Dragnet S04E21 Forgery The Ranger

[@jefftuttrup2596]

One of my favorite episodes, Barney, king of story telling. He rattles it off like nobody's business.

[@frankdenardo8684]

Sounds like those out of town businessman who you meet at a bar or restaurant. They go there to chew the fat with someone being that sitting in a hotel room watching reruns of Family Affair and hearing SOS Same old Story of Uncle Bill going to Canada to build something and not being home for three months. They talk about what organizations they belong to, what work they do, family, and other stuff.

[@nolanboles8492]

He could have made a bundle as a televangelist 20 years later.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

@@nolanboles8492 LOL That's a good one!

[@the3-ooos864]

when I grow up I want to be a forest ranger

[@frankdenardo8684]

@michaelquinones-lx6ks He sounds like those out of town businessmen who go to bars and restaurants to chew the fat with you. They often buy you a drink or pick up your meal tab. They don't like sitting in hotel rooms watching reruns of Family Affair, and who knows? Maybe looking for a little action?

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

Stacy Harris was in the first Dragnet episode, The Human Bomb, broadcast on December 14, 1951.

[@guillaumedeverreaux7086]

Clifford Ray Owen is good, but he ain't no Mr. Daniel Loomis 🤣🤣🤣

[@HaveCheetahWillView]

Stacey Harris was always solid.

[@speederz1]

54 yrs old when he passed from a heart attack

[@HaveCheetahWillView]

@@speederz1 Webb died at 58......

[@lilajagears8317]

@@HaveCheetahWillView Webb was 62 when he died in 1982.

[@frankdenardo8684]

​@@speederz1 Too young. 54 years old when he kicked the bucket 🪣.

[@sridharanv.k.881]

Never get tired of watching these gems. Never before and never again stuff. Enjoyed and Thanks from India for sharing

[@michaelbabbitt3837]

Stacy Harris was always great as a smooth talker. The writer(s) did a great job, and he delivered. I wonder if they all laughed after each of these monologues - or during them.

[@purplevanman9635]

Stacy Harris was in the very first episode of Dragnet in 1951 "The human bomb" along with Raymond Burr

[@frankdenardo8684]

Raymond Burr would be famous for Perry Mason (1957-1966) and Ironside (1967-1975). He lived in Sonoma, California and there is a winery that bears his name.

[@Gefreiter44]

Stacey Harris aka Mitt Romney! Great episode and Harris was terrific.

[@frankdenardo8684]

His character is the type who speaks his mind. He is telling Friday and Gannon to go f#@? Themselves and he has better things to do than sit in a police station asking questions. In one scene he stops talking, he should not respond. In today's world. They would let him go and continue to continue his crimes unabated.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Of Jack Webb's stock players, Stacy Harris was one of the most successful as he had many parts outside of Webb's shows. There wasn't a whole lot of detective work needed here as his goose was already cooked before the interrogation.

[@DMBall]

Webb should have given Harris his own show, "Barney Regal, USFS."

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

They were such good friends, Webb named his daughter, Stacey after him.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@bovnycccoperalover3579 Yes I read that. That's being a true friend when you honor such by naming your kid after them.

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

@muffs55mercury61 Charles de Gaulle named his son Philippe after Philippe Petain the WWI hero. Unfortunately in WW2 Petain collaborated with the Nazis and was head of the Vichy government.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@JohnParks-zc1pn Thanks for that tidbit. I'm a history person and knew Petain was a Nazi collaborator but didn't know that deGaulle named his son after him.

[@mistervacation23]

This really happened like they say the names were changed of course. This was my uncle. His real name is Frederick Wolstein. Ended up getting fifteen years, when he got out he went to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and we never heard from him again. The Bears maybe got him who knows

[@forestgeorge8855]

I will always love this episode.

[@spockboy]

Jack Webb's (five packs a day) voice is almost like ASMR. The amount of dialogue in this episode is staggering.

[@OneWeirdDude]

Probably less expensive that way. (The dialogue, I mean.)

[@lilajagears8317]

Webb smoked around 2 packs a day. The only actor that I know of who smoked around 6 packs a day was Jackie Gleason.

[@jnstonbely5215]

@@lilajagears8317 How the hell could The Great One knock off 6 packs a day ? That’s 120 cigs ! And the cigs and the “sauce” got him too ! damn ! These days you just don’t see many people lighting up all over, like they used to . And that’s a good thing .

[@lilajagears8317]

@@jnstonbely5215 I am simply stating fact, of all the celebrities who smoked and drank ( which are many ) nobody comes close to Gleason. If you chain smoke like he did 5--6 packs a day is common especially when your drinking.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@Lila Jagears He also consumed vodka, bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey.

[@66kprdwd]

One of the best episodes by far. It’s a good story with a great performance by Stacy Harris and is a change from his past appearances playing a very sympathetic character instead of a bad guy.

[@FIRST-x4h]

I REMEMBER THE THE ACTOR, FORREST RANGER FROM PREVIOUS EPISODES, HE ALWAYS IMPRESSES ME

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

He was in the first Dragnet TV episode, broadcast December 14 1951.

