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][4]
1949 season
| Episode # | Title | Case Details (Partner/Boss/Department) |
Background Information (Date/Weather) |
Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Production #1 Robbery" "George Slocum, Thief" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Robbery | N/A | June 3, 1949 | |
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In the series' first episode, LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero must keep an eye on George Slocum, a known thief who has escaped prosecution before. | |||||
| 2 | "Production #2 Homicide" "The Nickel Plated Gun" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday March 25th Cold | June 10, 1949 | |
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A nickel-plated .44 caliber Smith & Wesson is used to shoot two officers, but conflicting descriptions of the assailants from multiple witnesses create a unique challenge. | |||||
| 3 | "Production #4 Robbery" "The Werewolf" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Robbery | Thursday February 2nd Raining | June 17, 1949 | |
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Friday and Romero go searching for a criminal dubbed "The Werewolf" by the media, who has beaten up and robbed eighteen young women in LA's Central district. The nickname for the criminal caught on because he is big, hairy, and ugly. He always seems to be one step ahead of the LAPD. | |||||
| 4 | "Production 4 Homicide" "Quick Trigger Gunmen" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday April 17th Warm | June 24, 1949 | |
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A cop on a stake-out is killed by a shotgun blast from three quick-trigger gunmen in a bar. Friday's boss wants the killers caught before the next sunrise; soon, 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 Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday March 19th Foggy | July 7, 1949 | |
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A well-liked 21-year-old waitress named Helen Corday is murdered with a steel pipe. With no known motive for the killing, Friday and Romero follow a perplexing trail of false leads in search of the truth. Later remade for television in Season 5 of the 1951 TV Series, episode #126, "The Big Pipe". | |||||
| 6 | "The Red Light Bandit" "The Impostor" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Robbery (Nightwatch) | Wednesday June 4th Warm | July 14, 1949 | |
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A robber disguised as a police officer goes on a crime spree over several months. Helpless citizens are kidnapped, robbed, and beaten senseless by the fake cop. He usually strikes when his victims pull up to a red traffic light; when one of his victims dies, the LAPD turns up the heat. | |||||
| 7 | "Attempted City Hall Bombing" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Not Assigned | Tuesday November 15th Raining | July 21, 1949 | |
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Friday has been off duty for two hours when he receives an emergency phone call from Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand. 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. Friday and Romero are tasked with getting the bomb away from him before it is too late. | |||||
| 8 | "Missing Persons - Juanita Lasky" "The Big Missing" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Missing Persons (Daywatch) | Monday December 12th Cold | July 28, 1949 | |
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As the Christmas season approaches, Friday and Romero receive a call from Utah from the mother of a woman named Juanita Laskey, who tells them that her daughter has stopped writing to her and is calling to report her missing. Friday and Romero must try and bring her home for a Christmas reunion. | |||||
| 9 | "Benny Trounsel - Narcotics" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Narcotics (Nightwatch) | Thursday March 23rd Windy | August 4, 1949 | |
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Friday and Romero search for the murderer of an informant — small-time narcotics user Benny Trounsel — who was beaten to death shortly after tipping the authorities to a new narcotics ring stealing from doctor's offices and hospitals. | |||||
| 10 | "Maniac Murderer" "A Mad Killer at Large" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday January 12th Raining | August 11, 1949 | |
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Friday and Romero are on the trail of a psychotic homicidal maniac who has killed and mutilated several young women in Los Angeles. Special Note: This marks the first series appearance of Harry Morgan, who would later play Officer Bill Gannon in both the 1966 film and the subsequent TV series. He plays the hotel manager, Ford. | |||||
| 11 | "Sixteen Days of Jewel Thefts" "Master Jewel Thief" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Burglary (Daywatch) | Tuesday June 17th Warm | August 18, 1949 | |
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A sudden wave of jewel thefts is sweeping the city. In sixteen days, sixteen burglaries have been committed, one each night. The trail leads to Walter Tracy, but Friday and Romero soon realise that finding the loot is a lot harder than finding Tracy, who won't reveal the location of the stolen jewels. | |||||
| 12 | "Police Academy - Mario Koski" "The Blitz Bandits" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Robbery (Daywatch) | Thursday October 23rd Windy | August 25, 1949 | |
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A gang of "blitz bandits" have started to rob liquor stores and restaurants around Los Angeles. They are fast and efficient, with three to four and even five robberies each night. While Friday and Romero search for this gang of robbers, one of Joe's Army buddies joins the police force. | |||||
| 13 | "Auto Burglaries - Myra the Redhead" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Traffic: Auto Theft (Nightwatch) | Monday March 2nd Cold | September 1, 1949 | |
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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 250 cars, and property mounting well over $1,000 has been stolen. Two useful members of the gang have been apprehended, and Friday and Romero interrogate them in an attempt to reveal the name of the operation's ringleader. | |||||
| 14 | "Eric Kelby - Buried Body in Nursery" "Missing Woman" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday September 15th Warm | September 3, 1949 | |
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Agnes Kelby has suddenly disappeared from her home; on the surface, it appears only as a routine missing persons case. Friday and Romero investigate and find that Eric Kelby, Agnes's husband, is acting very suspiciously by Insisting that his wife isn't missing. | |||||
| 15 | "Sullivan Kidnapping - The Wolf" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday October 18th Cloudy | September 10, 1949 | |
