List of Dragnet (radio series) episodes

Last updated

Dragnet , the radio series, premiered on NBC on June 3, 1949, and ended on February 26, 1957. A set of 314 original episodes aired between June 1949 and September 1955 with ".22 Rifle For Christmas" and "The Big Little Jesus" usually re-run during Christmas time. [1] Re-runs were broadcast from the end of September 1955 to February 1957. The vast majority of the episodes are available free on various sites around the Internet. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

1949 season

Episode # Title Case Details
(Partner/Boss/Department)
Background Information
(Date/Weather)
Original air date
1"Production #1 Robbery"
"George Slocum, Thief"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Robbery
N/AJune 3, 1949 (1949-06-03)
In the series' first episode, LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero must keep an eye on George Slocum, a known thief who has escaped prosecution before.
2"Production #2 Homicide"
"The Nickel Plated Gun"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday March 25th
Cold
June 10, 1949 (1949-06-10)
A nickel-plated .44 caliber Smith & Wesson is used to shoot two officers, but conflicting descriptions of the assailants from multiple witnesses create a unique challenge, further complicated when it turns out there are two guns involved.
3"Production #3 Robbery"
"The Werewolf"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Robbery (Early Morning Watch)
Thursday February 2nd
Raining
June 17, 1949 (1949-06-17)
Friday and Romero go searching for a criminal dubbed "The Werewolf" by the media, who has beaten up and robbed eighteen young women in LA's Central district. The nickname for the criminal caught on because he is big, hairy, and ugly. He always seems to be one step ahead of the LAPD.
4"Production 4 Homicide"
"Quick Trigger Gunmen"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday April 17th
Warm
June 24, 1949 (1949-06-24)
A cop on a stake-out is killed by a shotgun blast from three quick-trigger gunmen in a bar. Friday's boss wants the killers caught before the next sunrise; soon, Friday, Romero, and other members of the LAPD trap the killers in an apartment house.
5"The Helen Corday Murder"
"Who Killed Helen Corday?"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday March 19th
Foggy
July 7, 1949 (1949-07-07)
A well-liked 21-year-old waitress named Helen Corday is murdered with a steel pipe. With no known motive for the killing, Friday and Romero follow a perplexing trail of false leads in search of the truth. Later remade for television in Season 5 of the 1951 TV Series, episode #126, "The Big Pipe".
6"The Red Light Bandit"
"The Impostor"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Wednesday June 4th
Warm
July 14, 1949 (1949-07-14)
A robber disguised as a police officer goes on a crime spree over several months. Helpless citizens are kidnapped, robbed, and beaten senseless by the fake cop. He usually strikes when his victims pull up to a red traffic light; when one of his victims dies, the LAPD turns up the heat, especially when Friday and Romero realize the killer has been taunting them the entire time without them realizing it.
7"Attempted City Hall Bombing"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Not Assigned
Tuesday November 15th
Raining
July 21, 1949 (1949-07-21)
Friday has been off duty for two hours when he receives an emergency phone call from Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand. An entire block in the heart of the city has been threatened with complete destruction by Vernon Carney. He is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock. Friday and Romero are tasked with getting the bomb away from him before it is too late.
8"Missing Persons - Juanita Lasky"
"The Big Missing"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Missing Persons (Daywatch)
Monday December 12th
Cold
July 28, 1949 (1949-07-28)
As the Christmas season approaches, Friday and Romero receive a call from Utah from the mother of a woman named Juanita Laskey, who tells them that her daughter has stopped writing to her and is calling to report her missing. Friday and Romero must try to bring her home for a Christmas reunion.
9"Benny Trounsel - Narcotics"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Narcotics (Nightwatch)
Thursday March 23rd
Windy
August 4, 1949 (1949-08-04)
Friday and Romero search for the murderer of an informant — small-time narcotics user Benny Trounsel — who was beaten to death shortly after tipping the authorities to a new narcotics ring stealing from doctor's offices and hospitals.
10"Maniac Murderer"
"A Mad Killer at Large"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday January 12th
Raining
August 11, 1949 (1949-08-11)

Friday and Romero are on the trail of a psychotic homicidal maniac who has killed and mutilated several young women in Los Angeles.

Special Note: This marks the first series appearance of Harry Morgan, who would later play Officer Bill Gannon in both the 1966 film and the subsequent TV series. He plays the hotel manager, Ford.
11"Sixteen Days of Jewel Thefts"
"Master Jewel Thief"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Burglary (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 17th
Warm
August 18, 1949 (1949-08-18)
A sudden wave of jewel thefts is sweeping the city. In sixteen days, sixteen burglaries have been committed, one each night. The trail leads to Walter Tracy, but Friday and Romero soon realise that finding the loot is a lot harder than finding Tracy, who won't reveal the location of the stolen jewels.
12"Police Academy - Mario Koski"
"The Blitz Bandits"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Robbery (Daywatch)
Thursday October 23rd
Windy
August 25, 1949 (1949-08-25)
A gang of "blitz bandits" have started to rob liquor stores and restaurants around Los Angeles. They are fast and efficient, with three to four and even five robberies each night. While Friday and Romero search for this gang of robbers, one of Joe's Army buddies joins the police force.
13"Auto Burglaries - Myra the Redhead"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Traffic: Auto Theft (Nightwatch)
Monday March 2nd
Cold
September 1, 1949 (1949-09-01)
The mysterious "Myra" has been using teams of youngsters to break into and steal valuables from parked automobiles. In three months, they have broken into 250 cars, and property mounting well over $1,000 has been stolen. Two useful members of the gang have been apprehended, and Friday and Romero interrogate them in an attempt to reveal the name of the operation's ringleader.
14"Eric Kelby - Buried Body in Nursery"
"Missing Woman"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday September 15th
Warm
September 3, 1949 (1949-09-03)
Agnes Kelby has suddenly disappeared from her home; on the surface, it appears only as a routine missing persons case. Friday and Romero investigate and find that Eric Kelby, Agnes's husband, is acting very suspiciously by Insisting that his wife isn't missing.
15"Sullivan Kidnapping - The Wolf"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday October 18th
Cloudy
September 10, 1949 (1949-09-10)
Friday and Romero try to catch a kidnapper after a 21-year-old girl has disappeared and a letter has been received demanding $30,000 for the girl's return. The letter is signed "The Wolf." The specific case that this episode is based on is the Marion Parker case in 1927.
16"James Vickers - Cop Killing"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Daywatch)
Thursday November 16th
Foggy
September 17, 1949 (1949-09-17)
Officer John Bemis is shot and mortally wounded. One of the suspects, the shooter, James Vickers, is apprehended by Friday and Romero, but the other is still at large. When the officer dies, and the suspect in custody is shot and killed while attempting to escape, the hunt for the other shooter intensifies.
17"Brick-Bat Slayer"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 3rd
Warm
September 24, 1949 (1949-09-24)
A homicidal maniac wielding a brick-bat is loose in the city. In every instance he leaves the murder weapon behind and there are no fingerprints or clues for the police to identify him. A 1,000-man dragnet slowly gets him cornered, and it's up to Friday, Romero and the other members of the LAPD to get the killer before he strikes again.
18"Tom Laval - Truck Hi-jackers"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Burglary (Nightwatch)
Thueday March 6th
Windy
October 1, 1949 (1949-10-01)
A gang of hijackers has started to work in Los Angeles and have stolen truckloads of $80,000 in valuable merchandise. The cops have a lead on a Thomas Laval, who admits to being involved in a truck hijacking. While in Friday and Romero's custody, he jumps out of a window, and both detectives are accused of pushing him to his death.
19"Second Hand Killer"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide
N/AOctober 6, 1949 (1949-10-06)

  • Unknown, Program not available.
20"The Big Buy - Narcotics"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Narcotics
N/AOctober 13, 1949 (1949-10-13)

  • Unknown, Program not available.
21"The Big Lamp"
"Conrad Buckley - Anthracene"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Burglary
N/AOctober 20, 1949 (1949-10-20)

