Dragnet S03E16 The Big Thief

[@RevMikeBlack]

I'm a retired police chaplain. This is an accurate portrayal of the impact of a shooting by an officer. Contrary to what the popular press might think, there is no joy or high-fiving when a suspect is shot and killed. In fact, the atmosphere is quite somber. Even though the person may have given them no choice but to shoot, it was still a fellow human being who died. I've worked quite a few of these crime scenes. It's not unusual to hear a small amount of dark humor amongst the officers. They do that to keep from crying. However, if I had seen an officer celebrating inappropriately, which I never did, I would have kept an eye on him for a while to make sure he was ok. Although the final scene with Mrs. Smith was poignant, it's a lot more likely that several officers would have coalesced around Sgt. Friday and not let him out of their sight. That's what brothers in arms do.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Webb's portrayal after the shooting deserved an Emmy. His very tired and sick look is so realistic. Nearly 14 years later he'd be involved in another shooting (episode "The Shooting Board" in which events of this episode is referred to) His girlfriend makes reference to Frank being in the hospital was referring to the episode "The Big Frank" which aired seven months before this one. His girlfriend was played by Dorothy Abbott who sadly took her own life in 1968, one day before turning 48. Most of her roles during her career were uncredited.

[@markgarin6355]

No..over acting, they have been involved in numerous shootings (although indicated in narrative his first), even let him shoot first before returning fire.

[@roberthickerty390]

I remember when doctors made house calls. My dad was a doctor and had his black bag that he kept his medical necessities in. Pretty cool. Grew up in the 50’s so neat to see this.

[@geminijohnson4019]

Not so neat period of time for my people

[@roberthickerty390]

Gemini Johnson very true. My father grew up in the 30’s and 40’s. Not good times for anyone. My Dad’s youth was spent on a farm in Saskatchewan during the depression. A hard meager life. After that he got to join the army for world war 2. Also not a good time for anyone. My Dad used his GI bill to become a doctor. He worked hard to become what he was. But!! I cannot truly imagine what it was like for Blacks at this time, racism, segregation and Jim Crow. A reprehensible part of the past and a time that should be studied and learned from to better everyone’s lives. Education must be offered to all so that people can have theopportunity’s they deserve.

[@rubewaddell1704]

I remember the doctor coming around to see my younger brother. That was in the '70's. Mind you, we lived in a small country town.

[@sleepytickle]

I can't get ENOUGH of Friday!!! Especially in this day n age when reality seems so messed up.

[@JTRocks1]

I second that! 😯

[@billd.iniowa2263]

love these older episodes. this was a good one.

[@Tommy-76]

Don’t forget these shows were sponsored by Chesterfield

[@allenwoodall5590]

This was a great show one of my dads favorites . Miss you dad

[@geminijohnson4019]

Sorry for your loss😔

[@JTRocks1]

My sincere condolences to you as well. 😯

[@lawrenceneuenii3564]

Police officers have to go through so much crap. They deserve more respect than what they get!

[@robinneher3262]

lawrence neuen II, agreed. Police officers face way more today than the writers and producers on Dragnet could have ever dreamed of.

[@misskim2058]