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Friday and Romero try and catch a kidnapper after a 21-year-old girl has disappeared and a letter has been received demanding $30,000 for the girl's return. The letter is signed "The Wolf." | |||||
| 16 | "James Vickers - Cop Killing" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Daywatch) | Thursday November 16th Foggy | September 17, 1949 | |
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Officer John Bemis is shot and mortally wounded. One of the suspects, the shooter, James Vickers, is apprehended by Friday and Romero, but the other is still at large. When the officer dies, and the suspect in custody is shot and killed while attempting to escape, the hunt for the other shooter intensifies. | |||||
| 17 | "Brick-Bat Slayer" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday June 3rd Warm | September 24, 1949 | |
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A homicidal maniac wielding a brick-bat is loose in the city. In every instance he leaves the murder weapon behind and there are no fingerprints or clues for the police to identify him. A 1,000-man dragnet slowly gets him cornered, and it's up to Friday, Romero and the other members of the LAPD to get the killer before he strikes again. | |||||
| 18 | "Tom Laval - Truck Hi-jackers" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Burglary (Nightwatch) | Thueday March 6th Windy | October 1, 1949 | |
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A gang of hijackers has started to work in Los Angeles and have stolen truckloads of $80,000 in valuable merchandise. The cops have a lead on a Thomas Laval, who admits to being involved in a truck hijacking. While in Friday and Romero's custody, he jumps out of a window, and both detectives are accused of pushing him to his death. | |||||
| 19 | "Second Hand Killer" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide | N/A | October 6, 1949 | |
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| 20 | "The Big Buy - Narcotics" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Narcotics | N/A | October 13, 1949 | |
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| 21 | "The Big Lamp" "Conrad Buckley - Anthracene" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Burglary | N/A | October 20, 1949 | |
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| 22 | "The Big Drink" "Hugh Taylor - Wife Murderer" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide | N/A | October 27, 1949 | |
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Unknown, Program not available. | |||||
| 23 | "Casco And Breen" "Forgery - Johnny Casco, Marty Breen" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Forgery | TBA | November 3, 1949 | |
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Unknown, Program not available. | |||||
| 24 | "The Big Bar" "Robbery-Murder - Juan Pedillo, Wesley Guttridge" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Robbery | N/A | November 10, 1949 | |
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Unknown, Program not available. | |||||
| 25 | "Bunco - Harry Girard" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Bunco | N/A | November 17, 1949 | |
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Unknown, Program not available. | |||||
| 26 | "Mrs. Rinard, Albert Barry – Mother-in-Law Murder" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Homicide (Daywatch) | Saturday November 5th Foggy | November 24, 1949 | |
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Mr. Reynard's mother has been murdered and his wife is suspected of being the killer. But the clear cut case of a woman murdering her mother-in-law to hide an affair soon falls apart, leaving Joe and Ben to search for the real killer. | |||||
| 27 | "Spring Street Gang - Juveniles" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Juvenile (Nightwatch) | Sunday March 27th Windy | December 1, 1949 | |
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A rash of thefts and robberies, have broken out across the city and suspicion points to an organized gang of juveniles hanging out on Spring Street, where a shady soda fountain owner is suspected of being their fence. One of the gang members has been wounded and another is shot by a night watchman while committing a robbery. Friday and Romero must try and round up and arrest the gang of youths before anyone else is killed. | |||||
| 28 | "George Quan – The Jade Thumb Rings" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Ed Backstrand Robbery (Daywatch) | Monday December 1st Foggy | December 8, 1949 | |
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Friday and Romero search for a suspect who beat a Chinese man, using a handful of buckshot's in a handkerchief and stole $8,000 in rare Chinese jade. The only witness is an observant six-year-old boy with a wild imagination. | |||||
| 29 | "The Garbage Chute Murder – Laura Barkley" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday January 9th Stormy | December 15, 1949 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday Devember 22nd Cold | December 22, 1949 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Nightwatch) | Saturday July 21st Hot | December 29, 1949 | |
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A gang of holdup men have been running loose in Los Angeles they are heavily armed and quick to shoot. They have committed more than a dozen robberies, usually drugstores, but one night they rob and kill the manager of a dance hall. A stake-out in a garage yields some arrests and a total of twelve guns are recovered. After a trial, two of the gang break out of jail and have to be recaptured. | |||||
1950 season
| Episode # | Title | Case Details (Partner/Boss/Department) |
Background information (Date/Weather) |
Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | "Max Tyler – Escaped Convict" "The Big Escape" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Nightwatch) | Tuesday February 8th Cold | January 5, 1950 | |
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Two armed bandits have robbed large jewelry 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 and injures Romero. It's up to Friday to recapture him again. | |||||
| 33 | "The Big Man Part 1 (Narcotics)" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Narcotics (Nightwatch) | Thursday January 21st Cold | January 12, 1950 | |
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A vicious criminal has resumed his 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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Narcotics (Nightwatch) | Wednesdya July 9th Warm | January 19, 1950 | |
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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 apprehend 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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Monday October 27th Cloudy | February 2, 1950 | |
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Two little girls, aged seven and eleven, are reported missing at about 3:45pm. Somewhere between their homes and the neighbourhood grocery store they dropped from sight. Foul play is suspected when their pet Collie is later found beaten to death.
