Dragnet - The Big Smoke

[@starchild3443]

I don't know why but I always love the brief weather report when every episode starts lol!

[@teresas8173]

Me too!

[@jb-vb8un]

music reminds me of the early NFL films

[@teresas8173]

I always wonder what they mean when they say it’s cold in Los Angeles. I guess that would be the 50s at night? My trips to California in and near La were always warm, comfortable at night, (never went mid- summer, been there April and October ) always sunny and never humid. It often rains in these episodes it seems, which in reality it does not not. They must swelter in the suits they are always wearing 🥵

[@michaelmohrle1773]

Gives you a feel of what they were feeling on that day.

[@ladavidson9269]

Yessiree. The context and repetition, reassuring

[@nomadpi1]

My family didn't get a tv until 1956; even then, I never watched an hour of it while growing up. The local movie only charged a dime to get in and I went to the movies every night. I didn't start watching tv until I was in my 30s. I enjoy these old tv shows. I see the cars, the clothing, the everyday things of my youth.

[@davidoickle1778]

Dragnet was among the first shows I ever watched when we got our first TV set. Never missed it. At the time, it was magic. To tell you the truth, it's still pretty good. "Just the facts ma'am, just the facts!"

[@KororaPenguin]

"Beam me up, Scotty!"

[@macmcleod1188]

I'll be honest, I find these old black and white episodes better than almost anything on television today. We are currently watching elsbeth and enjoying that but before that you have to go back to Ted Lasso and The Good Place. Masters of the Air just wasn't as good. I love how they caught the bad guy in this episode. Classic.

[@mischamartinstudios]

What a treat! Watching Dragnet as a kid, Friday always seemed so serious. Now I appreciate Jack Webb's subtle humor.

[@TimothySchulting]

They packed a lot of dialog into a half hour show. This episode could have been a radio show and you wouldn't haved missed anything.

[@michaelmapes4119]

Actually it was a remake of Dragnet Radio Episode from the two years prior 02/23/53.

[@nancybolinski8460]

The lady who answered the door is Barbara Eiler, who was Ozzie Nelson's sister-in-law. She was married to Ozzie's younger brother, Don Nelson. They had two daughters.

[@bh5606]

Loved the desk clerk actor. Made the whole show for me.

[@kc4cvh]

7:31 Olan Soule also appeared regularly in the late 1960s Dragnet as a graphologist, bank examiner, fingerprint expert, any sort of studious character the story needed.

[@FromSagansStardust]

He was on Perry Mason all the time too!

[@eldersprig]

its batman

[@muffs55mercury61]

Many of the 1955 to 1959 episodes haven't been seen in years and some may be lost. It's good to see these later episodes. I bet they didn't count on Ms Hurley having such as affectionate kitty!

[@MIKECNW]

Are the 1951 to 1954 episodes any different?

[@macmcleod1188]

​@@MIKECNWthe ones that I've seen on KZbin seem very similar. Friday has a different partner but the actor playing that partner died at the age of 49 and 1952

[@MIKECNW]

@@macmcleod1188 Barton Y. I can't remember his whole name but Smith was there more most of the 50's series.

[@michaelgreene4748]

Either she used salmon make-up, or the cat thought it was a golden retriever.

[@davidcopperfield-DickensBook]

I think Dragnet is the first true life crime story put on TV. It is on the cutting edge for those days! The real officers depicted in this show would be overwhelmed if they could see how crime in LA is now.

[@Catquick1957]

Even worse,how officers are treated by pols and courts, the news and public.

[@thomassnider6691]

There was also Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford, which came out about the same time. The episode that I watched recently had Clint Eastwood in it as a biker.

[@macmcleod1188]

I did some research and the police department is under 2/3 the size it was relative to the population back then.

[@rebekahhesketh1220]

​@macmcleod1188 so sad. I wish I could afford to buy every Sheboygan officer coffee and donuts at least to say "thank you." I back the blue all the way, and the 2nd Ammendment- the right to carry guns.