Depends on the cop. Some are straight-up criminals. Some are good, a few. Our town/state has had serial rapist cops, many cops take and either keep for personal use or re-sell confiscated drugs (I have personally overheard them discussing and teaching rookies how to go about it, bragging that their target won’t complain about them taking their drugs, they’ll only be grateful that they had them confiscated and let off with a warning). They’ve done stings locally to catch some of these crooked cops. Just one example was when the “good” cops left a suitcase full of drugs, cash, a weapon, and porn in a briefcase, and had it called in as a “lost and found” to be picked up. They sent the unsuspecting, suspected officer to take the call and pick it up. He turned in the briefcase...with the gun only. Kept the drugs, money, and the porn for himself. I myself have made calls for a burglary in progress (vehicular, rolling the neighborhood at night), other times, for aggressive stalking. Cops never showed. Not worth their trouble. I have always had to defend myself. So for those idiots out there that say there’s no reason to own an AK, maybe they need to experience a gang invasion, because a loaded pistol won’t cut it if a dozen or more determined and whacked-out gang members all invade at once. Your only chance is a semi-automatic. Period. You make them scamper, or your night will be miserable... if you live through it. Cops won’t and even if they would, cannot arrive in the seconds it takes to fend off that level of trouble, so rather than whine about disarming people, we need to fully arm all willing citizens, because it’s the not knowing that keeps dishonest and violent criminals from entering a home or attacking anywhere. If they know they may meet with an AK, AR, etc. then they are much less likely to try to cause trouble. Open carry semi-automatics for all willing citizens, and all nonsense would end, because to carry, you have to have a permit and pass the gun safety class. And unlike what the media would like to portray to the gullible masses, most gun owners are very cautious, not malicious, and are definitely the people you want to have next door if you refuse to arm yourself. We need more guns, not less. Then the staged, fake shootings would also stop, because crisis actors don’t get hazard pay, most just get the usual $200-$250/day plus their Uber fare reimbursement, unless they’re going to play the sister, brother, mother, uncle, etc. for several days or weeks, doing repeat performances for the news. Those guys get 6-figure checks to betray humanity, paid by our tax dollars. And for the scum that are considering a career change from reading this, what goes around comes around. No, they are not “helping” the government by doing drills to “help catch the bad guys”, while reporting them as real on the news, which is what they tell some of them. They ARE the bad guys, these crisis actors are helping the bad guys terrorize the news-watching masses who don’t know they are staged, and are only being called “drills” behind the scenes to get greedy idiots to participate. Non-disclosure/gag-orders, and hefty prison penalties for speaking out keep the mouths shut. Plus greed to get more money and another gig on TV, that does it, too. Why don’t people notice the same damn faces over and over? Even identical photos with brand new names and a new backstory? I guess they check to see how sleepy the public is. Behind the scenes, they like to call them “worldwide experiments to test the public’s response, both foreign and domestic, to mass terror events” . I call it sick and twisted. And all those who have already taken the money, you already know what kinds of scum you are. It will come back to you. Paybacks are a bitch. And...for those in disbelief or damage control that will try mockery and nonsense here, I do know what I am talking about...it isn’t a multi-million and billion dollar industry because they market to the masses and it’s the masses are hiring these lying sacks of shite...the masses don’t seem to even realize it IS an industry unto itself. Crisis acting isn’t an accusation, it’s an industry, as is “crowd sourcing”. That’s where they hire people, the same loser crowd, to pretend to be whatever you want for a day, if the price is right... you can hire a supportive crowd to your “you-name-it” causes, or “the newest racist/hate group”, the “we whore ourselves out for your news camera for a day or week or month” crowd. There is hazard pay there, bonuses for those who will maybe get punched for the cameras and bleed a little. (Why do people think they really came up with stupid “reality TV”? To test how low people will go for a little money and to get their sorry selves on TV (for all the upcoming staged events, duh, people, that’s why we see more insanity, nor because people are actually more hostile), and secondly, to see how many people would get emotionally tied up and not use reason to question what is being presented to them, see how many would fall for it (Punk’d is a good illustration of an early mass social experiment, but they all are. Careful editing works wonders!). And anyone participating is truly the lowest scum on earth, betraying their fellow humans, but they clearly don’t care. At least people can stop falling for obvious forensics impossibilities, that would help. These are real industries. They call it “experimenting”, “drills”, “testing with realism”, “PR”, or even good old “shaping and molding public opinion, both foreign and domestic”. In their eyes, if you actually believe them, well, that’s your fault. You fail the observation test. Their little mass IQ tests they spring in the masses pretty frequently these days. In decades past, they were far less often. After reality TV, they realized people almost want to be lied to, and if the TV says so, then it’s the gospel truth to them, especially if the teleprompter reader has a great look of concern on his or her face. That helps a lot. But I digress, those are usually alphabet agencies and the mainstream news, though the local cops do also participate in these “drills” and “activities” and “events”. Just one more example of our wonderful local cops... A friend recently had her 5 kids home alone (yes, 2 are old enough to legally watch the others, so no drama about leaving children home alone), and a few “someones” (strangers) came trying to break in, pounding on the door and threatening them. The terrified kids called the police. They didn’t come. Some neighbor must have walked by, because it got quiet for a little bit, but then the would-be intruders tried breaking in again. The kids called the cops again, they should have arrived by then (just down the road, they should have come, kids home alone with imminent danger). The neighbors were the ones to hear the racket going on and finally scare them off. They called the cops yet again. The cops said they’d come “take a report”. They never even bothered their lazy selves to do that. So, no. Not all cops deserve respect. Some criminals take the job to get away with murder. Others simply don’t care at all. For the few out there doing their job, yes, we do appreciate those who actually still have some ethics. I know one. One cop with ethics. One.

