Friday - The Dragnet Podcast
Friday - The Dragnet Podcast is your ultimate destination for reliving the thrilling world of the classic Dragnet radio show. Step back into the gritty streets of Los Angeles with Sergeant Joe Friday as he brings justice to life through captivating, true-to-form storytelling. This unparalleled collection features beautifully remastered audio, accurate transcriptions, and detailed episode descriptions to give listeners the most authentic Dragnet experience.Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to old-time radio dramas, this podcast delivers the definitive version of Dragnet, preserving its iconic legacy for generations to come. Experience crime-solving at its finest with meticulous attention...
Episodes
The Big Thank You
After seven months, a paroled murderess, Annie Marie Johnson, loses contact with the parole office. When her parole officer becomes suspicious and enlists the help of the police, they investigate her living arrangements with a couple who ar…
The Big Kill
A police officer is shot and killed, leading Sergeant Joe Friday to investigate the case. As they pursue a suspect, Jake Carver, who is recently out of Folsom Penitentiary, the detectives set up a plan to gather evidence against him. Carver…
The Big Grifter
Sergeant Friday and his team are on the trail of the notorious confidence man, Gentleman Wallace, who has returned to Los Angeles and has resumed his swindling operations. Wallace's latest scheme involves writing letters demanding payment o…
The Big Girl
A wave of robberies and assaults has plagued Los Angeles, with the victims describing the assailant as a tall, beautiful woman. Detectives Joe Friday and Ben Romero investigate the latest case of a truck driver who was robbed, assaulted, an…
Claude Jimmerson, Child Killer
Two small girls go missing, and Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are called in to investigate. As the search gets underway, disturbing evidence is discovered, and the detectives find themselves on the trail of a potential suspect in their…
The Big Man (Part 2): Narcotics
Sergeant Joe Friday and his team are determined to apprehend Pacific Coast narcotics trafficker Arthur Z. Belmont. As they work to set up a meeting with Belmont, his trusted friend Floyd Ketchel becomes their lead. With a plan in place, the…
The Big Man (Part 1): Narco Trail Begins
A wave of narcotics trafficking has swept into Los Angeles, and Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are put on the case. Their investigation leads them to a drug ring operating in the city’s shadows—where heroin is being sold to teenagers. I…
Max Tyler: The Friend Who Ran
In this gripping tale from January 5, 1950, Sergeant Joe Friday faces a personal crisis when a friend from the Army, Max Tyler, is caught robbing a jewelry store—and he’s the one who has to put him away. But when Max escapes from prison jus…
The Roseland Roof Murders: Blood on the Marble Steps
Originally Aired: December 29, 1949 The Roseland Roof Murders: Blood on the Marble Steps In this tense and sprawling case from Dragnet, a series of armed robberies spirals into a shocking murder that leaves the LAPD chasing shadows across t…
22 Rifle for Christmas: A Holiday Tragedy
Originally Aired: December 22, 1949 22 Rifle for Christmas: A Holiday Tragedy In this unforgettable and emotionally devastating episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero investigate the disappearance of nine-year-old Stanley Jo…
The Garbage Chute Murder: Locked Doors and Loose Ends
Originally Aired: December 15, 1949 The Garbage Chute Murder: Locked Doors and Loose Ends In this atmospheric and tightly plotted episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero are called to investigate the baffling murd…
The Big Frame: Truth Buried in the Gutter
In this gripping episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero tackle a supposed hit-and-run that turns out to be a calculated murder cloaked in tire tracks and silence. The body of Edward Raymond Stokes is found lifeless in the st…
The Big Grab: A False Badge and a Fatal Plan
Originally Aired: June 29, 1950 The Big Grab: A False Badge and a Fatal Plan In this intense episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero are assigned to the homicide detail after Ruth Kessel, wife of a well-known coll…
The Big Mink: A Coat, a Lie, and a Murder
When a furrier is found dead in his shop, Friday and Romero begin piecing together a web of lies, leading them to a mysterious blonde with a mink coat and a bottle of cheap wine. With only a few scattered clues — a missing mink, a muscatel-…
The Big Press: A Trail of Fear
A wave of brutal purse snatchings has left women across Los Angeles living in fear. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero take on the case, setting a trap to lure the violent thieves out into the open. As they close in, the investigation revea…
The Big Smart Guy: Murder in the Bartlett Hotel
When a woman is found murdered in the Bartlett Hotel, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are called in to investigate a supposed robbery gone wrong. The husband’s story doesn’t quite add up, and a witness points police to a suspicious man s…
The Big Fake: Betrayal in Blue
A shocking accusation rocks the LAPD when rookie officer Russell Clark is charged with robbery and assault. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero must unravel the truth behind the claims of a beaten and robbed civilian—who insists the officer …
The Big Key: Murder on Christmas Morning
On Christmas morning, a woman's brutally beaten body is discovered outside San Andreas Cathedral. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero follow a sparse trail of clues—an ordinary key, a cheap pen, and a set of boot prints—leading them into the…
The Big Pug: A Cruel Crime
An elderly woman is brutally attacked and robbed on her way to the bank, leaving Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero on the trail of two ruthless criminals. The investigation takes them through the streets of Los Angeles, uncovering clues th…
The Big Knife: Terror in the Halls