[@lukebrel7969]

Born in 1954, I have dim memories of watching Dragnet repeats in the very early 1960s on British TV. I remember very well, though, the dramatic intro - the music and 'the names have been changed to protect the innocent'. Marvellous!

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Much better and grittier than the '60s version.

[@christinaromanaalvahorn1994]

I was also thinking that. The woman in bed crying telling about the murder and beatings was heart rending.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion !

[@LordZontar]

Hell, this show was practically a half-hour Chesterfield commercial the way everybody was lighting up in nearly every scene, so EVERY episode was "The Big Smoke".

[@DMBall]

Somehow the minimalism of Dragnet makes this kind of story more unnerving than the hoked up material on today's cop shows.

[@oldgamerchick]

It was scary when I was a kid.

[@frankcabanski9409]

Minimalism is right. Often, the interviews were filmed in pieces. The actors were filmed separately from the cops.

[@macmcleod1188]

Yes, today's shows have gotten disconnected and fake.

[@GumbysClay53]

I love these old shows...we watched Dragnet every week when I was little...Mom and Dad were big fans.

[@crystalheart9]

Wow I've never seen these early episodes as I was 4 years old at the time. Thanks for the uploads, I'm really enjoying them.

[@safiremorningstar]

Thank you for putting up these old dragnet episodes I appreciate it.

[@winmancan8374]

Lived in Encino Calif. and had a friend who lived a few doors down from Jack Webb. Very nice but nothing fancy, tree covered and serene, a California Ranchero as it was called. Never saw him, a very quiet man. The scenes of greater LA bring back fond memories, except for the smog.

[@schmim1]

G Marantz I heard he was nice and shy. He was a perfectionist.

[@deborahallen1826]

Sorry episode

[@marchicago]

He sure was a perfectionist. He had a screening room in that same house in Encino with 9 televisions in 3x3 square, each tuned to a different network. That way he could see what the other networks were airing during Dragnet and Adam-12. When his house went up for sale a few years back, the tvs were still there. I think u can still google “Jack Webbs house” and should be able to find it.

[@thomashugus5686]

The dialogue was a reflection of their roots in radio!!

[@patsysmothermon7861]

I Love These old shows and Love seeing the old cars !❤

[@alyia1202]

"she couldn't have seen me because it was dark!." BUSTED!!!!🚓

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Doctors was played by Richard Garland, ex-husband of Beverly Garland. He started in some B movies like "Attack of the Crab Monsters". I used to watch them on the weekends when I was a kid.

[@Varianna12]

Good old stuff. Dripping with nostalgia.

[@MrAlumni72]

Smooth interrogation near the end - "she couldn't have - the lights were out"

[@whackyjinak4978]

That line in the radio version was a little more off the hook, really sounding like he’d slipped up mid sentence. I love Dragnet!

[@KororaPenguin]

Darwin Award, right there.

[@macmcleod1188]

What are the things that gets me is how smooth the criminals are at lying in this show until the moment that they slip up.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

Miss Hurley about the deceased's son..."Oh, he and I used to get in some arguments ". No shit... she could get into an argument with Mother Theresa!

[@allenjones3130]

When Jack Webb revived "Dragnet" in 1967, Ben Alexander was unavailable since he was starring in "The Felony Squad" for 20th Century Studios and ABC.

[@jjamo5]

Brilliant series

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

The quirky characters are half the fun of watching "Dragnet"!

[@henryhorner3182]

Joe: Can you describe him, "mam"? Yes! He had bright green skin, one eye in the middle of his forehead and tentacles instead of arms. Joe: Could you be a bit more specific, please.

[@duanehamman8459]

And of being in L.A.

[@kellyford8832]

quarky?? FOR ROBOTS i guess that fits 🤷🏼‍♂️🤔 everyone seems ROBOTIC to me like they are ALL reading from pages

[@garyfrancis6193]

@@kellyford8832 It says “quirky “. Can’t you read?

[@jenngill7772]

@@henryhorner3182”yeah, the little guy was kinda funny.” “yeah? ‘Funny’ how?” “well, he wasn’t circumcised.” 😂😂😂

[@Mikael5732]

Comforting to know the last breath those guys had was poisoned. Need to bring that back, with no appeals.