[@bobsaturday4273]

some of em give out a lot more than they ever take , then all of em get that "respect" that the murderous nazi pigs solicit by their crimes , so the good ones deserve it too for covering for the bad ones

[@mercureethepersonality4671]

Miss Kim damn...write a book next time...annoying ass...🤦🏽‍♀️😂😂😂

[@mercureethepersonality4671]

@ Geez Louise... I thought I typed a lot until I saw that...LOL

[@wandahall4435]

Thanks for posting these programs they are Great 👍

[@frankmayer139]

If Joe Friday was still on the job, Los Angeles wouldn't be the mess it is today.

[@scottdw72]

LAPD u mean??

[@kickit59]

You are so right Frank! Joe Friday would clean up the streets of LA! Even better if they had a whole crew of Joe Fridays on the street and some tough as nails prosecutors! Then you would see some results over time!

[@thisravenhasflown010]

Oh lol lol its that kind of thinking killing us... we're in the 21st century honey. They need to be different. All your 1950s attitudes are old , dry and worn out. Especially for us ladies. No surprise men still think like this😁😁😁

[@thisravenhasflown010]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤷‍♀️

[@rochellegutman8730]

😂😂😂

[@2004mojo]

I had never seen this one before. Jack Webb was sooo good playing Friday. This one tops the later one where Joe shot the guy in the laundry room. Dragnet '67 S2 E2 "The Shooting Board". I loved the reveal at the end of where the bullet from the robber's gun was hiding. One of the investigating officers has a great line! " Take a good look Joe. It's been hiding a long time."

[@martingarza3383]

Joe's girl is good as gold. She is a keeper.

[@Catquick1957]

Her husband was an LAPD narcotics officer for years, later in homicide. Two of his cases were made into the show. After he retired, he became an actor, Rudy Dias. He started stepping out with starlets and she killed herself. What a pity. GOD rest her soul, and forgive him.

@@Catquick1957 I looked it up. Dorothy Abbot.

[@guillaumedeverreaux7086]

24:31 - She's most definitely a keeper!

[@edwardgarea7650]

In real life he was married to Julie London, who made Friday’s girl seem plain by comparison. They divorced and she later married bandleader Bobby Troup. They went on to co-star in Webb’s “Emergency.”

[@TheJMPD]

This is the first time I've seen a portrayal of an actual shooting by an Officer. Thanks Jack! RIP

[@marcelmoreau2733]

I"ve seen it on other shows but this might be chronologically oldest to show it. Carl on Family Matters, at least once on Barney Miller, and others. Oddly it seems to be the comedies that take it more seriously then the dramas.

[@TheShamansQuestion]

Dirty Harry technically qualifies

[@rubewaddell1704]

@@marcelmoreau2733 There is actually an earlier incident in this same programme. Smith gets shot in the episode The Big Frank (series 2, episode 26). Also available on You Tube.

[@troy9477]

That is a very good girlfriend right there. I like the way she talked with Joe and reassured him. Also how she referenced the time Frank got shot (recently saw that one). Good support. Guess there was no mandatory time off back then.

[@deezimmo4814]

Like, Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, Joe is married to his job.

[@dariowiter3078]

@R Hugh Sirius Ph.D. How sad! 🙁

[@mikeh.7499]

@@deezimmo4814 thank you Dee! ...a very sharp comparison.

[@rubewaddell1704]

Played by Dorothy Abbott, a bit part player who had a tragic end.

[@shibolinemress8913]

Doctors making house (or in this case, hotel) calls are something I really miss. In England they still did it up until the late 60's. When mom was pregnant with my little brother, our doctor would come by regularly to check on her. Sometimes I had "sympathy pains" and he always had some sugar pills along. He'd take time to check me over and if - as usual - it didn't seem like anything, he'd tell me what a brave girl I was, give me a couple of the pills and tell mom to call him back if it continued. But after being checked and taking my "medicine", my "symptoms" would quickly disappear. I was 4 at the time, and to this day I wish I could thank him!

[@patriciao5239]

Darling story!

[@shanghaibennyii6565]

15:40. “Guess my troubles are over now. “ " They’re just startin’” Says a daddy.

[@heyoldman2003]

Shanghai Benny II That’s right 😎 love these shows

[@peace-yv4qd]

Gil Stratton is the expectant father.He was a LA sportscaster for many years. I watched him many times on my little black and white TV. Along with Dragnet and many other wonderful programs.

