What a great job. It's interesting that so many of the original "Dragnet" RADIO scripts were re-done for television. It's instructional to see a script that had three lives. Even better is to see a white-haired HARRY BARTELL as the priest. Harry was one of the real gentlemen of radio and TV. He was well-loved. Anyway, thanks for the great editing job. It's nice to see a time when the TV networks weren't afraid to display organized religion and faith in a good light. Dennis
Thank you for posting this. It wouldnt be Christmas without watching this to focus on whats important in life. Today, we honor Jesus by giving each other toaster ovens and I- pads. How absurd.
I have watched the "newer" color episode on Nick at Nite. The end part where they Priest says "Paco's family, they're poor" then Jack Webb/Joe Friday says "Are they Father?" gets me every time. I think all the best tv is in the past.
I watched this Christmas story every year in the 50s and 60s, and, in my opinion, it's the best. Brings tears to my eyes every time I watched it on television and now on UA-cam.
Sensational job! Additionally, nice to see veteran radio/TV actor and historian Harry Bartell age over the years. Thank God back then there was no shame putting organized religion in a positive light on TV. That was the third presentation of the story; the script was used on the radio "Dragnet." Wow, great; thanks again.
Thank you very much for your comments. I worked very hard to put this video together and I am very thankful that you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas, my friend!
Great job editing...This brings back many fond memories of family and friends...This episode was one of Jack's favorites...He would have loved this...Shortly before he passed away he was working on a new Dragnet for 1983 very similar to this one with scenes from the 50's and 60's Dragnets edited together and then fast forwarding to the present...Unfortunately, this was only in the early stages when he died...Nice video...Keep up the good work. From: The Family of Jack Webb
webbauthority714 I have not ever seen this one , until approximately 8 years ago. It's been my favorite every year since, and have told everybody I know to watch it, before or after "It's a Wonderful Life". May God Bless your entire Webb Family.
Wow! What an awesome job of editing. This has always been my favorite Dragnet episode, and seeing this "combined" final, very moving scene made me a little misty eyed. Kudos for a very good job evidently done with warn feelings. Thanks for posting it. Seeing it made my day. Many thanks and blessings.
well edited...the color adds something to it because these old missions are so beautiful, but the score in the 1953 version, as they're flashing around to the different figures in the creche is just outstanding...how I would love to hear the score from the 1953 version in digital quality.
You did an awesome job on this vid; I've been pretty depressed about Christmas this year, and it did me a world of good to see this episode. In these troubled times we're living in, we need a reminder of what Christmas is REALLY about, regardless of one's beliefs. God bless you for putting in both these beautiful stories, and Merry Christmas!
The episodes couldn’t have been any more identical. Obviously I saw the color episode long before I saw the Big Little Jesus episode recently on Pluto TV. When I saw the first 5 minutes of Big Little Jesus, already I saw it coming all the way to when that Poor Mexican Boy brought back the Baby Jesus doll to the Church he removed it from on his newly given Little Red Wagon. God Bless that poor child who made true to his word given to the Statue Baby Jesus!
Trivia: This episode was the only one that was not culled from the files of the LAPD. The story came from the files of the San Francisco Police Department.
Wow! Great Job on this: Thumbs Up to You. Reminds us what Tomorrow is really All about... I've just got to say Thanks for doing this. I think this would bring a smile to Jacks face. Merry Christmas everyone.
This was filmed and broadcast in color. UA-cam won't allow a link to be posted but if you go to Google News Archive and search Dragnet Christmas Story color you'll pull up newspaper stories from 1953 & 1954 that mention the show being in color.
A simply told, heartwarming account of an actual incident that transpired on a Christmas Eve. Brought to mind... Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23: R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. The LORD confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. The LORD redeems the lives of his servants; no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him. R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I'm so disheartened by the gross commercialization of this season and the hijacking of Christmas by Madison Ave. I often wonder if Christmas in America would be as significant as it is-- if there were no money to be made from it... Jack Webb's Question really put at all in perspective.
@ohiofan1989 Also, the location of the church in the original episode was the Old Mission Plaza Church in L.A., founded 09-04-1781, the same day as the city of Los Angeles itself, while the church of the second episode is Mission San Fernando Rey, in the San Fernando Valley.
