"Dragnet" (1951)TV series 1951-1959

Creator:

Jack Webb
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

16 December 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime | Mystery

Plot:

Sgt. Joe Friday and his partners methodically investigate crimes in Los Angeles.

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Police | Detective | Based On Radio Show | Criminal Investigation

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Jack Webb	...	Sgt. Joe Friday (276 episodes, 1951-1959)
George Fenneman	...	Announcer (Opening) (276 episodes, 1951-1959)
Hal Gibney	...	Announcer (Closing) (276 episodes, 1951-1959)

(more)

Series Directed by
Jack Webb		(45 episodes, 1951-1959)

Series Writing credits
Jack Webb		(276 episodes, 1951-1959)
Frank Burt		(48 episodes, 1955-1959)
Michael Cramoy		(26 episodes, 1956-1959)
James E. Moser		(17 episodes, 1951-1958)
John Robinson		(16 episodes, 1954-1957)
John Meredyth Lucas		(1 episode, 1957)
William Spier		(1 episode, 1958)
Gene L. Coon		(1 episode, 1959)
Jack Laird		(1 episode, 1959)
Wilton Schiller		(1 episode, 1959)
Ben Alexander		(unknown episodes)
Richard L. Breen		(unknown episodes)
Michael Geiger		(unknown episodes)
Jerry Gruskin		(unknown episodes)
Chan Hadlock		(unknown episodes)
Jack Jacobs		(unknown episodes)
Ken Kolb		(unknown episodes)
Earl Schley		(unknown episodes)
William Weiner		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Michael Meshekoff	....	producer / executive producer (23 episodes, 1952-1954)
Stanley D. Meyer	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1952-1954)
Jack Webb	....	executive producer / producer (15 episodes, 1952-1959)
Herbert L. Strock	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1951-1952)
Homer Canfield	....	producer (2 episodes, 1951-1952)

Series Original Music by
Walter Schumann		(26 episodes, 1951-1959)

Series Cinematography by
Edward Colman		(22 episodes, 1952-1958)
Frederick Gately		(5 episodes, 1951-1952)

Series Film Editing by
Lynn Harrison		(21 episodes, 1952-1958)
Irving M. Schoenberg		(8 episodes, 1952-1954)
Robert Angus		(2 episodes, 1951-1952)
Robert J. Mauch		(2 episodes, 1952)

Series Casting by
Herman S. Saunders		(1 episode, 1958)

Series Art Direction by
Feild M. Gray		(22 episodes, 1952-1958)
Frank Arrigo		(3 episodes, 1952)
Gibson Holley		(2 episodes, 1958)
Leo K. Kuter		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
John Sturtevant		(12 episodes, 1952-1958)
Jack Mills		(10 episodes, 1953-1954)
John McCarthy Jr.		(4 episodes, 1952)
Charles S. Thompson		(3 episodes, 1952)

Series Makeup Department
Stanley E. Campbell	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Production Management
Sam Ruman	....	production supervisor (20 episodes, 1952-1954)
Arthur Siteman	....	production supervisor (3 episodes, 1952)
Harry D'Arcy	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Evans	....	assistant director (15 episodes, 1953-1954)
Sam Ruman	....	assistant director (15 episodes, 1953-1954)
Marty Moss	....	assistant director (10 episodes, 1951-1953)
Harry D'Arcy	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1958)
Monty Masters	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Art Department
Jack Briggs	....	property master (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Sound Department
George Jay Nicholson	....	sound editor (20 episodes, 1952-1954)
Howard Fogetti	....	sound (15 episodes, 1953-1954)
Hal Bumbaugh	....	sound (5 episodes, 1952-1953)
Robert Roderick	....	sound (4 episodes, 1952)
Francis M. Sarver	....	sound (2 episodes, 1958)
William Wiard	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
James Potevin	....	chief set electrician (12 episodes, 1953-1958)
Burl Stafford	....	chief set electrician (10 episodes, 1952-1954)
Jack Whitman	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1953-1954)
F. Bud Mautino	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Casting Department
Herman S. Saunders	....	casting (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ray Harp	....	wardrobe (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Editorial Department
Robert M. Leeds	....	supervising editor (24 episodes, 1952-1958)
Roy Edward Disney	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Nathan Scott	....	orchestrator / conductor (19 episodes, 1952-1958)
Miklós Rózsa	....	composer: theme music (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
W.H. Parker	....	technical advisor / police technical advisor (17 episodes, 1952-1958)
Raoul Murphy	....	assistant to producer (14 episodes, 1953-1954)
Frank Kowalski	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1958)

Production Companies

• Mark VII Ltd.

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1951-1959) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Navarre Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Brentwood Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD) (Vol. 4)
• Genius Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Moviecraft (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Delta Expedition (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA (????) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• NBC Film
• Radio Spirits (????) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Samuel Goldwyn Studios  filmed at (pilot episode)
• Walt Disney Productions  filmed at (remaining seasons)

Also Known As:

Badge 714 (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

30 min (300 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mark VII Ltd.

Trivia:

Much of the series was shot at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, as 'Jack Webb' agreed to finance the construction of live-action sets for Disney's production company in exchange for its use.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The West Wing: The Mommy Problem (#7.2)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Theme From Dragnet (Danger Ahead)

A realistic look at the L.A.P.D. in the 1950's

Dragnet was based on an early 1949 radio show called,"Dragnet". It starred Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday, a dedicated cop whose life seemed void of any interests other than being in law inforcement. He coined the phrase, "just the facts ma'am" which made him appear polite even though a little overzealous at times. Webb stressed realism going to great lengths to match the police language and paperwork of the Los Angeles Police Dept. When Dragnet came to TV in 1951, Barton Yarborough was featured as Friday's partner SGT Ben Romero.Barton Yarborough died after only three episodes with the rest of the season featuring Barney Phillips as Sgt. Ed Jacobs. In the fall of 1952, a former child star, Ben Alexander replaced Phillips as Friday's sidekick, Officer Frank Smith. It was Alexander who gave the show a little humor at times. The character of Frank Smith was a family man who would relate his home life experiences to the serious Joe Friday. It worked well. Dragnet left the air in 1959. During its time, the show did introduce some love interests for Joe Friday but none were too serious.

In 1967, a new version of Dragnet was introduced called Dragnet '67 and later Dragnet '68, etc. Webb again starred as Sgt. Joe Friday but now it was character actor Harry Morgan taking over as his partner, Officer Bill Gannon.The show lasted just over two years.

Dragnet will be remembered for its innovative style never before seen on a television drama prior to that time. It took advantage of close-ups and realistic dialog thanks to Webb, one of our greatest actor/directors. Reruns are rare but do exist. They show a rare look at Los Angeles as it once was. Smoggy but with less traffic.

Steve Richmond