cabot has been kidnapped, and her bartender-husban... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.22.1955	big talk	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Talk". A drunken woman provides the clue to a series of robberies, b... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.23.1954	big switch	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Switch". George Pilsen has been found beaten to death in bed..a mys... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.16.1954	big sucker	+ Dragnet. February 16, 1954. Program #235. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Sucker". A con-man uses re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.08.1954	big student	+ Dragnet. June 8, 1954. Program #251. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Student". Louis Rote is capture... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.03.1952	big streetcar	+ Dragnet. April 3, 1952. Program #147. "The Big Streetcar". Sponsored by: Fatima. Wally Radford ha...
10.18.1951	big story man	+ The story you are about to hear is true only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. ...
05.04.1954	big stop	+ Dragnet. May 4, 1954. Program #246. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Stop". A traffic cop has been s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.03.1954	big stand	+ Dragnet. August 3, 1954. Program #259. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Stand". Matthew Denton has b... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.17.1955	big squealer	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Squealer". A high school boy is found knifed in an alley and very re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
09.20.1951	big sour	+ Program #119. "The Big Sour". Sponsored by: Fatima. Seventy-one-year-old Wendell McClung has been...
07.19.1951	big sophomore	+ Dragnet. July 19, 1951. Program #110. "The Big Sophomore". Sponsored by: Fatima. A young boy name...
02.21.1956	big smoke	+ "The Big Smoke". Sponsored by: Chesterfield. Old Mr. Stone, who kept his life savings in his matt...
06.08.1950	big smart guy	+ "The Big Smart Guy". Sponsored by: Fatima. Elizabeth Benham has been shot and killed by a robber....
02.22.1955	big slug	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Slug". A man in a plaid sports coat is shot while robbing a liquor s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
07.31.1952	big signet	+ Dragnet. July 31, 1952. Program #162. "The Big Signet". Sponsored by: Fatima. The restaurant and ...
05.24.1955	big siege	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Siege". A bank robber is trapped in a house. A good story about the... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
04.10.1952	big show	+ Dragnet. April 10, 1952. Program #148. "The Big Show". Sponsored by: Fatima. A seven-week-old bab...
08.24.1954	big shock	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Shock". A "tunnel burglar" is digging through a sewer line and into... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.02.1955	big sheet	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Sheet". Leroy Finch is captured after robbing a drugstore, but he e...
05.22.1952	big shakedown	+ Dragnet. May 22, 1952. Program #154. "The Big Shakedown". Sponsored by: Fatima. On the trail of R...
03.15.1955	big set	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Set. A watch salesman named Russell Liggens reports his sample case... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT

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Air Date	Title	Synopsis
01.18.1955	big token	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Token". A man has robbed a liquor store and killed a man by shooting... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
10.12.1954	big tar baby	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Tar Baby". Ethel Cabot has been kidnapped, and her bartender-husban... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.22.1955	big talk	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Talk". A drunken woman provides the clue to a series of robberies, b... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
11.23.1954	big switch	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Switch". George Pilsen has been found beaten to death in bed..a mys... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.16.1954	big sucker	+ Dragnet. February 16, 1954. Program #235. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Sucker". A con-man uses re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
06.08.1954	big student	+ Dragnet. June 8, 1954. Program #251. , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Student". Louis Rote is capture... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.04.1954	big stop	+ Dragnet. May 4, 1954. Program #246. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Stop". A traffic cop has been s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.03.1954	big stand	+ Dragnet. August 3, 1954. Program #259. , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Stand". Matthew Denton has b... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.17.1955	big squealer	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Squealer". A high school boy is found knifed in an alley and very re... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
02.22.1955	big slug	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. "The Big Slug". A man in a plaid sports coat is shot while robbing a liquor s... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
05.24.1955	big siege	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Siege". A bank robber is trapped in a house. A good story about the... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
08.24.1954	big shock	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Shock". A "tunnel burglar" is digging through a sewer line and into... INCLUDES RADIO SCRIPT
03.15.1955	big set	+ , AFRTS rebroadcast. "The Big Set. A watch salesman named Russell Liggens reports his sample case... 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