I started watching Dragnet on TV during its second season, and watched it most of the 1950's. It was always entertaining, but it was also unique. Jack Webb will forever be associated with the series. I also recall listening to it on radio around the same time. My son always jokes that we had no TV programming in the 1950's, with less than half a dozen channels, but I swear, there was more variety, more entertainment, every single day than you can get from 400 TV channels today. There were dozens of programs just as outstanding as Dragnet, and they will always be remembered by those lucky enough to have viewed them.
Lots of truth to this. A lot of shows were broadcast live, so hosts and guests had to be able to think on their feet, and the variety was there, from dramas to variety and comedy shows with people that were genuinely funny, to family, serious news by actual Newsmen and musicianship that was simply outstanding. 400 channels is as Bilbo Baggins said: 'It's like butter scraped over too much bread". Certain shows would come on that would bring all kids from the outdoors to inside, because it was not to be missed and the whole family would gather to watch and enjoy the show together. Late nights had the likes of Steve Allen, Jack Parr and then Johnny and Tom Snyder carried that quality legacy, then...
Love Jack Webb and Ben Alexander. This was a great series and watching this video really brings back some memories of Los Angeles in the 1950s. Classic TV!
I always check the credits at the end, stopping the video so I can read all the way through. I also love old time radio programs. I knew I was repeatedly recognizing names in Dragnet that I knew from radio credits. Didn't realize that Webb was helping these actors qualify for their pensions. He was extremely loyal.
Half the time when they run the classic shows on TV, whether it's Dragnet, Bonanza, Twilight Zone etc, they cut off the closing music and credits. They fast flash the credits on the last moments of the show.
Jack Webb was always loyal to his friends, and gave them work as often as he could. Martin Milner said that when he was stationed at Ft. Ord in the Army, he'd get a 2-day pass and head to LA. Jack would get him a bit part on a radio show (usually Dragnet) so he could head back to base with a few bucks in his pocket.
I love the hats and overcoats. I saw a picture of my dad and his brother from 1950 when my dad was 18 wearing overcoats standing on the sidewalk in NY.
I recognize the voice of Mrs. Watson, the lady who ran the boarding house, Helen Kleeb. She also played Joe's mother on the radio show and is best known for her role as one of the Baldwin Sisters on "The Waltons". Cliff Arquette, the guy who thought the murdered woman was a former circus performer, is best remembered as Charlie Weaver on "The Hollywood Squares" game show.
I don't think that's... Yup. Nailed it. The guy I pictured in my head was Wally Cox, a skinny, ferret-looking guy, which the actor in the show was clearly not. But I looked him up and blammo. Charlie Weaver. LOL! Helen Kleeb! She DOES look like a Baldwin sister. I ran out of Papa's Recipe, unfortunately.
Men do not wear hats anymore, at least not stylish hats (Some wear ball caps) they consider their silly hairstyles the accessories. Well, I'm bald and like hats. You can call me old fashioned or just simply old. I can't keep up with the times because I'm outta breath.
As an Xer, I have worn hats for years; trilbys, fedoras, pork pies, ivys, newsboys. My late mother never left home without a dress hat that coordinated with her outfit, even when tending to everyday errand running, and she came from a family of hat wearers, so it's just part of tradition here.
Steve Williams:::I am still spooked by the dead kid in the radio flyer when the leaves were pushed back and the camera/lighting revealed his face in repose. By accident ^[ not “on accident” ]^ a gun discharged while playing and killed one of the kids involved. Another led the detectives to the wagon that held the body covered and hidden under leaves. And that kid LOOKED dead and was the first DB I ever saw on screen and I was shocked ! Would you know what episode that was ? I am feeling nostalgic @ 70 and am ReVisiting Sea Hunt, Mr Wizard, TwilightZone, Lone Ranger, and Captain Midnight if I could. Keep on Truckin’, Steve.
I've enjoyed Dragnet since I was a kid. Listened on radio and later watched on TV. Still listen to the radio episodes online. One of the best shows ever.
I've never seen any of these old black and white ones, but I grew up watching re-runs of the color 60's eps in the 70s. I recognized that forensics guy in the first scene. He was in like every third episode of the color series playing dentists, pharmacists, school principles, dads, you name it.
@@sillygoose2508 Actress Virginia Gregg was another regular, playing a crime victim in one episode and a swindler in the next. She has to be the record holder for guest appearances in the color episodes.
What's great about Dragnet is that it set a standard for dialog scenes to end almost always with some witty retort or sarcastic reply or statement. See Law and Order for an example. Not often realistic, but dramatically entertaining.
@@kevindouglas5333 .... yeah they didn't advise people of there rights to remain silent. no Miranda law back then. the killer should of known that " silence is golden " or.... a closed mouth gathers no feet . he backed himself into a corner thats for sure.
@@markbahouth2713yeah, it was VERY difficult to solve murder cases back then. Most times the confession was the only way to get a a conviction and I’m sure a good number of cops did whatever it took to get that confession. But Joe was never like that. Of course not! I wonder how many false confessions police obtained back then as opposed to today.