  • Unknown, Program not available.
  • Though the Radio episode is unavailable, there has been a TV adaptation which is still available. In the TV adaptation a veteran thief is acquitted and a year later the police monitor him when he returns to LA.
22"The Big Drink"
"Hugh Taylor - Wife Murderer"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide
N/AOctober 27, 1949 (1949-10-27)
Unknown, Program not available.
23"Casco And Breen"
"Forgery - Johnny Casco, Marty Breen"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Forgery
TBANovember 3, 1949 (1949-11-03)
Unknown, Program not available.
24"The Big Bar"
"Robbery-Murder - Juan Pedillo, Wesley Guttridge"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Robbery
N/ANovember 10, 1949 (1949-11-10)
Unknown, Program not available.
25"Bunco - Harry Girard"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Bunco
N/ANovember 17, 1949 (1949-11-17)
Unknown, Program not available.
26"Mrs. Rinard, Albert Barry – Mother-in-Law Murder"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Homicide (Daywatch)
Saturday November 5th
Foggy
November 24, 1949 (1949-11-24)
Mr. Reynard's mother has been murdered and his wife is suspected of being the killer. But the clear cut case of a woman murdering her mother-in-law to hide an affair soon falls apart, leaving Joe and Ben to search for the real killer.
27"Spring Street Gang - Juveniles"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Juvenile (Nightwatch)
Sunday March 27th
Windy
December 1, 1949 (1949-12-01)
A rash of thefts and robberies, have broken out across the city and suspicion points to an organized gang of juveniles hanging out on Spring Street, where a shady soda fountain owner is suspected of being their fence. One of the gang members has been wounded and another is shot by a night watchman while committing a robbery. Friday and Romero must try to round up and arrest the gang of youths before anyone else is killed.
28"George Quan – The Jade Thumb Rings"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday December 1st
Foggy
December 8, 1949 (1949-12-08)
Friday and Romero search for a suspect who beat a Chinese man, using a handful of buckshot's in a handkerchief and stole $8,000 in rare Chinese jade. The only witness is an observant six-year-old boy with a wild imagination.
29"The Garbage Chute Murder – Laura Barkley"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday January 9th
Stormy
December 15, 1949 (1949-12-15)
A young woman named Laura Barkley has been murdered—strangled with a lamp cord—and her body was discovered behind locked doors. The killer seems to have entered through an unused garbage chute and is still at large.
30".22 Rifle for Christmas"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday December 22nd
Cold
December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22)
A young boy, aged 9 years old, named Stanley Johnstone is reported missing from his home, and so is the .22 caliber rifle he was going to get for Christmas. Foul play is suspected.
31"The Roseland Roof Murders"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Saturday July 21st
Hot
December 29, 1949 (1949-12-29)
A gang of holdup men have been running loose in Los Angeles they are heavily armed and quick to shoot. They have committed more than a dozen robberies, usually drugstores, but one night they rob and kill the manager of a dance hall. A stake-out in a garage yields some arrests and a total of twelve guns are recovered. After a trial, two of the gang break out of jail and have to be recaptured.

1950 season

Episode # Title Case Details
(Partner/Boss/Department)
Background information
(Date/Weather)
Original air date
32"Max Tyler – Escaped Convict"
"The Big Escape"
Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Tuesday February 8th
Cold
January 5, 1950 (1950-01-05)
Two armed bandits have robbed large jewelry stores in the city. One suspect escapes but one is apprehended and identified as a friend of Friday's, Max Tyler. However, Tyler escapes from jail, and shoots and injures Romero. It's up to Friday to recapture him again.
33"The Big Man Part 1 (Narcotics)"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Narcotics (Nightwatch)
Thursday January 21st
Cold
January 12, 1950 (1950-01-12)
A vicious criminal has resumed his narcotics operations in the city. The police know his name and know he's guilty, so Friday goes undercover to try to get evidence on him by infiltrating a Flats gang of narcotics pushers.
34"The Big Man Part 2 (Narcotics)"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Narcotics (Nightwatch)
Wednesday July 9th
Warm
January 19, 1950 (1950-01-19)
For seven months, Friday's been working with federal and state agents in breaking a narcotics ring. After returning to active duty from his undercover assignment (from part 1), he helped apprehend a small fry in the narcotics trade. The police then turn their attention to the number one man in the narcotics business on the west coast, the big man, Arthur Z. Belmont. A stakeout begins in Manhattan Beach.
35"Claude Jimmerson - Child Killer"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Monday October 27th
Cloudy
February 2, 1950 (1950-02-02)

Two little girls, aged seven and eleven, are reported missing at about 3:45pm. Somewhere between their homes and the neighbourhood grocery store they dropped from sight. Foul play is suspected when their pet Collie is later found beaten to death.

  • Jack Webb gives a disclaimer about this episode not being suitable for children.
36"The Big Girl"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Wednesday October 3rd
Warm
February 9, 1950 (1950-02-09)
The cops search for a big blonde who shoots her victims in cold blood. So far sixteen persons have been robbed and beaten senseless. The victims describe the assailant as a tall, beautiful woman, but there is a possibility it could be a man wearing woman's clothing.
37"The Big Grifter"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Bunco (Daywatch)
Tuesday July 28th
Warm
February 23, 1950 (1950-02-23)
An expert confidence man, "Gentleman Wallace", has resumed operations in Los Angeles. His criminal record dates back thirty-five years. He's a born con-man, a master in the art of the gentle swindle whose taken advantage of two used-car dealers, and many others.
38"The Big Kill"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Sunday May 23rd
Warm
March 2, 1950 (1950-03-02)
A police officer is shot down on the front steps of his home. There's no apparent motive for the shooting and the assailant escaped in a blue sedan. Jack Carver, just out of Folsom, is later suspected of killing the cop for revenge for sending him to prison. Friday poses as a criminal in jail to find the missing murder weapon.
39"The Big Thank You"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Thursday March 9th
Foggy
March 9, 1950 (1950-03-09)
A confessed murderer, Annie Johnson, is paroled from the state prison for women following a murder conviction. After seven months, the parole office loses contact with her. She is then suspected of harming Laura Muller, the woman responsible for her parole and has since disappeared. Foul play is suspected. Based on the story of Louise Peete.
40"The Big Boys"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Friday December 10th
Cold
March 16, 1950 (1950-03-16)
A gang of four young hoodlums and their puppy have come to Los Angeles from San Francisco. They are already wanted for a series of robberies in San Francisco and are planning to pull a big job in Los Angeles. They're armed, reckless and cold-blooded, but a long stake-out with an alcoholic desk clerk might provide results.
41"The Big Gangster Part 1"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday July 18th
Hot
March 23, 1950 (1950-03-23)
Attempts have been made on the life of a notorious gangster, Gus Valentine. If he dies, it could mean an open gang war. Even though he is on the wrong side of the law, the cops must protect him.
42"The Big Gangster Part 2"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Saturday July 22nd
Hot
March 30, 1950 (1950-03-30)
Notorious gangster Gus Valentine has been shot to death, a gang war is threatened, and his gang members seek revenge. It is Friday and Romero's job to find his killers before the other gangsters do.
43"The Big Book"
"The Big Smut Press"
Ben Romero
Inspector Lester
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Monday October 21st
Cool
April 6, 1950 (1950-04-06)
High schools have been flooded with obscene, filthy, pornographic "comic" book literature. The Police stamp out one source and a dozen more spring up. Friday and Romero make a presentation to the local PTA and a lead brings them to a cigar stand downtown and a man called "Barney" and then eventually to the printer.
44"The Big Watch"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Wednesday February 3rd
Cold
April 13, 1950 (1950-04-13)
A gang of vicious "Hitch-Hike Bandits" are committing assaults, robberies and attempted murders. Their victims are army officers stationed in the city. After one of the victims is killed by the gunmen, a manhunt is on.
45"The Big Trial"Ben Romero
Captain Sullivan
Traffic: Accident Investigation-
Hit and Run Felony Detail (Nightwatch)
Monday September 4th
Hot
April 20, 1950 (1950-04-20)
In the early hours of the morning Sheila Gordon is struck down by a hit-and-run driver. After three months of grueling police work, she takes a payoff not to show up for the trial of the guy who struck her down. Friday and Romero have to chase her down.
46"The Big Job"Ben Romero
Captain Blane Steve
Bunco-Fugitive (Nightwatch)
Thursday April 27th
Warm
April 27, 1950 (1950-04-27)
The Police receive information that an escaped criminal, called Alfred Garvey, is hiding out in the City. While searching for him at a hotel Garvey shoots an off-duty cop, and friend of Friday and Romero, John Maxwell. He was about to go on vacation but decided to visit Friday and Romero first. Soon a Police manhunt is launched to find Garvey.
47"The Big Badge"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday March 7th
Cloudy
May 4, 1950 (1950-05-04)
For two months, "The Badge Bandit", a depraved criminal who pretends to be a police officer, has struck fifteen times. Men and women have been robbed, brutally attacked. Friday and Policewoman Dorothy Rivers go on a stakeout to catch him, along with several other members of the LAPD.
48"The Big Knife"Ben Romero
Captain Bowling
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Thursday November 4th
Windy
May 11, 1950 (1950-05-11)
Twenty one girls have been knifed while at a high school. So far there's only been assaults, no murders, but with a potential killer roaming the halls of the high school, the Police are called in.
49"The Big Pug"Ben Romero
Captain Ed Walker
Robbery (Daywatch)
Saturday August 9th
Hot
May 18, 1950 (1950-05-18)
Two criminals rob and beat up Myrtle Shaw, an elderly woman, who was on her way to the bank. The suspects are cruel and ruthless, so it's the police and Friday's job to find them.
50"The Big Key"Ben Romero
Captain Blane Steve
Homicide
Sunday December 25th
Raining
May 25, 1950 (1950-05-25)
Maria Comacho is found murdered in a churchyard; her body shows the marks of a savage attack. The clues are meager: a key, a pen, and some shoe polish smear.
51"The Big Fake"Ben Romero
Deputy Chief Coleman
Personnel (Daywatch)
Wednesday April 9th
Foggy
June 1, 1950 (1950-06-01)
A drunk files a report of robbery and assault (including breaking his arm) against a rookie police officer. The Rookie cop denies the accusations.
52"The Big Smart Guy"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Friday March 16th
Damp
June 8, 1950 (1950-06-08)
Elizabeth Benham has been shot to death. The apparent motive, according to her husband, was a robbery. The killer, Jack Morrison, also known as Tommy Kane, is suspected to have committed the murder, but it is believed that he had help.
53"The Big Purse"Ben Romero
Captain Ed Walker
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Monday July 1st
Mild
June 15, 1950 (1950-06-15)
Scores of lone women have been beaten and robbed by two young purse-snatchers working in a downtown neighbourhood. The victims have been unable to identify the two young hoodlums.
54"The Big Mink"Ben Romero
Captain Blane Steve
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Saturday November 23rd
Warm
June 22, 1950 (1950-06-22)
The owner of a fur store, Albert Criver, has been shot and killed; his wife found the body. The only lead is a missing mink fur coat which had been taken before the murder. Albert's 1940 Oldsmobile is also missing and his wife mentions the license keychain tag distributed by the Veteran's Administration.
55"The Big Grab"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday April 4th
Warm
June 29, 1950 (1950-06-29)
A woman, Mrs. Kessell, has been kidnapped, taken from her home by a man posing as a police officer. Friday, Romero, and Brown join Professor Kessell for a Passover Seder.
56"The Big Frame"Ben Romero
Lieutenant Calfy
Traffic: Accident Investigation -
Hit and Run Felony Detail (Daywatch)
Monday April 19th
Windy
July 6, 1950 (1950-07-06)
A dead body is found in the streets in the early hours of the morning. He is later identified as Edward Stokes, a victim of a hit and run driver.
57"The Big Bomb"Ben Romero
Deputy Chief Lin White
Unassigned
Tuesday November 15th RainingJuly 13, 1950 (1950-07-13)

