Friday - The Dragnet Podcast

A masked bandit’s robbery spree turns deadly when grocery clerk Bert Matthews is gunned down without warning. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero chase a killer who slips in and out of Los Angeles using taxi cabs as his getaway — a method that leads them straight into a tangled partnership between two young men, one a nervous hold-up artist and the other a cab driver with a .38 that’s already tied to a previous murder. As the investigation widens, a dropped gun, a terrified witness, and a trail of abandoned apartments pull the detectives closer to a suspect increasingly desperate to stay ahead of the law. Originally aired: October 5, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Peggy Webber

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, murder, robbery, investigation, getawaycar, taxicab, manhunt, accomplice, stakeout, suspense, drama, justice, classicradio

A wealthy warehouse owner makes a stunning proposition: he wants his wife murdered—and he’s willing to pay for it. When a nervous acquaintance reports the plot, Sergeant Joe Friday goes undercover as a hired killer to draw out every detail. What follows is a tense psychological game as Friday gains the suspect’s trust, uncovers the murder plan step-by-step, and races the clock to stop a killing scheduled to happen within hours. Originally aired: September 28, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Peggy Webber

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, murderplot, undercover, investigation, hiredkiller, solicitation, suspense, drama, stingoperation, justice, police, homicide, classicradio

A quiet Los Angeles neighborhood becomes the hunting ground for a pair of burglars stripping entire homes of their furniture while families are away. With no solid leads and a city full of moving vans, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero set a trap: a network of decoy houses baited to draw the thieves out. When the suspects finally take the hook, the result is a tense takedown that exposes a husband-and-wife team running a fast-moving, citywide racket. Originally aired: September 21, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Peggy Webber

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, burglary, investigation, movingvan, stingoperation, manhunt, husbandandwife, furnituretheft, suspense, drama, justice, police, classicradio

A quiet family bakery becomes the scene of a cold-blooded holdup when a gunman shoots the owner and his daughter without provocation. With two victims fighting for their lives, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero chase a suspect whose alibi crumbles fast. But when an anonymous letter arrives—packed with inside details only the real gunman could know—the case flips on its head. The hunt leads to a violent ex-con with nothing to lose and a deadly promise to “prove” he’s the right man. Originally aired: September 14, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Peggy Webber

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, robbery, shooting, investigation, holdup, excon, manhunt, confession, bakery, suspense, drama, justice, police, thriller, classicradio

An elderly couple vanishes from their quiet Los Angeles neighborhood without a trace. Dirty dishes on the table, an empty garage, and a half-full bottle of cyanide in the basement point toward something far worse than a simple disappearance. As Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero unravel the lies of a smooth-faced nephew with too many alibis, the truth leads to a cold-blooded plan, a forged trail of checks, and a final confession at the edge of a pier. Originally aired: September 7, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer, Virginia Gregg

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, murder, poisoning, cyanide, investigation, manhunt, disappearance, confession, suspense, drama, justice, police, homicide, classicradio

A smooth-talking check forger is bleeding small neighborhood shops one twenty-dollar bill at a time—and leaving nothing but bad paper behind. Assigned to forgery detail, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero follow a trail of phony paychecks, frightened shopkeepers, and a double life built on lies, closing in on a man who swears he’ll never go back to Folsom. The closer they get, the more desperate he becomes, leading to a final, lonely drive into the hills above Los Angeles. Originally aired: August 31, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Peggy Webber, Herb Butterfield

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, forgery, badchecks, smallbusiness, investigation, manhunt, Folsom, Johansson, suspense, drama, police, justice, classicradio

When a highway patrol officer suddenly vanishes during his early morning shift, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero join forces with the Sheriff's Department and the State Highway Patrol to uncover what happened. The abandoned squad car, the trail of fresh black paint, and a suspiciously repainted Plymouth sedan point toward a dangerous fugitive on the run. As the investigation stretches from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, the hunt closes in on a desperate killer willing to shoot his way out of trouble. Originally aired: August 24, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Harry Bartell, Stacy Harris, Herb Vigran, Raymond Burr

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, manhunt, murder, highwaypatrol, fugitive, LasVegas, police, suspense, drama, thriller, justice, stolen car, classicradio

