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
06.10.1949	the nickel plated gun	+ This program does not use the familiar "Dragnet" theme music. A nickel plated .44 caliber Smith ...
06.17.1949	the werewolf robbery	+ "The Werewolf" has beaten up and robbed eighteen women. This big, ugly man always seems to be on...
06.24.1949	quick trigger gun men	+ A cop on a stake-out is killed by a shotgun blast from three quick-trigger gunmen in a bar. The ...
07.07.1949	helen corday murdered	+ A well liked waitress named Helen Corday has been murdered with a steel pipe. The suspect's name...
07.14.1949	red light bandit	+ A malicious robber is impersonating a police officer, usually striking when there's a red traffi...
07.21.1949	city hall bombing	+ Vernon Carney is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother isn't freed from ja...
07.28.1949	missing person juanita lasky	+ , AFRS rebroadcast. Juanita Laskey has been reported missing by her mother. The story takes place...
08.04.1949	benny trousel murdered	+ A small-time narcotics user named Benny Trounsel has been beaten to death shortly after tipping ...
08.11.1949	homicide	+ A homicidal maniac has killed and mutilated several young women on a cold and rainy night in
08.18.1949	sixteen jewel thieves	+ There have been sixteen jewel burglaries in the last sixteen days, a very active thief! The trai...
08.25.1949	police academy mario koski	+ A gang of "blitz bandits" are committing three and four burglaries a night, eighteen liquor stor...
09.01.1949	myra the redhead	+ The mysterious "Myra" has been using teams of youngsters to break into and steal valuables from ...
09.03.1949	eric kelby aka missing woman	+ man's wife has suddenly dropped from sight. On the surface it appears only as a routine missing p...
09.05.1949	missing woman	+ Agnes Kelby has disappeared from her house. Mr. Kelby is acting suspiciously. Something smells f...
09.10.1949	sullivan kidnapping	+ "The Wolf" has kidnapped a girl and has demanded $30,000 ransom. An excellent, taut, police dram...
09.17.1949	james vickers kills an officer	+ A cop-killer is shot and killed while attempting to escape. The search for the other man in the ...
09.24.1949	the brick bat slayer	+ A homicidal maniac who uses a brick-bat is on the loose. A large dragnet slowly gets him cornere...
10.01.1949	truck hijackers	+ Thomas Laval admits to being involved in a truck highjacking. While in custody, he jumps out of ...
10.06.1949	second hand killer	+ Thomas Laval admits to being involved in a truck highjacking. While in custody, he jumps out of ...
11.24.1949	albert barrys mother in law	+ Sponsored by: Fatima, Grainger Pipe Tobacco. Mr. Reynard's mother has been murdered, his wife is ...
12.01.1949	spring street gang	+ Sponsored by: Fatima, Grainger Pipe Tobacco. A gang of juveniles is hanging out on Spring Street....
12.08.1949	jade thumb rings	+ "George Kwan: The Jade Thumb Rings". Sponsored by: Fatima, Velvet Pipe Tobacco. A Chinaman has be...
12.15.1949	garbage chute murder	+ "George Kwan: The Jade Thumb Rings". Sponsored by: Fatima, Velvet Pipe Tobacco. A Chinaman has be...
12.22.1949	twenty two rifle for christmas 1949 broadcast	+ Sponsored by: Fatima. A young boy named Stanley Johnstone is missing, and so is the .22 caliber r...
12.29.1949	flowerland roof murder	+ "The Flowerland Roof Murder". Sponsored by: Fatima. A gang that usually holds up drugstores robs ...

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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