Dragnet S01E02 The Big Actor Season 1, Episode 2 Jack Webb

[@marbanak]

My admiration for Jack Webb's work has grown. That movie set in the background, "we've got our man", keeps droning on, while the suspect is reduced to a lump of putty.

[@dcole830]

I was raised by Joe Friday as long as Dragnet was on in Orange County California,,,,I am 61 now and this series still gets me!!! In a great and memorable. wonderful way! Thank you

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@veritygraceturner5665 based on actual cases of the Los Angeles Police Department. The old TV show The FBI that show was based on actual cases of The FBI.

[@johna.4334]

@@veritygraceturner5665 Never too late.

[@MrWolfTickets]

Ha, me too! Only it was Nick at Nite and the 60s show when I was 13, in 1991. Watched every one of them. Later in 2007 I found the radio show and I've listened to them all dozens of times.

[@nunyabusiness-xr9ci]

I'm 76 y and still love watching

[@Juscz]

Love seeing the old cars and shops that occur intermittently in throughout the episode.

[@GoldandAppel]

Otherworldly.

[@donkeyslayer4661]

Trolley Cars - Wow!

[@janyceparks8326]

This is amazing, that she refers to Father Brown in this. One of my favorites currently on Brit Box.

[@wandahall4435]

Thanks for posting these programs they are great 👍

[@feralbluee]

Jack Webb has the best voice. without that voice, Dragnet wouldn't have worked :}

[@Richard-ur1uh]

Nice any one want to talk about 6!

[@oldgamerchick]

Thank you for sharing these awesome episodes. I love old shows like this. Ms Michal 🙃☕💖💖🇺🇸

[@edvanduser5287]

Fun watching early t.v. episodes to spot future film/t.v. actors, quite a few appeared on Dragnet, The Rifleman, etc.

[@UNOwen1]

I love how Friday sweated The actor, Castle out, on the set - between takes - with the bell ringing, and the scene being filmed - over-and-over - he's hearing none we got him'. Really good editing.

[@jacktrim796]

I almost went mad watching this. You know Babe Kellog? Do you? Babe Kellog? Babe Kellog?

[@troy9477]

I did not know that Yarborough passed so soon. I don't think i have seen any episodes this old- mostly the slightly later ones with Ben Alexander and another costar (character name was Ed something). Great show. I grew up watching 60's era reruns in my teens in the 80's. Glad these are bring preserved digitally. I have a few old ones on a multi DVD compilation that i found for $10 at Ross of all places a few yrs ago. Of course i snatched it up right away. And there were a few more left for other fans. :)

[@stevenrichards3699]

Classic TV ! I'd rather watch this,than some of the trash on nowadays !

[@nameskhar1510]

+steven richards ROGER THAT!

[@jadaparks8047]

AIN'T "THAT" the truth!!! Honey, I got rid of my TV--- don't NEED it since I got my IPAD and UTUBE. I watch all the old black & white tv dramas & movies.

[@dariowiter3078]

Amen! 👍 😃

[@SrVP100]

I totally agree! The Classics are more honest and clean than they are today. I would much rather watch this and some good documentaries that all those shows using foul language and overt sex to try to be funny, or whatever. The Classics were truly the "Good Old Days". I am heartbroken, though, that for some reason lots of excellent Dragnet episodes have been removed from KZbin.

[@aardvark1956]

Jada Parks KZbin TV lets me watch the decent stuff I’m interested in. With 20+ seasons of several shows I can even watch them again when I forget how the episode comes out 😂. We’re TV-free otherwise.

[@jaychild78]

This episode is so brilliant. Watch and listen closely. Jack was ahead of his time.

[@shamrock1961]

"Are you a Lieutenant?...No ma'am I'm a Sergeant." Slam! :-)

[@fromthesidelines]

Friday WAS promoted to a Lieutenant during the last season of the original series (1958-'59). However, when the "new" series began in January 1967, he assumed his former rank of Sergeant.

[@Bill23799]

haha Having been a Buck Sergeant in the US Army I would have responded... " No ma'am......I work for a living " .