[@calvinbealer7264]

Classic Gold 1960s Dragnet at it's Best PERIOD.

[@leongwat1]

if what he said about rain water we all would be dead by now lol

[@BETTERWORLDSGT]

Now that Guy is a real piece of work there! Good Episode!

[@frankdenardo8684]

Would be funny if Barney used profane language. You can get more milage out of it.

[@TG-ix9id]

@@frankdenardo8684 No, that would be completely unnecessary.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@TG-ix9id Daffy Duck in Duck Amock would be funny if Daffy used the 7 words you can't say on television. Fred Flintstone would be just as funny. Sounds like someone who would do that.

[@DMBall]

Lee Marvin did a similar one-guest performance on a 50's Dragnet episode before his career gained traction. His part was more sinister: a serial killer and health food devotee.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Great episode. Marvin was fantastic, which is why I remember it so well. Clearly a psychopath.

[@witherblaze]

which episode?

[@DMBall]

@@witherblaze It was the fifth episode of Dragnet's first season, entitled "The Big Cast." First broadcast February 14, 1952.

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

another good episode

[@danethanor]

Award winning performance by Stacy Harris playing the forest ranger, I think.

[@frankdenardo8684]

Yes he pretended to be a forest ranger. I am not surprised that he was not arrested on federal charges of impersonating a forest ranger and state charges of auto theft. Would be funny if this episode had Barney Regal using the seven words you cannot say on television.

[@winstonsmith3696]

This man has committed every crime in the book. He was just running a pill factory in another episode.

[@frankdenardo8684]

In this outing. He was convicted of forgery. They did not convict him of car theft and should have been prosecuted for impersonating a forest ranger which is a federal offense. Similar to impersonating an officer in the United States Army, or state charges of impersonating a peace officer. What is strange is Sergeant Friday telling this ranger that he needed help. Since when were police officers became social workers?

[@jonathancarlson6127]

He came back from the dead, too! In the original run he was a religious zealot who murdered his ex-girlfriend and was executed.

[@michaelquinones-lx6ks]

@@frankdenardo8684 That's a "democrat" for you in fact, he acted like one.

[@sleepytickle]

AND tried to use Friday to help him get a Federal Firearms License in another!!!

[@belmarmom]

He got up to all kinds of tricks in the radio series. It's amazing how many times he came back from the dead.

[@timmitzlaff8960]

Gee Gannon, don’t give him such a big drink.

[@frankdenardo8684]

At least he thanked him for giving him the water.

[@nolanboles8492]

But I thought he was going to get a bottle of water!

[@heyoldman2003]

and in a strafoam cup .. yuck !

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@heyoldman2003 It was a paper cup. If he has a heart condition, where is his nitroglycerin tablets?

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@nolanboles8492 Officer Gannon gave him a small paper cup. Where is the nitroglycerin tablets?

[@lukedrifter1]

Barney Riegel was paroled early to help fight wildfires in CA. He did such a good job that Gov. Schwatznagger pardoned him and he later became vice president of the Sierra Club.

[@frankdenardo8684]

Would be funny if Barney Reigel used the seven words you cannot say on television to Joe Friday and Bill Gannon.

[@randquadrozzi1280]

amazing the fake ranger could remember all his lines he talked endlessly.1st time I saw this I thought he was a real ranger instead of a con artist.

[@frankdenardo8684]

He sounds like those you meet in restaurants and bars in which they go out and chew the fat about what they do for a living and all of the organizations they belong to IE Freemasons, Elks, Moose, Eagles, Shriners etc. Better than sitting in a hotel room watching reruns of Family Affair. That guy is no con artist being he does not have a "Michigan Bankroll". It is an old con man's trick to show their mark they have a lot of money. IE a $100 bill on top, small denomination currency, or newspapers. Learned it from a neighbor who is a retired member of the United States Secret Service. He saw a lot of those in his twenty years of service.

[@winonamassingill7895]

Jack Webb was also pretty good with his fast talk. Consider that he died early but he had already been married and divorced four times. Guy must have been quite a jerk to be married too. Guess it was a blessing that he was taken from the scene before he caused anymore damage. 👌👌👌👌👌

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@winonamassingill7895 He kicked the bucket a couple of days before Christmas 🎄. Chief Gates ordered flags lowered at half-staff. Even though Jack Webb was not a police officer in real life, he did a lot of stories for Dragnet and was a high honor for a civilian to be buried with full honors. He got the 21 gun salute, a bagpipe player played Amazing Grace and taps was also played. Badge 714 was retired by the LAPD Los Angeles Police Department.

[@michaelbryan1882]

"You know something, you're glib, Barney" is my new comeback line for everything.

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

21:30 Heart murmur? Stacy Harris died of a heart attack in 1973 at age 54.

[@bigk8210]

"No one ever gave as much for the country as I have." Ask someone who lost a limb, their vision, their hearing fighting on a battlefield or in aerial combat or combat at sea if that's true. Of course one must ask someone who is alive who didn't lose their life fighting for this country... This guy is almost as full of himself as Mr. Daniel Loomis.