A young lawyer’s office is found drenched in green paint—law books ruined, furniture destroyed, and no clear motive. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero follow the trail through neighborhood schools, pranks, and burned palm trees, eventually uncovering a troubled teenage boy with a dangerous compulsion for lies and destruction. The investigation leads to a stark lesson in parental neglect and emotional damage. Originally aired: August 17, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Butterfield, Victor Perrin, Harry Bartell, Parley Baer

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, juvenile, investigation, vandalism, youthcrime, parentalneglect, suspense, drama, psychology, justice, police, courtroom, classicradio

When $10,000 in hospital narcotics vanishes and an intern is left unconscious, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero launch a citywide manhunt for the thieves. The trail leads to a desperate addict and, ultimately, to a small-time Hollywood actor chasing fame—an ambitious man willing to risk everything for fast money and a shot at the spotlight. Originally aired: August 10, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herb Vigran, Harry Bartell, Stacy Harris, Virginia Gregg

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, narcotics, investigation, hospital, robbery, Hollywood, actor, suspense, drama, manhunt, justice, police, thriller, addiction, classicradio

Description:
When a young boy returns home from a late movie, he discovers his mother brutally murdered. With a savage knife attack, no signs of forced entry, and a neighborhood that swears they heard nothing, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero soon uncover a disturbing trail of jealousy, obsession, and emotional collapse. Their only solid clue: fingerprints on the murder weapon—and a mysterious man known only as Floyd. Originally aired: August 3, 1950. 

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Herbert Butterfield, Virginia Gregg, Herb Vigran, Harry Bartell

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, murder, homicide, jealousy, manhunt, suspense, drama, police, justice, thriller, psycho, fingerprint, classicradio

After four months on the run, the “Gentleman Bandit” Frank Chaney resurfaces—ruthless as ever. When a daring daylight bank robbery leaves another victim injured, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero race against time to hunt him down before he kills again. Following a desperate trail through Los Angeles and down to the docks of San Pedro, the chase ends in a deadly confrontation aboard a ship carrying high explosives. Originally aired: July 27, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Stacy Harris, Parley Baer, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, manhunt, fugitive, investigation, murder, robbery, SanPedro, thriller, justice, police, suspense, drama, GentlemanBandit, capture, classicradio

When a finance company robbery leaves a bystander dead and a police officer critically wounded, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are called to help San Diego authorities track down the ruthless killers. The investigation leads them to an ex-con known as the “Gentleman Bandit,” Frank Chaney—recently paroled after 18 years behind bars. As the detectives follow a trail of old partnerships and new crimes, they uncover a network of ex-cons willing to kill to stay free. Originally aired: July 20, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Stacy Harris, Parley Baer, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, manhunt, robbery, murder, SanDiego, excon, fugitive, GentlemanBandit, suspense, drama, justice, police, thriller, classicradio

A desperate man holds Los Angeles City Hall hostage with a homemade bomb, demanding his brother’s release from jail. Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero have less than an hour to defuse the situation—literally. As tension mounts and the clock ticks toward disaster, the detectives must outthink a man with nothing left to lose. Originally aired: July 13, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran, Stacy Harris, Parley Baer

Tags:
Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, hostage, bomb, standoff, thriller, suspense, LosAngeles, police, investigation, drama, criminal, justice, explosion, cityhall, classicradio

A notorious criminal escapes justice—and Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are back on the hunt. When an informant turns up murdered, the trail points toward a violent holdup man named George Barlow. With leads going cold and pressure mounting, the detectives navigate a maze of false names, barroom brawls, and ruthless accomplices to bring a dangerous man to justice. Originally aired: March 16, 1950.

Cast:

Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr, Herb Vigran, Joyce McCluskey

Tags:

Dragnet, LAPD, detectives, truecrime, 1950s, noir, crime, investigation, manhunt, robbery, criminal, informant, escape, coldcase, justice, suspense, drama, GeorgeBarlow

After seven months, a paroled murderess, Annie Marie Johnson, loses contact with the parole office. When her parole officer becomes suspicious and enlists the help of the police, they investigate her living arrangements with a couple who are supposedly sick and residing in sanitariums. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that Annie has forged signatures and may be involved in a possible murder plot. A search of the house eventually leads to a shocking discovery and Annie's arrest, trial, and conviction for murder in the first degree.