[@elliyahugenesove9777]

Desk clerk=bank security guard-plays roll perfectly

[@GumbysClay53]

Can you imagine this show in today's world? The Big Transient.

[@stephenclickard9428]

When I first watched tv the local station was only on 3or4 hours a day. My father said he would buy a tv when they got it perfected. WE DID’NT GET A TV ONTIL 1957.

[@ladavidson9269]

We got ours in 1964

[@oldtimetv65]

Very good picture quality in this print. Most of the prints of the b&w Dragnet look very beaten up but this one looks good.

[@MIKECNW]

You can also be thankful we can watch it in full screen. There are uploads of the 60's series which are not, same with Adam-12 and Emergency!

[@phoenix-kenzodapathaan5568]

Brilliant and cat loved Miss Hurley

[@markbarnes2041]

One of the best programs ever put on TV thank you Jack Webb and may you rest in peace sir

[@jimervin387]

Heavy duty episode. The gas house for both the bad guys. If that didn't scare you to go straight, nothing would. Ah for the good old days of capitol punishment.

[@timothywilliams1359]

@@welshpete12 Who cares whether it's a deterrent? It is the appropriate punishment in every respect.

[@Ken-wd4ik]

welshpete12 It will always be a deterrent for those put to death, they will never kill again.

[@sonoranrain2330]

welshpete12 There will always be an aberrant and deviant segment of society. However, the majority of people that are considering committing such a heinous act will think twice before murdering someone if they know they are going to lose their life as well. Things today are much different sadly as the death penalty does not mete out swift and fair justice as it once did. The average death row inmate spends 15 plus years on death row before they are finally executed or given a life sentence instead. I believe there should be a right of appeal for anyone convicted of any type of crime. Putting an innocent man to death can never achieve justice. However, the number of appeals should be greatly reduced. If no evidence can be found to exonerate a convicted murderer after an appeal, then the verdict should stand and justice should be carried out.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Exactly!

[@markmaki4460]

N.B.: That's capiTAL punishment. Listening to California senators shoot their mouths off is capiTOL punishment XD.

[@patrickgroll2046]

What a squared-away show. Tough cops, but also with judgment and kindness and humanity where appropriate. That's just what is needed in 2019 in most jurisdictions

[@Mikael5732]

What also is needed in every state is 30 day maximum appeals and death sentence. In every state.

[@lilajagears8317]

@@Mikael5732 Exactly.

[@davechongle]

@@Mikael5732i doubt friday would feel the same way

[@macmcleod1188]

You got to keep in mind that police officers haven't changed that much.. Friday and his partners are aspirational. we hope police officers will be like them. The reality is in 1952 there was a huge Scandal about officers beating seven Mexican kids severely and many of them were fired. The reality is there were scandals about police officers stealing money from suspects, from crime scenes, etcetera. That's one of the reasons that Jack Webb is so careful around wallets in the show. The fact is that power corrupts. Being around criminals gives many officers a dark view of humanity. Police officers have always served the wealthy at the expense of the lower income members of society. Phone cameras and body cameras have only revealed the reality that was there all along. Really, police officers need to be subject to Greater Financial scrutiny then they are. And they need to be required to take breaks off of Patrol and to get regular counseling (at least an hour a week). We ask too much of police officers and then our disappointed when they inevitably failed to live up to expectations that are too high and working conditions that are two corrosive and demanding.

[@henryhorner3182]

How many years has it been since I last saw a 1953 FORD on the road?

[@stevehunter261]

54

[@doctorartphd6463]

Thanks.... good video quality. Appreciate this series. Happy New Year.

[@darrenconrad4685]

I actually think Joe showed more of a sensitive side in these 50's Episodes VS. the 1968-70 Shows!!!

[@sharonwolfe5210]

He laughed, smiled, engaged, and fought like a ninja... Go, Jack!

[@jubalcalif9100]

How right you are ! As I do when I take off my hat, you make a GOOD POINT !!