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| 36 | "The Big Girl" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Nightwatch) | Wednesday October 3rd Warm | February 9, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Bunco (Daywatch) | Tuesday July 28th Warm | February 23, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Sunday May 23rd Warm | March 2, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Thursday March 9th Foggy | March 9, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Daywatch) | Friday December 10th Cold | March 16, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday July 18th Hot | March 23, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Saturday July 22nd Hot | March 30, 1950 | |
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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 Inspector Lester Juvenile (Daywatch) | Monday October 21st Cool | April 6, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Nightwatch) | Wednesday February 3rd Cold | April 13, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Sullivan Traffic: Accident Investigation- Hit and Run Felony Detail (Nightwatch) | Monday September 4th Hot | April 20, 1950 | |
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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 Captian Blane Steve Bunco-Fugitive (Nightwatch) | Thursday April 27th Warm | April 27, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday March 7th Cloudy | May 4, 1950 | |
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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 a stakeout to catch him, along with several other members of the LAPD. | |||||
| 48 | "The Big Knife" | Ben Romero Captain Bowling Juvenile (Daywatch) | Thursday November 4th Windy | May 11, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Ed Walker Robbery (Daywatch) | Saturday August 9th Hot | May 18, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Blane Steve Homicide | Sunday December 25th Raining | May 25, 1950 | |
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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 Deputy Chief Coleman Personnel | Wednesday April 9th Foggy | June 1, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Friday March 16th Damp | June 8, 1950 | |
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Elizabeth Benham has been shot to death. The apparent motive, according to her husband, was a 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 Captain Ed Walker Robbery (Nightwatch) | Monday July 1st Mild | June 15, 1950 | |
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Scores of lone women have been beaten and robbed by two young purse-snatchers working in a downtown neighbourhood. The victims have been unable to identify the two young hoodlums. | |||||
| 54 | "The Big Mink" | Ben Romero Captain Blane Steve Homicide (Nightwatch) | Saturday November 23rd Warm | June 22, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday April 4th Warm | June 29, 1950 | |
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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 Lieutenant Calfy Traffic: Accident Investigation - Hit and Run Felony Detail (Daywatch) | Monday April 19th Windy | July 6, 1950 | |
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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 Deputy Chief Lin White Unassigned | Tuesday November 15th Raining | July 13, 1950 | |
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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.
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| 58 | "The Big Gent Part 1" "Frank Chaney - The Gentleman Bandit: Part 1" | Ben Romero Captain Ed Walker Robbery (Daywatch) | Tuesday October 6th Cool | July 20, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Ed Walker Robbery (Daywatch) | Tuesday June 6th Cloudy | July 27, 1950 | |
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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 an 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 mother's next week. | |||||
| 60 | "The Big Dare" | Ben Romero Captain Blane Steve Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesdya September 29th Warm | August 3, 1950 | |
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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 suspect to surrender. | |||||
| 61 | "The Big Actor" | Ben Romero Captain Curney Narcotics (Daywatch) | Monday October 23rd Foggy | August 10, 1950 | |
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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 Inspector Bowling Juvenile (Daywatch) | Tuesday April 10th Cool | August 17, 1950 | |
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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 to 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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Early Morning Watch) | Monday June 4th Sultry | August 24, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Elliot Forgery (Daywatch) | Monday February 4th Cold | August 31, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Blane Steve Homicide (Daywatch) | Saturday September 30th Warm | September 7, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Ed Walker Robbery (Nightwatch) | Tuesday Novmber 3rd Chilly | September 14, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Burglary (Daywatch) | Monday August 3rd Warm | September 21, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Monday February 17th Raining | September 28, 1950 | |
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A socially prominent man decides to plot to kill his wife and hires Joe Friday for the job. | |||||
| 69 | "The Big 38" | Ben Romero Captain Walker Robbery (Nightwatch) | Friday August 17th Hot | October 5, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Burglary (Daywatch) | Sunday November 22nd Chilly | October 12, 1950 | |
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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 Captain Elliot Forgery (Daywatch) | Monday April 17th Warm | October 19, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Narcotics | Wednesday June 24th Sultry | October 26, 1950 | |
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A gang of veteran dope peddlers moves into 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 Captain Steve Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday March 8th Cold | November 2, 1950 | |
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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.
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| 74 | "The Big Mother" | Ben Romero Captain Steve Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday January 28th Raining | November 9, 1950 | |
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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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Early Morning Watch) | Wednesday April 2nd Windy | November 16, 1950 | |
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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 Captain McCally Bunco (Daywatch) | Tuesday December 14th Cold | 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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Nightwatch) | Monday February 12th Cold | 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 Inspector Bowling Juvenile (Daywatch) | Tuesday May 7th Mild | 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 Ed Walker Robbery (Nightwatch) | Wednesday March 18th Cold | 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 Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday December 22nd Cold | December 21, 1950 (Re-recording of 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.
| |||||
| 81 | "The Big Family" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Missing Persons (Daywatch) | Saturday February 6th Foggy | 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 | Case Details (Partner/Boss/Department) |
Background information (Date/Weather) |
Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | "The Big Holdup" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday March 9th Windy | 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 Captain Steve Homicide (Daywatch) | Thursday September 6th Warm | 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 Captain Harry Didian Robbery (Nightwatch) | Sunday March 3rd Raining | 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 Captain Curney Narcotics (Daywatch) | Thursday April 11th Warm | 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 Captain Kinslin Juvenile (Daywatch) | Tuesday April 27th Overcast | February 1, 1951 | |
|
Friday and Romero receive a complaint about an eight-year-old boy and his sister. A neighbour 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 Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday October 6th Sultry | 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 Inspector Bowling Juvenile (Daywatch) | Saturday August 7th Hot | 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 Captain McCully Bunco (Daywatch) | Monday April 20th Windy | 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 Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | December 2nd Chilly | 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 Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | December 31st Cold | March 8, 1951 | |
|
It's New Year's 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 Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Robbery (Daywatch) | Monday July 9th Warm | 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.
| |||||
| 93 | "The Big Trunk" | Ben Romero Captian Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday June 10th Mild | 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 Captain Steve Bunco (Daywatch) | Wednesday February 12th Cold | 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 to get a lead on him. | |||||
| 95 | "The Big Friend" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday January 9th Rainy and Windy | 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 Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Tuesday October 8th Overcast | 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 Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Robbery (Daywatch) | Monday August 7th Warm | 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.