A police officer is shot and killed, leading Sergeant Joe Friday to investigate the case. As they pursue a suspect, Jake Carver, who is recently out of Folsom Penitentiary, the detectives set up a plan to gather evidence against him. Carver is suspected in a series of crimes, including the shooting of a drugstore owner in San Pedro. With clever tactics, they lure information out of Carver, leading to the discovery of crucial evidence that incriminates him. Carver is brought to trial, convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Sergeant Friday and his team are on the trail of the notorious confidence man, Gentleman Wallace, who has returned to Los Angeles and has resumed his swindling operations. Wallace's latest scheme involves writing letters demanding payment of debts from deceased persons, and swindling their grieving families. After an extensive surveillance and investigative effort, Wallace is finally apprehended at a railroad station after attempting to swindle yet another victim. Ultimately, Wallace is tried and convicted on multiple counts of grand theft and sentenced to prison.

A wave of robberies and assaults has plagued Los Angeles, with the victims describing the assailant as a tall, beautiful woman. Detectives Joe Friday and Ben Romero investigate the latest case of a truck driver who was robbed, assaulted, and shot by the woman. As the investigation unfolds, they uncover the true identity of the perpetrator, who has been impersonating a woman to commit these crimes. After a dramatic pursuit and capture, the culprit is revealed to be a man named James Harold Sutter, alias the Bandit Queen. Sutter is tried and convicted for his crimes, and while serving his sentence in prison, he is tragically stabbed to death by another inmate. 

Two small girls go missing, and Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are called in to investigate. As the search gets underway, disturbing evidence is discovered, and the detectives find themselves on the trail of a potential suspect in their own neighborhood. When the bodies of the missing girls are found, the investigation intensifies, leading to the arrest and conviction of Claude Willis Jimerson for their murders.

Sergeant Joe Friday and his team are determined to apprehend Pacific Coast narcotics trafficker Arthur Z. Belmont. As they work to set up a meeting with Belmont, his trusted friend Floyd Ketchel becomes their lead. With a plan in place, they aim to catch Belmont in the act. However, the operation takes an unexpected turn, leading to a dramatic conclusion. The relentless pursuit of justice and the challenges faced by the narcotics bureau are highlighted in this thrilling episode. 

A wave of narcotics trafficking has swept into Los Angeles, and Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero are put on the case. Their investigation leads them to a drug ring operating in the city’s shadows—where heroin is being sold to teenagers. In Part 1 of this two-part story, the detectives uncover a network of smugglers, pushers, and addicts—and come face to face with the chilling reality of the city’s growing drug problem. Originally aired: January 12, 1950.

Cast:
Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr, Harry Bartell, Virginia Gregg

Tags:
Dragnet, narcotics, heroin, LAPD, drugring, noir, truecrime, investigation, lawenforcement, suspense, teenagers, justice, smuggling, police, 1950s, detectives, crackdown, crime, part1, drugs

In this gripping tale from January 5, 1950, Sergeant Joe Friday faces a personal crisis when a friend from the Army, Max Tyler, is caught robbing a jewelry store—and he’s the one who has to put him away. But when Max escapes from prison just months before a potential parole, Friday is forced to track him down again—this time, with more on the line than just justice. It’s a powerful story about trust, betrayal, and redemption.

Cast:

Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough, Raymond Burr, Virginia Gregg, Harry Bartell

Tags:

Dragnet, robbery, escape, prison, LAPD, betrayal, redemption, fugitives, SanQuentin, California, manhunt, noir, detectives, drama, reformation, policework, suspense, 1950s, JoeFriday, friendship

Originally Aired: December 29, 1949

The Roseland Roof Murders: Blood on the Marble Steps

In this tense and sprawling case from Dragnet, a series of armed robberies spirals into a shocking murder that leaves the LAPD chasing shadows across the city. A string of drugstore holdups had already put the department on edge—but the gang’s most violent act comes when they ambush and murder a dance hall owner during a routine deposit run.

The victim, Walter Conroy, is gunned down at the bottom of the marble steps leading to a downtown bank’s night depository. The killers leave few clues behind—just a witness with a partial license plate number and a maroon Pontiac sedan. With the clock ticking, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero begin a grueling investigation that stretches over weeks and involves sifting through 123 vehicle registrations.

When they finally zero in on the suspects—Amo Thurston, Lloyd Newton, and John Lacombe—it becomes clear this is no ordinary robbery crew. All three men are heavily armed, two-time losers, and unafraid to kill. With the help of stakeouts, DMV records, and a garage paint locker, the detectives corner the gang.