[@marvinweinrichjr7011]

67-70

[@rickhinojosa5455]

Darren Conrad I feel exactly the same way as you stated in your comment. He also showed a lot more physical prowess too. I saw o e the other day where Frank Smith got clobbered by a bottle and he knocked the heck out of the guy 1ho did it!! I was in shock!! . I also liked Frank Smith much more than his partner we later on, Harry Morgan. Harry Morgan never was a believable character as a peace officer to me. He also was just an irritating character for me. I'm sure others liked him. But I didn't. I've known and Intereacted with a lot of officers as a person from both sides of the law😖. Ive watched a lot of crime shows from those years. I've yet to see anyone who was like his character. Still, I guess there could be ONE and HE was it😂! 🙏

[@crystalheart9]

He seemed less wooden then in the later shows. He was like a robot in the later episodes I see in reruns.

[@mountainman5025]

Check out the "Charles Dickens Christmas Carol" door knocker in the opening at the door....

[@msvirginia1799]

great episode. o think i like the b\w best

[@Jimmyzb36]

Thanks for the video! Did the first lady have "fish smell face"? That was a very lickinky cat.

[@davidcopperfield-DickensBook]

2:30 - That cats name is Lickity Split. 😀

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

That's what happens when you use 9 Lives Super Supper for skin treatment.

[@LordZontar]

Given all the smoking on the show, it's a wonder the cat's name wasn't Lucky Strike.

[@MrRobster1234]

The woman with the cat sure had the cork in tight :-)

[@whackyjinak4978]

I heard the radio version of this first, almost line for line, just changed a little. Characters and their relationships, almost the same!

[@tomr3722]

Miranda didn't come to play until years after this was made. Joe's partner also owned a car dealership in Hermosa Beach on Pacific Coast Hwy. he completely quit Hollywood when his daughter was kidnapped for ransom. he felt fame came at too high a price.

[@randallkarlin4115]

Wow, that's a shame

[@janethartwig774]

He did NOT quit Hollywood. In 1966 he signed on to play Sgt. Dan Briggs in Felony Squad. He died just three years later.

[@kingbee1500]

Who in heck is this Ms. Hurley giving Joe and Frank such attitude right off the bat? Weird...

[@shamrock1961]

She's a 50's tight ass frigid nosey b*tch! :-P

[@rubenalbertotapiaorellana3335]

King Bee

[@chaunceyhulbert2711]

King Bee I know right. what a bitch.

[@peterrothfuss6042]

I’d love to slap this bitch Ms Hurley around...for about six hours! What a piece of work...great acting though! 👌

[@Tedybear315]

Peter Rothfuss Yep.... "Just the script......" Always love these method actors.

[@rentslave]

The desk clerk didn't know that the quiz shows were fixed.

[@RuneTheFirst]

Very strange acting when they were first talking to him. I thought he only had one arm at first.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

He reminds me of a young Herman Munster.

[@RogerRoddComedian]

Both executed. Today they’d be rock stars with movie deals getting laid on death row for 40 years of bullshit appeals until they died of natural causes or got paroled.

[@vingotaq777]

2:20 that’s a lovely cat

[@dodgeman4360]

Hotel clerk seems to have fallen. Used to be bank security from a different episode......😅

[@samuelross9884]

"Reading to him about cement and he fell asleep." Who could believe it?

[@oklahomahank2378]

It might be an inside joke. There was a famous (sort of) Soviet film called “Cement.” It was part of a movement in the arts called “Socialist Realism.”

[@harrymills2770]

No way she saw me. The lights were out... DOH!

[@johnfrenzied4592]

Back when criminals were punished for their crimes.

[@fjccommish]

"He raised prize roses - won some contests all around the United States. Some old lady - lived somewhere near N. Carolina - wanted to know his growing secrets. He wouldn't tell her - heard him call her Rhea, Mrs. C, maybe B or something like that. She had a couple of goons come around one time - two real Goobers. Maybe it was them. Anyway, that night I heard some yelling. One of 'em, the Goobers, kept saying "Go ooo ly, where is them roses?" The other ones kept saying something about Judy,"

[@BuddyNovinski]

Even though I said "Miranda", the police still could've built the same case had Miranda been there in 1954 (which I guess from Tuesday, 10 August would've been), I also said "death penalty" before the results of the trial. As too many Americans don't know, Miranda is only for confessions, all other evidence is admissible in court.