Friday has been off-duty for 2 hours when he receives an emergency phone call from the Deputy Chief of Police. An entire block in the heart of the city has been threatened with complete destruction by Vernon Carney. He is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother, Elwood Carney, isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock.

  • Remake of "Attempted City Hall Bombing".
58"The Big Gent Part 1"
"Frank Chaney - The Gentleman Bandit: Part 1"
Ben Romero
Captain Ed Walker
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday October 6th
Cool
July 20, 1950 (1950-07-20)
A hold-up has been committed in a neighbouring city where a bystander is shot to death and two others are wounded. The bandits are ruthless, well armed and currently known to be in the area. Friday and Romero identify one of them as Frank Cheney, The Gentleman Bandit, a rich man who robs and kills for fun, even after an eighteen year stay in Folsom State Prison. Soon, Stanley Turk Webber, Cheney's partner in crime, is captured, but Cheney remains at large.
59"The Big Gent Part 2"
"Frank Chaney - The Gentleman Bandit: Part 2"
Ben Romero
Captain Ed Walker
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 6th
Cloudy
July 27, 1950 (1950-07-27)
Three persons are shot down in a twelve thousand dollar hold up. One of the bandits, Stanley Turk Webber, is apprehended, convicted and sent to prison for life. The other one, Frank Chaney, is still at large. But thanks to a tip from Cheney's father, he is captured at a freighter loading dynamite in the harbor. Meanwhile, in an unrelated subplot, Friday calls fellow officer, Dorothy Rivers, about her lost purse and their date at the movies the previous night. Friday works up the courage to ask her to have dinner with him at his mother's next week.
60"The Big Dare"Ben Romero
Captain Blane Steve
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesdya September 29th
Warm
August 3, 1950 (1950-08-03)
A woman is knifed to death, and her body bears the mark of a brutally slain attack. The Police are called in by the woman's son who had found the body. During the investigation, it's revealed the mom had several boyfriends, and one of her current boyfriends was jealous of her having other boyfriends. As the Dragnet closes in on the killer, his sister arranges for the suspect to surrender.
61"The Big Actor"Ben Romero
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Daywatch)
Monday October 23rd
Foggy
August 10, 1950 (1950-08-10)
St. Christopher's Hospital pharmacy is held up and $10,000 worth of high grade narcotics are stolen. The Police are called but the bandits escape.
62"The Big Youngster"Ben Romero
Inspector Bowling
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Tuesday April 10th
Cool
August 17, 1950 (1950-08-17)
A vicious case of wanton and willful destruction of private property occurs to a lawyers office and suspicion points to a juvenile. The police try to find out who did it and why. Meanwhile, a young boy named Arnold Waterman confesses to a murder. When no body is found, Waterman is suspected of being the vandal Friday is looking for.
63"The Big Chance"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Early Morning Watch)
Monday June 4th
Sultry
August 24, 1950 (1950-08-24)
A highway patrolman has disappeared from his cruiser, out in the countryside. His cruiser was found with the motor running and lights on.
64"The Big Check"Ben Romero
Captain Elliot
Forgery (Daywatch)
Monday February 4th
Cold
August 31, 1950 (1950-08-31)
Friday and Romero must track down an accomplished check forger who passes dozens of small checks—all of them bad. He has started working the city and his victims are small businessmen. The police know his MO but not his identity; soon they get a name Harry Johansson and the Dragnet closes in.
65"The Big Poison"Ben Romero
Captain Blane Steve
Homicide (Daywatch)
Saturday September 30th
Warm
September 7, 1950 (1950-09-07)
Mr. and Mrs. Apperson, an elderly couple, living in a fashionable neighborhood of the city, have disappeared. There is no trace of them; not a clue to their whereabouts. Foul play is suspected and soon a bottle of cyanide points to a grim conclusion, involving the live-in nephew.
66"The Big Make"Ben Romero
Captain Ed Walker
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Tuesday November 3rd
Chilly
September 14, 1950 (1950-09-14)
A small bakery, "Stendahl's Bakery Shop", is held up. The perpetrator shot the shop owner and his daughter down without reason.
67"The Big Pair"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Burglary (Daywatch)
Monday August 3rd
Warm
September 21, 1950 (1950-09-21)
A couple of unidentified thieves start a campaign of burglaries in the city. Homes are broken into and stripped of their furnishings, with the thieves selling all the furniture from the homes they break into, to families out of town, starting with the house of a little girl and her grandfather.
68"The Big Death"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday February 17th
Raining
September 28, 1950 (1950-09-28)
A socially prominent man decides to plot to kill his wife and hires Joe Friday for the job.
69"The Big 38"Ben Romero
Captain Walker
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Friday August 17th
Hot
October 5, 1950 (1950-10-05)
A store clerk has been murdered, shot to death in a robbery. The holdup man is described as tall, well dressed. Witnesses say he escaped in a taxi cab. The Number of the cab was covered up some way. Seven other armed robberies have been committed in the past 16 days by the same man with the same M.O.
70"The Big Quack"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Burglary (Daywatch)
Sunday November 22nd
Chilly
October 12, 1950 (1950-10-12)
A man posing as a doctor is burglarizing homes in the city. Marla Hutchins commits suicide after being robbed by the phony Dr. Schulte, owner of the Los Angeles College of Psychotherapeutics. The police have his description and must find him.
71"The Big Grandma"Ben Romero
Captain Elliot
Forgery (Daywatch)
Monday April 17th
Warm
October 19, 1950 (1950-10-19)
An elderly woman has been passing bad checks for the last nine years. She is an accomplished forger and looks like everyone's grandmother, and never passes a bad check between May and October. She's written more than twenty thousand dollars in bad checks.
72"The Big Meet"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Narcotics
Wednesday June 24th
Sultry
October 26, 1950 (1950-10-26)
A gang of veteran dope peddlers moves into LA. They offer a hundred thousand dollars worth of heroin for sale. Sergeant Friday tries to trap Howard Scully, a careful narcotics wholesaler, who leads the gang. Friday goes undercover and poses as a buyer; he meets the leaders contacts and they're ready to do business.
73"The Big Church"Ben Romero
Captain Steve
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday March 8th
Cold
November 2, 1950 (1950-11-02)

A new member of the congregation receives anonymous letters and phone calls threatening her with murder. The notes bear the mark of a fanatic, but police suspect fraud until a faked attack confirms their suspicion.