Today they would only need to keep quiet, ask for their lawyer after getting arrested and getting their Miranda warning, then walk if there was no physical evidence. In these old shows though they always blurt out the confession.
@Levi Langershank psst, the series was based on true stories, ever hear the ending, "The story you have just seen is true..." That was a tone when integrity meant something, though.
Season Two is 1952-53 and the majority of these have survived and can be found on here or in various DVD sets. With me they never get old and it's nice to see what Hollywood looked like more than 10 years before I ever set foot there.
Idk, there will always be an appreciation of old Hollywood by “old souls” like me. I watch more black and white movies and tv … I feel this connection. But true, there aren’t many like me I don’t believe and I’m only a generation away from baby boomers. Certainly most of my generation and younger don’t seem to have an interest. The youngest baby boomers are now about 60 … 30 yrs from now, few will be left.
Wow. No drama, no violence or sex, and yet it was the most interesting thing I've watched in ages. The power dynamic between Friday and his partner seems more equal here than the later episodes I am more familiar with, I liked that too. The guy who played the murderer looked really familiar. Looked him up, he was in four Dragnets. Sadly died very young. Reminded me of John Dehner I think. Hilarious how much time the guy from the circus got, even to having him call to say he found her...
there must of been no death penalty at that time. the mustache Romeo type murderer killed that poor tiny victim in cold cold blood .... for no reason ? only a psychopath would do that. San Quentin had a gas chamber hate to say this but he deserved capitol punishment. i can not believe but its a fact SQ had a lethal gas chamber . worked just like the Nazis GC . would never imagine USA would utilize that because of the association with the Holocaust. Firing Squad is what killer deserved IMO.
This must be an older episode. I only remember Harry Morgan's character. My guess is this guy was his senior or an equal partner, and when Bill Gannon came along, he was the junior partner, working under Friday. Meh. Morgan was already gray-haired in Dragnet.
The irrelevant details Webb added to the episode are so damn funny. The character would probably been a savant of some sort. At 9:23 pm, after talking to 11 people, in a 6 block radius, we we now speaking to the woman who owned a twin bungalow. She offered us Earl Grey tea, and was polishing the 5th of 8 spoons. Hahahaha.
@@spankynater4242… an older video, but a comment for posterity… In the time period of this show, and earlier, this was not at all unusual. Fine quality ‘stuff’ had value, and lasted many many years, often passing down several generations. My Mother received a wedding present of fine silver from her Mother, who received it from her Mother, who received it from her Mother. Yes, four generations. My Father had a silk cape, handed down three generations. Our Family Bible was third-generation. As for this present generation, almost everything is disposable one-time use. Also, the lady was running a “respectable place”, which implied certain standards of acceptable behavior. Mealtimes were a very important part of life, and folks tended to use better dishes and place settings as befitted a respectable place. One would also dress correctly for mealtimes.
Olan Soule played a TON of officials and govt. support personnel, often scientists. He was one of the great faces without which 50's films and 50's culture wouldn't have been anywhere as cool as it was. I lived all through the era and saw it all. A great cool time...
I was watching the credits for Have Gun Will Travel and saw his name in credits....where? had to run it to see he was the hotel clerk,you are right he's in a ton of old time radio and t.v.
At least on these UA-cam episodes , we dont have to endure the tortuous cigarette ads which seem to saturate the old radio shows. They sound so ridiculous now, endorsements by doctors and high praise by Webb. For the life of me, I cannot fathom how any halfway intelligent person could have thought tobacco was harmless to the body. 🤪
I've watched every episode as a kid in the 60's and as an adult, now in my 60's! Jack Webbs Iconic Joe Friday was all brass tacks and business! Had that underlying hatred for violators of the law that often surfaced when he pinned them down with evidence and facts. Always respectful of those who deserve it, ready with some serious snark for those foolish enough to think their going to get away with disrespecting him. DAMN! Wish Joe Friday were here in society now to quell these mouthy obnoxious rude "Karen" types! He would teach them to respect others the way their parents didn't!
Olan Soule was one of the few of Webb's stable of actors who played the same role in every episode he appeared in: Ray Murray of SID (although listed here as "Ray Pinker"). Merry Anders was another: she always played Policewoman Dorothy Miller. Contrast this with Stacy Harris, for example, or Harry Bartell, among a couple of dozen others such as Don Ross, Alfred Shelly, Anthony Eisley, Howard Culver, Vic Perrin, and Don Dubbins, etc., whose roles differed in every episode. Other actors whose roles didn't change quite as much were Art Balinger and Art Gilmore, who always played some sort of "boss" or authority figure, Clark Howat was another. Heather Menzies, while her roles changed, was Webb's "go-to" whenever he needed a teenage/college-age girl. Peggy Webber was pretty versatile too; besides being attractive, she could play just about anything the scripts called for. Natalie Masters was the mature "neighbor" type, and Jill Banner was the 20-something "chick." I'm surprised, though, that Webb didn't use Michele Grumet anymore than he did. She was easy on the eyes and did a good job with whatever she was handed. Howard Hesseman (billed as Don Sturdy) was Webb's very believable "hippie activist" type. Hard to see Hesseman and Jack Webb working together, but he worked for Webb in at least a couple of episodes. Also interesting to see Cliff Arquette here in a non-Charley Weaver role.