[@lordscrewtape2897]

As my Dad would put it DON'T CALL ME LT I WORK FOR A LIVING..😂

[@l.e.o.1127]

Im actually a detective and you be surprised how real these are. Better than the new crap on today. The way Friday always states the date and time. That's the most important part of investing a crime. Documentation. I can remember watching these as a kid in the 70s. Dragnet and Adam 12 is what made me want to be a police officer. And by the way, for all of you reading this that support your local police thank you.....

[@l.e.o.1127]

What's weird is back then no Miranda no need for search Warrants.

[@SrVP100]

I agree wholeheartedly, John. I believe the beginning of the idea was "He Walked By Night". If I'm not mistaken, the Dragnet stories were based on true cases and Jack Webb was a stickler for accuracy.. It's always has been and still is a favorite of mine. It breaks my heart that so many good episodes have disappeared from KZbin. Many thanks and blessings for your service, John.

[@A_Simple_Neurose]

This may be a late question quite obviously but I'm interested in the process of becoming a detective for your local police dept. What's the requirements, how does the selection work out? Many thanks if you can answer this, 1 year later!!

[@karencarthan3558]

I have always loved the realism in this show. And yes, thank you for protecting and serving.

[@karencarthan3558]

One other note, I love the way he says what the weather was that day because that would be on the actual report. LAPD retired badge 714 when Jack Webb passed away.

[@MyREDTAIL]

Funny looking at those Nuns 's Habits, Remind me of the Old TV Show, With Sally Field, " The Flying Nun." Another Great Old Family Show, Lone gone, But not forgotten.

[@shirtless6934]

Yes, and many of the nuns were disturbed sociopaths who abused little children.

[@389383]

Reminded me of origami!

[@D45VR]

@@shirtless6934 you seem quite disturbed yourself

[@booklover6753]

@@D45VR Usually I don't agree with shirtless but he has a point. He may be speaking in reference to recent revelations concerning how native peoples children in Canada were abused and murdered at church run "schools" after being forcibly taken from their homes to be "educated". There were nuns running those places. Murdering racists hiding in the robes of the church. True religious hypocrites like the christian Trump supporters of today. Just the facts.

[@JohnDonovanProductions]

Fun Fact! Following Webb's death on December 23, 1982, the L.A.P.D. honored him with a funeral normally reserved for officers who had died in the line of duty and permanently retired Joe Friday's badge number 714. Dragnet debuted over NBC-Radio in June 1949 and ran through February 1957. Webb also starred in two very successful television versions of the program- from 1952-59 and 1967-72. Webb first got the idea for Dragnet while working on the 1948 film He Walked by Night. Webb got to talking with one of the movie's technical advisors, officer Marty Wynn, who complained, "It rankles every damn cop in the country when they hear those far-fetched tales about crime. Why don't you do a real story about policemen?" Webb took his time in developing the series, plotting out every detail right down to the last sound effect. The L.A.P.D. approved the series, but had a few requirements: All dramatizations had to follow the facts of a real L.A.P.D. investigation; the show could never glorify or defame police officers; and it had to represent policemen as "real" human beings.

[@stevenrichards3699]

Yes, the real LAPD officers loved how this show did them justice. Just like "The FBI", with Efrim Sibalist Jr, the real FBI loved the way they portrayed Law officers

[@statesresearcher]

Wont be seeing any Uvalde, TX cops being similarly honroed

[@leighskinner9942]

I used to love it when Jack Webb would appear on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show and the two of them would do take offs on Dragnet.

[@johna.4334]

"Clapper caper"

[@Celluloidwatcher]

Thank you for the Dragnet episode, The Big Actor (second of the series), from January 3, 1952, on NBC Television. Jack Kruschen (heavy-set actor) would appear on several Dragnet episodes in the 50's since he was with the Jack Webb stock company, plus numerous other series and movies (most notably, The War of the Worlds in 1953).

