List of Dragnet (radio series) episodes

Dragnet, the radio series, premiered on NBC on June 3, 1949 and ended on February 26, 1957. A set of 314 original episodes aired between June 1949 and September 1955 with ".22 Rifle For Christmas" and "The Big Little Jesus" usually re-run during Christmas time.^[1] Re-runs were broadcast from the end of September 1955 to February 1957. The vast majority of the episodes are available free on various sites around the Internet.^[2][3]

1949 season

Episode #	Title	Partner	Department	Original air date
1	"Production #1 Robbery" "George Slocum, Thief"	Ben Romero	Robbery	June 3, 1949
In this first episode LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero must keep an eye on George Slocum, a known thief whose escaped prosecution before.
2	"Production #2 Homicide" "The Nickel Plated Gun"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 10, 1949
A nickel-plated .44 caliber Smith & Wesson is used to shoot two cops as well as a lot more people.
3	"Production #4 Robbery" "The Werewolf"	Ben Romero	Robbery	June 17, 1949
A criminal dubbed "The Werewolf" by the media has beaten up and robbed eighteen women. This big, ugly man always seems to be one step ahead of Friday, Romero and the other cops.
4	"Production 4 Homicide" "Quick Trigger Gunmen"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 24, 1949
A cop on a stake-out is killed by a shotgun blast from three quick-trigger gunmen in a bar. Friday, Romero and other members of the LAPD trap the killers in an apartment house.
5	"The Helen Corday Murder" "Who Killed Helen Corday?"	Ben Romero	Homicide	July 7, 1949
A well-liked waitress named Helen Corday has been murdered with a steel pipe.
6	"The Red Light Bandit" "The Impostor"	Ben Romero	Robbery	July 14, 1949
A ruthless fiend roams the streets of the city masquerading as a police officer. For months helpless citizens are being kidnapped, robbed and beaten senseless. The criminal is a twisted genius with cunning. It's up to Friday and Romero to get him.
7	"Attempted City Hall Bombing"	Ben Romero	Not Assigned	July 21, 1949
Friday has been off duty for 2 hours when he receives an emergency phone call from the Chief Detective. An entire block in the heart of the city has been threatened with complete destruction by Vernon Carney. He is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock.
8	"Missing Persons - Juanita Lasky" "The Big Missing"	Ben Romero	Missing Persons	July 28, 1949
Juanita Laskey is reported missing by her mother from another town.
9	"Benny Trounsel - Narcotics"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	August 4, 1949
A small-time narcotics user named Benny Trounsel has been beaten to death shortly after tipping the cops to a new narcotics ring in town. The criminals are experts, vicious and cunning, with only one purpose in mind: the theft of narcotics. Its Friday and Romero's job to get them.
10	"Maniac Murderer" "A Mad Killer at Large"	Ben Romero	Homicide	August 11, 1949
A homicidal maniac has killed and mutilated several young women on a cold and rainy night in Los Angeles. A massive manhunt is launched to find the killer.
11	"Sixteen Days of Jewel Thefts" "Master Jewel Thief"	Ben Romero	Burglary	August 18, 1949
A sudden wave of jewel thefts is sweeping the city. In sixteen days, sixteen burglaries have been committed, one each night. They bear the same trademark; thousands of dollars of jewels are missing. The thief is a master of his trade and it is Friday and Romero's job to get him.
12	"Police Academy - Mario Koski" "The Blitz Bandits"	Ben Romero	Robbery	August 25, 1949
A gang of "blitz bandits" have started to work in Los Angeles. Their pace is fast, with three to four and even five robberies each night, including liquor stores and restaurants. The criminals are not amateurs; they are well armed and dangerous.
13	"Auto Burglaries - Myra the Redhead"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Auto Theft	September 1, 1949
The mysterious "Myra" has been using teams of youngsters to break into and steal valuables from parked automobiles. In three months, they have broken into two hundred and fifty cars, and property mounting well into the thousands of dollars has been stolen. Two useful members of the gang have been apprehended, but the all-important brains of the criminal ring are still at large.
14	"Eric Kelby - Buried Body in Nursery" "Missing Woman"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 3, 1949
Agnes Kelby has suddenly disappeared from her home, and on the surface, it appears only as a routine missing persons case. Friday starts to investigate and finds Eric Kelby, Agnes's husband acting suspiciously. There is evidence of possible foul play, and it's Friday's job to find the woman or find her murderer.
15	"Sullivan Kidnapping - The Wolf"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 10, 1949
A twenty-two-year-old girl has disappeared and a letter has been received demanding $30,000 for the girls return. The letter is signed "The Wolf".
16	"James Vickers - Cop Killing"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 17, 1949
A police officer, James Vickers, is shot and mortally wounded. One of the suspects is apprehended, the other is still at large. The officer dies, and the cop killer is shot and killed while attempting to escape during a transfer from the hospital to the county jail. The search for the other man in the car begins and leads to a major payroll holdup.
17	"Brick-Bat Slayer"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 24, 1949
A homicidal maniac, Carlos Monterey, who uses a brick-bat, is loose in the city. In every instance he leaves the murder weapon behind and there are no finger prints or clues for the police to identify him. A 1,000 man dragnet slowly gets him cornered, and it's up to Friday and other members of the LAPD to get the killer before he strikes again.
18	"Tom Laval - Truck Hi-jackers"	Ben Romero	Burglary	October 1, 1949
A gang of hijackers has started to work in Los Angeles. Truckloads of valuable merchandise have vanished. The thieves are clever and seem to have a foolproof system. However, the cops have a lead on Thomas Laval, who admits to being involved in a truck hijacking. While in Friday and Romeo's custody, he jumps out of a window, but the 2 detectives are accused of pushing him to his death.
19	"Second Hand Killer"	Ben Romero	Homicide	October 6, 1949
Unknown, Program not available.
20	"The Big Buy - Narcotics"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	October 13, 1949
Unknown, Program not available.
21	"The Big Lamp" "Conrad Buckley - Anthracene"	Ben Romero	Burglary	October 20, 1949
Unknown, Program not available. Though the Radio episode is unavailable, there has been a TV adaptation which is still around.
22	"The Big Drink" "Hugh Taylor - Wife Murderer"	Ben Romero	Homicide	October 27, 1949
Unknown, Program not available.
23	"Casco And Breen" "Forgery - Johnny Casco, Marty Breen"	Ben Romero	Forgery	November 3, 1949
Unknown, Program not available.
24	"The Big Bar" "Robbery-Murder - Juan Pedillo, Wesley Guttridge"	Ben Romero	Robbery	November 10, 1949
Unknown, Program not available.
25	"Bunco - Harry Girard"	Ben Romero	Bunco	November 17, 1949
Unknown, Program not available.
26	"Mrs. Rinard, Albert Barry – Mother-in-Law Murder"	Ben Romero	Homicide	November 24, 1949
Mr. Reynard's mother has been murdered; his wife is suspected of being the killer, but Friday and Romero aren't sure about how she did it.
27	"Spring Street Gang - Juveniles"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	December 1, 1949
A rash of crimes has broken out in the city and suspicion points to an organized gang of juveniles hanging out on Spring Street. One of the gang members has been wounded and another is shot by a night watchman while committing a robbery.
28	"George Quan – The Jade Thumb Rings"	Ben Romero	Robbery	December 8, 1949
A Chinaman has been badly beaten and eight thousand dollars worth of valuable Chinese jade has been stolen. The criminal is vicious: his weapon is a handful of buckshot in a handkerchief. The needed clue is known by an observant six-year-old boy with a wild imagination.
29	"The Garbage Chute Murder – Laura Barkley"	Ben Romero	Homicide	December 15, 1949
A young woman named Laura Barkley has been murdered—strangled with a lamp cord—and her body was discovered behind locked doors. The killer seems to have entered through an unused garbage chute and is still at large.
30	".22 Rifle for Christmas"	Ben Romero	Homicide	December 22, 1949
A young boy, aged 9 years old, named Stanley Johnstone is reported missing from his home, and so is the .22 caliber rifle he was going to get for Christmas. Foul play is suspected.
31	"The Roseland Roof Murders"	Ben Romero	Robbery	December 29, 1949
A gang of holdup men have been running loose in Los Angeles. They have committed more than a dozen robberies, usually drugstores, but one night they rob and kill the manager of a dance hall. They're heavily armed and quick to shoot. A stake-out in a garage yields results and a total of twelve guns. After a trial, two of the gang break out of jail and have to be recaptured.