| |||||
| 98 | "The Big Saint" | Ben Romero Captain Stilson Traffic: Auto Theft (Daywatch) | Monday May 11th Fair | 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 Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Sunday March 9th Windy | 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 Captain Wisdom Burglary (Daywatch) | Wednesday September 16th Hot | May 10, 1951 | |
|
For the past eighteen weeks, a gang of safe men have been breaking into 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 Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Night Watch) | Monday July 9th Warm | May 17, 1951 | |
| 102 | "The Big Mailman" | Ben Romero Captain Harry Elliot Forgery (Daywatch) | Monday March 3rd Raining | May 24, 1951 | |
| 103 | "The Big Bindle" | Ben Romero Captain Curney Narcotics (Daywatch) | Tuesday October 5th Foggy and Raining | May 31, 1951 | |
|
A group of high-grade heroin traffickers come to town. Using a fake bindle (drug container) to pass himself off as a dealer looking to make a big buy, Friday tries to go undercover and infiltrate the ring. | |||||
| 104 | "The Big Imposter" | Ben Romero Inspector Bowling Juvenile (Daywatch) | Wednesday August 4th Hot | June 7, 1951 | |
| 105 | "The Big Building" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Monday February 8th Foggy | June 14, 1951 | |
| 106 | "The Big Run" | Ben Romero Captain Benny Cowell Traffic: Accident investigation - Hit and Run Felony Detail (Daywatch) | Saturday September 5th Mild | June 21, 1951 | |
| 107 | "The Big Cliff" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Friday November 12th Cold | June 28, 1951 | |
| 108 | "The Big Love" | Ben Romero Captain Blain Steve Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday April 20th Overcast | July 5, 1951 | |
| 109 | "The Big Set-Up" | Ben Romero Captain Wisdom Burglary | Wednesday January 10th Cold | July 12, 1951 | |
| 110 | "The Big Sophomore" | Ben Romero Inspector Bowling Juvenile (Nightwatch) | Tuesday February 4th Cloudy | July 19, 1951 | |
| 111 | "The Big Late Script" | Ben Romero Captain Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday October 10th Mild | July 26, 1951 | |
| 112 | "The Big Cop" | N/A | N/A | August 2, 1951 | |
| 113 | "The Big Screen" | Ben Romero Captian McCally Bunco (Daywatch) | Monday January 19th Overcast | August 9, 1951 | |
| 114 | "The Big Winchester" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday January 10th Cold | August 16, 1951 | |
| 115 | "The Big In-Laws" | Ben Romero Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Saturday November 8th Foggy | August 23, 1951 | |
| 116 | "The Big Crazy" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Monday June 9th Warm | August 30, 1951 | |
| 117 | "The Big Seventeen" | Ben Romero Captain Stien Juvenile (Nightwatch) | Thursday April 10th Warm | September 6, 1951 | |
| 118 | "The Big Waiter" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide | Wednesday February 19th Cloudy | September 13, 1951 | |
| 119 | "The Big Sour" | Ben Romero Captain Harry Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Saturday October 3rd Hot | September 20, 1951 | |
| 120 | "The Big September Man" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday September 28th Hot | September 27, 1951 | |
| 121 | "The Big Want Ad" | Ben Romero Captain Nelson Traffic: Auto Theft | Tuesday February 19th Chilly | October 4, 1951 | |
| 122 | "The Big Shoplift" | Ben Romero Captain Wisdom Burglary (Daywatch) | Tuesday August 22nd Hot | October 11, 1951 | |
| 123 | "The Big Story Man" | Ben Romero Captain Wisdom Burglary (Daywatch) | Sunday March 5th Cloudy | October 18, 1951 | |
| 124 | "The Big Market" | Ben Romero Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Tuesday September 26th Hot | October 25, 1951 | |
| 125 | "The Big Lease" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday February 6th Cold | November 1, 1951 | |
| 126 | "The Big Hit and Run Killer" | Ben Romero Captain Calfey Traffic: Accident Investigation - Hit and Run Felony Detail (Nightwatch) | Tuesday December 21st Windy | November 8, 1951 | |
| 127 | "The Big Bungalow" | Ben Romero Captain Wisdom Burglary (Daywatch) | Monday April 16th Foggy | November 15, 1951 | |
| 128 | "The Big Hands" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday October 26th Cold | November 22, 1951 | |
| 129 | "The Big Affair" | Ben Romero Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Wednesday March 10th Cold | November 29, 1951 | |
| 130 | "The Big Canaries" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday February 18th Cold | December 6, 1951 | |
| 131 | "The Big Overtime" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Early Morning Watch) | Tuesday October 18th Cloudy | December 13, 1951 | |
| 132–30 | ".22 Rifle for Christmas" | Ben Romero Chief of Detectives Thadd Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday December 22nd Cold | December 20, 1951 (Repeated from December 21, 1950, itself a re-recording of December 22, 1949) | |