[@mikeh.7499]

and this is half the fun...reading interesting comments like yours

[@jmarcguy]

I only know the 60’s episodes where Friday is so experienced. This is a great episode! The radio program is outstanding too.

[@richardhall9815]

Thank God it's Friday!!

[@nancyking4475]

Another case of the criminal blaming the police when they was the one breaking the law

[@dindinprivate3477]

Very, very good episode. Capt. Dideon would seem to have an ulcer, the amount of milk he drinks. Perhaps that too is related to the tensions of being a police officer.

[@aardvark1956]

Dindin Private Have we seen Didian spelled? Bet it’s the Armenian “ian” ending. Pretty big Armenian community in LA.

[@1978garfield]

I wonder if in reality most of the detectives had a half pint or fifth in their desk or locker?

[@heyoldman2003]

Dindin Private In a couple shows Junkies are hurtin , Jonesing . Quick .. get him some milk ?? I didn’t know that helped 😲

[@Tommy-76]

The bottle was filled with bicarbonate of soda

[@heydazey]

Not that it matters, but it's Didion -- see end credits.​@aardvark1956

[@Tralala691]

Best cigarette commercial ever

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally telecast on December 17, 1953.

[@dralphd]

As a retired cop, I don't have to get shot to make shooting or killing the bad guy a good decision. My wife and children deserve to have me come home every night and without holes in me. You can see how the law has changed. Today she also would be guilty of attempted murder of a cop.

[@johnmcdonald9304]

When you could smoke inside a building. I remember those days.

[@wrlord]

The writing in Dragnet is usually sparse and lean, but so much is said in so few words in that last scene. Fantastic.

[@Miss65boo]

The fact that Friday felt bad about killing the 22 year old bad guy shows he is a good cop. No cop should feel okay about killing another human being.

[@9256steven]

What about Harry Callahan?

[@paulmentzer7658]

"Dirty Harry" was and is a right wing fantasy. The Right wing see Criminals NOT as fellow Human beings but hostile animals that must be killed or otherwise controlled. In real life almost all criminals are like the Criminals in Dragnet not inhuman monsters (even Dragnet had a tendency to go with right wing talking points even as to criminals). Sorry, Dragnet had a problem, to a degree, Dragnet had to reflect real life, Dirty Harry has no such restriction.

[@yourfabuloushappymann5154]

These were really good shows...Friday did not like having to shoot that kid.....It was tearing him up...

[@beakt]

Smith don't GAF! LOL

Your Fabulous Happy Mann ya I couldn't figure that out. Kid shot first. It was him or the kid. Good thing it was the kid. Otherwise the series would have ended. The comic relief was the chick saying the kid didn't do anything. Lol.

[@locutusdborg126]

Exceptional episode.

[@melvinlee9263]

"You killed him in cold blood." "Um lady, what about all the shots he fired at us?"

[@nunyabusiness-xr9ci]

Love watching

[@ronwade2206]

1 time Dr. Giangobe came to our house when Steve and I were both down with Chickenpox in 1967, when Dragnet was on and I sat too close to the TV.

[@MartinSage]

She lits me a smoke…buys me cup of Java. 👍

[@Nderak]

Rackets like this were incredibly manpower intensive to catch, nowadays video surveillance in hotels saves a load of time.

[@felicciasc]

actually I think I can smell the cigarette smoke when I watch these old ones

[@fromthesidelines]

"DRAGNET" had a cigarette sponsor on TV and radio at the time: Chesterfield. Here's one of their Christmas magazine ads from that month: i.pinimg.com/736x/91/c9/de/91c9dec6cb1b61a4743d980a156d30e0--christmas-ad-vintage-christmas.jpg

[@fromthesidelines]

....and here's Jack Webb himself "pushing" it in a concurrent magazine ad: www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/celebrity-smoking-ad_jack-webb-1953-chesterfield.jpg

[@kenbritton6782]

Old radio version of Dragnet: "Smoke Fatimas".

[@davidgreener423]

I smell them

[@theothertroll]

thank god can''t smell that shit ~

[@billhuber2964]

End of the show Joe looks like he needs a vacation.

[@roninladson4087]

A great tv show, on the list of the longest running tv shows in television history.