[@redshiftexperiment]

22:30 .. very good technique used here. The repeated takes of the fictional screenplay. The words being repeated over and over "we got our man" working on the criminal below the surface/subconscious, and the audience sees the parallel and foreshadowing. A really nice device and decently executed. 😎

[@markmurphy3965]

Love how the referenced the Father Brown from the Chesterton books. It is also a current TV show from England. You can see it on Netflix. Small world huh!

[@dfsengineer]

Highly recommend the Father Brown stories by G.K. Chesterton.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

So does the nun.

[@emilygregory7004]

One of the best shows ever In my opinion

[@LandondeeL]

This is the first time I'd ever seen Ben Romero, after hearing him (played by Barton Yarborough) on many Dragnet radio episodes. He's a lot taller than I had imagined him to be. Taller than Friday, whose other major partners, Smith and Gannon were shorter than he.

[@lynndadalziel4716]

LandondeeL I agree. He looks totally different than what he sounds like. Always pictured him as shorter and portlier lol

[@LandondeeL]

That's EXACTLY how I imagined him....and still do in the radio episodes!

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

He only did 2 or 3 TV episodes before having the big one and dying.

[@jameswolf133]

@@lynndadalziel4716 same here. The Texas accent throws me.

[@jamesvickers9476]

It's amazing how criminals can be bluffed...an how they will rat you out in a heart beat

[@LuckysMotorcycles]

Even the down and out junkie (Babe) wore a coat and tie !

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

Yeah, but he doesn't shave....damned beatnik!

[@Brace67]

I can't help but thinking how perfect Ben Yarborough would have been in these early 1950's Dragnets. Unfortunately, Mr. Yarborough, playing Sgt. Ben Romero, died suddenly and unexpectedly from a heart attack after completing only two Dragnet episodes. His death hit Jack Webb very hard and is depicted in the episode entitled "The Big Sorrow". The tears being shed are not acting. Webb also had to search for awhile before finally finding the right actor to play Officer Frank Smith, Ben Alexander. Watch Yarborough's performance here. He is completely natural.

[@l.e.o.1127]

Yep love his voice.

[@nameskhar1510]

+Brace67 Yeah, thanks for sure: * * * * *'s FOR THE EARLY SERIES.

[@cottagechskitty]

Yes they were filming the 3rd episode when he passed away

[@Bill23799]

Brace thank you for that interesting bit of information. I had no idea Jack was that sensitive. I will have to find and watch The Big Sorrow.

[@aileenwagner2576]

Yes he was so natural. He was Joe's perfect partner!

[@redradiodog]

The size of those nuns hats are amazing!

[@DerBingle1]

The 50 version is true film noir brought to early TV. Jack Webb was a genius, to bad he really hit the bottle and the 60s version declined so much from this. The nun's habits are really wild!

[@Bill23799]

Office girl: Sgt Friday i have the file you asked for and I have the Facsimile sent to you from the Denver Police department you requested. Which do you want first? Sgt Friday: Just the FAX ma'am.

[@Bill23799]

Interesting note: Jack Kruschen , who played Babe Carson, err...I mean Babe Kellog hehe, was in a total of 12 Dragnet first series episodes. He played an elevator operator in the pilot episode in 1951 " The Human Bomb ". He also played in an episode in the last season of the first TV series in 1959 called " The Big .38 " Jack Krushen played a child molester in the 1954 episode called " The Big Crime ". This was rather a sensitive subject in the 1950s. I think it was one of the best of the Dragnet first TV series episodes. Jack was only in the last scene but he played his part very well.

[@marymccarthy564]

2nd comment Love to see all the old cars!!!

[@TheMrB]

This is wholly unbelievable. Actors in Hollywood taking & dealing drugs!

[@aardvark1956]

MrBudzini 😂🤣😅😂

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Yeah, actors are such gods. (little g) They wouldn't do anything against the law.

[@johna.4334]

I'm reminded of Charlie Sheen.

