The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Todays Mystery: Two armed bandits rob a Los Angeles café, leaving the elderly owner brutally beaten and one suspect wounded. Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Frank Smith, pursue the fugitive, but a promising lead falls apart when the victims fail to identify their suspect. Then a treasured diamond signet ring offers a new clue—and the robber’s own mistakes may be the key to bringing him to justice.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 31, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday

Herb Ellis as Sgt. Frank Smith

Vic Perrin

Virginia Gregg

Harry Bartell

Ralph Moody

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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Patreon Supporter of the Day: Cheryl, a Patreon supporter since May 2022

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Todays Mystery: Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate the death of a 52-year-old music teacher whose body is discovered in an abandoned freight car, cradled in the arms of a young man who refuses to explain what happened. When the young man finally confesses to killing her, the detectives struggle to understand why he would murder a woman he claims to have loved deeply and who had devoted years to nurturing his musical ambitions.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 10, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:
Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday

Herb Ellis as Sgt. Frank Smith

Vic Perrin

Harry Bartell

Joyce McCluskey

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

George Fenneman, announcer

Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day:Dolly, Patreon supporter since November 2025.

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

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Todays Mystery: On the eve of the Fourth of July weekend, Joe Friday and Frank Smith are assigned to Accident Investigation and confront the devastating consequences of reckless driving when a 16-year-old takes his father’s car on a high-speed ride through Los Angeles. As the holiday begins, a succession of traffic calls illustrates how quickly carelessness, alcohol, and poor judgment can turn an ordinary drive into tragedy.

Original Radio Broadcast Date: July 3, 1952

Originating from Hollywood

Cast:
Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday
Herb Ellis as Frank Smith
Vic Perrin
Stacy Harris
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
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Splinator, Patreon supporter since August 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

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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
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Rebecca — Patreon supporter since August 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

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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
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net

Patreon Supporter of the Day: Mirth, Patreon supporter since February 2021

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

Follow us on Twitter@radiodetectives