[@moxievintage1390]

I love how people literally smoke EVERYWHERE, and they just throw their matches and their cigarettes on the ground-but if they’re inside and no ashtray, they just throw it on the FLOOR OF WHATEVER BUILDING THEY’RE IN! Gotta love a doctor that asks the cop for a cigarette! 🥳

[@mikeh.7499]

retired building engineer.government building 16 stories of yellow walls and dark cruncy drapes from smoke.ashtrays always overflowing.judges in courtrooms and offices smoking cigars at 6am....i could go on .i dont smoke never have.this whole building reeked especially the lobby.lots of false smoke detector alarms. lastly my late wife could tell which buildind i worked in that day because my hair and clothes rewked...hey thank you too long.i miss my wife and workingcwith the guys.😮

[@christinamenhennett]

My dad and grandfather were cops in LA in the 60s.

[@marbanak]

Low camera angle at 13:21. Lots of cool story-telling in this series. The long monologues from some of the characters must be a carry over from the radio days.

[@rickhinojosa5455]

Mannnnnn, they sure knew how to push the cigarettes!! Ole Joe was sad and disrupted. Old Frank was kind of insensitive when Joe was suffering over his first time having to kill someone! These years were the best episodes. When I was young, I saw the later ones in color. Harry Morgan was the partner and I did t care for him at all. But the guys joe had in these years were excellent. And HE had a girlfriend!!!! All I remember of the later years ones was that he was always a batchelor. Old Joe was married to Julie London in real life!! Wow! How he manage that?!! That is for the uploads! 🙏

[@ricardo53100]

Joe has a cut girlfriend. Wow ! I am impressed.

[@Tralala691]

Best side kick ever

[@McIntyreBible]

5:13, how different from today did people in the 50's lit up without thinking!

[@jerryw6699]

it was warm in Los Angeles

[@cindylawrence1515]

This dragnet is substantially different than other issues in the series. More complex using much more elaborate shots like through the opening phone scene and the final scene with an far more elaborate closing. Again, VERY different that other episodes.....the lighting, the much finer more complex dialog, the dramatic pacing all of it FAR better and a much higher level that other items in the series. This seems to be an experiment in adding quality to the basic format!!!!

[@michaelf.douglas6798]

Corona California. That name has a new meaning today.

[@richardwilliams5387]

What's that down the side of the Doctor's face below the bandage? Is it supposed to be dried blood?

[@McIntyreBible]

5:13 even after getting beat up and robbed, the good doctor is yearning for a cigarette.

[@yourfabuloushappymann5154]

One of the few where Sgt. Friday had to use deadly force...

[@CrowdfundingHell]

Fired two warning shots...directly into he suspect!

[@AlaskaErik]

Crowdfunding Hell Let that be a warning to criminals to not resist arrest!

[@carloswilson671]

Officers actually rarely kill. When they have to it shakes them up.

[@carvinlambert6899]

Friday pulls Iron!!!! 2 shots!!! end of gene pool !!!

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

This is why doctors do not make house calls and why after hours callers are told to hang up and call 911.

[@aardvark1956]

First time I remember seeing Friday kill someone.

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

First time I've seen him with a chick.

[@jubalcalif9100]

Me too ! And only the second episode I've seen that featured a girlfriend !

[@edwardgarea7650]

He killed a punk who took a shot at him when he caught him rifling a laundromat change machine in a ‘60s Dragnet episode. The story was that forensics couldn’t find the bullet the punk fired at Joe and it looked bad.

[@johna.4334]

First time I remember seeing Friday with a swell looking dame.

[@mikeh.7499]

@@edwardgarea7650 The episode is called "The Shooting Board"...It would be really swell of you Edward if you would edit your comment so as to not give the entire episode away,but no big deal ,i have watched that episode at least 50 times and still come up with stuff i missed. Thanks!

[@Tralala691]

Best milk commercial ever

[@garymckee8857]

Damn narcotics.

[@herbchilds1512]

Makes perfect Dragnet sense. An injured doctor calling for a cigarette.

[@felicciasc]

that doctor seemed awfully eager for a cigarette

[@kennthhowse7196]

NIC FEL TX

[@heyoldman2003]

Well sure . A trying moment like that . That’s the time for a mild , refreshing cigarette. They mask the pain 😎

[@heyoldman2003]

I just smoked one five minutes ago . I know all about addiction 😎

[@conniecrawford5231]

A doctor gets injured and the first thing he asks for is a cigarette!!!!

[@deecook8393]

Joe Friday is a Fire Hazard with his matches and cigarettes. Just throws them down in the hall.