1950 season

Episode #	Title	Partner	Department	Original air date
32	"Max Tyler – Escaped Convict" "The Big Escape"	Ben Romero	Robbery	January 5, 1950
Two armed bandits have robbed large jewelery stores in the city. One suspect escapes but one is apprehended and identified as a friend of Friday's, Max Tyler. However, Tyler escapes from jail, and shoots Ben Romero. It's Friday's job to recapture him again.
33	"The Big Man Part 1 (Narcotics)"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	January 12, 1950
A vicious criminal has resumed narcotics operations in the city. The police know his name and know he's guilty, so Friday goes undercover to try to get evidence on him by infiltrating a Flats gang of narcotics pushers.
34	"The Big Man Part 2 (Narcotics)"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	January 19, 1950
For seven months, Friday's been working with federal and state agents in breaking a narcotics ring. After returning to active duty from his undercover assignment (from part 1), he helped apprehended a small fry in the narcotics trade. The police then turn their attention to the number one man in the narcotics business on the west coast, the big man, Arthur Z. Belmont. A stakeout begins in Manhattan Beach.
35	"Claude Jimmerson - Child Killer"	Ben Romero	Homicide	February 2, 1950
Two little girls, aged seven and eleven, are reported missing at about 3:45pm. Somewhere between their homes and the neighborhood grocery store they dropped from sight. Foul play is suspected when their pet Collie is later found beaten to death.
36	"The Big Girl"	Ben Romero	Robbery	February 9, 1950
The cops search for a big blonde who shoots her victims in cold blood. So far sixteen persons have been robbed and beaten senseless. The victims describe the assailant as a tall, beautiful woman, but there is a possibility it could be a man wearing woman's clothing.
37	"The Big Grifter"	Ben Romero	Bunco	February 23, 1950
An expert confidence man, "Gentleman Wallace", has resumed operations in Los Angeles. His criminal record dates back thirty-five years. He's a born con-man, a master in the art of the gentle swindle whose taken advantage of two used-car dealers, and many others.
38	"The Big Kill"	Ben Romero	Homicide	March 2, 1950
A police officer is shot down on the front steps of his home. There's no apparent motive for the shooting and the assailant escaped in a blue sedan. Jack Carver, just out of Folsom, is later suspected of killing the cop for revenge for sending him to prison. Friday poses as a criminal in jail to find the missing murder weapon.
39	"The Big Thank You"	Ben Romero	Homicide	March 9, 1950
A confessed murderer, Annie Johnson, is paroled from the state prison for women from a murder conviction. After seven months the parole office loses contact with her. She is then suspected of harming Laura Muller, the woman responsible for her parole and has since disappeared. Foul play is suspected.
40	"The Big Boys"	Ben Romero	Robbery	March 16, 1950
A gang of four young hoodlums and their puppy have come to Los Angeles from San Francisco. They are already wanted for a series of robberies in San Francisco and are planning to pull a big job in Los Angeles. They're armed, reckless and cold-blooded, but a long stake-out with an alcoholic desk clerk might provide results.
41	"The Big Gangster Part 1"	Ben Romero	Homicide	March 23, 1950
Attempts have been made on the life of a notorious gangster, Gus Valentine. If he dies, it could mean an open gang war. Even though he is on the wrong side of the law, the cops must protect him.
42	"The Big Gangster Part 2"	Ben Romero	Homicide	March 30, 1950
Notorious gangster Gus Valentine has been shot to death, a gang war is threatened, and his gang members seek revenge. It is Friday and Romero's job to find his killers before the other gangsters do.
43	"The Big Book" "The Big Smut Press"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	April 6, 1950
High schools have been flooded with obscene, filthy, pornographic "comic" book literature. The Police stamp out one source and a dozen more spring up. Friday and Romero make a presentation to the local PTA and a lead brings them to a cigar stand downtown and a man called "Barney" and then eventually to the printer.
44	"The Big Watch"	Ben Romero	Robbery	April 13, 1950
A gang of vicious "Hitch-Hike Bandits" are committing assaults, robberies and attempted murders. Their victims are army officers stationed in the city. After one of the victims is killed by the gunmen, a manhunt is on.
45	"The Big Trial"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Accident Investigation (Hit and Run Felony Detail)	April 20, 1950
In the early hours of the morning Sheila Gordon is struck down by a hit-and-run driver. After three months of grueling police work, she takes a payoff not to show up for the trial of the guy who struck her down. Friday and Romero have to chase her down.
46	"The Big Job"	Ben Romero	Homicide	April 27, 1950
The Police receive information that an escaped criminal, called Alfred Garvey, is hiding out in the City. While searching for him at a hotel Garvey shoots an off-duty cop, and friend of Friday and Romero, John Maxwell. He was about to go on vacation but decided to visit Friday and Romero first. Soon a Police manhunt is launched to find Garvey.
47	"The Big Badge"	Ben Romero	Homicide	May 4, 1950
For two months, "The Badge Bandit", a depraved criminal who pretends to be a police officer, has struck fifteen times. Men and women have been robbed, brutally attacked. Friday and Policewoman Dorothy Rivers go on stake out to catch him, along with several other members of the LAPD.
48	"The Big Knife"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	May 11, 1950
Twenty one girls have been knifed while at a high school. So far there's only been assaults, no murders, but with a potential killer roaming the halls of the high school, the Police are called in.
49	"The Big Pug"	Ben Romero	Robbery	May 18, 1950
Two criminals rob and beat up Myrtle Shaw, an elderly woman, who was on her way to the bank. The suspects are cruel and ruthless, so it's the police and Friday's job to find them.
50	"The Big Key"	Ben Romero	Homicide	May 25, 1950
Maria Comacho is found murdered in a churchyard; her body shows the marks of a savage attack. The clues are meager: a key, a pen, and some shoe polish smear.
51	"The Big Fake"	Ben Romero	Personnel	June 1, 1950
A drunk files a report of robbery and assault (including breaking his arm) against a rookie police officer. The Rookie cop denies the accusations.
52	"The Big Smart Guy"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 8, 1950
Elizabeth Benham has been shot to death. The apparent motive, according to her husband, was robbery. The killer, Jack Morrison, also known as Tommy Kane, is suspected to have committed the murder, but it is believed that he had help.
53	"The Big Purse"	Ben Romero	Robbery	June 15, 1950
Scores of lone women have been beaten and robbed by two young purse-snatchers working in a downtown neighborhood. The victims have been unable to identify the two young hoodlums.
54	"The Big Mink"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 22, 1950
The owner of a fur store, Albert Criver, has been shot and killed; his wife found the body. The only lead is a missing mink fur coat which had been taken before the murder. Albert's 1940 Oldsmobile is also missing and his wife mentions the license keychain tag distributed by the Veteran's Administration.
55	"The Big Grab"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 29, 1950
A woman, Mrs. Kessell, has been kidnapped, taken from her home by a man posing as a police officer.
56	"The Big Frame"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Accident Investigation (Hit and Run Felony Detail)	July 6, 1950
A dead body is found in the streets in the early hours of the morning. He is later identified as Edward Stokes, a victim of a hit and run driver.
57	"The Big Bomb"	Ben Romero	Unassigned	July 13, 1950
