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First show date: 05/06/1949 |
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Last show date: 26/02/1957 |
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Number of shows: 382 |
synposis
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Dragnet was the brainchild of jack Webb and has to be classed as the best and well remembered police drama series ever brought to radio. From September 1949 through to February 1957 these thirty minute dramas, which were broadcast on America's NBC radio station, brought to radio true police stories in a low key, documentary style. In the radio programme Webb starred as Sergeant Joe Friday and Barton Yarborough played his partner. The origins of Dragnet can be traced to a semi documentary film called 'He walked by night' (1948), in which Webb had a bit part. Both employed the same Los Angeles police department technical adviser, used actual police cases and presented the case in 'just the facts' manner that went on to become the hallmark of Dragnet. Dragnet had its origins in Webb’s small role as a police forensic scientist in the 1948 film, He walked by night, inspired by the actual murder of a police officer in LA. The film was depicted in semi documentaru style, and Marty Wynn (an LAPD sergeant) was a technical advisor on the film. Webb and Wynn became friends, and both thought that the day-to-day activities of police officers could be realistically depicted, and could make for compelling drama without the forced sense of melodrama then so common in radio programming. Webb frequently visited police headquarters, drove with police patrols, and attended police academy courses to learn authentic jargon and other details that could be featured in a radio program. When he proposed Dragnet to NBC officials, they were not especially impressed. With writer James E Moser, Webb prepared an audition recording, then sought the LAPD’s endorsement; he wanted to use cases from official files in order to demonstrate the steps taken by police officers during investigations. The official response was initially lukewarm, but they offered Webb the endorsement he sought. Police wanted control over the program’s sponsor, and insisted that police not be depicted unflatteringly. This would lead to some criticism, as LAPD racial segregation policies were never addressed, nor was there a suggestion of police corruption. Dragnet debuted inauspiciously. The first several months were bumpy, as Webb and company worked out the program’s format and eventually became comfortable with their characters. Friday’s first partner was Sgt. Ben Romero, portrayed by Barton Yarborough, a longtime radio actor. When Dragnet hit its stride, it became one of radio’s top-rated shows. Webb insisted on realism in every aspect of the show. The dialogue was clipped, understated and sparse, influenced by the school of crime fiction. Scripts were fast moving but didn’t seem rushed. Every aspect of police work was chronicled, step by step: From patrols and paperwork, to crime scene investigation, lab work and questioning witnesses or suspects. The detectives’ personal lives were mentioned, but rarely took center stage. (Friday was a bachelor who lived with his mother; Romero was an ever-fretful husband and father). Friday offered voice-over narration throughout the episodes, noting the time, date and place of every scene as he and his partners went through their day investigating the crime. The events related in a given episode might occur in a few hours, or might span a few months. At least one episode unfolded in real time: in "City Hall Bombing" (July 21, 1949), Friday and Romero had less than 30 minutes to stop a man who was threatening to destroy the City Hall with a bomb. Dragnet first aired on television in January of 1952. Friday's original partner in the TV episodes (as on the radio) was Sgt. Ben Romero, who died after only three episodes were filmed. The Romero character was soon replaced by Officer Frank Smith, played by Ben Alexander, on both television and radio. Alexander continued in the role through the show's original run, which ended in 1959.
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episodes
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