Big Press

By: Dragnet

Narrated by: full cast

This Dragnet episode originally aired on February 8, 1953.

From 1949 to 1957, Dragnet pioneered new levels of realism on radio. Every crime investigated by Sergeant Joe Friday was taken from the actual case files of the Los Angeles Police Department, with only "the names changed to protect the innocent". There were multi-layered sound effects; the actors used accurate police lingo, abbreviations, and penal codes; and the show didn't shy away from stories about heinous crimes or stories that had unhappy endings. Created and produced by Jack Webb, Dragnet was much more than "just the facts".

Fact: you can download more episodes of Dragnet, or pick them up in collected volumes.©2006 Radio Spirits Inc. (P)2006 Radio Spirits Inc.

Critic reviews

"By far the most popular police/crime program of all time. It enjoyed enormous success on radio." (Jon David Swartz and Robert C. Reinehr, Handbook of Old-Time Radio)

Chesterfield ads are great

They make me want to start smoking, since they have the science that says smoking is good for you. Funny how Jack Webb died of lung cancer. Must not have smoked enough.

Check cashing problems.

Any additional comments?

A bunch of checks are being cashed by local shops and the checks are fraudulent. A border around the check is broken. Smith and Froday are trying to find the perpetrators and the press.