Friday has been off-duty for 2 hours when he receives an emergency phone call from the Deputy Chief of Police. An entire block in the heart of the city has been threatened with complete destruction by Vernon Carney. He is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother, Elwood Carney, isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock. Remake of "Attempted City Hall Bombing".
58	"The Big Gent Part 1" "Frank Chaney - The Gentleman Bandit: Part 1"	Ben Romero	Robbery	July 20, 1950
A hold-up has been committed in a neighbouring city where a bystander is shot to death and two others are wounded. The bandits are ruthless, well armed and currently known to be in the area. Friday and Romero identify one of them as Frank Cheney, The Gentleman Bandit, a rich man who robs and kills for fun, even after an eighteen year stay in Folsom State Prison. Soon, Stanley Turk Webber, Cheney's partner in crime, is captured, but Cheney remains at large.
59	"The Big Gent Part 2" "Frank Chaney - The Gentleman Bandit: Part 2"	Ben Romero	Robbery	July 27, 1950
Three persons are shot down in a twelve thousand dollar hold up. One of the bandits, Stanley Turk Webber, is apprehended, convicted and sent to prison for life. The other one, Frank Chaney, is still at large. But thanks to a tip from Cheney's father, he is captured at a freighter loading dynamite in the harbor. Meanwhile in a unrelated subplot, Friday calls fellow officer, Dorothy Rivers, about her lost purse and their date at the movies the previous night. Friday works up the courage to ask her to have dinner with him at his mothers next week.
60	"The Big Dare"	Ben Romero	Homicide	August 3, 1950
A woman is knifed to death, and her body bears the mark of a brutally slain attack. The Police are called in by the woman's son who had found the body. During the investigation, it's revealed the mom had several boyfriends, and one of her current boyfriends was jealous of her having other boyfriends. As the Dragnet closes in on the killer, his sister arranges for the suspects surrender.
61	"The Big Actor"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	August 10, 1950
St. Christopher's Hospital pharmacy is held up and $10,000 worth of high grade narcotics are stolen. The Police are called but the bandits escape.
62	"The Big Youngster"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	August 17, 1950
A vicious case of wanton and willful destruction of private property occurs to a lawyers office and suspicion points to a juvenile. The police try and find out who did it and why. Meanwhile, a young boy named Arnold Waterman confesses to a murder. When no body is found, Waterman is suspected of being the vandal Friday is looking for.
63	"The Big Chance"	Ben Romero	Homicide	August 24, 1950
A highway patrolman has disappeared from his cruiser, out in the countryside. His cruiser was found with the motor running and lights on.
64	"The Big Check"	Ben Romero	Forgery	August 31, 1950
Friday and Romero must track down an accomplished check forger who passes dozens of small checks—all of them bad. He has started working the city and his victims are small businessmen. The police know his MO but not his identity; soon they get a name Harry Johansson and the Dragnet closes in.
65	"The Big Poison"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 7, 1950
Mr. and Mrs. Apperson, an elderly couple, living in a fashionable neighborhood of the city, have disappeared. There is no trace of them; not a clue to their whereabouts. Foul play is suspected and soon a bottle of cyanide points to a grim conclusion, involving the live-in nephew.
66	"The Big Make"	Ben Romero	Robbery	September 14, 1950
A small bakery, "Stendahl's Bakery Shop", is held up. The perpetrator shot the shop owner and his daughter down without reason.
67	"The Big Pair"	Ben Romero	Burglary	September 21, 1950
A couple of unidentified thieves start a campaign of burglaries in the city. Homes are broken into and stripped of their furnishings, with the thieves selling all the furniture from the homes they break into to families out of town, starting with the house of a little girl and her grandfather.
68	"The Big Death"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 28, 1950
A socially prominent man decides to plot to kill his wife and hires Joe Friday for the job.
69	"The Big 38"	Ben Romero	Robbery	October 5, 1950
A store clerk has been murdered, shot to death in a robbery. The holdup man is described as tall, well dressed. Witnesses say he escaped in a taxi cab. The Number of the cab was covered up some way. Seven other armed robberies have been committed in the past 16 days by the same man with the same M.O.
70	"The Big Quack"	Ben Romero	Burglary	October 12, 1950
A man posing as a doctor is burglarizing homes in the city. Marla Hutchins commits suicide after being robbed by the phony Dr. Schulte, owner of the Los Angeles College of Psychotherapeutics. The police have his description and must find him.
71	"The Big Grandma"	Ben Romero	Forgery	October 19, 1950
An elderly woman has been passing bad checks for the last nine years. She is an accomplished forger and looks like everyone's grandmother, and never passes a bad check between May and October. She's written more than twenty thousand dollars in bad checks.
72	"The Big Meet"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	October 26, 1950
A gang of veteran dope peddlers moves in to LA. They offer a hundred thousand dollars worth of heroin for sale. Sergeant Friday tries to trap Howard Scully, a careful narcotics wholesaler, who leads the gang. Friday goes undercover and poses as a buyer; he meets the leaders contacts and they're ready to do business.
73	"The Big Church"	Ben Romero	Homicide	November 2, 1950
A new member of the congregation receives anonymous letters and phone calls threatening her with murder. The notes bear the mark of a fanatic, but police suspect fraud until a faked attack confirms their suspicion. The Second Reformed Church of the Holy Book is the name of the church.
74	"The Big Mother"	Ben Romero	Homicide	November 9, 1950
A newborn, one of the three day old Striker baby twins, has been stolen from Mercy Hospital nursery. There is no trace of the infant and there is no trace of the abductor.
75	"The Big Parrot"	Ben Romero	Homicide	November 16, 1950
A man and his wife are found strangled to death in a rooming house, and the killer has set fire to the room to cover his tracks. Also a dead parrot, who's also been strangled, lies on the floor beside the bodies.
76	"The Big Betty"	Ben Romero	Bunco	November 23, 1950
A bunco gang of petty swindlers have set up operations in the city. They work the obituary racket, selling worthless merchandise to the relatives of the deceased. They're experienced, cunning and they work fast.
77	"The Big Car"	Ben Romero	Robbery	November 30, 1950
In four months, fifteen food markets in Los Angeles have been held up and robbed. The bandit is well-dressed and well-armed, and a bright red Pontiac looks like a clue for the police.
78	"The Big Picture"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	December 7, 1950
A pair of fake talent scouts are at work in the city; their victims are young girls seeking careers in Hollywood. The criminals are vicious and relentless.
79	"The Big Break"	Ben Romero	Robbery	December 14, 1950
Friday and Romero have been tracking a hold up man for months. They finally get a line on where he's hiding but he's dangerous and well armed. After a shoot-out, the criminal, George Hoffman, is arrested but escapes at his arraignment by climbing down the side of a building.
80/30	".22 Rifle for Christmas"	Ben Romero	Homicide	December 21, 1950 (Repeated from December 22, 1949)
A young boy, aged 9 years old, named Stanley Johnstone is reported missing from his home and so is the .22 caliber rifle he was going to get for Christmas. Foul play is suspected. This is a repeat of the previous year's Christmas episode.
81	"The Big Family"	Ben Romero	Missing Persons	December 28, 1950
A wealthy businessman in the city drops from sight. His car is found on the dock—an apparent suicide scenario—but there's no body. Friday and Romero start to search for him, but after a lot of missing persons police work, no laws are broken and the man is found just trying to get away from it all.