| 133 | "The Big Sorrow" | Ed Jacobs Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Saturday April 24th Hot | December 27, 1951 | |
|
| |||||
1952 season
| Episode # | Title | Case Details (Partner/Boss/Department) |
Background information (Date/Weather) |
Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | "The Big Red Part 1" | Ed Jacobs Captain Curney Narcotics (Special Detail) | Tuesday August 9th Hot | January 3, 1952 | |
| 135 | "The Big Red Part 2" | Ed Jacobs Captain Curney Narcotics (Special Detail) | Sunday August 14th Cool | January 10, 1952 | |
| 136 | "The Big Juvenile Division" | Ed Jacobs Captain Norman Homicide (Special Detail) | Tuesday October 14th Cloudy | January 17, 1952 | |
| 137 | "The Big Court" | Ed Jacobs Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Wednesday March 12th Cold | January 24, 1952 | |
| 138 | "The Big Almost No-Show" | Ed Jacobs Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday November 14th Overcast | January 31, 1952 | |
| 139 | "The Big Honeymoon" | Ed Jacobs Captain Steve Bunco* | Unknown | February 7, 1952 | |
|
| |||||
| 140 | "The Big Phone Call" | Ed Jacobs Captain Didan Robbery (Daywatch) | Thursday July 18th Sultry | February 14, 1952 | |
| 141 | "The Big Producer" | Ed Jacobs Captain Stien Juvenile (Daywatch) | Wednesday Novermber 8th Windy | February 21, 1952 | |
| 142 | "The Big Plant" | Ed Jacobs Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday September 15th Hot | February 28, 1952 | |
|
| |||||
| 143 | "The Big Evans" | Ed Jacobs Lieutenant Jesop Personnel (Daywatch) | Tuesday June 11th Mild | March 6, 1952 | |
| 144 | "The Big Fire" | Ed Jacobs Captain Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday May 9th Hot | March 13, 1952 | |
| 145 | "The Big Border" | Ed Jacobs Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Wednesday October 6th Cloudy | March 20, 1952 | |
| 146 | "The Big Rose" | Ed Jacobs Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Monday June 3rd Overcast | March 27, 1952 | |
| 147 | "The Big Streetcar" | Ed Jacobs Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday January 20th Mild | April 3, 1952 | |
| 148 | "The Big Show" | Ed Jacobs Captain Stien Juvenile (Daywatch) | Wednesday August 14th Hot | April 10, 1952 | |
| 149 | "The Big Bunco" | Bill Lockwood * Captain Steve Bunco (Daywatch) | Tuesday September 9th | April 17, 1952 | |
|
| |||||
| 150 | "The Big Elevator" | Bill Lockwood Captain Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesdya November 9th Foggy | April 24, 1952 | |
| 151 | "The Big Safe" | Bill Lockwood Captain Wisdom Burglary-Safe Detail (Daywatch) | Sunday June 8th Warm | May 1, 1952 | |
| 152 | "The Big Gamble" | Bill Lockwood Lieutenant Bingham Vice (Daywatch) | Monday February 9th Foggy | May 8, 1952 | |
| 153 | "The Big Mail" | Frank Smith Captain Didian Robbery (Nightwatch) | Monday August 4th | May 15, 1952 | |
|
Friday and new partner Frank Smith are after a trio of robbers who hijacked a Registered Mail truck for its cash.
| |||||
| 154 | "The Big Shakedown" | Frank Smith Captain Hayes Vice (Daywatch) | Tuesday October 18th Hot | May 22, 1952 | |
| 155 | "The Big Fourth" | Frank Smith Captain Stien Juvenile (Daywatch) | Wednesday June 18th Warm | May 29, 1952 | |
| 156 | "The Big Whiff" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday October 16th Cloudy | June 5, 1952 | |
| 157 | "The Big Donation" | Bill Lockwood Captain Steve Bunco (Daywatch) | Tuesday February 16th Cold | June 12, 1952 | |
| 158 | "The Big Jules" | Frank Smith Captain Curney Narcotics (Daywatch) | Thursday October 8th Hot | June 19, 1952 | |
| 159 | "The Big Roll" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Monday March 18th Overcast | June 26, 1952 | |
| 160 | "The Big Trio" | Frank Smith Deputy Chief Coldwell Traffic: Accident Investigation (Nightwatch) | Thursday July 3rd Warm | July 3, 1952 | |
| 161 | "The Big Hate" | Frank Smith Captian Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Tuesday January 18th Cold | July 10, 1952 | |
| 162 | "The Big Signet" | Frank Smith Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Monday June 2nd Smoggy | July 31, 1952 | |
| 163 | "The Big Impression" | Frank Smith Captain Didan Robbery (Daywatch) | Tuesday July 12th Hot | August 7, 1952 | |
| 164 | "The Big Drive" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday Februay 6th Cold | August 14, 1952 | |
| 165 | "The Big Paper" | Frank Smith Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Forgery (Daywatch) | Tuesday July 22nd Hot | August 21, 1952 | |
| 166 | "The Big Test" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Monday August 9th Warm | August 28, 1952 | |
| 167 | "The Big Ray" | Frank Smith Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Nightwatch) | Wednesday September 4th Warm | September 4, 1952 | |