[@GoldandAppel]

😮

[@lordscrewtape2897]

You speak in riddles sahib..🤔

[@JJJBRICE]

Dragnet was a BIG hit for NBC in the 1950s usually in the top ten . In fact during its early years the show was right behind I Love Lucy in the ratings . Another fact that Desi Arnaz had a Desilu produced police procedural that took place in San Francisco called The Lineup from 1954 to 1960 with fatherly Warner Anderson and muscle Tom Tully doing their thing .

[@D45VR]

Olan Soule plays the fingerprint officer. he had a prolific career, even a bit part in 'North by Northwest', as well as several episodes of 'The Andy Griffith Show' as the choir director.

[@ElmoUnk1953]

frank Olan Soule was Also the voice of 1960’s Batman cartoon. I recently learned that.

[@13thwho]

Olan Soule played Tut, Richard Webb’s scientist partner on “Captain Midnight”.

[@D45VR]

@@ElmoUnk1953 Thanks I did not know that. I liked that actor.

[@frankdenardo8684]

Olan Soulé was part of Jack Webb's acting troupe. He always the lab technician, chemist, or a doctor. So much for typecasting. He was kind of short, lanky, wore horn rimmed glasses, he was a member of the freemasons, and is also a Shriner.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@D45VR He wore horn rimmed glasses, kind of lanky. He was also a Freemason and a Shriner.

[@Tralala691]

Hollyweird could never make such tv shows today.

[@cottagechskitty]

This is actually aired after Barton passed away. And notice Los Angeles with the hard "g". It was not an uncommon pronunciation.

[@mesutter]

Yep, at 9:13. Los Ang-lis! Never heard it pronounced that way. Of course, I was in Michigan in the '50s.

[@lorrainem8234]

mesutter Any 1950s show you watch uses the hard-g pronunciation. I wonder when it changed?

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

I think the panorama in the intro was filmed from Lookout Peak. That hill is long gone now, replaced with Dodger stadium. It's amazing how many of LA's original hills were flattened to build the LA of today.

[@tonyarceneaux286]

Quite a number of actors from the Black and White episodes of Dragnet also was in the color episodes too.📺🎥📽️🎬.

[@kenbritton6782]

23:04 The background music 'sympathizes ' with the crook

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I thought that was weird too. But after I thought about it, I think it was supposed to suggest that this two bit actor was giving the performance of his career.

[@bridgetgregory3876]

Jack Webb looks good wearing his hat. He was very Handsome.

[@D45VR]

Those nun hats...

[@timfreckman5227]

Sister Mary - 10 bucks, same as downtown. GK Chesterton rules!

[@dindinprivate3477]

Interesting how the interrogations always take place in the squad room. Guess they didn't yet have interrogation rooms in those days.

[@rickarnold6825]

LA with a population of only 2-million!

[@UNOwen1]

Barton Yarborough (Sgt. Ben Romero - Friday's original partner - first worked with Joe on the radio series) died 5 days after filming this episode.

[@kingmiura8138]

Joe's first partner....he didn't last long. Joe said he was not an actor...but Joe lasted a long time.

[@goraiebfred]

"...At ten grand a kilo is PURO. You can't lose money!" Tony Montana.

[@jagr15037]

I can imagine Jack Webb is a Catholic school boy I can imagine him getting hit with a ruler

[@katiezee2]

Why would the nun ask Friday if he was a Lt. ? seems odd and random On the job we used to call our Lt by the initials 'L-T'

[@jguerrero447]

The Order of the Flying Nuns.

[@tonyarceneaux286]

Before I started to watch these Black and White episodes of Dragnet, I didn't know that Jack Webb directed those too.🎬🎥📺📽️.

[@arthureverett8220]

Those are the weirdest hats I have ever seen!!! The nuns most likely used them for paragliding

[@lynndadalziel4716]

"You feel pretty good now but you'll get a yen on." Lol. Cold "There's no buzzing up at 'Q'

[@aileenwagner2576]

@Tony C Get a yen on, they are referring to withdrawal symptoms coming on when the desire for a fix will be acute. Don't know about 'steve'.