1951 season

Episode #	Title	Partner	Department	Original air date
82	"The Big Holdup"	Ben Romero	Homicide	January 4, 1951
A potential killer is on the loose; he's robbed six people. Nicknamed "The Rattlesnake Bandit", he takes great pleasure in beating his victims senseless before shooting them. There's no reason at all for these senseless beatings, and he moves fast and is well armed.
83	"The Big Jump"	Ben Romero	Homicide	January 11, 1951
Walter Harrison crouches on the window ledge of a downtown building, thirteen stories above the street. He threatens to leap to his death within the hour.
84	"The Big Dance"	Ben Romero	Robbery	January 18, 1951
For three months Friday's been tracking a pair of hold-up men, "The Kid Bandits", who are robbing and beating their victims. There is no pattern to their operation. They're young and they're brutal, but a pack of matches leads Friday to Fred Guenther.
85	"The Big Tomato"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	January 25, 1951
A high school boy named Kenneth Morrow is killed in an auto accident. He had been using marijuana. It looks as if a band of dope peddlers have launched a full scale operation in the city and are selling their merchandise to high school students. Friday and the cops have to track down the man known as "The Big Tomato."
86	"The Big Children"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	February 1, 1951
Friday and Romero receive a complaint about an eight year old boy and his sister. A neighbor reports they've been going from door to door begging for food. Supposedly the children are from well to do parents. Friday and Romero investigate and find that the children's mother, Mrs. Kessler, is missing. Meanwhile, one of the children soon dies at only 22-months-old.
87	"The Big Cast"	Ben Romero	Homicide	February 8, 1951
Twelve men drop completely from sight over a short period of time. One of them is Paul Davis. There's evidence of foul play. Four months pass before Friday and Romero finally locate the main suspect in the case. As they interview him, they realize they may have found a serial killer.
88	"The Big Crime"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	February 15, 1951
A worried mother calls the police and reports her four-year-old twins girls as missing. Hours pass and the children fail to turn up. A neighborhood search commences but soon the girls come home and reveal they have been molested. Friday and the other cops become determined to convict the sick fiend.
89	"The Big Couple"	Ben Romero	Bunco	February 22, 1951
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert are a husband and wife confidence team specializing in victimizing churches and clergymen. Their criminal records date back 17 years and they are masters in the art of swindling. As the pair start hitting churches in LA, Friday and Romero are assigned to bring them in.
90	"The Big Partner"	Ben Romero	Robbery	March 1, 1951
A lone bandit robs a jewelry store in broad daylight and takes five thousand dollars in precious stones. The bandit is reckless and well armed but soon gets caught by the police after causing a traffic collision during his attempted escape. Then the robber escapes from the lockup and must be recaptured again.
91	"The Big New Years"	Ben Romero	Homicide	March 8, 1951
It's New Years Eve in Los Angeles and Friday's on special duty. Thousands of people crowd the downtown streets and one of them is a killer after a veteran cop is found murdered. Friday notifies his wife, and a club owner later identifies a drug addict as the probable suspect. The killer is convicted of manslaughter and paroled in 6 years.
92	"The Big Ben"	Ben Romero	Robbery	March 15, 1951
A man named Harvey Kimbrel is on his way to work when he is pulled from his car on a deserted street, robbed, and beaten viciously before his car is stolen. The criminal makes good his escape. In the course of the investigation, Friday is shot by the main suspect. Romero takes over the narration for Friday after he is shot. In the TV adaption of this episode "The Big Frank" it is Friday's then-partner Sergeant Frank Smith that is shot and not Friday.
93	"The Big Trunk"	Ben Romero	Homicide	March 22, 1951
An attractive divorcée named Josephine Allen disappears from her home. She was last seen hanging up clothes in her back yard. There's no lead to her whereabouts and there's evidence of foul play.
94	"The Big Lover"	Ben Romero	Bunco	March 29, 1951