…and the inimitable comedian, jazz trumpeter Jack Sheldon 1931-2019, who later had his own short-lived crime comedy “Run, Buddy, Run.” Sheldon would exchange comedy banter from the bandstand with Merv Griffin and later was the distinctive voice in “Schoolhouse Rock” (you probably still sing the lyrics he sang “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill”). He always managed to command his scenes in “Dragnet” opposite Jack Webb (who featured many jazz artists in dramatic roles in his productions). One of Jack Sheldon’s final performances was voicing characters in two episodes of “Family Guy.”
@@cyndialver2130 Think of all the non-Dragnet appearances she made in movies and TV, driving all the viewers nuts while they thought "where have I seen that actress before?"
Weirdly, there was a time that California had something close to law and order and functioning criminal justice system. This is like a historical document of that time.
En Jack Webb died, the LA Police Dept gave him a cops funeral. A zillion cops in uniform, his badge out of flowers ( Badge number 714), buried with full police hoopla..and I honestly think he deserved it.
I grew up watching Dragnet, Jack Webb, will always be associated with the TV series. It was a time when they had good TV series to watch, nothing today compares to what was being shown on TV, back then. The good old 50, 60, 70, and 80's.
From Wikipedia's entry for Cliff Arquette, best known for his "Charlie Weaver" persona: "During an appearance as a witness on NBC-TV's 'Dragnet' ('The Big Hands,' 21 May 1953), Arquette momentarily breaks up the stoic demeanor of actor Jack Webb, playing Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. It is believed to be the only few frames of humorous, off-the-cuff laughter Webb allowed in the entire eight years of the first 'Dragnet' television run." It appears to be while Arquette is going through his pockets, at 6:37.
@@williamwestbrook4501 lol, hacking watched these shows since the 60s, I knew he had a dry wit, but not until now did I realize it was as dry as an August day in Las Vegas.
A cool drink? Yes. Yes I would like a cool drink. But is it cool? The drink? Is the cool drink cool sir? Sir? Could you please answer the question? About the drink?
WHEN JACK WEBBS PARTNER WAS ON KING FOR A DAY, I WAS IN THE MOULA ROUGE AT THE TIME AND WAS PHOTOED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE NATIONAL BROADCAST, I WAS IN UNIFORM AND SITTING IN THE NUMBER 1 SEAT IN THE THIRD ROLL.
@KingOf ..... yes it will be easier and faster to bring you to jail. if there had been Capitol punishment forget tv privilege. more like what do you want for your last meal. your comment about tv privilege did crack me up though. thanks
It’s great for those with a short attention span. Every episode is to the point and a fast ride to the conclusion. And with no commercials even better!
I know, it’s so damn hot there! Bad enough they had to wear shirts and ties. In the radio series of Dragnet, they mention weather conditions often in LA and how often they say it’s cold and/ or rainy is laughable. Two things it’s never often been in Southern CA. To this day Detectives, Police Chiefs, FBI, etc. wear shirts and ties even when it’s sweltering wherever they maybe.
YES-Ben Alexander was the original partner with Joe Friday - I remember so well when he was studying for the Sergeants’ Exam- WOW!-had o be al oft 70 years ago 😊
Jack Webb as Friday said a line to a punk in one of these gems that I stole and use today: "I bet your mother has a mean bark." I'm still trying to figure out a comeback for that one. (Can I still say 'punk'?)
That was Jill Banner, one of Webb's stable of regular actresses, but who played a different role in every episode she appeared. I thought Friday said "loud bark" in reference to her mother, but not 100% sure.
Poor Olan Soule... He went from being the Chief Medical Examiner for the City of Los Angeles in the 1950s to the lowly Church Choir Director for Mayberry in the 1960s! HA! Welcome to Hollywood! :-)
I never watched Dragnet, I'm too young and European - - but even I know the musical signature! Music and concept were "copied" for a German series, "Stahlnetz" (net of steel) in the 60s.
Raymond Burr ( Perry Mason ) WAS on a dragnet episode . i forget the episode # but the bad guy had a bomb he held . it would explode if he pressed a switch. the bomb dude wanted his brother released from jail etc ..... etc
@@markbahouth2713 Raymond Burr played a number of villains before he became Perry Mason. A Cry in the Night, mamas boy who kidnapped Natalie Wood and held her in an abandoned factory. M (American remake) mob boss who leads the hunt for a child murderer. Red Light, an embezzler who is fired and kills his boss's (George Raft) brother who was a priest and war hero. His accomplice was Harry Morgan Rear Window, wife and dog killer. Tarzan and the She Devil, slaver and would be killer of elephants
James W....... yeah i noticed the Marijuana poster on the wall also. pot was illegal but LSD wasn't for a while. look for " the LSD story " it is a color episode of Dragnet . hilarious and many peoples favorite .
I wonder if Product Placement was a thing back then? The TWA calendar and the bottle of Coca Cola were pretty obvious. Those were the only real brands I noticed.