  • The Second Reformed Church of the Holy Book is the name of the church.
74"The Big Mother"Ben Romero
Captain Steve
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday January 28th
Raining
November 9, 1950 (1950-11-09)
A newborn, one of the three-day-old Striker baby twins, has been stolen from Mercy Hospital nursery. There is no trace of the infant and there is no trace of the abductor.
75"The Big Parrot"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Early Morning Watch)
Wednesday April 2nd
Windy
November 16, 1950 (1950-11-16)
A man and his wife are found strangled to death in a rooming house, and the killer has set fire to the room to cover his tracks. Also a dead parrot, who's also been strangled, lies on the floor beside the bodies.
76"The Big Betty"Ben Romero
Captain McCally
Bunco (Daywatch)
Tuesday December 14th
Cold
November 23, 1950 (1950-11-23)
A bunco gang of petty swindlers have set up operations in the city. They work the obituary racket, selling worthless merchandise to the relatives of the deceased. They're experienced, cunning and they work fast.
77"The Big Car"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Monday February 12th
Cold
November 30, 1950 (1950-11-30)
In four months, fifteen food markets in Los Angeles have been held up and robbed. The bandit is well-dressed and well-armed, and a bright red Pontiac looks like a clue for the police.
78"The Big Picture"Ben Romero
Inspector Bowling
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Tuesday May 7th
Mild
December 7, 1950 (1950-12-07)
A pair of fake talent scouts are at work in the city; their victims are young girls seeking careers in Hollywood. The criminals are vicious and relentless.
79"The Big Break"Ben Romero
Ed Walker
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Wednesday March 18th
Cold
December 14, 1950 (1950-12-14)
Friday and Romero have been tracking a hold up man for months. They finally get a line on where he's hiding but he's dangerous and well armed. After a shoot-out, the criminal, George Hoffman, is arrested but escapes at his arraignment by climbing down the side of a building.
80–30".22 Rifle for Christmas"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday December 22nd
Cold
December 21, 1950 (1950-12-21)
(Re-recording of
December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22))

A young boy, aged 9 years old, named Stanley Johnstone is reported missing from his home and so is the .22 caliber rifle he was going to get for Christmas. Foul play is suspected.

  • This is a re-recording of the previous year's Christmas episode.
81"The Big Family"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Missing Persons (Daywatch)
Saturday February 6th
Foggy
December 28, 1950 (1950-12-28)
A wealthy businessman in the city drops from sight. His car is found on the dock—an apparent suicide scenario—but there's no body. Friday and Romero start to search for him, but after a lot of missing persons police work, no laws are broken and the man is found just trying to get away from it all.

1951 season

Episode # Title Case Details
(Partner/Boss/Department)
Background information
(Date/Weather)
Original air date
82"The Big Holdup"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday March 9th
Windy
January 4, 1951 (1951-01-04)
A potential killer is on the loose; he's robbed six people. Nicknamed "The Rattlesnake Bandit", he takes great pleasure in beating his victims senseless before shooting them. There's no reason at all for these senseless beatings, and he moves fast and is well armed.
83"The Big Jump"Ben Romero
Captain Steve
Homicide (Daywatch)
Thursday September 6th
Warm
January 11, 1951 (1951-01-11)
Walter Harrison crouches on the window ledge of a downtown building, thirteen stories above the street. He threatens to leap to his death within the hour.
84"The Big Dance"Ben Romero
Captain Harry Didian
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Sunday March 3rd
Raining
January 18, 1951 (1951-01-18)
For three months Friday's been tracking a pair of hold-up men, "The Kid Bandits", who are robbing and beating their victims. There is no pattern to their operation. They're young and they're brutal, but a pack of matches leads Friday to Fred Guenther.
85"The Big Tomato"Ben Romero
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Daywatch)
Thursday April 11th
Warm
January 25, 1951 (1951-01-25)
A high school boy named Kenneth Morrow is killed in an auto accident. He had been using marijuana. It looks as if a band of dope peddlers have launched a full-scale operation in the city and are selling their merchandise to high school students. Friday and the cops have to track down the man known as "The Big Tomato."
86"The Big Children"Ben Romero
Captain Kinslin
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Tuesday April 27th
Overcast
February 1, 1951 (1951-02-01)
Friday and Romero receive a complaint about an eight-year-old boy and his sister. A neighbour reports they've been going from door to door begging for food. Supposedly the children are from well to do parents. Friday and Romero investigate and find that the children's mother, Mrs. Kessler, is missing. Meanwhile, one of the children soon dies at only 22-months-old.
87"The Big Cast"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday October 6th
Sultry
February 8, 1951 (1951-02-08)
Twelve men drop completely from sight over a short period of time. One of them is Paul Davis. There's evidence of foul play. Four months pass before Friday and Romero finally locate the main suspect in the case. As they interview him, they realize they may have found a serial killer.
88"The Big Crime"Ben Romero
Inspector Bowling
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Saturday August 7th
Hot
February 15, 1951 (1951-02-15)
A worried mother calls the police and reports her four-year-old twins girls as missing. Hours pass and the children fail to turn up. A neighborhood search commences but soon the girls come home and reveal they have been molested. Friday and the other cops become determined to convict the sick fiend.
89"The Big Couple"Ben Romero
Captain McCully
Bunco (Daywatch)
Monday April 20th
Windy
February 22, 1951 (1951-02-22)
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert are a husband and wife confidence team specializing in victimizing churches and clergymen. Their criminal records date back 17 years and they are masters in the art of swindling. As the pair start hitting churches in LA, Friday and Romero are assigned to bring them in.
90"The Big Partner"Ben Romero
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
December 2nd
Chilly
March 1, 1951 (1951-03-01)
A lone bandit robs a jewelry store in broad daylight and takes five thousand dollars in precious stones. The bandit is reckless and well-armed but soon gets caught by the police after causing a traffic collision during his attempted escape. Then the robber escapes from the lockup and must be recaptured again.
91"The Big New Years"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
December 31st
Cold
March 8, 1951 (1951-03-08)
It's New Year's Eve in Los Angeles and Friday's on special duty. Thousands of people crowd the downtown streets and one of them is a killer after a veteran cop is found murdered. Friday notifies his wife, and a club owner later identifies a drug addict as the probable suspect. The killer is convicted of manslaughter and paroled in 6 years.
92"The Big Ben"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday July 9th
Warm
March 15, 1951 (1951-03-15)

A man named Harvey Kimbrel is on his way to work when he is pulled from his car on a deserted street, robbed, and beaten viciously before his car is stolen. The criminal makes good his escape. In the course of the investigation, Friday is shot by the main suspect.

  • Romero takes over the narration for Friday after he is shot.
  • In the TV adaption of this episode "The Big Frank" it is Friday's then-partner Sergeant Frank Smith that is shot and not Friday.
93"The Big Trunk"Ben Romero
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 10th
Mild
March 22, 1951 (1951-03-22)
An attractive divorcée named Josephine Allen disappears from her home. She was last seen hanging up clothes in her back yard. There's no lead to her whereabouts and there's evidence of foul play.
94"The Big Lover"Ben Romero
Captain Steve
Bunco (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 12th
Cold
March 29, 1951 (1951-03-29)
For the past year a confidence man named Benton has been cheating women in LA by proposing marriage to them and then stealing their money. Mrs. Harris is the latest victim of his crime and was fleeced out of $100. She reports it to Friday and Romero who try to get a lead on him.
95"The Big Friend"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday January 9th
Rainy and Windy
April 5, 1951 (1951-04-05)
A phone call comes into the police from a Mr. Gray, who tells them his wife Hazel has been murdered. He's not sure who the killer is, but when questioned he can't tell the same story twice about how it happened.
96"The Big Threat"Ben Romero
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday October 8th
Overcast
April 12, 1951 (1951-04-12)
A middle-aged businessman, Louis Butler, is robbed and beaten senseless. The hold-up men escape but Mr. Butler doesn't want to tell the police about it, and even refuses to report the crime because of threats against his family.
97"The Big Speech"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday August 7th
Warm
April 19, 1951 (1951-04-19)

A young narcotics addict pistol-whips a doctor leaving him in critical condition, he also steals a large quantity of narcotics from him. Meanwhile, Sergeant Friday is asked by his old high school to give a talk. After the young addict is caught, Friday delivers a speech about the use of narcotics by teenagers.