For the past year a confidence man named Benton has been cheating women in LA by proposing marriage to them and then stealing their money. Mrs. Harris is the latest victim of his crime and was fleeced out of $100. She reports it to Friday and Romero who try and get a lead on him.
95	"The Big Friend"	Ben Romero	Homicide	April 5, 1951
A phone call comes into the police from a Mr. Gray, who tells them his wife Hazel has been murdered. He's not sure who the killer is, but when questioned he can't tell the same story twice about how it happened.
96	"The Big Threat"	Ben Romero	Robbery	April 12, 1951
A middle aged businessman, Louis Butler, is robbed and beaten senseless. The hold-up men escape but Mr. Butler doesn't want to tell the police about it, and even refuses to report the crime because of threats against his family.
97	"The Big Speech"	Ben Romero	Robbery	April 19, 1951
A young narcotics addict pistol-whips a doctor leaving him in critical condition, he also steals a large quantity of narcotics from him. Meanwhile, Sergeant Friday is asked by his old high school to give a talk. After the young addict is caught, Friday delivers a speech about the use of narcotics by teenagers. We find out in this episode that Friday lives at 1456 Collis Avenue, Los Angeles.
98	"The Big Saint"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Auto Theft	April 26, 1951
A well organized ring of car thieves comes to town. A 1949 Cadillac is stolen, Friday and Romero find it at Herman Lester's salvage yard. Plus Lester's salvage business is busy but shouldn't be due to the Korean War. Friday and Romero try to break the stolen car racket.
99	"The Big Casing"	Ben Romero	Homicide	May 3, 1951
Friday and Romero go to an apartment house in answer to a shooting and dead body call. The woman, Marie Robertson, has been shot dead with a .45 automatic. Her husband, Andrew, tells them it's suicide but it looks more like murder. Friday and Romero investigate the truth.
100	"The Big Drills"	Ben Romero	Burglary	May 10, 1951
For the past eighteen weeks, a gang of safe men have been breaking in to large grocery stores, the Wilson Bros Markets, all over the city. They work fast and have stolen over $100,000, and the police can't localize their operations. Friday and Romero are assigned to bring them in.
101	"The Big Blast"	Ben Romero	Homicide	May 17, 1951
102	"The Big Mailman"	Ben Romero	Forgery	May 24, 1951
103	"The Big Bindle"	Ben Romero	Narcotics	May 31, 1951
104	"The Big Imposter"	Ben Romero	Missing Persons	June 7, 1951
105	"The Big Building"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 14, 1951
106	"The Big Run"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Accident investigation (Hit and Run Felony Detail)	June 21, 1951
107	"The Big Cliff"	Ben Romero	Homicide	June 28, 1951
108	"The Big Love"	Ben Romero	Homicide	July 5, 1951
109	"The Big Set-Up"	Ben Romero	Burglary	July 12, 1951
110	"The Big Sophomore"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	July 19, 1951
111	"The Big Late Script"	Ben Romero	Homicide	July 26, 1951
112	"The Big Cop"	Ben Romero	Unknown	August 2, 1951
113	"The Big Screen"	Ben Romero	Bunco	August 9, 1951
114	"The Big Winchester"	Ben Romero	Homicide	August 16, 1951
115	"The Big In-Laws"	Ben Romero	Robbery	August 23, 1951
116	"The Big Crazy"	Ben Romero	Homicide	August 30, 1951
117	"The Big Seventeen"	Ben Romero	Juvenile	September 6, 1951
118	"The Big Waiter"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 13, 1951
119	"The Big Sour"	Ben Romero	Robbery	September 20, 1951
120	"The Big September Man"	Ben Romero	Homicide	September 27, 1951
121	"The Big Want Ad"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Auto Theft	October 4, 1951
122	"The Big Shoplift"	Ben Romero	Burglary	October 11, 1951
123	"The Big Story Man"	Ben Romero	Burglary	October 18, 1951
124	"The Big Market"	Ben Romero	Robbery	October 25, 1951
125	"The Big Lease"	Ben Romero	Homicide	November 1, 1951
126	"The Big Hit and Run Killer"	Ben Romero	Traffic: Accident Investigation, (Hit-Run Felony Detail)	November 8, 1951
127	"The Big Bungalow"	Ben Romero	Burglary	November 15, 1951
128	"The Big Hands"	Ben Romero	Homicide	November 22, 1951
129	"The Big Affair"	Ben Romero	Robbery	November 29, 1951
130	"The Big Canaries"	Ben Romero	Homicide	December 6, 1951
131	"The Big Overtime"	Ben Romero	Homicide	December 13, 1951
132/30	".22 Rifle for Christmas"	Ben Romero	Homicide	December 20, 1951 (Repeated from December 22, 1949)
133	"The Big Sorrow"	Ed Jacobs	Robbery	December 27, 1951
Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough) passes away in this episode. Barney Phillips assumes the role as Joe Friday's partner, Ed Jacobs.