I started watching Dragnet on TV during its second season, and watched it most of the 1950's. It was always entertaining, but it was also unique. Jack Webb will forever be associated with the series. I also recall listening to it on radio around the same time. My son always jokes that we had no TV programming in the 1950's, with less than half a dozen channels, but I swear, there was more variety, more entertainment, every single day than you can get from 400 TV channels today. There were dozens of programs just as outstanding as Dragnet, and they will always be remembered by those lucky enough to have viewed them.
Lots of truth to this. A lot of shows were broadcast live, so hosts and guests had to be able to think on their feet, and the variety was there, from dramas to variety and comedy shows with people that were genuinely funny, to family, serious news by actual Newsmen and musicianship that was simply outstanding.
400 channels is as Bilbo Baggins said: 'It's like butter scraped over too much bread".
Certain shows would come on that would bring all kids from the outdoors to inside, because it was not to be missed and the whole family would gather to watch and enjoy the show together.
Late nights had the likes of Steve Allen, Jack Parr and then Johnny and Tom Snyder carried that quality legacy, then...
We had one channel, or in advantageous weather, two.
Little useless info- Jack Webb's hands are the ones that stamp the Mark VII at the end
You are right, entertainment value before cable was far more entertaining and had a lot less commercials which is a lot of the reason
@@matthewronsson yes
Love Jack Webb and Ben Alexander. This was a great series and watching this video really brings back some memories of Los Angeles in the 1950s. Classic TV!
Imagine what the plots would have been like if 1950s LA had a DA like George Gascon.
@@Rossbach2
Crime?
What crime?
😳
Oh man, when this appeared on my feed, I couldn't believe it! Love this. I used to watch this as a young kid, with my dad.
Old Dragnet shows are so good - even the radio programs.
"JUST THE FACTS,MAAM!!!"
I, wholly, concur; always, have enjoyed the radio shows, just as much as I do the television programs(fifties & sixties iterations).
I always check the credits at the end, stopping the video so I can read all the way through. I also love old time radio programs. I knew I was repeatedly recognizing names in Dragnet that I knew from radio credits. Didn't realize that Webb was helping these actors qualify for their pensions. He was extremely loyal.
Half the time when they run the classic shows on TV, whether it's Dragnet, Bonanza, Twilight Zone etc, they cut off the closing music and credits. They fast flash the credits on the last moments of the show.
In7777777777⁷
Jack Webb was always loyal to his friends, and gave them work as often as he could. Martin Milner said that when he was stationed at Ft. Ord in the Army, he'd get a 2-day pass and head to LA. Jack would get him a bit part on a radio show (usually Dragnet) so he could head back to base with a few bucks in his pocket.
I understand Jack Webb wrote many of the scripts, directed and produced this series and took a starring role. Webb did it all. Great series.
The more he did, the more he made and the more control he had over ensuring he was the "star."
I love the hats and overcoats. I saw a picture of my dad and his brother from 1950 when my dad was 18 wearing overcoats standing on the sidewalk in NY.
I love their subtle humor... totally works for me!
I recognize the voice of Mrs. Watson, the lady who ran the boarding house, Helen Kleeb. She also played Joe's mother on the radio show and is best known for her role as one of the Baldwin Sisters on "The Waltons".
Cliff Arquette, the guy who thought the murdered woman was a former circus performer, is best remembered as Charlie Weaver on "The Hollywood Squares" game show.
I don't think that's... Yup. Nailed it. The guy I pictured in my head was Wally Cox, a skinny, ferret-looking guy, which the actor in the show was clearly not. But I looked him up and blammo. Charlie Weaver.
LOL! Helen Kleeb! She DOES look like a Baldwin sister. I ran out of Papa's Recipe, unfortunately.
@ 4:32, immediately, recognised "Charley Weaver"(Cliff Arquette). First time, I'd seen him, not 'in character.' Very cool!
He didn't read a letter?
Men do not wear hats anymore, at least not stylish hats (Some wear ball caps) they consider their silly hairstyles the accessories. Well, I'm bald and like hats. You can call me old fashioned or just simply old. I can't keep up with the times because I'm outta breath.
JFK started the hatless trend.
Just what is the type of hat American men wore 1920s -1960s? Is it a Trilby? A Homburg? A Fedora? What was it called?
Jack Webb wasn't conventionally handsome, but in those days you didn't have to have matinee-idol good looks to find success in films and/or TV.
As an Xer, I have worn hats for years; trilbys, fedoras, pork pies, ivys, newsboys. My late mother never left home without a dress hat that coordinated with her outfit, even when tending to everyday errand running, and she came from a family of hat wearers, so it's just part of tradition here.
I like you already
I love the muffled trombones in the background that swell when Jack ends his narrative in the intro.
@ Bonnie S..... yes mam
I like this show because it's classic tv plus with no 21st century technology or 10 detectives at their disposal they did pretty damn good!!
I watched this show when I was a kid now I am a old man unbelievable
@Jim Patriot dont get old. walk daily.
@@char524 I think Jack Webb was the director of "Emergency." He had something to do with "Emergency."