@ohiofan1989 Some still think a 35mm color print of the original color "Dragnet" Christmas episode from 1953 may exist somewhere. But even if not, we still have a pretty good monochrome print, plus the 1967 version that is in color. You have nicely edited both together here. But just because the master print of a color film may be lost or destroyed does not necessarily mean a film or TV episode was not shot in color originally.
@ohiofan1989 There are some other differences, besides the cast changes, between these two virtually-alike Christmas episodes of "Dragnet." One is the title of the first was "The Big Little Jesus," while the re-shot version is titled simply "The Christmas Story," but a/k/a "The Big Baby Jesus." .
@ohiofan1989 "The Big Little Jesus" color episode of "Dragnet," the only episode of the original series' run to be filmed in color, as well the only one not taken from the files of an actual LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) case, but from the SFPD [San Francisco Police Department], was re-broadcast on NBC-TV for five, consecutive seasons (1954-58) following its initial broadcast December 24, 1953.
@ohiofan1989 The color master of the film was lost or destroyed, which is why Jack Webb re-staged and re-shot the episode virtually scene-for-scene (using three of the original episode's actors) for the 1967 revival of "Dragnet."
@ohiofan1989 The CTVAcitation looks like this: Just look up the third season of the 1953 "Dragnet" series in the U.S. Crime Series section of the CTVA Biz website, to find the citation of Episode #17, which shows it was filmed in color. It looks like this: 3.17 [064] Dragnet: THE BIG LITTLE JESUS (Christmas episode)(color) (verified on film RF)/(c) Mark VII Ltd. - Pathécolor/24Dec53
@ohiofan1989 Also, don't forget NBC was "The Peacock Network," the first of the TV networks to go all-color. But even before that time, it was common to film special episodes of series' (especially Christmas ones), and TV specials themselves, in the multi-hued format, for the day when such programming could be seen by all or most viewers in beautiful, rich, "living color.
@ohiofan1989 One such episode was of "The Jack Benny Program," wherein Benny took a boy's scout troop known as "The Beverly Hills Beaver Patrol" to a carnival/circus, a pretty logical venue for a color TV episode. The color film of that Benny episode has also, reportedly, gone missing. More proof this 1953 Christmas ep. of "Dragnet" was shot in color may be found on the CTVA website, as well the records of the Library Of Congress website.
@ohiofan1989 Another possibility would be to colorize a dupe of the original episode. Colorization of the black & white eps. of "Gilligan's Island" actually came out pretty well, with richer colors, as the technology has evolved, not always appearing as those pastel-tinted fadejobs of the older MGM films colorized by Ted Turner.
@ohiofan1989 Even at CBS, as early as 1955, chairman William Paley had ordered all his popular TV series' to film one episode per season in color, as an experiment, for what was considered an inevitability of future TV programming.
@ohiofan1989 If no color film of the first Christmas "Dragnet" episode exists, how, you may ask, do we know it was shot in color? Simple, the many millions of TV viewers who watched the color episode (the first of a regular NBC-TV series) in its original and repeated airings between 1953-58, as may be attested by the ratings of the A.E. Nielsen Company, as well the records of Mark VII, Limited, Webb's production company.
@ohiofan1989 Just look up the third season of the 1953 "Dragnet" series in the U.S. Crime Series section of the CTVA Biz website, to find the citation of Episode #17, which shows it was filmed in color.
"He promised the child Jesus would get the first ride." Awesome!
THIS IS A CLASSIC EPISODE FROM A CLASSIC TV SERIES. RIP JACK WEB,BEN ALEXANDER, AND HARRY MORGAN.
Heartwarming story...and an absolutely gorgeous nativity scene display.
What a great job. It's interesting that so many of the original "Dragnet" RADIO scripts were re-done for television. It's instructional to see a script that had three lives. Even better is to see a white-haired HARRY BARTELL as the priest. Harry was one of the real gentlemen of radio and TV. He was well-loved. Anyway, thanks for the great editing job. It's nice to see a time when the TV networks weren't afraid to display organized religion and faith in a good light. Dennis
Want to thank you for posting this piece. It wouldn't be Christmas without seeing it.
Thank you for posting this. It wouldnt be Christmas without watching this to focus on whats important in life. Today, we honor Jesus by giving each other toaster ovens and I- pads. How absurd.