1952 season

#	Title	Original air date	Air date
132	"The Big Red Part 1"	January 3, 1952	1952-01-03
133	"The Big Red Part 2"	January 10, 1952	1952-01-10
134	"The Big Juvenile Division"	January 17, 1952	1952-01-17
135	"The Big Court"	January 24, 1952	1952-01-24
136	"The Big Almost No-Show"	January 31, 1952	1952-01-31
137	"The Big Honeymoon"	February 7, 1952	1952-02-07
138	"The Big Phone Call"	February 14, 1952	1952-02-14
139	"The Big Producer"	February 21, 1952	1952-02-21
140	"The Big Plant"	February 28, 1952	1952-02-28
141	"The Big Evans"	March 6, 1952	1952-03-06
142	"The Big Fire"	March 13, 1952	1952-03-13
143	"The Big Border"	March 20, 1952	1952-03-20
144	"The Big Rose"	March 27, 1952	1952-03-27
145	"The Big Streetcar"	April 3, 1952	1952-04-03
146	"The Big Show"	April 10, 1952	1952-04-10
147	"The Big Bunco"	April 17, 1952	1952-04-17
148	"The Big Elevator"	April 24, 1952	1952-04-24
149	"The Big Safe"	May 1, 1952	1952-05-01
150	"The Big Gamble"	May 8, 1952	1952-05-08
151	"The Big Mail"	May 15, 1952	1952-05-15
152	"The Big Shakedown"	May 22, 1952	1952-05-22
153	"The Big Fourth"	May 29, 1952	1952-05-29
154	"The Big Whiff"	June 5, 1952	1952-06-05
155	"The Big Donation"	June 12, 1952	1952-06-12
156	"The Big Jules"	June 19, 1952	1952-06-19
157	"The Big Roll"	June 26, 1952	1952-06-26
158	"The Big Trio"	July 3, 1952	1952-07-03
159	"The Big Hate"	July 10, 1952	1952-07-10
160	"The Big Signet"	July 31, 1952	1952-07-31
161	"The Big Impression"	August 7, 1952	1952-08-07
162	"The Big Drive"	August 14, 1952	1952-08-14
163	"The Big Paper"	August 21, 1952	1952-08-21
164	"The Big Test"	August 28, 1952	1952-08-28
165	"The Big Ray"	September 4, 1952	1952-09-04
166	"The Big Tear"	September 11, 1952	1952-09-11
167	"The Big Bull"	September 14, 1952	1952-09-14
168	"The Big Shot"	September 21, 1952	1952-09-21
169	"The Big Brain"	September 28, 1952	1952-09-28
170	"The Big Jolt"	October 5, 1952	1952-10-05
171	"The Big Lie"	October 12, 1952	1952-10-12
172	"The Big Pill"	October 19, 1952	1952-10-19
173	"The Big Number"	October 26, 1952	1952-10-26
174	"The Big Light"	November 2, 1952	1952-11-02
175	"The Big Dive"	November 9, 1952	1952-11-09
176	"The Big Walk"	November 16, 1952	1952-11-16
177	"The Big Guilt"	November 23, 1952	1952-11-23
178	"The Big Shirt"	November 30, 1952	1952-11-30
179	"The Big Mole"	December 7, 1952	1952-12-07
180	"The Big Eavesdrop"	December 14, 1952	1952-12-14
30	".22 Rifle for Christmas"	December 22, 1949	1952-12-21
181	"The Big Mask Part 1"	December 28, 1952	1952-12-28