Steve Williams:::I am still spooked by the dead kid in the radio flyer when the leaves were pushed back and the camera/lighting revealed his face in repose. By accident ^[ not “on accident” ]^ a gun discharged while playing and killed one of the kids involved. Another led the detectives to the wagon that held the body covered and hidden under leaves. And that kid LOOKED dead and was the first DB I ever saw on screen and I was shocked ! Would you know what episode that was ? I am feeling nostalgic @ 70 and am ReVisiting Sea Hunt, Mr Wizard, TwilightZone, Lone Ranger, and Captain Midnight if I could. Keep on Truckin’, Steve.
@@char524 they wanted you to behave and not steal candy from a store. forced you to watch ay ?
bet you have a clean record . good parents also.
Thank you for these uploads. They are a reminder of what was best in our United States.
Which was that there were vicious criminals back then as there are today?
I've enjoyed Dragnet since I was a kid. Listened on radio and later watched on TV. Still listen to the radio episodes online. One of the best shows ever.
I started watching this show in the late 60's, the best thing about this series was the chimastry between the detectives
Chemistry
I've never seen any of these old black and white ones, but I grew up watching re-runs of the color 60's eps in the 70s. I recognized that forensics guy in the first scene. He was in like every third episode of the color series playing dentists, pharmacists, school principles, dads, you name it.
They were like union members of the studios and always played bit parts I think the biggest was burt mustin he was in everything and I mean everything
it is said Jack Webb had his production cast and kept using them so they could accrue pension time,especially the old time radio players...
I forget the actor name but his name was Ray Murray in the 1967 version!
Olan Soule. He played a hotel clerk and later a choir master for several episodes on the Andy Griffith show.
@@sillygoose2508 Actress Virginia Gregg was another regular, playing a crime victim in one episode and a swindler in the next. She has to be the record holder for guest appearances in the color episodes.
Love watching these old episodes Dragnet! So good!
Great ! I loved it, as this kind of old detective sories, they have such an atmosphere. Thanks for sharing!
gosh,,,, I know I am getting way too old.. I remember these series as it way yesterday... great then, great now... :)
What's great about Dragnet is that it set a standard for dialog scenes to end almost always with some witty retort or sarcastic reply or statement. See Law and Order for an example. Not often realistic, but dramatically entertaining.
Always loved Dragnet as a kid both on radio and TV. Joe sure got through a lot of Luckies or maybe Camels !! 👏👏🇬🇧
Boy, policing is easy when you just ask the murderer "did you do it" and he goes "yes"
This rings true , sometimes people will admit to a crime . The conscience will sometimes make people do just that !
Tell tale heart ❤...
Should have kept his mouth shut. They had nothing
@@kevindouglas5333 .... yeah they didn't advise people of there rights to remain silent. no Miranda law back then. the killer should of known that " silence is golden " or.... a closed mouth gathers no feet . he backed himself into a corner thats for sure.
@@markbahouth2713yeah, it was VERY difficult to solve murder cases back then. Most times the confession was the only way to get a a conviction and I’m sure a good number of cops did whatever it took to get that confession. But Joe was never like that. Of course not! I wonder how many false confessions police obtained back then as opposed to today.
THANK YOU FOR OLD TV SHOW AS WATCHING AS KID IN 1960 WITH MY UNCLE
How refreshing to hear, "Just the FACTS..." Hard to believe how "honest" people - even murderers - were, lol.
Today they would only need to keep quiet, ask for their lawyer after getting arrested and getting their Miranda warning, then walk if there was no physical evidence. In these old shows though they always blurt out the confession.
@@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo lol, right?
@Levi Langershank psst, the series was based on true stories, ever hear the ending, "The story you have just seen is true..." That was a tone when integrity meant something, though.
@Levi Langershank but, that was funny..
Nowadays it's " just the fax mam."
I have no TV by choice. But i do enjoy seeing old TV shows such as Dragnet on utube. Cant beat it!
Hello Karen
How are you doing today?
Season Two is 1952-53 and the majority of these have survived and can be found on here or in various DVD sets. With me they never get old and it's nice to see what Hollywood looked like more than 10 years before I ever set foot there.
These first few original series episodes are the best
Hard to imagine that once the babyboomers are gone the memory of these shows will be gone as well. da da DAH da
Hello Karen
How are you doing today?
Idk, there will always be an appreciation of old Hollywood by “old souls” like me. I watch more black and white movies and tv … I feel this connection. But true, there aren’t many like me I don’t believe and I’m only a generation away from baby boomers. Certainly most of my generation and younger don’t seem to have an interest. The youngest baby boomers are now about 60 … 30 yrs from now, few will be left.
Wow. No drama, no violence or sex, and yet it was the most interesting thing I've watched in ages.
The power dynamic between Friday and his partner seems more equal here than the later episodes I am more familiar with, I liked that too.
The guy who played the murderer looked really familiar. Looked him up, he was in four Dragnets. Sadly died very young. Reminded me of John Dehner I think.
Hilarious how much time the guy from the circus got, even to having him call to say he found her...