[@marstondavis]

You know, after all these years I still don't know what this world's coming to.

[@Mr.Howell]

11:36 "I don't like the way you said that young man." He's probably older than she is. She talks like she's 75

[@calanon534]

"Because Miss Rarick got a good look atc'ha!" "She couldn't have! The lights were out!" Morgan Freeman "It was at this moment, he knew, he f--ked up."

[@Fred-xh9ls]

That cat, just minutes before licking her face, was licking it's bum hole.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

That's why he was licking her face; he thought it was another asshole.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

You've got it backwards. The cat started licking his asshole AFTER he licked her face in an attempt to get the bitter taste of that bitch out of his mouth!

[@wolverine12ize]

the bird with the glasses played a crooked waiter in one step beyond

[@chaunceyhulbert2711]

Don Jordan I found that whole series at a bargain basement store for a buck.

[@robertfromtexas2480]

They changed the storyline a bit from the radio version. In the radio version it was a husband and wife who are beating.

[@lenny38138]

To get that cat to lick her face like that, she must have fell face first into a tuna.

[@henryhorner3182]

Hate to criticize, but MOST CATS are very affectionate to their human friends. Just treat them right and they'll show their love.

[@rebekahhesketh1220]

Or, she rubbed catnip all over her face first. 😄

[@Mikael5732]

@@rebekahhesketh1220 Or sardine oil.

[@vingotaq777]

14:10 that desk clerk is not under acting 😂

[@largemember]

20:22 Hands cuffed behind his back and smoking a damned cigarette!....BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[@ffff-gx7tn]

imagine acting your lines like that with a cat licking at your mouth!

[@patriciahayes7315]

She did it. And I enjoyed the cat licking her face while Joe was questioning her. :)

[@raygreene971]

Why are many of the witnesses so rude? Seems a common theme with Dragnet.

[@gregdark5203]

The woman in bed...Man! Terrific acting for 1950's TV.

[@mountainhobo]

J.P. O'Donnell (1925-1994).

[@litlgrey]

Can one actually have a "lethal gas chamber" unless one also has a nonlethal gas chamber? How else can you know the difference?

[@413x398]

I think the restroom at any Mexican restaurant would qualify as non-lethal gas chamber. Some might be pretty close.

[@RobertSeviour1]

@@413x398 Some years ago there was a gents' toilet in Suez, Egypt overflowing, streaming urine 100 yds down the street and generating enough ammonia to make your eyes water.

[@garyfrancis6193]

@@RobertSeviour1 After being in Turkey six times I believe this.

[@Mikael5732]

The difference is with one you can walk away, the other you cannot.

[@katiezee2]

'Everything is gonna be alright'...'No it isn't'...

[@equalopportunityoffender6732]

I would love to give Miss Hurley a REAL pearl necklace.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

ewwww gross

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

If there was ever a reason for police brutality, she was it.

[@Mikael5732]

She wasn’t an ugly woman.

[@bobstewart8032]

The Mrs. Hurley character has an attitude lol. Calling Frank "young man'. He looks older than she does. Lol

[@martinh1437]

Some great lines, and no awakward plotlines

[@daveschoenfeld]

Snippy, nosey twit who was a legend in her own mind. Feel sorry for the cat.

[@teresas8173]

Some of the witnesses they talk to are so strange. Very quirky and often annoying.

[@brucelytle1144]

Have you ever been to LA? What they show is the more "normal" Angelino's! 😅

[@AnnacolleenEtters]

Why and where did people get the idea that law enforcement is supposed to be our personal protectors? They protect the public, by working to put criminals away, after crime, in order they can't do it again.

[@nunyabiznis817]

That cat has a sodium deficiency.