[@aileenwagner2576]

@Tony C U r most welcome!

[@wandahall4435]

Jack Webb is A Savage!!!

[@SamuelKhan]

Barton Yarborough reminds me of Geoffrey Lewis.

[@1978garfield]

Even Junkies dressed good in the 50's.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

Yeah. Apparently, the only way that you could tell them from everyone else was the three day beard.

[@phylliselizahb1041]

Cool. Get to see what a job movies (etc) really are.

[@WHYLYDIAWHY]

"There's no buzzing up at 'Q'."

[@hooterwah00]

ben had such a fantastic voice ..such a shame

[@frankdenardo8684]

He passed away too soon. Barton Yarborough was Ben Romero. Barney Phillips was Inspector Ed Jacobs, Herb Ellis played the first Frank Smith and Ben Alexander was the second one in both the TV and radio version.

[@Clancydaenlightened]

18:29 wen u ask an actor what workin as a puppet is like

[@Clancydaenlightened]

even a-list ones

[@felicciasc]

60 years later we still can't answer what makes an addict

[@TheaterPup]

I can believe some people are born with addictive personalities, more at risk than others. After that it's environment.

[@jimervin387]

Some get hooked because of doctors' pain medications.

[@acyutanandadas1326]

Very true tnx

[@Antechynus]

Unfortunately a lot of them start down that road after being cared for by Nuns and Priests.

[@lindastretch2522]

if anybody fell in love with jack webb it was me

[@lordscrewtape2897]

Shout out to Barton yarborough aka Ben Romero Sgt Fridays first partner..👍

[@McIntyreBible]

This actress (1:58) also appeared in the episode THE BIG FAMILY.

[@michaelglover9624]

Wait a minute, this show was originally called, "Badge 714"?

[@backbaconnbeer]

Dragnet with the syndication title..... 1:22 PENQUINS!

[@user-mp3eq6ir5b]

The Nun acted as if she didnt know there was any reason for the Police to be there. Also "Officer Romero"!!! "Are you a lieutenant?" Kind of snippy. This "actor" is HAF. Scene 33, Take 3,543.

[@GoldandAppel]

This show and Hawaii 50!

[@Brace67]

In my previous comment I meant to say Barton Yarborough playing Sgt. Ben Romero.

[@WordSmithForge1]

At first glance, I thought their prisoner was going to tell them he was on a mission from God.

[@johna.4334]

"Los Angle-les" What the...???!!!

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

That's how it was pronounced by most people back then.

[@franciscocortez6104]

Friday, we need you there are a lot of crimes and drugs trafickers around ri'there.

[@jessejames7757]

Stalin loved these shows he had the KGB use them as training videos.

[@liviia305]

Men's fashions don't vary as widely as women's do; one article that does is the men's necktie. Wider; narrower; longer; shorter. Look how short these ties are.

[@gmanette188]

Ty

[@leecoffman2594]

I can't help but notice the huge head pieces on the nuns, how in the world can they actually work with those things on ?

[@heyoldman2003]

Well Sister , just why did you need $10,000 bucks worth of narcotics? 🤔

[@rustydog1236]

$150k after inflation.

[@kingdaevid]

...Bart Yarborough, Jack Webb's co-star here (as he was on the radio version of the series), suffered a fatal heart attack the day after wrapping filming on this episode. He was eventually replaced on both radio and TV by Ben Alexander...

[@fromthesidelines]

It was a LONG process, though. Initially, Barney Phillips appeared as "Sgt. Ed Jacobs". Unfortunately, he tended to sound too much like Jack (on both TV and radio), and was dismissed. Then, Herb Ellis portrayed "Officer Frank Smith" for the remainder of 1952. Ben Alexander replaced HIM in January 1953.

[@conniecrawford5231]

Bart doesn't look healthy here.

[@aileenwagner2576]

Herb Ellis is the guy with the pool cue they ask directions from. He later became Joe's partner.

[@sherrycambridge1531]

1952

[@reynaldoflores4522]

I can't help comparing Friday with " Highway Patrol's " Dan Matthews. Friday is a lot more easy-going.