Youre right. It Just wouldnt be Christmas without grounding ourselves to what CHRISTMAS is all about
Wow, wish more people would discover this clip. It's a real tear-jerker.
I have watched the "newer" color episode on Nick at Nite. The end part where they Priest says "Paco's family, they're poor" then Jack Webb/Joe Friday says "Are they Father?" gets me every time. I think all the best tv is in the past.
I watched this Christmas story every year in the 50s and 60s, and, in my opinion, it's the best. Brings tears to my eyes every time I watched it on television and now on UA-cam.
Sensational job! Additionally, nice to see veteran radio/TV actor and historian Harry Bartell age over the years. Thank God back then there was no shame putting organized religion in a positive light on TV. That was the third presentation of the story; the script was used on the radio "Dragnet." Wow, great; thanks again.
Thank you very much for your comments. I worked very hard to put this video together and I am very thankful that you enjoyed it.
Merry Christmas, my friend!
Thank you for posting this. Decades later it still brings a tear (or two) to my eyes.
Great job editing...This brings back many fond memories of family and friends...This episode was one of Jack's favorites...He would have loved this...Shortly before he passed away he was working on a new Dragnet for 1983 very similar to this one with scenes from the 50's and 60's Dragnets edited together and then fast forwarding to the present...Unfortunately, this was only in the early stages when he died...Nice video...Keep up the good work.
From:
The Family of Jack Webb
webbauthority714
I have not ever seen this one , until approximately 8 years ago. It's been my favorite every year since, and have told everybody I know to watch it, before or after "It's a Wonderful Life".
May God Bless your entire Webb Family.
Wow! What an awesome job of editing. This has always been my favorite Dragnet episode, and seeing this "combined" final, very moving scene made me a little misty eyed. Kudos for a very good job evidently done with warn feelings. Thanks for posting it. Seeing it made my day. Many thanks and blessings.
Sister, Bless you and the noble work you do
well edited...the color adds something to it because these old missions are so beautiful, but the score in the 1953 version, as they're flashing around to the different figures in the creche is just outstanding...how I would love to hear the score from the 1953 version in digital quality.
You did an awesome job on this vid; I've been pretty depressed about Christmas this year, and it did me a world of good to see this episode. In these troubled times we're living in, we need a reminder of what Christmas is REALLY about, regardless of one's beliefs. God bless you for putting in both these beautiful stories, and Merry Christmas!
amen to that...it was so obvious that Hollywood had real respect for the Church and the Clergy back then...
Harry Bartell was "Father Rojas" in all versions of the story (including radio).
The episodes couldn’t have been any more identical. Obviously I saw the color episode long before I saw the Big Little Jesus episode recently on Pluto TV. When I saw the first 5 minutes of Big Little Jesus, already I saw it coming all the way to when that Poor Mexican Boy brought back the Baby Jesus doll to the Church he removed it from on his newly given Little Red Wagon.
God Bless that poor child who made true to his word given to the Statue Baby Jesus!
I'M LOVIN' IT. I was having a moment earlier and this episode of DRAGNET came to my mind.
Trivia: This episode was the only one that was not culled from the files of the LAPD. The story came from the files of the San Francisco Police Department.
Wow! Great Job on this: Thumbs Up to You. Reminds us what Tomorrow is really All about... I've just got to say Thanks for doing this. I think this would bring a smile to Jacks face. Merry Christmas everyone.
no kidding...truly powerful line.
It gets me every time too. I weep with joy...
This was filmed and broadcast in color. UA-cam won't allow a link to be posted but if you go to Google News Archive and search Dragnet Christmas Story color you'll pull up newspaper stories from 1953 & 1954 that mention the show being in color.
When TV shows could portray Christian and moral themes. God bless Jack Webb.
You never see the Holiday child on tv anymore.
A simply told, heartwarming account of an actual incident that transpired on a Christmas Eve.
Brought to mind...
Psalm 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23:
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
And a child shall show the way
" God Bless little children -- while they're still too young to Hate." from Tom T. Hall's song " Old Dogs - Children - And Watermelon Wine."
I'm so disheartened by the gross commercialization of this season and the hijacking of Christmas by Madison Ave.
I often wonder if Christmas in America would be as significant as it is-- if there were no money to be made from it...