[@incrediblesimilarity5858]

In the first 2 minutes, Friday states he's working out of Homicide Division. We learn about the old man's death @3:40 in the show. Was Friday pyschic and fore saw the old man's death?

[@fjccommish]

Duuuuuuuuum da da dum DDDDDDDDDDUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM

[@roberthickerty390]

He’s Joe Friday! Best Cop Ever!

[@jameswolf133]

The homicide division of the LAPD also investigated assaults and battery incidents.

[@nikmills]

The original cat lady.

[@McIntyreBible]

9:35, the woman is a smart mouth with Friday!

[@leananshae]

So we had to endure Mrs Hurley and the desk clerk for ABSOLUTELY nothing??? I want my five minutes back. :)

[@dindinprivate3477]

Leananshae - not for nothing. The desk clerk cleared the son.

[@gerryjames9720]

That’s why I couldn’t be a cop. I’d beat the piss out of everybody.

[@dariowiter3078]

Leananshae Take Joe to the People's Court if you want those five minutes back! 😉 😁

[@blackislepeastoo]

Stop making comments, save yourself a load of time.

[@kennethbritton601]

5:55 Twice skirts around giving a description of the thugs...so Friday simply gives up. WTF. And funny how they always seem to run into these strange birds (14:37). But we like it.

[@beakt]

People always say, "Just the facts, ma'am." And then Dragnet fans point out Friday never actually said that. But, from 2:25 to 2:42, it's pretty much what he's saying!

[@grahamholton8542]

One bugs bunny cartoon does a spoof of Dragnet saying ‘Just the facts maam’

[@susanfaulkner2304]

The woman who answered the door was rude. "If you had done your jobs, this wouldn't have happened!" Wow! Now, when the police do their jobs, people get mad and scream police brutality..

[@Undine66770]

22:53 "She couldn't have, the lights were out." It was at this moment, he knew, he messed up.

[@jasongoldtrap1114]

The cat was convicted of killing a song bird and leaving it on the front porch. He was sentenced to naps and cuddling.

[@elliyahugenesove9777]

give Hurlie credit she calls Smith "young man"

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I perked up at that line too.

[@patriciahayes7315]

Emily Hurley must need glasses. Frank Smith looks much older than her. :)

[@Mikael5732]

That Barbara Euler was a beautiful woman for sure. Been in radio and TV.

[@kirkwatstien6979]

Why are al the case names starting with the word BIG

[@user-mp3eq6ir5b]

Housekeeper has tuna oil based makeup.

[@irvinklugh8858]

VERY GOOD SHOW

[@nunyabiznis817]

5:15 Those are some thick tears...they barely roll down her face.

[@patriciahayes7315]

That was 1950s Hollywood make-up on a tight budget.

[@againstallodds3300]

@Nunya Biznis I once read that they were made of stearin back then. Seems to be plausible.

[@CONTACTLIGHTTOMMY]

If Sergeant Friday was transported to present day Los Angeles, he would turn in his badge before lunch.

[@Mom_sBasement]

Never talk to cops without a lawyer. Jeeez.

[@HearTruth]

9:18 then 9:43 is this the same 'actress' playing 2 parts?

[@mesutter]

The cops always tell the truth. Exhibit 1: Friday "everything's going to be alright" LOL

[@MrAlumni72]

I know - that's the best he could do? I'd rather he lied and said he didn't know how her father was.

[@schmim1]

I tell you what. I’m a nurse and have been in this situation. Until you have I would keep my mouth shut.

[@qwerty13380]

@@schmim1 I would keep your mouth shut to.

[@michaelbabbitt3837]

Perhaps they didn't want to add more trauma to her and kill her.

[@michaelbabbitt3837]

@@qwerty13380 Typical internet snotnose.

[@elliyahugenesove9777]

Cardinal sin,Joe-never say everything is going to be alright

[@rafaelgelpi2718]

Both perps executed, I’m guessing that they didn’t get to appeal their death sentences for years or decades

[@alvincook8888]

Native Americans and Canadian tribes call Toronto Canada, "The Big Smoke".

[@shirtless6934]

22:50 A Miranda warning might have helped here, but that was in the future.