A dramatic arrest unfolds in a Temple Street garage just as the suspects attempt to repaint their getaway car. Twelve loaded firearms are recovered from the scene.

But the story doesn’t end there. After being jailed and facing trial, Thurston and Lacombe escape—beating a deputy, stealing an ambulance, and holding up a gas station before they’re recaptured hours later in a hail of gunfire.

Grim, relentless, and methodical, The Roseland Roof Murders showcases the brute endurance and calm precision that defined the early years of Dragnet.

Keywords: “Dragnet Roseland Roof Murders,” “Walter Conroy dance hall murder,” “Amo Thurston LAPD stakeout,” “Temple Street garage arrest,” “drugstore gang robbery series,” “December 1949 Dragnet radio,” “Joe Friday Ben Romero episode.”

Cast: Jack Webb (Joe Friday), Barton Yarborough (Ben Romero), with supporting performances by Harry Bartell, Peggy Webber, Herb Butterfield, and the Dragnet radio company.

Originally Aired: December 22, 1949

22 Rifle for Christmas: A Holiday Tragedy

In this unforgettable and emotionally devastating episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday and Ben Romero investigate the disappearance of nine-year-old Stanley Johnstone just days before Christmas. What begins as a routine missing person case soon darkens into a grim and all-too-familiar reality.

The boy was last seen playing in his backyard. A trail of blood, an empty .22 caliber shell, and a missing Christmas gift—a rifle—paint a haunting picture. As the detectives search the neighborhood and question family and friends, they uncover a terrible truth: Stanley had discovered his present early and taken it out to play.

But this isn’t just Stanley’s story. His best friend, eight-year-old Stevie Morheim, is missing too. When Stanley finally returns home, silent and withdrawn, the full weight of the tragedy is revealed: the rifle went off while the boys were playing. Stevie is dead.

Stanley leads Friday and his father to the body, hidden in a cave near their home. The boy had stayed there for hours, praying for his friend to come back to life.

Narrated with painful restraint and deep compassion, 22 Rifle for Christmas is not just a detective story—it’s a sobering indictment of dangerous gifts and a poignant exploration of guilt, innocence, and the burden of responsibility.

Keywords: "Dragnet 22 Rifle for Christmas episode," "Stanley Johnstone Stevie Morheim case," "December 1949 Dragnet radio," "Joe Friday Christmas tragedy story," "gun accident child death drama," ".22 caliber rifle cautionary tale," "classic Dragnet emotional episode."

Cast: Jack Webb (Sgt. Joe Friday), Barton Yarborough (Ben Romero), with supporting performances by Peggy Webber, Harry Bartell, and other members of the Dragnet radio company.

Originally Aired: December 15, 1949

The Garbage Chute Murder: Locked Doors and Loose Ends

In this atmospheric and tightly plotted episode of Dragnet, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ben Romero are called to investigate the baffling murder of Laura Barclay—a nightclub organist found strangled in her locked apartment. With no signs of forced entry, the case initially presents itself as a classic locked-room mystery.

Barclay, a quiet woman with no known enemies, is discovered dead with a lamp cord around her neck. The apartment is neat, untouched—except for one thing: a garbage chute just large enough for a man to crawl through.

As the detectives peel back layers of Barclay's quiet life, they find photos of vaudeville performers, a landlady who swears by her tenant’s character, and a set of stolen diamond rings missing from the crime scene. The trail leads Friday and Romero through the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles nightlife, to pawn shops, an old vaudeville agent, and eventually to a chilling profile: a man with big hands, a taste for easy money, and no criminal record—until now.

Fingerprints and a pattern of unusual entry finally point to Martin Eric Swanson, a man using garbage chutes as his signature method of operation. In a climactic foot chase through alleyways and a busy cafeteria kitchen, Friday brings down the killer—finding the stolen rings still on his finger.

A stark reminder that even a locked door won’t keep evil out, this early Dragnet classic showcases the methodical detective work and street-level grit that defined the series.

Keywords: "Dragnet Garbage Chute Murder episode," "December 1949 Dragnet radio drama," "Laura Barclay locked-room case," "Martin Eric Swanson killer," "Joe Friday Ben Romero LAPD," "garbage chute criminal M.O.," "classic Fatima Cigarette Dragnet episode."

Cast: Jack Webb (Joe Friday), Barton Yarborough (Ben Romero), with supporting voices from the Dragnet radio company. Technical supervision by LAPD and produced by W.A. Wharton.