  • We find out in this episode that Friday lives at 1456 Collis Avenue, Los Angeles.
98"The Big Saint"Ben Romero
Captain Stilson
Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch)
Monday May 11th
Fair
April 26, 1951 (1951-04-26)
A well-organized ring of car thieves comes to town. A 1949 Cadillac is stolen, Friday and Romero find it at Herman Lester's salvage yard. Plus Lester's salvage business is busy but shouldn't be due to the Korean War. Friday and Romero try to break the stolen car racket.
99"The Big Casing"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Sunday March 9th
Windy
May 3, 1951 (1951-05-03)
Friday and Romero go to an apartment house in answer to a shooting and dead body call. The woman, Marie Robertson, has been shot dead with a .45 automatic. Her husband, Andrew, tells them it's suicide but it looks more like murder. Friday and Romero investigate the truth.
100"The Big Drills"Ben Romero
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Wednesday September 16th
Hot
May 10, 1951 (1951-05-10)
For the past eighteen weeks, a gang of safe men have been breaking into large grocery stores, the Wilson Bros Markets, all over the city. They work fast and have stolen over $100,000, and the police can't localize their operations. Friday and Romero are assigned to bring them in.
101"The Big Blast"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Night Watch)
Monday July 9th
Warm
May 17, 1951 (1951-05-17)
102"The Big Mailman"Ben Romero
Captain Harry Elliot
Forgery (Daywatch)
Monday March 3rd
Raining
May 24, 1951 (1951-05-24)
103"The Big Bindle"Ben Romero
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Daywatch)
Tuesday October 5th
Foggy and Raining
May 31, 1951 (1951-05-31)
A group of high-grade heroin traffickers come to town. Using a fake bindle (drug container) to pass himself off as a dealer looking to make a big buy, Friday tries to go undercover and infiltrate the ring.
104"The Big Imposter"Ben Romero
Inspector Bowling
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Wednesday August 4th
Hot
June 7, 1951 (1951-06-07)
105"The Big Building"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday February 8th
Foggy
June 14, 1951 (1951-06-14)
106"The Big Run"Ben Romero
Captain Benny Cowell
Traffic: Accident investigation -
Hit and Run Felony Detail (Daywatch)
Saturday September 5th
Mild
June 21, 1951 (1951-06-21)
107"The Big Cliff"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Friday November 12th
Cold
June 28, 1951 (1951-06-28)
108"The Big Love"Ben Romero
Captain Blain Steve
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday April 20th
Overcast
July 5, 1951 (1951-07-05)
109"The Big Set-Up"Ben Romero
Captain Wisdom
Burglary
Wednesday January 10th
Cold
July 12, 1951 (1951-07-12)
110"The Big Sophomore"Ben Romero
Inspector Bowling
Juvenile (Nightwatch)
Tuesday February 4th
Cloudy
July 19, 1951 (1951-07-19)
111"The Big Late Script"Ben Romero
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday October 10th
Mild
July 26, 1951 (1951-07-26)
112"The Big Cop"N/AN/AAugust 2, 1951 (1951-08-02)
113"The Big Screen"Ben Romero
Captain McCally
Bunco (Daywatch)
Monday January 19th
Overcast
August 9, 1951 (1951-08-09)
114"The Big Winchester"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday January 10th
Cold
August 16, 1951 (1951-08-16)
115"The Big In-Laws"Ben Romero
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Saturday November 8th
Foggy
August 23, 1951 (1951-08-23)
116"The Big Crazy"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday June 9th
Warm
August 30, 1951 (1951-08-30)
117"The Big Seventeen"Ben Romero
Captain Stien
Juvenile (Nightwatch)
Thursday April 10th
Warm
September 6, 1951 (1951-09-06)
118"The Big Waiter"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide
Wednesday February 19th
Cloudy
September 13, 1951 (1951-09-13)
119"The Big Sour"Ben Romero
Captain Harry Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Saturday October 3rd
Hot
September 20, 1951 (1951-09-20)
120"The Big September Man"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday September 28th
Hot
September 27, 1951 (1951-09-27)
121"The Big Want Ad"Ben Romero
Captain Nelson
Traffic: Auto Theft
Tuesday February 19th
Chilly
October 4, 1951 (1951-10-04)
122"The Big Shoplift"Ben Romero
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 22nd
Hot
October 11, 1951 (1951-10-11)
123"The Big Story Man"Ben Romero
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Sunday March 5th
Cloudy
October 18, 1951 (1951-10-18)
124"The Big Market"Ben Romero
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday September 26th
Hot
October 25, 1951 (1951-10-25)
125"The Big Lease"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 6th
Cold
November 1, 1951 (1951-11-01)
126"The Big Hit and Run Killer"Ben Romero
Captain Calfey
Traffic: Accident Investigation -
Hit and Run Felony Detail (Nightwatch)
Tuesday December 21st
Windy
November 8, 1951 (1951-11-08)
127"The Big Bungalow"Ben Romero
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Monday April 16th
Foggy
November 15, 1951 (1951-11-15)
128"The Big Hands"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday October 26th
Cold
November 22, 1951 (1951-11-22)
129"The Big Affair"Ben Romero
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday March 10th
Cold
November 29, 1951 (1951-11-29)
130"The Big Canaries"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday February 18th
Cold
December 6, 1951 (1951-12-06)
131"The Big Overtime"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Early Morning Watch)
Tuesday October 18th
Cloudy
December 13, 1951 (1951-12-13)
132–30".22 Rifle for Christmas"Ben Romero
Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday December 22nd
Cold
December 20, 1951 (1951-12-20)
(Repeated from
December 21, 1950 (1950-12-21),
itself a re-recording
of December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22))
133"The Big Sorrow"Ed Jacobs
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Saturday April 24th
Hot
December 27, 1951 (1951-12-27)

  • Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough) passes away immediately before this episode opens. The show opens with a dedication to the memory of actor Barton Yarborough who had likewise died eight days before the episode aired.
  • Barney Phillips assumes the role as Joe Friday's partner, Ed Jacobs.

1952 season

Episode # Title Case Details
(Partner/Boss/Department)
Background information
(Date/Weather)
Original air date
134"The Big Red Part 1"Ed Jacobs
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Special Detail)
Tuesday August 9th
Hot
January 3, 1952 (1952-01-03)
135"The Big Red Part 2"Ed Jacobs
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Special Detail)
Sunday August 14th
Cool
January 10, 1952 (1952-01-10)
136"The Big Juvenile Division"Ed Jacobs
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Special Detail)
Tuesday October 14th
Cloudy
January 17, 1952 (1952-01-17)
137"The Big Court"Ed Jacobs
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday March 12th
Cold
January 24, 1952 (1952-01-24)
138"The Big Almost No-Show"Ed Jacobs
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday November 14th
Overcast
January 31, 1952 (1952-01-31)
139"The Big Honeymoon"Ed Jacobs
Captain Steve
Bunco*
UnknownFebruary 7, 1952 (1952-02-07)

  • Due to technical difficulties at the time of its broadcast, we are not told what division Friday & Jacobs are working, but they mention that the culprit they are pursuing is a bunco suspect.
140"The Big Phone Call"Ed Jacobs
Captain Didan
Robbery (Daywatch)
Thursday July 18th
Sultry
February 14, 1952 (1952-02-14)
141"The Big Producer"Ed Jacobs
Captain Stien
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Wednesday November 8th
Windy
February 21, 1952 (1952-02-21)
142"The Big Plant"Ed Jacobs
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday September 15th
Hot
February 28, 1952 (1952-02-28)