[@AndrewVelonis]

Pretty sure I saw the actor who plays "Babe" in another Dragnet episode.

[@idiotwind2248]

Haha..Babe thought he was in St.Louie 🙄 Ain't worth 50 yrs in the Q. Back then,they would sent him down to Lexington for the " cure".

[@slimeronio]

those nun hats... gotta wonder why?

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

In case they fall off the top of a 10 story building, they can glide safely to the ground.

[@E.L.RipleyAtNostromo]

I specifically looked this TV episode up after listening to radio episode 133 “The Big Sorrow,” in order to get a look at “Ben Romero” Barton Yarborough. All this time I confused him with Frank Smith for some reason. He’s older than I thought he was when listening to the radio. I see that “Babe Kellogg” here played a wine drinking degenerate child molester in a later episode.

[@McIntyreBible]

This actress (1:58) played an alcoholic wife in THE BIG FAMILY.

[@roberthuot7887]

Would have liked a date for this post. Is it that difficult?

[@jeffreymitchell710]

Way better than cnn

[@booklover6753]

CNN is the most trusted of the news networks. Fox (owned by Rupert Murdoch) is the laughing stock of the news industry, along with their viewers I might add. Rupert Murdoch also owns the National Enquirer. The worst rag in publishing history.

[@jimervin387]

I just wish the announcer didn't have to be so vague in announcing what the criminal's sentence was.

[@aardvark1956]

Jim Ervin That was the day of indeterminate sentencing. Nobody knew how long the sentence was. It depended on the severity of the crime, apparent remorse, prison record...

[@fromthesidelines]

On the original radio episode, the verdicts were this: "LEONARD FRANCIS CASTLE was tried and convicted of first degree robbery, and violating the state narcotics act. He received sentences prescibed by law. ALFRED 'BABE' KELLOGG was convincted of violating the state narcotics act. Both men are now serving their terms in the state penitentary."

[@jimervin387]

@@fromthesidelines Thanks. So we still don't know how long their stretches were for. But in those days it's probably fair to assume they were in the slammer for some time.

[@woodyofp8574]

Some say they're still there to this day.

[@shivasirons6159]

Just because he's an addict dont mean he doesn't know what towns he's in!

[@wandajames6234]

Hark the Herald ANGLES sing.... Touched by an ANGLE... ANGLES We Have Heard On High... Los Angles -- kidding aside, is that the Spanish pronunciation? We Canadians only know French : )

[@conniecrawford5231]

Wanda James Lots of Americans just say "L.A." !

[@jacklnu1614]

The ending epilogue portion of the original series appears more matter of fact compared with the revival series.

[@thekaiser4333]

And where is Judge Roy Bean?

[@daviddowns7552]

im not a cop but i play one on tv.

[@DATWagonator]

How the fuck does this guy not know what city he is in, You get off the bus or the plane and look around and there ain't one sign you see that has LA written on it. And I thought drugs have gotten better over time.

[@MrOnyxRaven]

"We did through investigation on our own.That is the way Father Brown does it" . I am sure Father Brown found NO evidence of child molestation during that investigation.

[@joey8509]

Anyone know the name of the nurse at 615?

[@fromthesidelines]

She was an "extra", and received no screen credit in this episode. If you didn't have any dialogue, and was only seen on camera for a few seconds....you were an "extra".

[@williamdegnan4718]

Sister Benedict was played by Sarah Selby. Listed as an actor in 135 roles, including four in this series of Dragnet and four other Webb produced series. m.imdb.com/name/nm0783003/filmotype?ref_=m_nm_flmg

[@godfreecharlie]

Men of that period should be glad that the pharmacy sister chose to be a Nun (None).

[@modelprisoner]

Nun of the above.

[@edwardhuster8466]

Look them shifty eyes. He must be guilty.

[@jmsiii4751]

I liked the Badge 714 before they switched to Dragnet...

[@rustydog1236]

$150k worth of narcotics after inflation at least.