Jack Webb's Question really put at all in perspective.
@ohiofan1989 Also, the location of the church in the original episode was the Old Mission Plaza Church in L.A., founded 09-04-1781, the same day as the city of Los Angeles itself, while the church of the second episode is Mission San Fernando Rey, in the San Fernando Valley.
@ohiofan1989 Some still think a 35mm color print of the original color "Dragnet" Christmas episode from 1953 may exist somewhere. But even if not, we still have a pretty good monochrome print, plus the 1967 version that is in color. You have nicely edited both together here.
But just because the master print of a color film may be lost or destroyed does not necessarily mean a film or TV episode was not shot in color originally.
I Would Hope That This Would Get To Some People With The Message: We Are ALL Children of ONE God & Boarders Cannot Divide Us.
It's true. A child shall lead us.
@ohiofan1989 There are some other differences, besides the cast changes, between these two virtually-alike Christmas episodes of "Dragnet." One is the title of the first was "The Big Little Jesus," while the re-shot version is titled simply "The Christmas Story," but a/k/a "The Big Baby Jesus." .
@ohiofan1989 "The Big Little Jesus" color episode of "Dragnet," the only episode of the original series' run to be filmed in color, as well the only one not taken from the files of an actual LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) case, but from the SFPD [San Francisco Police Department], was re-broadcast on NBC-TV for five, consecutive seasons (1954-58) following its initial broadcast December 24, 1953.
@ohiofan1989 The color master of the film was lost or destroyed, which is why Jack Webb re-staged and re-shot the episode virtually scene-for-scene (using three of the original episode's actors) for the 1967 revival of "Dragnet."
@ohiofan1989 The CTVAcitation looks like this:
Just look up the third season of the 1953 "Dragnet" series in the U.S. Crime Series section of the CTVA Biz website, to find the citation of Episode #17, which shows it was filmed in color.
It looks like this:
3.17 [064] Dragnet: THE BIG LITTLE JESUS (Christmas episode)(color) (verified on film RF)/(c) Mark VII Ltd. - Pathécolor/24Dec53
I wonder if the color film print is still available.
@ohiofan1989 Also, don't forget NBC was "The Peacock Network," the first of the TV networks to go all-color. But even before that time, it was common to film special episodes of series' (especially Christmas ones), and TV specials themselves, in the multi-hued format, for the day when such programming could be seen by all or most viewers in beautiful, rich, "living color.
@ohiofan1989 One such episode was of "The Jack Benny Program," wherein Benny took a boy's scout troop known as "The Beverly Hills Beaver Patrol" to a carnival/circus, a pretty logical venue for a color TV episode. The color film of that Benny episode has also, reportedly, gone missing.
More proof this 1953 Christmas ep. of "Dragnet" was shot in color may be found on the CTVA website, as well the records of the Library Of Congress website.
Barry Williams was in this episode.
@ohiofan1989 Another possibility would be to colorize a dupe of the original episode. Colorization of the black & white eps. of "Gilligan's Island" actually came out pretty well, with richer colors, as the technology has evolved, not always appearing as those pastel-tinted fadejobs of the older MGM films colorized by Ted Turner.
@ohiofan1989 Even at CBS, as early as 1955, chairman William Paley had ordered all his popular TV series' to film one episode per season in color, as an experiment, for what was considered an inevitability of future TV programming.
@ohiofan1989 If no color film of the first Christmas "Dragnet" episode exists, how, you may ask, do we know it was shot in color?
Simple, the many millions of TV viewers who watched the color episode (the first of a regular NBC-TV series) in its original and repeated airings between 1953-58, as may be attested by the ratings of the A.E. Nielsen Company, as well the records of Mark VII, Limited, Webb's production company.
I have a TV Guide that lists it as being broadcast in color; which of course is more evidence.
Contrary to some of the messages I have received, the 1953 version was not filmed in color.
@ohiofan1989 Yes it was. You may read about this in "A Buyer's Guide To 50 Years Of TV On Video," by the late Sam Frank.
Only in the 1967 version
Why did you edit it? The episodes are almost identical.
@ohiofan1989 Just look up the third season of the 1953 "Dragnet" series in the U.S. Crime Series section of the CTVA Biz website, to find the citation of Episode #17, which shows it was filmed in color.