  • The episode is a remake of Episode 14 "Eric Kelby - Buried Body in Nursery" with new names, and Ed Jacobs as Joe's partner.
143"The Big Evans"Ed Jacobs
Lieutenant Jesop
Personnel (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 11th
Mild
March 6, 1952 (1952-03-06)
144"The Big Fire"Ed Jacobs
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday May 9th
Hot
March 13, 1952 (1952-03-13)
145"The Big Border"Ed Jacobs
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday October 6th
Cloudy
March 20, 1952 (1952-03-20)
146"The Big Rose"Ed Jacobs
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday June 3rd
Overcast
March 27, 1952 (1952-03-27)
147"The Big Streetcar"Ed Jacobs
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday January 20th
Mild
April 3, 1952 (1952-04-03)
148"The Big Show"Ed Jacobs
Captain Stien
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Wednesday August 14th
Hot
April 10, 1952 (1952-04-10)
149"The Big Bunco"Bill Lockwood *
Captain Steve
Bunco (Daywatch)
Tuesday September 9thApril 17, 1952 (1952-04-17)

  • Ed Jacobs becomes an instructor for the police academy, and Ben Romero's nephew, Officer Bill Lockwood (Martin Milner, future star of Route 66 and Adam-12 ), becomes Joe's new partner for the next few episodes.
150"The Big Elevator"Bill Lockwood
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday November 9th
Foggy
April 24, 1952 (1952-04-24)
151"The Big Safe"Bill Lockwood
Captain Wisdom
Burglary-Safe Detail (Daywatch)
Sunday June 8th
Warm
May 1, 1952 (1952-05-01)
152"The Big Gamble"Bill Lockwood
Lieutenant Bingham
Vice (Daywatch)
Monday February 9th
Foggy
May 8, 1952 (1952-05-08)
153"The Big Mail"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Monday August 4thMay 15, 1952 (1952-05-15)

Friday and new partner Frank Smith are after a trio of robbers who hijacked a Registered Mail truck for its cash.

  • This case marks the first appearance of Frank Smith, who would be Joe's partner for the rest of the radio series
154"The Big Shakedown"Frank Smith
Captain Hayes
Vice (Daywatch)
Tuesday October 18th
Hot
May 22, 1952 (1952-05-22)
155"The Big Fourth"Frank Smith
Captain Stien
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Wednesday June 18th
Warm
May 29, 1952 (1952-05-29)
156"The Big Whiff"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday October 16th
Cloudy
June 5, 1952 (1952-06-05)
157"The Big Donation"Bill Lockwood
Captain Steve
Bunco (Daywatch)
Tuesday February 16th
Cold
June 12, 1952 (1952-06-12)
158"The Big Jules"Frank Smith
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Daywatch)
Thursday October 8th
Hot
June 19, 1952 (1952-06-19)
159"The Big Roll"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Monday March 18th
Overcast
June 26, 1952 (1952-06-26)
160"The Big Trio"Frank Smith
Deputy Chief Coldwell
Traffic: Accident Investigation (Nightwatch)
Thursday July 3rd
Warm
July 3, 1952 (1952-07-03)
161"The Big Hate"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday January 18th
Cold
July 10, 1952 (1952-07-10)
162"The Big Signet"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday June 2nd
Smoggy
July 31, 1952 (1952-07-31)
163"The Big Impression"Frank Smith
Captain Didan
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday July 12th
Hot
August 7, 1952 (1952-08-07)
164"The Big Drive"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 6th
Cold
August 14, 1952 (1952-08-14)
165"The Big Paper"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Forgery (Daywatch)
Tuesday July 22nd
Hot
August 21, 1952 (1952-08-21)
166"The Big Test"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday August 9th
Warm
August 28, 1952 (1952-08-28)
167"The Big Ray"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Wednesday September 4th
Warm
September 4, 1952 (1952-09-04)
168"The Big Tear"Frank Smith
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Tuesday July 10th
Hot
September 11, 1952 (1952-09-11)
169"The Big Bull"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday March 6th
Windy
September 14, 1952 (1952-09-14)
170"The Big Shot"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday April 7th
Warm
September 21, 1952 (1952-09-21)
171"The Big Brain"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 18th
Raining
September 28, 1952 (1952-09-28)
172"The Big Jolt"Frank Smith
Captain Stien
Juvenile (Daywatch)
Wednesday October 3rd
Warm
October 5, 1952 (1952-10-05)
173"The Big Lie"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Saturday May 12th
Warm
October 12, 1952 (1952-10-12)
174"The Big Pill"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday July 10th
Hot
October 19, 1952 (1952-10-19)
175"The Big Number"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday January 21st
Cold
October 26, 1952 (1952-10-26)
176"The Big Light"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Friday August 5th
Warm
November 2, 1952 (1952-11-02)
177"The Big Dive"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Thursday April 17th
Warm
November 9, 1952 (1952-11-09)
178"The Big Walk"Frank Smith
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 3rd
Warm
November 16, 1952 (1952-11-16)
179"The Big Guilt"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide
Sunday February 10th
Cold
November 23, 1952 (1952-11-23)
180"The Big Shirt"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday July 5th
Hot
November 30, 1952 (1952-11-30)
181"The Big Mole"Frank Smith
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Wednesday January 23rd
Cold
December 7, 1952 (1952-12-07)
182"The Big Eavesdrop"Frank Smith
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Nightwatch)
Tuesday April 8th
Windy
December 14, 1952 (1952-12-14)
183".22 Rifle for Christmas"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Thursday December 22nd
Cold
December 21, 1952 (1952-12-21)
A new recording of the same story aired in the past 3 Christmases, with Frank Smith as Joe's partner.
184"The Big Mask Part 1"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Thursday February 7th
Raining
December 28, 1952 (1952-12-28)