[@edwardgarea7650]

The was an old issue of Mad Magazine that ran a parody of the show called “Draggednet.” Everyone smoked to excess. At one point Friday had a whole pack of cigarettes in his mouth. It was a very funny and dead-on parody.

[@harlankrissoff9966]

The all too human side of Joe Friday, which was not seen very often.

[@1978garfield]

Ann was very pretty. That looked like a high maintenance hair do.

[@doctorpicardnononono7469]

5:55 at least he still has his pinky ring.

[@StevenJInLA]

There's just something about black & white.

[@RangerCaptain11A]

at least the shooter had the courtesy to fall into the room instead of down to the street.

[@paulmentzer7658]

She was lucky, under California law she was also guilty of murder. Califoria has one of the broadest "Felony Murder" rule in the US. "Felony Murder" occurs when someone is killed during a felony. In most states the killing had to be done one of the persons committing the felony. In Califoria if a victim of a felony kills one of the persons doing the felony, the rest of the felons are guilty of "Felony Murder". Two Califoria cases shows this. The first teo robbers were robbing a store holding the owner at the counter while they robbed him The Store owner's wife saw this a shot and killed one of the robbers and took the other robber a prisoner till the Police arrive. The surviving robber was convicted of "Felony Murder" even through it was his fellow robber who was killed. The other case is on the way to commit a robbery, the Robbers had failed to secure a tire in the bed of their pickup. The tire fell out and caused an accident which lead to a death of an automobile driver. Since the Robbers were on they way to commit a robbery which is a felony, their were convicted of "Felony Murder" of the automobile driver. Please note some states, such as?Ohio, do not have "Felony Murder" but often the intent to commit a felony is enough to find thrm guilty of murder independent of the "Felony Murder" rule. Also note, to my knowledge, no other state extends the "Felony Murder" rule as far as Califoria has. Generally the felons had to knowingly do an act that result in a death (Which can include pointing a gun at someone who then dies of a heartattack do to the fear of being killed). Jack Webb either did not want to mention her guilt as to Felony Murder or the DA decided that a plea deal to robbery with a max five year sentence was better use of resources then convicting her on "Felony Murder". As to "Misdemeanors" about 20 years go a Texas Court convicted a man of "Felony Murder" when the undelying crime was a "Misdeamenor". This was caught on appeal and the Court of Appeals had to send case back to the trial court for the law in such cases is "Misdemeanor-Manslaugter" not "Felony-Murder". Just a comment that this woman got off easy if only convicted of Robbery.

[@patriciao5239]

It seems unfair (in the 2nd example) if legally driving somewhere can be considered a predicate for being charged with felony murder UNLESS the intended crime (eg robbery) is also at least attempted. If the would-be robbers never got to the scene of the intended robbery, they obviously never committed the robbery. So without an actual primary crime (eg, robbery or attempted robbery), how is there a predicate that upgrades manslaughter (death from a loose tire that falls off your truck and kills someone) to murder? They might have gotten to the scene and changed their minds and left without attempting the robbery. Maybe due to a pang of conscience or they heard the night watchman or whatever. People are innocent until proven guilty. And to be proven guilty, doesn't there have to be a crime?!

[@tommccarron324]

Just run the prints through the computer, check DNA, notify local departments via email. They should catch the suspects in a couple days 😉

[@DMBall]

Here's the latest Dragnet weather report: It was cold in the winter, hot in the summer, rainy in the spring, and cool in the autumn

[@david39348]

It's interesting, to see how much smoking people did back then.

[@californiaslastgasp6847]

Too bad she was only convicted of one count of robbery. And why wasn’t she charged with possession of narcotics, being a user or addict, and for felony murder? Then she could’ve been put away for decades.

[@jdsalinger3731]

Lousy addict slugged the doctor and took his narcotics; but, nothing a good smoke can’t cure. This must have been made before cigarettes were addictive and homicidal.

[@fromthesidelines]

Chesterfield {"Made by LIGGETT & MYERS- FIRST major tobacco company to offer a COMPLETE line of QUALITY CIGARETTES!"} was the show's sponsor on radio and TV at the time. They insisted Jack Webb and others in the cast "light up" whenever possible during each episode.

[@jdsalinger3731]

@@fromthesidelines They likely shaved years off Mr Webb's life

[@fromthesidelines]

He lived to be 62. Died in December 1982 of a heart attack.

[@andrewcomments5812]

He wasn't the addict, she was. She said he was doing it for her.