I agree, it's was the way they told there story, that keeps you coming back for more, very intriguing. I wished it still came on radio, I would listen
there must of been no death penalty at that time. the mustache Romeo type murderer killed that poor tiny victim in cold cold blood .... for no reason ? only a psychopath would do that. San Quentin had a gas chamber hate to say this but he deserved capitol punishment. i can not believe but its a fact SQ had a lethal gas chamber . worked just like the Nazis GC . would never imagine USA would utilize that because of the association with the Holocaust. Firing Squad is what killer deserved IMO.
No violence ? Woman strangled for kicks and her neck broken. Good family fun.
@@davidfisher9026 not shown.
This must be an older episode. I only remember Harry Morgan's character. My guess is this guy was his senior or an equal partner, and when Bill Gannon came along, he was the junior partner, working under Friday. Meh. Morgan was already gray-haired in Dragnet.
The irrelevant details Webb added to the episode are so damn funny. The character would probably been a savant of some sort. At 9:23 pm, after talking to 11 people, in a 6 block radius, we we now speaking to the woman who owned a twin bungalow. She offered us Earl Grey tea, and was polishing the 5th of 8 spoons. Hahahaha.
It’s adaptation from the radio show, when all you have is the audio it makes for really great storytelling!
That’s one thing I couldn’t get past, she’s running a boarding home for single women, and she uses fine silver.
@@spankynater4242… an older video, but a comment for posterity…
In the time period of this show, and earlier, this was not at all unusual. Fine quality ‘stuff’ had value, and lasted many many years, often passing down several generations.
My Mother received a wedding present of fine silver from her Mother, who received it from her Mother, who received it from her Mother. Yes, four generations.
My Father had a silk cape, handed down three generations.
Our Family Bible was third-generation.
As for this present generation, almost everything is disposable one-time use.
Also, the lady was running a “respectable place”, which implied certain standards of acceptable behavior. Mealtimes were a very important part of life, and folks tended to use better dishes and place settings as befitted a respectable place. One would also dress correctly for mealtimes.
The man in the crime lab also turns up in the late 60s series.
@@rufust.firefly4890 thank you.
Olan Soule played a TON of officials and govt. support personnel, often scientists. He was one of the great faces without which 50's films and 50's culture wouldn't have been anywhere as cool as it was. I lived all through the era and saw it all. A great cool time...
I was watching the credits for Have Gun Will Travel and saw his name in credits....where? had to run it to see he was the hotel clerk,you are right he's in a ton of old time radio and t.v.
Long career and long life (died 1994)
Don't forget he was the voice of Batman in the 70's cartoons like justice league.
@Cindy L ..... yes mam
Mayberry choir leader as well.
Pleasant guy, good looking, good worker just has that homicidal thing going on. Gets them every time.
That’s what perpetually kept him from winning employee of the month.
He was an electrical maintenance worker but yet he was wearing a bow tie.
Frank Smith, great episode! Nice to see the earlier episode! 😀
Originally telecast on May 21, 1953, and adapted from the November 22, 1951 radio episode.
The props department re-used the Darts sign in another episode, when Frank Smith buys it cheap to re-paint and give to his son in "The Big Number."
Would be nice if u would publish the date released. Thx!
These programs are great!!!
At least on these UA-cam episodes , we dont have to endure the tortuous cigarette ads which seem to saturate the old radio shows. They sound so ridiculous now, endorsements by doctors and high praise by Webb. For the life of me, I cannot fathom how any halfway intelligent person could have thought tobacco was harmless to the body.
🤪
Cliff Arquette (1905-1974), also known affectionately as Charlie Weaver, a much beloved fixture on early television.😀
I've watched every episode as a kid in the 60's and as an adult, now in my 60's! Jack Webbs Iconic Joe Friday was all brass tacks and business! Had that underlying hatred for violators of the law that often surfaced when he pinned them down with evidence and facts. Always respectful of those who deserve it, ready with some serious snark for those foolish enough to think their going to get away with disrespecting him.
DAMN! Wish Joe Friday were here in society now to quell these mouthy obnoxious rude
"Karen" types! He would teach them to respect others the way their parents didn't!
Olan Soule was one of the few of Webb's stable of actors who played the same role in every episode he appeared in: Ray Murray of SID (although listed here as "Ray Pinker"). Merry Anders was another: she always played Policewoman Dorothy Miller. Contrast this with Stacy Harris, for example, or Harry Bartell, among a couple of dozen others such as Don Ross, Alfred Shelly, Anthony Eisley, Howard Culver, Vic Perrin, and Don Dubbins, etc., whose roles differed in every episode. Other actors whose roles didn't change quite as much were Art Balinger and Art Gilmore, who always played some sort of "boss" or authority figure, Clark Howat was another. Heather Menzies, while her roles changed, was Webb's "go-to" whenever he needed a teenage/college-age girl. Peggy Webber was pretty versatile too; besides being attractive, she could play just about anything the scripts called for. Natalie Masters was the mature "neighbor" type, and Jill Banner was the 20-something "chick." I'm surprised, though, that Webb didn't use Michele Grumet anymore than he did. She was easy on the eyes and did a good job with whatever she was handed. Howard Hesseman (billed as Don Sturdy) was Webb's very believable "hippie activist" type. Hard to see Hesseman and Jack Webb working together, but he worked for Webb in at least a couple of episodes. Also interesting to see Cliff Arquette here in a non-Charley Weaver role.