| 168 | "The Big Tear" | Frank Smith Captain Wisdom Burglary (Daywatch) | Tuesday July 10th Hot | September 11, 1952 | |
| 169 | "The Big Bull" | Frank Smith Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Tuesday March 6th Windy | September 14, 1952 | |
| 170 | "The Big Shot" | Frank Smith Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Wednesday April 7th Warm | September 21, 1952 | |
| 171 | "The Big Brain" | Frank Smith Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Robbery (Daywatch) | Wednesday February 18th Raining | September 28, 1952 | |
| 172 | "The Big Jolt" | Frank Smith Captain Stien Juvenile (Daywatch) | Wednesday October 3rd Warm | October 5, 1952 | |
| 173 | "The Big Lie" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Saturday May 12th Warm | October 12, 1952 | |
| 174 | "The Big Pill" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Tuesday July 10th Hot | October 19, 1952 | |
| 175 | "The Big Number" | Frank Smith Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Monday January 21st Cold | October 26, 1952 | |
| 176 | "The Big Light" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Friday August 5th Warm | November 2, 1952 | |
| 177 | "The Big Dive" | Frank Smith Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide (Daywatch) | Thursday April 17th Warm | November 9, 1952 | |
| 178 | "The Big Walk" | Frank Smith Captain Curney Narcotics (Daywatch) | Tuesday August 3rd Warm | November 16, 1952 | |
| 179 | "The Big Guilt" | Frank Smith Chief of Detectives Thad Brown Homicide | Sunday February 10th Cold | November 23, 1952 | |
| 180 | "The Big Shirt" | Frank Smith Captain Norman Homicide (Daywatch) | Monday July 5th Hot | November 30, 1952 | |
| 181 | "The Big Mole" | Frank Smith Captain Wisdom Burglary (Daywatch) | Wednesday January 23rd Cold | December 7, 1952 | |
| 182 | "The Big Eavesdrop" | Frank Smith Captain Curney Narcotics (Nightwatch) | Tuesday April 8th Windy | December 14, 1952 | |
| 183 | ".22 Rifle for Christmas" | Frank SmithCaptain Norman Homicide (Nightwatch) | Thursday December 22nd Cold | December 21, 1952 | |
|
A new recording of the same story aired in the past 3 Christmases, with Frank Smith as Joe's partner. | |||||
| 184 | "The Big Mask Part 1" | Frank Smith Captain Didian Robbery (Daywatch) | Thursday February 7th Raining | December 28, 1952 | |
1953 season
| # | Title | Original air date | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185 | "The Big Mask Part 2" | January 4, 1953 | 1953-01-04 |
| 186 | "The Big Small" | January 11, 1953 | 1953-01-11 |
| 187 | "The Big String" | January 18, 1953 | 1953-01-18 |
| 188 | "The Big Lay-Out" | January 25, 1953 | 1953-01-25 |
| 189 | "The Big Strip" | February 1, 1953 | 1953-02-01 |
| 190 | "The Big Press" | February 8, 1953 | 1953-02-08 |
| 191 | "The Big Tooth" | February 15, 1953 | 1953-02-15 |
| 192 | "The Big Smoke" | February 22, 1953 | 1953-02-22 |
| 193 | "The Big Want" | March 1, 1953 | 1953-03-01 |
| 194 | "The Big Laugh" | March 8, 1953 | 1953-03-08 |
| 195 | "The Big Impossible" | March 15, 1953 | 1953-03-15 |
| 196 | "The Big Informant" | March 22, 1953 | 1953-03-22 |
| 197 | "The Big Dream" | March 29, 1953 | 1953-03-29 |
| 198 | "The Big Chet" | April 5, 1953 | 1953-04-05 |
| 199 | "The Big Compulsion" | April 12, 1953 | 1953-04-12 |
| 200 | "The Big Rip" | April 19, 1953 | 1953-04-19 |
| 201 | "The Big Scrapbook" | April 26, 1953 | 1953-04-26 |
| 202 | "The Big Carney" | May 3, 1953 | 1953-05-03 |
| 203 | "The Big Joke" | May 10, 1953 | 1953-05-10 |
| 204 | "The Big False Move" | May 17, 1953 | 1953-05-17 |
| 205 | "The Big Gun Part 1" | May 24, 1953 | 1953-05-24 |
| 206 | "The Big Gun Part 2" | May 31, 1953 | 1953-05-31 |
| 207 | "The Big Will" | June 7, 1953 | 1953-06-07 |
| 208 | "The Big Lilly" | June 14, 1953 | 1953-06-14 |
| 209 | "The Big Revolt" | June 21, 1953 | 1953-06-21 |
| 210 | "The Big Ham" | June 28, 1953 | 1953-06-28 |
| 211 | "The Big Bop" | September 1, 1953 | 1953-09-01 |
| 212 | "The Big Lift" | September 8, 1953 | 1953-09-08 |
| 213 | "The Big Cab" | September 15, 1953 | 1953-09-15 |
| 214 | "The Big Slip" | September 22, 1953 | 1953-09-22 |
| 215 | "The Big Try" | September 29, 1953 | 1953-09-29 |
| 216 | "The Big Little Mother" | October 6, 1953 | 1953-10-06 |
| 217 | "The Big Plea" | October 13, 1953 | 1953-10-13 |
| 218 | "The Big Paint" | October 20, 1953 | 1953-10-20 |
| 219 | "The Big Fraud" | October 27, 1953 | 1953-10-27 |
| 220 | "The Big Rain" | November 3, 1953 | 1953-11-03 |
| 221 | "The Big Kid" | November 10, 1953 | 1953-11-10 |
| 222 | "The Big Flight" | November 17, 1953 | 1953-11-17 |
| 223 | "The Big Present" | November 24, 1953 | 1953-11-24 |
| 224 | "The Big Odd" | December 1, 1953 | 1953-12-01 |
| 225 | "The Big Pick" | December 8, 1953 | 1953-12-08 |
| 226 | "The Big Brink" | December 15, 1953 | 1953-12-15 |
| 227 | "The Big Little Jesus" | December 22, 1953 | 1953-12-22 |