1953 season

#	Title	Original air date	Air date
182	"The Big Mask Part 2"	January 4, 1953	1953-01-04
183	"The Big Small"	January 11, 1953	1953-01-11
184	"The Big String"	January 18, 1953	1953-01-18
185	"The Big Lay-Out"	January 25, 1953	1953-01-25
186	"The Big Strip"	February 1, 1953	1953-02-01
187	"The Big Press"	February 8, 1953	1953-02-08
188	"The Big Tooth"	February 15, 1953	1953-02-15
189	"The Big Smoke"	February 22, 1953	1953-02-22
190	"The Big Want"	March 1, 1953	1953-03-01
191	"The Big Laugh"	March 8, 1953	1953-03-08
192	"The Big Impossible"	March 15, 1953	1953-03-15
193	"The Big Informant"	March 22, 1953	1953-03-22
194	"The Big Dream"	March 29, 1953	1953-03-29
195	"The Big Chet"	April 5, 1953	1953-04-05
196	"The Big Compulsion"	April 12, 1953	1953-04-12
197	"The Big Rip"	April 19, 1953	1953-04-19
198	"The Big Scrapbook"	April 26, 1953	1953-04-26
199	"The Big Carney"	May 3, 1953	1953-05-03
200	"The Big Joke"	May 10, 1953	1953-05-10
201	"The Big False Move"	May 17, 1953	1953-05-17
202	"The Big Gun Part 1"	May 24, 1953	1953-05-24
203	"The Big Gun Part 2"	May 31, 1953	1953-05-31
204	"The Big Will"	June 7, 1953	1953-06-07
205	"The Big Lilly"	June 14, 1953	1953-06-14
206	"The Big Revolt"	June 21, 1953	1953-06-21
207	"The Big Ham"	June 28, 1953	1953-06-28
208	"The Big Bop"	September 1, 1953	1953-09-01
209	"The Big Lift"	September 8, 1953	1953-09-08
210	"The Big Cab"	September 15, 1953	1953-09-15
211	"The Big Slip"	September 22, 1953	1953-09-22
212	"The Big Try"	September 29, 1953	1953-09-29
213	"The Big Little Mother"	October 6, 1953	1953-10-06
214	"The Big Plea"	October 13, 1953	1953-10-13
215	"The Big Paint"	October 20, 1953	1953-10-20
216	"The Big Fraud"	October 27, 1953	1953-10-27
217	"The Big Rain"	November 3, 1953	1953-11-03
218	"The Big Kid"	November 10, 1953	1953-11-10
219	"The Big Flight"	November 17, 1953	1953-11-17
220	"The Big Present"	November 24, 1953	1953-11-24
221	"The Big Odd"	December 1, 1953	1953-12-01
222	"The Big Pick"	December 8, 1953	1953-12-08
223	"The Big Brink"	December 15, 1953	1953-12-15
224	"The Big Little Jesus"	December 22, 1953	1953-12-22
225	"The Big Steal"	December 29, 1953	1953-12-29

1954 season

#	Title	Original air date	Air date
226	"The Big Listen"	January 5, 1954	1954-01-05
227	"The Big Switch"	January 12, 1954	1954-01-12
228	"The Big Bill"	January 19, 1954	1954-01-19
229	"The Big Bid"	January 26, 1954	1954-01-26
230	"The Big Filth"	February 2, 1954	1954-02-02
231	"The Big Broad"	February 9, 1954	1954-02-09
232	"The Big Sucker"	February 16, 1954	1954-02-16
233	"The Big Pipe"	February 23, 1954	1954-02-23
234	"The Big TV"	March 2, 1954	1954-03-02
235	"The Big Cup"	March 9, 1954	1954-03-09
236	"The Big Rod"	March 16, 1954	1954-03-16
237	"The Big Mustache"	March 23, 1954	1954-03-23
238	"The Big Confession"	March 30, 1954	1954-03-30
239	"The Big Saw"	April 6, 1954	1954-04-06
240	"The Big Note"	April 13, 1954	1954-04-13
241	"The Big Net"	April 20, 1954	1954-04-20
242	"The Big Lift"	April 27, 1954	1954-04-27
243	"The Big Stop"	May 4, 1954	1954-05-04
244	"The Big Look"	May 11, 1954	1954-05-11
245	"The Big Help"	May 18, 1954	1954-05-18
246	"The Big Watch"	May 25, 1954	1954-05-25
247	"The Big Cowboy"	June 1, 1954	1954-06-01
248	"The Big Student"	June 8, 1954	1954-06-08
249	"The Big Cat"	June 15, 1954	1954-06-15
250	"The Big Customer"	June 22, 1954	1954-06-22
251	"The Big Chick"	June 29, 1954	1954-06-29
252	"The Big Search"	July 6, 1954	1954-07-06
253	"The Big Rescue"	July 13, 1954	1954-07-13
254	"The Big Heel"	July 20, 1954	1954-07-20
255	"The Big Match"	July 27, 1954	1954-07-27
256	"The Big Stand"	August 3, 1954	1954-08-03
257	"The Big Wish"	August 10, 1954	1954-08-10
258	"The Big Cad"	August 17, 1954	1954-08-17
259	"The Big Shock"	August 24, 1954	1954-08-24
260	"The Big Office"	August 31, 1954	1954-08-31
261	"The Big Trunk"	September 7, 1954	1954-09-07
262	"The Big Cut"	September 14, 1954	1954-09-14
263	"The Big Try"	September 21, 1954	1954-09-21
264	"The Big Bible"	September 28, 1954	1954-09-28
265	"The Big Handsome Bandit"	October 5, 1954	1954-10-05
266	"The Big Tar Baby"	October 12, 1954	1954-10-12
267	"The Big Mannequin"	October 19, 1954	1954-10-19
268	"The Big Key"	October 26, 1954	1954-10-26
269	"The Big Locker"	November 2, 1954	1954-11-02
270	"The Big Coins"	November 9, 1954	1954-11-09
271	"The Big Dog"	November 16, 1954	1954-11-16
272	"The Big Switch"	November 23, 1954	1954-11-23
273	"The Big Gone"	November 30, 1954	1954-11-30
274	"The Big Dig"	December 7, 1954	1954-12-07
275	"The Big Lens"	December 14, 1954	1954-12-14
224	"The Big Little Jesus"	December 22, 1953	1954-12-21
276	"The Big Underground"	December 28, 1954	1954-12-28