1953 season

Episode # Title Case Details
(Partner/Boss/Department)
Background information
(Date/Weather)
Original air date
185"The Big Mask Part 2"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Robbery (Daywatch)
Saturday March 22nd
Cold
January 4, 1953 (1953-01-04)
186"The Big Small"Frank Smith
Captain Welsh
Forgery (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 6th
Cool
January 11, 1953 (1953-01-11)
187"The Big String"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday July 7th
Hot
January 18, 1953 (1953-01-18)
188"The Big Lay-Out"Frank Smith
Captain Curney
Narcotics (Daywatch)
Tuesday April 6th
Warm
January 25, 1953 (1953-01-25)
Joe's friend confesses that his teenage son is a heroin addict.
189"The Big Strip"Frank Smith
Captain Nelson
Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 5th
Warm
February 1, 1953 (1953-02-01)
190"The Big Press"Frank Smith
Captain Welsh
Forgery (Daywatch)
Thursday April 8th
Windy
February 8, 1953 (1953-02-08)
191"The Big Tooth"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Sunday October 9th
Cool
February 15, 1953 (1953-02-15)
192"The Big Smoke"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Homicide (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 12th
Warm
February 22, 1953 (1953-02-22)
193"The Big Want"Frank Smith
Captain Steed
Bunco Fugitive Detail (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 4th
Hot
March 1, 1953 (1953-03-01)
194"The Big Laugh"Frank Smith
Captain Steed
Bunco Fugitive Detail (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 12th
Cold
March 8, 1953 (1953-03-08)
195"The Big Impossible"Frank Smith
Captain Didion
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday July 7th
Warm
March 15, 1953 (1953-03-15)
196"The Big Informant"Frank Smith
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 10th
Warm
March 22, 1953 (1953-03-22)
197"The Big Dream"Frank Smith
Captain Didion
Robbery (Daywatch)
Monday March 10th RainingMarch 29, 1953 (1953-03-29)
198"The Big Chet"Frank Smith
Captain Didion
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday September 6th
Warm
April 5, 1953 (1953-04-05)
199"The Big Compulsion"Frank Smith
Captain Didion
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday May 6th
Warm
April 12, 1953 (1953-04-12)
200"The Big Rip"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Burglary (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 18th
Warm
April 19, 1953 (1953-04-19)
201"The Big Scrapbook"Frank Smith
Captain Didion
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Monday October 5th
Warm
April 26, 1953 (1953-04-26)
202"The Big Carney"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Burglary (Daywatch)
Thursday December 10th
Cold
May 3, 1953 (1953-05-03)
203"The Big Joke"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday February 9th
Cold
May 10, 1953 (1953-05-10)
204"The Big False Make"Frank Smith
Captain Didion
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday June 3rd
Hot
May 17, 1953 (1953-05-17)
205"The Big Gun Part 1"Frank Smith
Captain Nelson
Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch)
Monday April 12th
Warm
May 24, 1953 (1953-05-24)
206"The Big Gun Part 2"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch)
Wednesday June 24thMay 31, 1953 (1953-05-31)
207"The Big Will"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Sunday April 26th
Raining
June 7, 1953 (1953-06-07)
208"The Big Lilly"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Friday June 10th
Hot
June 14, 1953 (1953-06-14)
209"The Big Revolt"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Missing Persons (Nightwatch)
Tuesday June 16th
Warm
June 21, 1953 (1953-06-21)
210"The Big Ham"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Monday June 8th
Warm
June 28, 1953 (1953-06-28)
211"The Big Bop"Frank Smith
Captain Donahoe
Robbery (Daywatch)
Friday June 10th
Warm
September 1, 1953 (1953-09-01)
212"The Big Lift"Frank Smith
Captain Wisdom
Burglary (Daywatch)
Wednesday June 3rd
Hot
September 8, 1953 (1953-09-08)
213"The Big Cab"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday February 18th
Raining
September 15, 1953 (1953-09-15)
214"The Big Slip"Frank Smith
Captain Nelson
Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch)
Monday May 4th
Warm
September 22, 1953 (1953-09-22)
215"The Big Try"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Daywatch)
Wednesday November 18th
Cold
September 29, 1953 (1953-09-29)
216"The Big Little Mother"Frank Smith
Captain Welsh
Forgery (Daywatch)
Friday September 18th
Warm
October 6, 1953 (1953-10-06)
217"The Big Plea"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday April 14th
Warm
October 13, 1953 (1953-10-13)
218"The Big Paint"Frank Smith
Captain Nelson
Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch)
Tuesday June 13th
Overcast
October 20, 1953 (1953-10-20)
219"The Big Fraud"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Bunco Fugitive Detail (Daywatch)
Tuesday August 10th
Warm
October 27, 1953 (1953-10-27)
220"The Big Rain"Frank Smith
Captain Lohrman
Homicide (Nightwatch)
Tuesday November 17th
Raining
November 3, 1953 (1953-11-03)
221"The Big Kid"Frank Smith
Captain Powers
Juvenile (Nightwatch)
Tuesday September 8th
Warm
November 10, 1953 (1953-11-10)
222"The Big Flight"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Tuesday November 3rd
Cold
November 17, 1953 (1953-11-17)
223"The Big Present"Frank Smith
Captain Bernard
Burglary (Daywatch)
Monday December 14th
Cold
November 24, 1953 (1953-11-24)
224"The Big Odd"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Daywatch)
Wednesday June 4th
Warm
December 1, 1953 (1953-12-01)
225"The Big Pick"Frank Smith
Captain Didian
Bunco Fugitive Pickpocket Detail (Daywatch)
Tuesday May 10th
N/A
December 8, 1953 (1953-12-08)
226"The Big Brink"Frank Smith
Chief of Detectives Thad Brown
Robbery (Nightwatch)
Thursday June 5th
Warm
December 15, 1953 (1953-12-15)
227"The Big Little Jesus"Frank Smith
Captain Bernard
Burglary (Daywatch)
Wednesday December 24th
Cold
December 22, 1953 (1953-12-22)
228"The Big Steal"Frank Smith
Captain Bernard
Burglary (Daywatch)
Tuesday May 7th
Warm
December 29, 1953 (1953-12-29)

1954 season

#TitleOriginal air dateAir date
229"The Big Listen"January 5, 1954 (1954-01-05)1954-01-05
230"The Big Switch"January 12, 1954 (1954-01-12)1954-01-12
231"The Big Bill"January 19, 1954 (1954-01-19)1954-01-19
232"The Big Bid"January 26, 1954 (1954-01-26)1954-01-26
233"The Big Filth"February 2, 1954 (1954-02-02)1954-02-02
234"The Big Broad"February 9, 1954 (1954-02-09)1954-02-09
235"The Big Sucker"February 16, 1954 (1954-02-16)1954-02-16
236"The Big Pipe"February 23, 1954 (1954-02-23)1954-02-23
237"The Big TV"March 2, 1954 (1954-03-02)1954-03-02
238"The Big Cup"March 9, 1954 (1954-03-09)1954-03-09
239"The Big Rod"March 16, 1954 (1954-03-16)1954-03-16
240"The Big Mustache"March 23, 1954 (1954-03-23)1954-03-23
241"The Big Confession"March 30, 1954 (1954-03-30)1954-03-30
242"The Big Saw"April 6, 1954 (1954-04-06)1954-04-06
243"The Big Note"April 13, 1954 (1954-04-13)1954-04-13
-->
244"The Big Net"April 20, 1954 (1954-04-20)1954-04-20
245"The Big Lift"April 27, 1954 (1954-04-27)1954-04-27
246"The Big Stop"May 4, 1954 (1954-05-04)1954-05-04
247"The Big Look"May 11, 1954 (1954-05-11)1954-05-11
248"The Big Help"May 18, 1954 (1954-05-18)1954-05-18
249"The Big Watch"May 25, 1954 (1954-05-25)1954-05-25
250"The Big Cowboy"June 1, 1954 (1954-06-01)1954-06-01
251"The Big Student"June 8, 1954 (1954-06-08)1954-06-08
252"The Big Cat"June 15, 1954 (1954-06-15)1954-06-15
253"The Big Customer"June 22, 1954 (1954-06-22)1954-06-22
254"The Big Chick"June 29, 1954 (1954-06-29)1954-06-29
255"The Big Search"July 6, 1954 (1954-07-06)1954-07-06
256"The Big Rescue"July 13, 1954 (1954-07-13)1954-07-13
257"The Big Heel"July 20, 1954 (1954-07-20)1954-07-20
258"The Big Match"July 27, 1954 (1954-07-27)1954-07-27
259"The Big Stand"August 3, 1954 (1954-08-03)1954-08-03
260"The Big Wish"August 10, 1954 (1954-08-10)1954-08-10
261"The Big Cad"August 17, 1954 (1954-08-17)1954-08-17
262"The Big Shock"August 24, 1954 (1954-08-24)1954-08-24
263"The Big Office"August 31, 1954 (1954-08-31)1954-08-31
264"The Big Trunk"September 7, 1954 (1954-09-07)1954-09-07
265"The Big Cut"September 14, 1954 (1954-09-14)1954-09-14
266"The Big Try"September 21, 1954 (1954-09-21)1954-09-21
267"The Big Bible"September 28, 1954 (1954-09-28)1954-09-28
268"The Big Handsome Bandit"October 5, 1954 (1954-10-05)1954-10-05
269"The Big Tar Baby"October 12, 1954 (1954-10-12)1954-10-12
270"The Big Mannequin"October 19, 1954 (1954-10-19)1954-10-19
271"The Big Key"October 26, 1954 (1954-10-26)1954-10-26
272"The Big Locker"November 2, 1954 (1954-11-02)1954-11-02
273"The Big Coins"November 9, 1954 (1954-11-09)1954-11-09
274"The Big Dog"November 16, 1954 (1954-11-16)1954-11-16
275"The Big Switch"November 23, 1954 (1954-11-23)1954-11-23
276"The Big Gone"November 30, 1954 (1954-11-30)1954-11-30
277"The Big Dig"December 7, 1954 (1954-12-07)1954-12-07
278"The Big Lens"December 14, 1954 (1954-12-14)1954-12-14
279–227"The Big Little Jesus"December 22, 1953 (1953-12-22)1954-12-21
280"The Big Underground"December 28, 1954 (1954-12-28)1954-12-28