Don't forget Virginia Gregg. She's another one of Jack Webb's favorite ladies during both runs in the 50s and 60s.
…and the inimitable comedian, jazz trumpeter Jack Sheldon 1931-2019, who later had his own short-lived crime comedy “Run, Buddy, Run.” Sheldon would exchange comedy banter from the bandstand with Merv Griffin and later was the distinctive voice in “Schoolhouse Rock” (you probably still sing the lyrics he sang “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill”). He always managed to command his scenes in “Dragnet” opposite Jack Webb (who featured many jazz artists in dramatic roles in his productions). One of Jack Sheldon’s final performances was voicing characters in two episodes of “Family Guy.”
Natalie Masters of "Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209" from the radio?
@@cyndialver2130 Think of all the non-Dragnet appearances she made in movies and TV, driving all the viewers nuts while they thought "where have I seen that actress before?"
Alot of radio stars listed in the credits you gave….. Great Job about the actors that Jack Webb used.
Weirdly, there was a time that California had something close to law and order and functioning criminal justice system. This is like a historical document of that time.
Even as a child, I thought Dragnet was hoaky. So did my parents. But we never missed an episode.
Did you notice the Marijuana poster in the background during the opening scene? LOL!
En Jack Webb died, the LA Police Dept gave him a cops funeral. A zillion cops in uniform, his badge out of flowers ( Badge number 714), buried with full police hoopla..and I honestly think he deserved it.
I REMEMBER THIS SERIES WHEN ACTOR HARRY MORGAN ALSO STARRED.
Not sure why but this puts me in mind of the John Mulaney bit about solving crimes before DNA...
I want to see the episode where the parents smoke a joint and the baby drowns.
The 5 cent sign on front of carnival booth used in later show.
I grew up watching Dragnet, Jack Webb,
will always be associated with the TV
series. It was a time when they had good
TV series to watch, nothing today compares
to what was being shown on TV, back then.
The good old 50, 60, 70, and 80's.
Hello Mary
How are you doing today?
Why do these damn ads have to be so loud?
"I wonder if they will let me keep my bow tie in prison ?"
No, it could be used as a garrotte.
Joe forgot to mention...it was cold in Los Angeles on October 2.
Octobers in Los Angeles are HOT not cold. Maybe thats why he didn't mention it
I just happened to have started watching the dragonets in the morning on Me-TV. Interesting to see the old black-and-white version.
I remember watching Dragnet during the '50s. I kept waiting for the Joe Friday tagline, "Just the facts, ma'am."
I always liked this series. My Dad was a cop and Jack Webb reminds me of him.
23:34, this dialogue is so staged! "...is that the way way it looks to you?...Thats the way it looks"
From Wikipedia's entry for Cliff Arquette, best known for his "Charlie Weaver" persona: "During an appearance as a witness on NBC-TV's 'Dragnet' ('The Big Hands,' 21 May 1953), Arquette momentarily breaks up the stoic demeanor of actor Jack Webb, playing Detective Sergeant Joe Friday. It is believed to be the only few frames of humorous, off-the-cuff laughter Webb allowed in the entire eight years of the first 'Dragnet' television run." It appears to be while Arquette is going through his pockets, at 6:37.
That bit is a variation on the vaudeville joke, "lm not Rappaport."
I started to look "The Big Hands" up and boy, there are a LOT of episodes that started with those two words, "The Big..."
@@vernalc2449 It seems Jack Webb had an exceptionally dry sense of humor.
@@williamwestbrook4501 lol, hacking watched these shows since the 60s, I knew he had a dry wit, but not until now did I realize it was as dry as an August day in Las Vegas.
@@vernalc2449 Check him out as a hip cat in "Sunset Boulevard." Loved jazz and Chesterfields.
Jack Webb is A Savage!!!
Dirty Harry and Chuck Norris could have learned a lot from him.
"Hey, would excuse me for a few minutes? I have some cool drinks in this cooler here? Would either one you want a cool drink?"
u
y knotted
A cool drink? Yes. Yes I would like a cool drink. But is it cool? The drink? Is the cool drink cool sir? Sir? Could you please answer the question? About the drink?
Rapid fire dialog…..no awkward pauses with Friday.
Rapidfiredwordsinarunonsentence.....
I miss hearing my dad do the, 🎶"Dum da da dum,....Dum da da dum dum!" whenever something happened or I got in trouble when I was little 😔💕
"*gulp* I dunno why I did it...." Impressive grilling by the coppers
This showed up in my feed on 05/22/2023.
Original air date: 05/21/1953.
70 years almost to the day.
Ray of SID was also the leader of the Mayberry Choir! 😃 🎼
Thank you for the videos YOU'RE THE BEST :)!!!🙌🙌🙌🙌🇨🇱💋💯😇😘😍🙋❤️!!!
I love the old shows. Old school values...
Always read the screen credits. Cliff Arquette, better known as "Charlie Weaver" appears. He was Rosanna, Patricia, and David Arquette's grandfather.