| 228 | "The Big Steal" | December 29, 1953 | 1953-12-29 |
1954 season
| # | Title | Original air date | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 229 | "The Big Listen" | January 5, 1954 | 1954-01-05 |
| 230 | "The Big Switch" | January 12, 1954 | 1954-01-12 |
| 231 | "The Big Bill" | January 19, 1954 | 1954-01-19 |
| 232 | "The Big Bid" | January 26, 1954 | 1954-01-26 |
| 233 | "The Big Filth" | February 2, 1954 | 1954-02-02 |
| 234 | "The Big Broad" | February 9, 1954 | 1954-02-09 |
| 235 | "The Big Sucker" | February 16, 1954 | 1954-02-16 |
| 236 | "The Big Pipe" | February 23, 1954 | 1954-02-23 |
| 237 | "The Big TV" | March 2, 1954 | 1954-03-02 |
| 238 | "The Big Cup" | March 9, 1954 | 1954-03-09 |
| 239 | "The Big Rod" | March 16, 1954 | 1954-03-16 |
| 240 | "The Big Mustache" | March 23, 1954 | 1954-03-23 |
| 241 | "The Big Confession" | March 30, 1954 | 1954-03-30 |
| 242 | "The Big Saw" | April 6, 1954 | 1954-04-06 |
| 243 | "The Big Note" | April 13, 1954 | 1954-04-13 |
| 244 | "The Big Net" | April 20, 1954 | 1954-04-20 |
| 245 | "The Big Lift" | April 27, 1954 | 1954-04-27 |
| 246 | "The Big Stop" | May 4, 1954 | 1954-05-04 |
| 247 | "The Big Look" | May 11, 1954 | 1954-05-11 |
| 248 | "The Big Help" | May 18, 1954 | 1954-05-18 |
| 249 | "The Big Watch" | May 25, 1954 | 1954-05-25 |
| 250 | "The Big Cowboy" | June 1, 1954 | 1954-06-01 |
| 251 | "The Big Student" | June 8, 1954 | 1954-06-08 |
| 252 | "The Big Cat" | June 15, 1954 | 1954-06-15 |
| 253 | "The Big Customer" | June 22, 1954 | 1954-06-22 |
| 254 | "The Big Chick" | June 29, 1954 | 1954-06-29 |
| 255 | "The Big Search" | July 6, 1954 | 1954-07-06 |
| 256 | "The Big Rescue" | July 13, 1954 | 1954-07-13 |
| 257 | "The Big Heel" | July 20, 1954 | 1954-07-20 |
| 258 | "The Big Match" | July 27, 1954 | 1954-07-27 |
| 259 | "The Big Stand" | August 3, 1954 | 1954-08-03 |
| 260 | "The Big Wish" | August 10, 1954 | 1954-08-10 |
| 261 | "The Big Cad" | August 17, 1954 | 1954-08-17 |
| 262 | "The Big Shock" | August 24, 1954 | 1954-08-24 |
| 263 | "The Big Office" | August 31, 1954 | 1954-08-31 |
| 264 | "The Big Trunk" | September 7, 1954 | 1954-09-07 |
| 265 | "The Big Cut" | September 14, 1954 | 1954-09-14 |
| 266 | "The Big Try" | September 21, 1954 | 1954-09-21 |
| 267 | "The Big Bible" | September 28, 1954 | 1954-09-28 |
| 268 | "The Big Handsome Bandit" | October 5, 1954 | 1954-10-05 |
| 269 | "The Big Tar Baby" | October 12, 1954 | 1954-10-12 |
| 270 | "The Big Mannequin" | October 19, 1954 | 1954-10-19 |
| 271 | "The Big Key" | October 26, 1954 | 1954-10-26 |
| 272 | "The Big Locker" | November 2, 1954 | 1954-11-02 |
| 273 | "The Big Coins" | November 9, 1954 | 1954-11-09 |
| 274 | "The Big Dog" | November 16, 1954 | 1954-11-16 |
| 275 | "The Big Switch" | November 23, 1954 | 1954-11-23 |
| 276 | "The Big Gone" | November 30, 1954 | 1954-11-30 |
| 277 | "The Big Dig" | December 7, 1954 | 1954-12-07 |
| 278 | "The Big Lens" | December 14, 1954 | 1954-12-14 |
| 279–227 | "The Big Little Jesus" | December 22, 1953 | 1954-12-21 |
| 280 | "The Big Underground" | December 28, 1954 | 1954-12-28 |
1955 season
| # | Title | Original air date | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 281 | "The Big Mug" | January 4, 1955 | 1955-01-04 |
| 282 | "The Big Complex" | January 11, 1955 | 1955-01-11 |
| 283 | "The Big Token" | January 18, 1955 | 1955-01-18 |
| 284 | "The Big Bounce" | January 25, 1955 | 1955-01-25 |
| 285 | "The Big Bird" | February 1, 1955 | 1955-02-01 |
| 286 | "The Big Gap" | February 8, 1955 | 1955-02-08 |
| 287 | "The Big Hat" | February 15, 1955 | 1955-02-15 |
| 288 | "The Big Slug" | February 22, 1955 | 1955-02-22 |
| 289 | "The Big Set-Up" | March 1, 1955 | 1955-03-01 |
| 290 | "The Big Father" | March 8, 1955 | 1955-03-08 |
| 291 | "The Big Set" | March 15, 1955 | 1955-03-15 |
| 292 | "The Big Talk" | March 22, 1955 | 1955-03-22 |
| 293 | "The Big Death" | March 29, 1955 | 1955-03-29 |
| 294 | "The Big No Tooth" | April 5, 1955 | 1955-04-05 |
| 295 | "The Big Tie" | April 12, 1955 | 1955-04-12 |
| 296 | "The Big Deal" | April 19, 1955 | 1955-04-19 |
| 297 | "The Big Child" | April 26, 1955 | 1955-04-26 |
| 298 | "The Big Momma" | May 3, 1955 | 1955-05-03 |
| 299 | "The Big Revision" | May 10, 1955 | 1955-05-10 |
| 300 | "The Big Squealer" | May 17, 1955 | 1955-05-17 |
| 301 | "The Big Siege" | May 24, 1955 | 1955-05-24 |
| 302 | "The Big Sisters" | May 31, 1955 | 1955-05-31 |
| 303 | "The Big Limp" | June 7, 1955 | 1955-06-07 |
| 304 | "The Big Fall Guy" | June 14, 1955 | 1955-06-14 |
| 305 | "The Big Grab" | June 21, 1955 | 1955-06-21 |
| 306 | "The Big Convertible" | June 28, 1955 | 1955-06-28 |
| 307 | "The Big Rush" | July 5, 1955 | 1955-07-05 |
| 308 | "The Big Genius" | July 12, 1955 | 1955-07-12 |
| 309 | "The Big Bobo" | July 19, 1955 | 1955-07-19 |
| 310 | "The Big Housemaid" | July 26, 1955 | 1955-07-26 |