1955 season

#	Title	Original air date	Air date
277	"The Big Mug"	January 4, 1955	1955-01-04
278	"The Big Complex"	January 11, 1955	1955-01-11
279	"The Big Token"	January 18, 1955	1955-01-18
280	"The Big Bounce"	January 25, 1955	1955-01-25
281	"The Big Bird"	February 1, 1955	1955-02-01
282	"The Big Gap"	February 8, 1955	1955-02-08
283	"The Big Hat"	February 15, 1955	1955-02-15
284	"The Big Slug"	February 22, 1955	1955-02-22
285	"The Big Set-Up"	March 1, 1955	1955-03-01
286	"The Big Father"	March 8, 1955	1955-03-08
287	"The Big Set"	March 15, 1955	1955-03-15
288	"The Big Talk"	March 22, 1955	1955-03-22
289	"The Big Death"	March 29, 1955	1955-03-29
290	"The Big No Tooth"	April 5, 1955	1955-04-05
291	"The Big Tie"	April 12, 1955	1955-04-12
292	"The Big Deal"	April 19, 1955	1955-04-19
293	"The Big Child"	April 26, 1955	1955-04-26
294	"The Big Momma"	May 3, 1955	1955-05-03
295	"The Big Revision"	May 10, 1955	1955-05-10
296	"The Big Squealer"	May 17, 1955	1955-05-17
297	"The Big Siege"	May 24, 1955	1955-05-24
298	"The Big Sisters"	May 31, 1955	1955-05-31
299	"The Big Limp"	June 7, 1955	1955-06-07
300	"The Big Fall Guy"	June 14, 1955	1955-06-14
301	"The Big Grab"	June 21, 1955	1955-06-21
302	"The Big Convertible"	June 28, 1955	1955-06-28
303	"The Big Rush"	July 5, 1955	1955-07-05
304	"The Big Genius"	July 12, 1955	1955-07-12
305	"The Big Bobo"	July 19, 1955	1955-07-19
306	"The Big Housemaid"	July 26, 1955	1955-07-26
307	"The Big Sheet"	August 2, 1955	1955-08-02
308	"The Big Missus"	August 9, 1955	1955-08-09
309	"The Big Beer"	August 16, 1955	1955-08-16
310	"The Big Blonde"	August 23, 1955	1955-08-23
311	"The Big Fellow"	August 30, 1955	1955-08-30
312	"The Big Ruling"	September 6, 1955	1955-09-06
313	"The Big Daughter"	September 13, 1955	1955-09-13
314	"The Big Close"	September 20, 1955	1955-09-20
168	"The Big Shot"	September 21, 1952	1955-09-27
169	"The Big Brain"	September 28, 1952	1955-10-04
170	"The Big Jolt"	October 5, 1952	1955-10-11
171	"The Big Lie"	October 12, 1952	1955-10-18
172	"The Big Pill"	October 19, 1952	1955-10-25
173	"The Big Number"	October 26, 1952	1955-11-01
174	"The Big Light"	November 2, 1952	1955-11-08
175	"The Big Dive"	November 9, 1952	1955-11-15
176	"The Big Walk"	November 16, 1952	1955-11-22
177	"The Big Guilt"	November 23, 1952	1955-11-29
178	"The Big Shirt"	November 30, 1952	1955-12-06
179	"The Big Mole"	December 7, 1952	1955-12-13
30	".22 Rifle for Christmas"	December 22, 1949	1955-12-20
181	"The Big Mask Part 1"	December 28, 1952	1955-12-27

1956 season

#	Title	Original air date	Air date
182	"The Big Mask Part 2"	January 4, 1953	1956-01-03
183	"The Big Small"	January 11, 1953	1956-01-10
184	"The Big String"	January 18, 1953	1956-01-17
185	"The Big Lay-Out"	January 25, 1953	1956-01-24
186	"The Big Strip"	February 1, 1953	1956-01-31
187	"The Big Press"	February 8, 1953	1956-02-07
188	"The Big Tooth"	February 15, 1953	1956-02-14
189	"The Big Smoke"	February 22, 1953	1956-02-21
190	"The Big Want"	March 1, 1953	1956-02-28
191	"The Big Laugh"	March 8, 1953	1956-03-06
192	"The Big Impossible"	March 15, 1953	1956-03-13
30	".22 Rifle for Christmas"	December 22, 1949	1956-03-20
193	"The Big Informant"	March 22, 1953	1956-03-27
194	"The Big Dream"	March 29, 1953	1956-04-03
195	"The Big Chet"	April 5, 1953	1956-04-10
196	"The Big Compulsion"	April 12, 1953	1956-04-17
197	"The Big Rip"	April 19, 1953	1956-04-24
198	"The Big Scrapbook"	April 26, 1953	1956-05-01
199	"The Big Carney"	May 3, 1953	1956-05-08
200	"The Big Joke"	May 10, 1953	1956-05-15
201	"The Big False Move"	May 17, 1953	1956-05-22
202	"The Big Gun Part 1"	May 24, 1953	1956-05-29
203	"The Big Gun Part 2"	May 31, 1953	1956-06-05
204	"The Big Will"	June 7, 1953	1956-06-12
205	"The Big Lilly"	June 14, 1953	1956-06-19
206	"The Big Revolt"	June 21, 1953	1956-06-26
207	"The Big Ham"	June 28, 1953	1956-09-18
208	"The Big Bop"	September 1, 1953	1956-09-25
209	"The Big Lift"	September 8, 1953	1956-10-02
210	"The Big Cab"	September 15, 1953	1956-10-09
211	"The Big Slip"	September 22, 1953	1956-10-16
212	"The Big Try"	September 29, 1953	1956-10-23
220	"The Big Present"	November 24, 1953	1956-10-30
221	"The Big Odd"	December 1, 1953	1956-11-06
222	"The Big Pick"	December 8, 1953	1956-11-13
223	"The Big Brink"	December 15, 1953	1956-11-20
225	"The Big Steal"	December 29, 1953	1956-11-27
226	"The Big Listen"	January 5, 1954	1956-12-04
227	"The Big Switch"	January 12, 1954	1956-12-11
228	"The Big Bill"	January 19, 1954	1956-12-18
224	"The Big Little Jesus"	December 22, 1953	1956-12-25

1957 season

#	Title	Original air date	Air date
229	"The Big Bid"	January 26, 1954	1957-01-01
230	"The Big Filth"	February 2, 1954	1957-01-08
231	"The Big Broad"	February 9, 1954	1957-01-15
232	"The Big Sucker"	February 16, 1954	1957-01-22
233	"The Big Pipe"	February 23, 1954	1957-01-29
234	"The Big TV"	March 2, 1954	1957-02-05
235	"The Big Cup"	March 9, 1954	1957-02-12
236	"The Big Rod"	March 16, 1954	1957-02-19
237	"The Big Mustache"	March 23, 1954	1957-02-26

References

1. Passage, Frank M. (May 2004). "Dragnet 1949 - 1957". Old Time Radio Program Logs. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
2. "Dragnet the 50's radio show". Old Time Radio. Internet Archive. 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
3. "Dragnet - Old Time Radio Shows - OTR". Old Radio World. 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.

Sources

• John Dunning, On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-19-507678-8.