The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Latest Episodes:

Dragnet: The Big Roll (EP5074) Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate the abduction of an unidentified man from a downtown Los Angeles street. Bloodstains at the scene and an abandoned gray sedan suggest that the victim may have been seriously injured, but there are few clues to his identity or whereabouts. The investigation leads Friday and Smith through a missing car, conflicting stories, and two suspects with criminal records. As the detectives piece together the evidence, they must determine what happened to the missing man and whether he is still alive.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 26, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Starring:

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Frank Smith

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Dragnet: The Big Jules (EP5069) Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith are assigned to narcotics detail when a drug addict is arrested carrying a supply of high-grade heroin. The man refuses to reveal where he got the narcotics until the effects of withdrawal force him to talk. His information leads Friday and Smith to a bartender, a beer garden owner, and a larger narcotics operation that may be bringing European heroin into Los Angeles.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 19, 1952.
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero

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Dragnet: The Big Donation (EP5064) Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Bill Lockwood investigate a group of confidence men posing as authorized solicitors for legitimate charities and pocketing the donations they collect. An early arrest appears promising until the suspect proves he merely copied the scheme, leaving Friday and Lockwood searching for the experienced bunco artists whose fraud is depriving charitable causes of badly needed funds.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: June 12, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:

Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday
Ken Peters as Bill Lockwood
Virginia Gregg
Vic Rodman
Jim Moser, writer
Walter Schumann, music
Technical advice from the office of Chief W.H. Parker
Captain Jack Donahoe, Sgt. Marty Wynn, and Sgt. Vance Brasher, technical advisors
Hal Gibney, announcer

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Dragnet: The Big Whiff (EP5059) Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and Frank Smith investigate the death of an unidentified woman found in a vacant lot, apparently the victim of chloroform poisoning. With no identification and little evidence beyond a chloroform-soaked handkerchief, the case takes an unusual turn when a stranger walks into police headquarters and insists that he murdered her.
Original Radio Broadcast Date:June 5, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:

Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday
Herb Ellis as Frank Smith
Vic Perrin
Gil Stratton
Jack Kruschen
Script by Jim Moser
Music by Walter Schumann
Technical advice from the office of LAPD Chief W. H. Parker
Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donahoe, Sgt. Marty Wynn, and Sgt. Vance Brasher
Hal Gibney, announcer

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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Tony, Patreon Supporter since March 2023
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Dragnet: The Big Fourth (EP5054) Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and Frank Smith investigate a disturbing series of infant abductions in which babies disappear from the same general neighborhood, only to be found unharmed within a day. With no clear motive and few useful clues, the detectives devise a decoy operation while searching for the person responsible before another child disappears.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 29, 1952.
Originating from Hollywood
Starred: Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday, Martin Milner as Detective Bill Lockwood
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Dragnet: The Big Shakedown (EP5049) Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate a bookmaker’s claim that a police officer has been demanding weekly payments in exchange for allowing him to operate. But when no one matching the man’s name or description can be found in law-enforcement records, Friday and Smith begin searching for an extortionist who may not be a policeman at all.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 22, 1952
Originating from HollywoodCast:

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Herb Ellis as Frank Smith
Also featuring Vic Rodman and June Whitley
Script by Jim Moser
Music by Walter Schumann
Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, and Sergeant Vance Brasher

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Patreon Supporter of the Day:
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Dragnet: The Big Mailman (EP5044) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Today's Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his new partner, Frank Smith, investigate the armed robbery of a U.S. mail truck carrying registered mail. The three-man gang escapes with 28 sacks, leaving police with little to work with beyond a stolen getaway car, a first name, and one robber’s distinctive voice.
.Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 24, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Herb Ellis as Frank Smith
Also featuring Vic Perrin and Inga Hollis
Script by Jim Moser
Music by Walter Schumann
Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, and Sergeant Vance Brasher

Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day:Alan, Patreon supporter since February 2024.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of ourfriends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
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Dragnet: The Big Gamble (EP5039) Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Bill Lockwood investigate a professional gambling ring that keeps its games moving from place to place. A tip finally gives police the opportunity they've been waiting for, but what begins as a vice investigation suddenly becomes a far more serious case.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 8, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:

Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Martin Milner as Officer Bill Lockwood
Also featuring Eddie Firestone and Whit Connor
Script by Jim Moser
Music by Walter Schumann
Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donahoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, and Sergeant Vance Brasher

Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Lovingly, Patreon supporter since November 2024.
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
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Give us a call 208-991-4783
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Dragnet: The Big Safe (EP5034) Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his temporary partner investigate a string of expertly planned safe burglaries that has baffled the Los Angeles Police Department for months. After eliminating one suspect after another, a seemingly minor lead from a neighborhood repair shop finally gives the detectives the break they've been waiting for.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: May 1, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Cast:
Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday
Harry Bartell
Stacey Harris
Jack Kruschen
Script by Jim Moser
Music by Walter Schumann
Technical advice from the Office of Chief of Police, W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department
Technical advisors: Captain Jack Donohoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, and Sergeant Vance Brasher
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Jeffrey, Patreon Supporter since October2023
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey…http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call 208-991-4783
Become one of our friends on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
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Dragnet: The Big Elevator (EP5029) Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

Today's Mystery:Joe Friday and Bill Lockwood investigate the body of an unidentified woman which has been found abandoned in a hospital elevator. With no obvious cause of death and only a mysterious phone call to point them in the right direction, the detectives race to determine whether they're dealing with murder—or something entirely different.
Original Radio Broadcast: April 24, 1952
Originating from Hollywood
Starring Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe Friday and Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero's successor, Bill Lockwood
Also featuring Martin Milner, Vic Perrin, and Gwen DelanoScript by Jim MoserMusic by Walter Schumann
Technical advice from the Office of Chief of Police, W. H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Department, with technical advisors Captain Jack Donohoe, Sergeant Marty Wynn, and Sergeant Vance Brasher
Support the podcast monthly at https://patreon.greatdetectives.net
Patreon Supporter of the Day: Damien, Patreon supporter since March 2024
Support the show on a one-time basis at https://support.greatdetectives.net
Mail a donation to:Adam Graham
PO Box 15913
Boise, ID 83715
Take our listener survey at https://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call: 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter/X at https://twitter.com/radiodetectives
Join us again next time for another case from the files of Dragnet.

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