A wave of brutal slashing attacks grips a Los Angeles high school, leaving students terrified and police scrambling for answers. As Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero investigate, they uncover a chilling pattern—each victim is a young, attr…
The Big Badge: The Man Who Stole Authority
For two months, a ruthless criminal has terrorized the city, robbing and brutally assaulting his victims while impersonating a police officer. As the so-called "Badge Bandit" escalates his attacks, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero launch …
The Big Job: Fugitive on the Run
When an escaped criminal is spotted in Los Angeles, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are assigned to track him down. Their investigation leads them to a cheap hotel, where their suspect, Alfred Garvey, is hiding under a false identity. Bu…
The Big Trial: Justice on the Line
When a hit-and-run driver leaves a woman critically injured, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero take on an exhaustive search through over 4,000 cars to track him down. Their investigation uncovers damning evidence—but when the trial begins,…
The Big Watch: Hitchhike Bandits
In a chilling crime spree, a gang of ruthless bandits target army officers hitchhiking in Los Angeles. Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero face a race against time to track down the criminals before their violence escalates. Foll…
The Big Book: Fighting the Filth Trade
High school students in Los Angeles are flooded with obscene literature, prompting Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero to take on the dangerous task of dismantling the distribution network. From undercover stakeouts to intense interrogations…
The Big Gangster Part 2: The Shaker Brothers
In this thrilling conclusion to the Valentine murder case, Sergeants Friday and Romero follow a trail that leads them to two dangerous out-of-town gangsters - the Shaker brothers. With the help of a brave young woman willing to risk her saf…
The Big Gangster Part 1: Valentine's Last Stand
When notorious hoodlum Gus Valentine becomes the target of machine gun fire on the streets of Los Angeles, Sergeants Joe Friday and Ben Romero must prevent an impending gang war. As Valentine refuses to cooperate with police, the detectives…
The Big Boys: Reckless Youth on the Run
Four young, dangerous criminals storm into Los Angeles, leaving a trail of robberies and stolen cars. Armed and fearless, they are determined to evade justice. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero face a relentless pursuit through the city to…
The Big Thank You: Betrayal in the Cellar
When Annie Marie Johnson, a parolee with a dark past, begins forging signatures on her parole reports, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero suspect something more sinister is at play. A meticulous investigation into her benefactor, Mrs. Laura…
The Big Kill: Justice in the Shadows
When police officer Robert Fillmore is gunned down on his own doorstep, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero embark on a relentless pursuit of the killer. The trail leads through deception, violence, and a dramatic standoff in the San Pedro H…
The Big Grifter: The Gentleman Conman
For over 35 years, Gentleman Wallace has perfected the art of the swindle, leaving a trail of victims across the country. From phony checks to elaborate scams, this master confidence man returns to Los Angeles for one last grand scheme. Ser…
The Big Girl: A Dangerous Masquerade
Sixteen robberies, three shootings, and a trail of shattered lives lead Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero to uncover the shocking truth behind the "Bandit Queen." A string of assaults by a tall, beautiful hitchhiker ends with a tense showd…
Claude Jimmerson: A Neighborhood’s Nightmare
The disappearance of two young girls sends shockwaves through a Los Angeles neighborhood. As Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero piece together the grim evidence, a chilling discovery in the hills leads to an unthinkable conclusion. This har…
The Big Man, Part 2: Closing the Net
After seven months of relentless investigation, Sergeant Joe Friday and his team zero in on Arthur Belmont, the elusive kingpin of the Pacific Coast narcotics trade. As Belmont's network begins to crumble, an intricate game of surveillance …
The Big Man, Part 1: The Narcotics Trail
Sergeant Joe Friday goes undercover in a high-stakes operation to infiltrate a narcotics ring and get closer to the elusive kingpin, Arthur Belmont. With a new identity, Friday navigates dangerous gangs, gains trust through bold moves, and …
Max Tyler: The Escaped Convict
A daring prison break sends Max Tyler, a former soldier turned criminal, on the run. With his wife and children caught in the crossfire, Sergeant Joe Friday must confront his past and track down an old friend in a desperate bid for justice.…
The Roseland Roof Murders: A Deadly Gang
A ruthless gang of armed robbers terrorizes Los Angeles, leaving death and destruction in their wake. When a pharmacy heist turns into a tragic double homicide, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero follow a trail of cold-blooded killers who s…
.22 Rifle for Christmas: A Tragic Lesson
A missing boy, a Christmas gift, and a heartbreaking accident. When nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone disappears, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero uncover a grim story involving a .22 rifle meant to be a holiday surprise. What begins as a r…
The Jade Thumb Rings: A Tale of Greed
When $8,000 worth of rare jade thumb rings is stolen in a violent robbery, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero dive into a tangled web of greed and betrayal. A jeweler is left fighting for his life, a child witness provides a vital clue, and…
The Spring Street Gang: Juvenile Crimewave
A spree of burglaries, robberies, and assaults sweeps Los Angeles, and suspicion points to a notorious gang of young delinquents known as the Spring Street Gang. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero must dismantle this juvenile crimewave and …