[@pffear]

Where was she the rest of the show's run? Seems to me old Joe's life would have been a lot brighter had he written in this girl as his wife instead of staying a bachelor.....😄💝

[@muffs55mercury61]

She appeared in five other episodes according to IMDB.

[@paulmentzer7658]

Every time you see a couple get married on the show, the show is on a downward trend (Get Smart, I dream of Geni are two examples of that). Now if the couple starts the series as already married the show has last for years (McMillian is?an example of that). Sorry unless we are dealing with a married couple when the series start do not leave the couple marry.

[@TheLochs]

lots of smoking and milk drinking. lol

[@geminijohnson4019]

This is long before smoking was bad and nobody seems to be lactose intolerant

[@ghostl1124]

In those days, the cops, and everyone, were smokin' fools...

[@jacknakash2677]

Mike Lindner Yeah including the doctor . Wow how times have changed

[@willcravens3995]

There's a 1960s episode of dragnet where him and Bill are talking to this and the guy tells them me and my wife are thinking about nameing are first child frank and asks Joe what he thinks of that name and joe says I had a partner once named frank its a good name

[@Monkofmagnesia]

11:19 - actual footage of an actor trying to remember his line without breaking character!

[@deezimmo4814]

As I watch some of these older programs, it occurs to me that it is high time to go back to wearing hats and gloves. I am tired of seeing everything on everyone, whatever happened to modesty? Gloves on women, I think I will start a new, old trend..great way to keep other people's germs off of your hands. In this day of bizarre viruses from global travelers..gloves and hats just make more sense.

[@calmheart1782]

Dee Zimmo ... It’s near the end of March 2020, in the middle of the Covid 19 pandemic. If we had all read your text earlier and started wearing gloves, there would probably be a lot fewer people sick now! I hope you are safe.

[@mikeh.7499]

@@calmheart1782 i was going to say the same thing Calm Heart ,but you have said it better already.Thank You.

[@MIKECNW]

I'm sure not everyone wore gloves so shut up. Plus why do that unless it's cold outside.

[@QRPalmSprings]

I still wear a Fedora almost exclusively except during the summers when I switch to a Panama. As for gloves? Not practical for Gentlemen.

[@shammobile4066]

Hats man a posse roundup while gloves you tote the glove department, an insurance card. ..PLOTS THAT WOULD CARD THE MOUNTAINS..., glove up.

[@mercureethepersonality4671]

Com-posite...🤦🏽‍♀️😂😂😂😂 can’t stand when he says the word Composite....😂😂😂😂

[@rogermccollough8787]

back in the days before jack boots and swat wow

[@jogo2462]

So sorry to learn about her tragic death 😥

[@HaywardEntertainment]

Poor Joe

[@frances4797]

Doctors in 1967: "We don't make house calls to hotel rooms anymore"

[@trapper1064]

I don't comment on the prevelance of smoking in these old b&w movies 'cause it's everywhere-- but sometimes I wonder if the cigg co.'s hadn't paid the movie industry so much $$ to show smoking, how much of movies (and thus--people watching them- chicken n' egg) would actually show smoking as a way of life and how many lives would've died of something other than lung cancer/smoking complications. But, hell, give the doc a smoke!!!

[@holmanrw]

Jack Webb smoked three packs a day.

[@munstrumridcully]

Trapper Dragnet was sponsored by Chesterfield cigarettes, if memory serves. I'm pretty sure some of it was product placement and some that Webb was a heavy smoker. In the episode Joe's girl mentioned, when Frank got shot, she and Joe met at the hospital to see Frank and each of them brought a carton of cigs for Frank as a get well gift, lol

[@desotofiresweep58]

Chesterfield was owned by Liggett tobacco nothing wrong with having a cigarette at least real men back then we're smoking a cigarette and not each other's Johnson like nowadays.

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

@@desotofiresweep58 I've got some bad news for you....homosexuals existed in 1953 as well.

[@sanjursan]

Who wrote that perfect theme music? I mean, even the Lone Ranger had to borrow from the classics.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

The William Tell Overture by Rossini.

[@craykanne]

Sgt Friday with a girlfriend. Will wonders never cease. His acting was amazing in this one.

[@ricardo53100]

The chick who organized the robbery was real trash. I hope that she liked making license plates at Corona.

[@johna.4334]

I'd give her one.

