Dragnet was a hard-hitting police drama from the 1940s that brought listeners into the gritty world of Los Angeles law enforcement with stark realism and clipped dialogue. Led by the no-nonsense Sergeant Joe Friday, each case was “just the facts” as he pursued justice through methodical investigation and moral resolve.
In this episode, 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 and bring her home for a Christmas reunion.
In the Dragnet radio episode City Hall Bombing, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Frank Smith investigate a shocking explosion that rocks Los Angeles’ city hall. As they sift through the wreckage and interview witnesses, the detectives follow a trail of clues pointing to a disturbed individual with a grudge. Tension builds as they race against time to prevent another deadly attack.
In the Dragnet radio episode Red Light Bandit, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner investigate a string of violent robberies targeting women in their homes. The criminal, dubbed the “Red Light Bandit,” uses a fake police siren to pull over victims before assaulting and robbing them. Through methodical police work, interviews, and forensic clues, Friday and his team close in on the suspect. The episode exemplifies Dragnet’s signature realistic style, emphasizing procedure, justice, and the relentless pursuit of the truth.
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.
In the Dragnet radio episode titled “Bar Hold-Up and Shooting,” Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner investigate a violent robbery that leaves a bartender critically wounded. As they sift through witness statements and track down leads, the detectives face the pressure of catching a dangerous suspect before he strikes again. The episode delivers the trademark Dragnet realism—just the facts, with tense pacing and hard-hitting police drama.
In the Dragnet episode titled Waitresses Robbed and Beaten, Friday and Smith investigate a string of violent robberies targeting late-night diner workers. The detectives follow a trail of small clues and frightened witnesses as they close in on a pair of ruthless suspects. With methodical precision, they bring justice to a case that left a community shaken.