1955 season

#TitleOriginal air dateAir date
281"The Big Mug"January 4, 1955 (1955-01-04)1955-01-04
282"The Big Complex"January 11, 1955 (1955-01-11)1955-01-11
283"The Big Token"January 18, 1955 (1955-01-18)1955-01-18
284"The Big Bounce"January 25, 1955 (1955-01-25)1955-01-25
285"The Big Bird"February 1, 1955 (1955-02-01)1955-02-01
286"The Big Gap"February 8, 1955 (1955-02-08)1955-02-08
287"The Big Hat"February 15, 1955 (1955-02-15)1955-02-15
288"The Big Slug"February 22, 1955 (1955-02-22)1955-02-22
289"The Big Set-Up"March 1, 1955 (1955-03-01)1955-03-01
290"The Big Father"March 8, 1955 (1955-03-08)1955-03-08
291"The Big Set"March 15, 1955 (1955-03-15)1955-03-15
292"The Big Talk"March 22, 1955 (1955-03-22)1955-03-22
293"The Big Death"March 29, 1955 (1955-03-29)1955-03-29
294"The Big No Tooth"April 5, 1955 (1955-04-05)1955-04-05
295"The Big Tie"April 12, 1955 (1955-04-12)1955-04-12
296"The Big Deal"April 19, 1955 (1955-04-19)1955-04-19
297"The Big Child"April 26, 1955 (1955-04-26)1955-04-26
298"The Big Momma"May 3, 1955 (1955-05-03)1955-05-03
299"The Big Revision"May 10, 1955 (1955-05-10)1955-05-10
300"The Big Squealer"May 17, 1955 (1955-05-17)1955-05-17
301"The Big Siege"May 24, 1955 (1955-05-24)1955-05-24
302"The Big Sisters"May 31, 1955 (1955-05-31)1955-05-31
303"The Big Limp"June 7, 1955 (1955-06-07)1955-06-07
304"The Big Fall Guy"June 14, 1955 (1955-06-14)1955-06-14
305"The Big Grab"June 21, 1955 (1955-06-21)1955-06-21
306"The Big Convertible"June 28, 1955 (1955-06-28)1955-06-28
307"The Big Rush"July 5, 1955 (1955-07-05)1955-07-05
308"The Big Genius"July 12, 1955 (1955-07-12)1955-07-12
309"The Big Bobo"July 19, 1955 (1955-07-19)1955-07-19
310"The Big Housemaid"July 26, 1955 (1955-07-26)1955-07-26
311"The Big Sheet"August 2, 1955 (1955-08-02)1955-08-02
312"The Big Missus"August 9, 1955 (1955-08-09)1955-08-09
313"The Big Beer"August 16, 1955 (1955-08-16)1955-08-16
314"The Big Blonde"August 23, 1955 (1955-08-23)1955-08-23
315"The Big Fellow"August 30, 1955 (1955-08-30)1955-08-30
316"The Big Ruling"September 6, 1955 (1955-09-06)1955-09-06
317"The Big Daughter"September 13, 1955 (1955-09-13)1955-09-13
318"The Big Close"September 20, 1955 (1955-09-20)1955-09-20
170"The Big Shot"September 21, 1952 (1952-09-21)1955-09-27
171"The Big Brain"September 28, 1952 (1952-09-28)1955-10-04
172"The Big Jolt"October 5, 1952 (1952-10-05)1955-10-11
173"The Big Lie"October 12, 1952 (1952-10-12)1955-10-18
174"The Big Pill"October 19, 1952 (1952-10-19)1955-10-25
175"The Big Number"October 26, 1952 (1952-10-26)1955-11-01
176"The Big Light"November 2, 1952 (1952-11-02)1955-11-08
177"The Big Dive"November 9, 1952 (1952-11-09)1955-11-15
178"The Big Walk"November 16, 1952 (1952-11-16)1955-11-22
179"The Big Guilt"November 23, 1952 (1952-11-23)1955-11-29
180"The Big Shirt"November 30, 1952 (1952-11-30)1955-12-06
181"The Big Mole"December 7, 1952 (1952-12-07)1955-12-13
30".22 Rifle for Christmas"December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22)1955-12-20
184"The Big Mask Part 1"December 28, 1952 (1952-12-28)1955-12-27

1956 season

#TitleOriginal air dateAir date
185"The Big Mask Part 2"January 4, 1953 (1953-01-04)1956-01-03
186"The Big Small"January 11, 1953 (1953-01-11)1956-01-10
187"The Big String"January 18, 1953 (1953-01-18)1956-01-17
188"The Big Lay-Out"January 25, 1953 (1953-01-25)1956-01-24
189"The Big Strip"February 1, 1953 (1953-02-01)1956-01-31
190"The Big Press"February 8, 1953 (1953-02-08)1956-02-07
191"The Big Tooth"February 15, 1953 (1953-02-15)1956-02-14
192"The Big Smoke"February 22, 1953 (1953-02-22)1956-02-21
193"The Big Want"March 1, 1953 (1953-03-01)1956-02-28
194"The Big Laugh"March 8, 1953 (1953-03-08)1956-03-06
195"The Big Impossible"March 15, 1953 (1953-03-15)1956-03-13
30".22 Rifle for Christmas"December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22)1956-03-20
196"The Big Informant"March 22, 1953 (1953-03-22)1956-03-27
197"The Big Dream"March 29, 1953 (1953-03-29)1956-04-03
198"The Big Chet"April 5, 1953 (1953-04-05)1956-04-10
199"The Big Compulsion"April 12, 1953 (1953-04-12)1956-04-17
200"The Big Rip"April 19, 1953 (1953-04-19)1956-04-24
201"The Big Scrapbook"April 26, 1953 (1953-04-26)1956-05-01
202"The Big Carney"May 3, 1953 (1953-05-03)1956-05-08
203"The Big Joke"May 10, 1953 (1953-05-10)1956-05-15
204"The Big False Move"May 17, 1953 (1953-05-17)1956-05-22
205"The Big Gun Part 1"May 24, 1953 (1953-05-24)1956-05-29
206"The Big Gun Part 2"May 31, 1953 (1953-05-31)1956-06-05
207"The Big Will"June 7, 1953 (1953-06-07)1956-06-12
208"The Big Lilly"June 14, 1953 (1953-06-14)1956-06-19
209"The Big Revolt"June 21, 1953 (1953-06-21)1956-06-26
210"The Big Ham"June 28, 1953 (1953-06-28)1956-09-18
211"The Big Bop"September 1, 1953 (1953-09-01)1956-09-25
212"The Big Lift"September 8, 1953 (1953-09-08)1956-10-02
213"The Big Cab"September 15, 1953 (1953-09-15)1956-10-09
214"The Big Slip"September 22, 1953 (1953-09-22)1956-10-16
215"The Big Try"September 29, 1953 (1953-09-29)1956-10-23
223"The Big Present"November 24, 1953 (1953-11-24)1956-10-30
224"The Big Odd"December 1, 1953 (1953-12-01)1956-11-06
225"The Big Pick"December 8, 1953 (1953-12-08)1956-11-13
226"The Big Brink"December 15, 1953 (1953-12-15)1956-11-20
228"The Big Steal"December 29, 1953 (1953-12-29)1956-11-27
229"The Big Listen"January 5, 1954 (1954-01-05)1956-12-04
230"The Big Switch"January 12, 1954 (1954-01-12)1956-12-11
231"The Big Bill"January 19, 1954 (1954-01-19)1956-12-18
227"The Big Little Jesus"December 22, 1953 (1953-12-22)1956-12-25

1957 season

#TitleOriginal air dateAir date
232"The Big Bid"January 26, 1954 (1954-01-26)1957-01-01
233"The Big Filth"February 2, 1954 (1954-02-02)1957-01-08
234"The Big Broad"February 9, 1954 (1954-02-09)1957-01-15
235"The Big Sucker"February 16, 1954 (1954-02-16)1957-01-22
236"The Big Pipe"February 23, 1954 (1954-02-23)1957-01-29
237"The Big TV"March 2, 1954 (1954-03-02)1957-02-05
238"The Big Cup"March 9, 1954 (1954-03-09)1957-02-12
239"The Big Rod"March 16, 1954 (1954-03-16)1957-02-19
240"The Big Mustache"March 23, 1954 (1954-03-23)1957-02-26

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Dragnet was an American radio series, enacting the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show took its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.

Perry Como was an American singer, radio and television performer whose career covered more than fifty years. He is probably best known for his television shows and specials over a period of almost thirty years. Como came to television in 1948 when his radio show was selected by NBC for experimental television broadcasts. His television programs were seen in more than a dozen countries, making Como a familiar presence outside of the United States and Canada.

Gang Busters is an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered on January 15, 1936, and was broadcast over 21 years through November 27, 1957.

Dragnet—later syndicated as Badge 714—is an American crime television series, based on the radio series of the same name, both created by their star, Jack Webb. The shows take their name from the police term dragnet, a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Webb reprised his radio role of Los Angeles police detective Sergeant Joe Friday. Ben Alexander co-starred as Friday's partner, Officer Frank Smith.

Harold T. "Hal" Gibney was NBC's West Coast announcer for more than 20 years.

References

  1. Passage, Frank M. (May 2004). "Dragnet 1949–1957". Old Time Radio Program Logs. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  2. "Dragnet the 50s radio show". Old Time Radio. Internet Archive. 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  3. "Dragnet – Old Time Radio Shows – OTR". Old Radio World. 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  4. "Dragnet". www.radioechoes.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.

Sources