[@beakt]

18:08 Joe draws his revolver on a suspected felon. Bad guy draws, turns his back on Joe and moves to climb out the window, then turns around, lifts up his hand slowly, and fires. Joe, just feet away, head, shoulders and chest fully exposed, with the rest of his body covered only by a wooden bed, watches carefully the entire time and dodges the bullet with a cool head bob. He does not return fire. Bad guy turns his back again, and gets all the way up on the sill. He turns around slowly, and fires twice this time. Joe watches, and does not return fire. Bad guy turns his back again, now contemplating jumping, and no longer posing an immediate threat to Joe. Joe shoots him twice in the back. The LAPD sure had weird tactics and procedures back then!

[@freepressright]

Former adult felony probation officer. The mere fact that he was clearly armed and opened fire, escaping with the gun, made the shooting justified according to all training standards. That is due to the fact that he is a known risk to whoever is out there on the street. An officer has a duty to act when an armed individual is running away, still armed and still a clear and present threat. The told us that specifically in scenario training at the academy. It would have been a good shoot by legal standards.

[@joedirt6212]

The first time Friday killed someone

[@mountainhobo]

Usually it's Monday.

[@mesutter]

Why would the perps use the name of a famous actor, Tim Allen, for their alias?

[@nouranshadez4298]

mesutter.I don't think Tim Allen was a famous actor back then.

[@mesutter]

You are correct. He was an unknown, barely getting started in the business. He was lucky to be able to overcome this potential blemish on his reputation!

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Tim Allen was a baby when Dragnet was on the air.

[@desotofiresweep58]

Well actually since Tim Allen is his stage name he probably got it from this episode of Dragnet since he was born the year before this aired

[@MyREDTAIL]

Nice Shooting Friday Notice that Smith carries a big 6 inch Revolver etc.

[@mikeh.7499]

if you see "The Big Threat" at about the 16 min. mark locker room...see his western? pistol grips also....thanks...

[@hakimbrowns9932]

Evidently she doesn't understand what cold blood means

[@johnclark6571]

Just because of this, doctors don't make house calls anymore

[@johnclark6571]

Jlballs....You are right about that. I still have a closet full of Nehru Jackets........

[@mesutter]

No, John is absolutely right. After this attack, the American Medical Association advised its members to stop making house call, and threatened to blacklist any who did. Look it up!

[@armandito9735]

what good was that,....most of them smoked like fiends and died later from lung cancer.

[@AxleNuts]

Yeah a few bad eggs ruin it for everybody.

[@fje6902]

I was a kid in the sixties and seventies, and my doctor made house calls. He just charged more for them.

[@machfiver753]

This show is quite multifaceted. After watching a number of erm... "Big" episodes you get to see many of its nuances. I especially like the comic relief (not shown in this episode) where witnesses give off a deer in the headlights performance constantly raising their eyebrows as they speak in short bursts of surprise and Friday smirks and Smith looks on in dumfounded shock at their insanity. Then there's this episode where the crime takes a backseat over the aftermath that happens when a decent cop (not an adrenaline junkie who goes in like they are a navy seal just praying for war and a chance to unload a clip into anything with arms and legs) and even though he acted in self defense and in a kill or be killed situation he still feels remorse. Though who knows what may have happened if the cops had announced that they were cops, prolly not a requirement back then as they couldn't follow up with a flashbang first before entry.

[@conniecrawford5231]

Actually, even back in the early 60's in college we referred to cigs as being "coffin nails" but even the profs smoked and students smoked due to peer pressure.. we KNEW thenthat cancer was an issue with smokers but the majority of adults had startled smoking around the time of WWII and it was still considered a sign of being adult! Both of my parents died of lung cancer so I know how horrible a death it will be so I never smoked.

[@kennethbritton601]

One last shot of ' liquid courage ' to hit the streets and 'face the music'...(12:45).

[@AnnacolleenEtters]

Frank has no problem, because he was shot by these animals, in one episode. I wish they'd have married Joe off. I''ve been in love with him for years.

[@mikeh.7499]

me too😊

[@johnpharms8943]

Got milk?

[@rogerrobin2774]

Good Old Days: when doctors made house calls, at the drop of a hat, no less. Bad Old Days: when nearly everyone smoked, including doctors.

[@bird10498]

Nice hat.

[@McIntyreBible]

20:26, Friday is all bummed-out for having to kill a burglar.

[@MyREDTAIL]

Every body is just keeps Lighting up & puffing away, Sad If they only knew than what they know Now about Smoking & what it causes etc.

[@Catquick1957]

Killed Joe at 51

[@deziramson3451]

@@Catquick1957 62