| 311 | "The Big Sheet" | August 2, 1955 | 1955-08-02 |
| 312 | "The Big Missus" | August 9, 1955 | 1955-08-09 |
| 313 | "The Big Beer" | August 16, 1955 | 1955-08-16 |
| 314 | "The Big Blonde" | August 23, 1955 | 1955-08-23 |
| 315 | "The Big Fellow" | August 30, 1955 | 1955-08-30 |
| 316 | "The Big Ruling" | September 6, 1955 | 1955-09-06 |
| 317 | "The Big Daughter" | September 13, 1955 | 1955-09-13 |
| 318 | "The Big Close" | September 20, 1955 | 1955-09-20 |
| 170 | "The Big Shot" | September 21, 1952 | 1955-09-27 |
| 171 | "The Big Brain" | September 28, 1952 | 1955-10-04 |
| 172 | "The Big Jolt" | October 5, 1952 | 1955-10-11 |
| 173 | "The Big Lie" | October 12, 1952 | 1955-10-18 |
| 174 | "The Big Pill" | October 19, 1952 | 1955-10-25 |
| 175 | "The Big Number" | October 26, 1952 | 1955-11-01 |
| 176 | "The Big Light" | November 2, 1952 | 1955-11-08 |
| 177 | "The Big Dive" | November 9, 1952 | 1955-11-15 |
| 178 | "The Big Walk" | November 16, 1952 | 1955-11-22 |
| 179 | "The Big Guilt" | November 23, 1952 | 1955-11-29 |
| 180 | "The Big Shirt" | November 30, 1952 | 1955-12-06 |
| 181 | "The Big Mole" | December 7, 1952 | 1955-12-13 |
| 30 | ".22 Rifle for Christmas" | December 22, 1949 | 1955-12-20 |
| 184 | "The Big Mask Part 1" | December 28, 1952 | 1955-12-27 |
1956 season
| # | Title | Original air date | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185 | "The Big Mask Part 2" | January 4, 1953 | 1956-01-03 |
| 186 | "The Big Small" | January 11, 1953 | 1956-01-10 |
| 187 | "The Big String" | January 18, 1953 | 1956-01-17 |
| 188 | "The Big Lay-Out" | January 25, 1953 | 1956-01-24 |
| 189 | "The Big Strip" | February 1, 1953 | 1956-01-31 |
| 190 | "The Big Press" | February 8, 1953 | 1956-02-07 |
| 191 | "The Big Tooth" | February 15, 1953 | 1956-02-14 |
| 192 | "The Big Smoke" | February 22, 1953 | 1956-02-21 |
| 193 | "The Big Want" | March 1, 1953 | 1956-02-28 |
| 194 | "The Big Laugh" | March 8, 1953 | 1956-03-06 |
| 195 | "The Big Impossible" | March 15, 1953 | 1956-03-13 |
| 30 | ".22 Rifle for Christmas" | December 22, 1949 | 1956-03-20 |
| 196 | "The Big Informant" | March 22, 1953 | 1956-03-27 |
| 197 | "The Big Dream" | March 29, 1953 | 1956-04-03 |
| 198 | "The Big Chet" | April 5, 1953 | 1956-04-10 |
| 199 | "The Big Compulsion" | April 12, 1953 | 1956-04-17 |
| 200 | "The Big Rip" | April 19, 1953 | 1956-04-24 |
| 201 | "The Big Scrapbook" | April 26, 1953 | 1956-05-01 |
| 202 | "The Big Carney" | May 3, 1953 | 1956-05-08 |
| 203 | "The Big Joke" | May 10, 1953 | 1956-05-15 |
| 204 | "The Big False Move" | May 17, 1953 | 1956-05-22 |
| 205 | "The Big Gun Part 1" | May 24, 1953 | 1956-05-29 |
| 206 | "The Big Gun Part 2" | May 31, 1953 | 1956-06-05 |
| 207 | "The Big Will" | June 7, 1953 | 1956-06-12 |
| 208 | "The Big Lilly" | June 14, 1953 | 1956-06-19 |
| 209 | "The Big Revolt" | June 21, 1953 | 1956-06-26 |
| 210 | "The Big Ham" | June 28, 1953 | 1956-09-18 |
| 211 | "The Big Bop" | September 1, 1953 | 1956-09-25 |
| 212 | "The Big Lift" | September 8, 1953 | 1956-10-02 |
| 213 | "The Big Cab" | September 15, 1953 | 1956-10-09 |
| 214 | "The Big Slip" | September 22, 1953 | 1956-10-16 |
| 215 | "The Big Try" | September 29, 1953 | 1956-10-23 |
| 223 | "The Big Present" | November 24, 1953 | 1956-10-30 |
| 224 | "The Big Odd" | December 1, 1953 | 1956-11-06 |
| 225 | "The Big Pick" | December 8, 1953 | 1956-11-13 |
| 226 | "The Big Brink" | December 15, 1953 | 1956-11-20 |
| 228 | "The Big Steal" | December 29, 1953 | 1956-11-27 |
| 229 | "The Big Listen" | January 5, 1954 | 1956-12-04 |
| 230 | "The Big Switch" | January 12, 1954 | 1956-12-11 |
| 231 | "The Big Bill" | January 19, 1954 | 1956-12-18 |
| 227 | "The Big Little Jesus" | December 22, 1953 | 1956-12-25 |
1957 season
| # | Title | Original air date | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 232 | "The Big Bid" | January 26, 1954 | 1957-01-01 |
| 233 | "The Big Filth" | February 2, 1954 | 1957-01-08 |
| 234 | "The Big Broad" | February 9, 1954 | 1957-01-15 |
| 235 | "The Big Sucker" | February 16, 1954 | 1957-01-22 |
| 236 | "The Big Pipe" | February 23, 1954 | 1957-01-29 |
| 237 | "The Big TV" | March 2, 1954 | 1957-02-05 |
| 238 | "The Big Cup" | March 9, 1954 | 1957-02-12 |
| 239 | "The Big Rod" | March 16, 1954 | 1957-02-19 |
| 240 | "The Big Mustache" | March 23, 1954 | 1957-02-26 |
References
- ^ Passage, Frank M. (May 2004). "Dragnet 1949–1957". Old Time Radio Program Logs. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ "Dragnet the 50s radio show". Old Time Radio. Internet Archive. 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ "Dragnet – Old Time Radio Shows – OTR". Old Radio World. 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ^ "Dragnet". www.radioechoes.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
Sources
- John Dunning, On The Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-19-507678-8.