WHEN JACK WEBBS PARTNER WAS ON KING FOR A DAY, I WAS IN THE MOULA ROUGE AT THE TIME AND WAS PHOTOED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE NATIONAL BROADCAST, I WAS IN UNIFORM AND SITTING IN THE NUMBER 1 SEAT IN THE THIRD ROLL.
Crime lab never helps them. I like this side kick the best.
Cliff Arquette. What a good character actor.
Cliff Arquette Charlie Weaver
“Will it go any easier for me if I admit it?” Yeah, you can have TV privileges until 9pm during your life sentence.
@KingOf ..... yes it will be easier and faster to bring you to jail. if there had been Capitol punishment forget tv privilege. more like what do you want for your last meal. your comment about tv privilege did crack me up though.
thanks
One thing about Dragnet. Every scene mattered. No padding.
It’s great for those with a short attention span. Every episode is to the point and a fast ride to the conclusion. And with no commercials even better!
I think it hilarious Dragnet was filmed in LA and all the men are wearing heavy long coats and hats indoors. I doubt most locals own a jacket.
I know, it’s so damn hot there! Bad enough they had to wear shirts and ties. In the radio series of Dragnet, they mention weather conditions often in LA and how often they say it’s cold and/ or rainy is laughable. Two things it’s never often been in Southern CA. To this day Detectives, Police Chiefs, FBI, etc. wear shirts and ties even when it’s sweltering wherever they maybe.
YES-Ben Alexander was the original partner with Joe Friday -
I remember so well when he was studying for the Sergeants’ Exam-
WOW!-had o be al oft 70 years ago 😊
He did radio Dragnet and Black and White then color all great.
Thanks for the uploads 😊💕
The “Karen types“ are usually in the right. It’s the people they are opposing who need to be handled.
Jack Webb as Friday said a line to a punk in one of these gems that I stole and use today: "I bet your mother has a mean bark." I'm still trying to figure out a comeback for that one.
(Can I still say 'punk'?)
I think he was calling him a SOB Be careful who you say it to, If you said to me I;d knock your teeth out
@@jonnychingas5757 It's best for online trolling.
That was in the later color show--(may have been used in one of these, too, though...)
If I remember correctly, I believe Friday said that to a female suspect who told him he had “nice eyes ... for a cop.”
That was Jill Banner, one of Webb's stable of regular actresses, but who played a different role in every episode she appeared. I thought Friday said "loud bark" in reference to her mother, but not 100% sure.
Poor Olan Soule... He went from being the Chief Medical Examiner for the City of Los Angeles in the 1950s to the lowly Church Choir Director for Mayberry in the 1960s! HA! Welcome to Hollywood! :-)
Jack Webb: Perfect role model for all two-by-fours.
I wished they could find the lost episodes someplace. There has to be Badge 714 syndicated shows in a closet.
I never watched Dragnet, I'm too young and European - - but even I know the musical signature! Music and concept were "copied" for a German series, "Stahlnetz" (net of steel) in the 60s.
Some of the actors on Dragnet I've seen on Roy Rogers and Perry Mason and other old black and white shows. They got around.
Raymond Burr ( Perry Mason ) WAS on a dragnet episode . i forget the episode # but the bad guy had a bomb he held . it would explode if he pressed a switch. the bomb dude wanted his brother released from jail etc ..... etc
@@markbahouth2713 Raymond Burr played a number of villains before he became Perry Mason.
A Cry in the Night, mamas boy who kidnapped Natalie Wood and held her in an abandoned factory.
M (American remake) mob boss who leads the hunt for a child murderer.
Red Light, an embezzler who is fired and kills his boss's (George Raft) brother who was a priest and war hero. His accomplice was Harry Morgan
Rear Window, wife and dog killer.
Tarzan and the She Devil, slaver and would be killer of elephants
15:35 *Damn product placement! I guess I picked the wrong day to give up coke. I stole that line, from the movie 'Airplane.'( ; )*
Who started watching this during quarantine??
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Cliff Arquette also played the character "Charley Weaver" on the Tonight Show
Directing and actings are "C" class film.
Olan Soule in the opening. He was Mr. First NIghter on a radio series. :)
That "Marijuana" poster on the laboratory wall probably made some viewers wonder what the heck that was, and decide to try it themselves.
James W....... yeah i noticed the Marijuana poster on the wall also. pot was illegal but LSD wasn't for a while. look for " the LSD story " it is a color episode of Dragnet . hilarious and many peoples favorite .
First three seasons are good.
John Masters from Andy Griffith.
I'm so old I remember when the police were in the crime solving business.
The bow tie and the mustache gave him away.
I wonder if Product Placement was a thing back then? The TWA calendar and the bottle of Coca Cola were pretty obvious. Those were the only real brands I noticed.
Sorry, but I can't watch the scene in the lab without thinking of Frank Drebin and "Police Squad."
Kids, this is what it was like in the 50's
Who needs a jury? Let Friday do his thing.
Joe Friday was/ is a hero of mine
Just the facts mam
Love the horns
I don't remember these older dragnets with this character lineup. I guess Friday got a new partner in the 60s. 😊