[@frankdenardo8684]

I have a neighbor who is a retired police officer with the Sacramento Police Department. He been to so many funerals for his brother's in blue who died in the line of duty and the widows/widowers besides receiving the folded flag also received the medal of Valor posthumously. He retired after twenty years and was a member of the United States Army reserve with the rank of Master Sergeant. Those police officers who died in in the line of duty gave their lives so we can be safe.

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

That’s MISTER DANIEL LOOMIS to you!

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

@frankdenardo8684 But remember that Trump (Cadet Bonespurs) ridiculed McCain because he was captured, and Patton thought that when a soldier died it was generally because of some foolish action on his part. Patton's remarks did not go over well with the Gold Star Mothers.

[@victor-th4qs]

That guy is giving me a headache. I was a Ranger. I worked Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

[@mattbarnes3467]

Now, wait a minute. This guy was busted for amphetamine production, cleaned up his act, and jumped into the forest service? No wonder they wanted to hold him.

[@forestgeorge8855]

Not to mention he was a professor against the police, a doctor during two child abuse cases and a ultra-conservative revolutionary.

[@mattbarnes3467]

@@forestgeorge8855 that's right!! Dude's had a rich, fulfilling life!

[@blackmaxima]

That’s when he was impersonating Michael Cooper Smith.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@blackmaxima He was impersonating a forest ranger in this episode. Funny story about that is that he did not prosecuted on federal charges. He took the name Barney Regal after the real one kicked the bucket. He just switched wallets and dabbled in petty thievery. The checks he had was for his speaking fees.

[@PattMcCrotch]

He was in the Fielder militia yesterday!

[@fjccommish]

One of his friends in the medical facility often says to him, "MMmhmmm, Clifford, tell me about that there water again, mmmhmmm."

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

Wait till Barney reads about climate change. The scam opportunities are endless.

[@mwbright]

I'm glad this show doesn't get into the cops stupid love lives. So in that way, this is more realistic than any cop show made today.

[@uhf001]

danm! Barny's gf is a babe!

[@SamuelKhan]

Stacy Harris first appeared on the radio episode Helen Corday Murder as her killer. Friday and Romero used food to break him during interrogation. He finally loses it after watching Joe and Ben eat sandwiches and apples.

[@scottclark6110]

Government always turns away the best applicants!!!!!

[@vim1000]

Agreed 100%

[@DavidSmith-sb2ix]

Barney should be sentenced to 20 years in the Forest Service.

[@gypsygirltarot2451]

That forestry guy looks like he colored his hair with black shoe polish. Wow, I love dragnet!

[@Mr_Oggie]

Dang that guy was proud to be a forest ranger... and not often when somebody talks as much as Joe does

[@nolanboles8492]

This guy was insane, and his constant attempts to divert attention with forestry lectures proves it. No sane person would imagine his antics would be helpful to his case. Guy really should have waited for a lawyer.

[@JohnParks-zc1pn]

There was an episode in which the suspect recited the state capitals. Friday pointed out that the capital of Nevada is Carson City not Reno.

[@gypsygirltarot2451]

Jack Webb had such a great voice, he kind of growls!

[@DavidHuber63]

It was a great lecture Brother

[@ministerbarrythomas6603]

Forgery: The Ranger Dragnet: Season 12, Episode 21 Episode aired Mar 12, 1970 Stacey Harris :Clifford Ray Owens alias Barney Regal.

[@mbabist01]

He's at the nuthouse in Wacoville, CA; near Travis AFB...

[@lindycorgey2743]

California still have asylums? I thought they all lived on the California Streets now.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@lindycorgey2743 only those who are considered a "threat" to society.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

@10:20 - General Jack D. Ripper would be crushed to hear this.

[@kcbowman4042]

I cracked up to hear the "ranger" quoting the brochure text that was in most publications over time. Lots of good environmental info that we were working on even back then. Still need to do it today.

[@masterpainter72]

Other than a big apology to the U.S. Forest Service,Clifford Ray Owens owes a bigger apology to the surviving relatives of the late Barney Regal....

[@sleepytickle]

Why didn't he just ask the folks he lectured for donations? I'm sure they would have paid the guy something eh?

[@frankdenardo8684]

sleepytickle The checks in his possession was for "services rendered". They paid him a few hundred for his lectures. Nowadays they get about $50,000 a year. A person like him would get some form stipend ie allowance.

[@josephfinnegan151]

36,696 View's So Far: Dragnet: Episode 93. Season 4. Episode 21. "Forgery: The Ranger". Wednesday, July 5 - 2023.

[@victor-th4qs]

Jack Webb. He was a notorious drinker. I was on a detail job once. All summer of 1992. They gave me a horse. Lol. I supposed to ride it and look for stray cows. I told them. I did not know anything about riding Horses and rounding up cattle. Well. I spent the summer laying out bug killed timber in the Strawberry Mountains.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

Cool story, bro. Sounds like you may have been drinking too. Hopefully not while mounted.

[@Paul-tn3sc]

Guy sounds almost as important as Dr. Fauci. Still though... his fellow inmates are probably going to beat the crap out of him if he gives them one of his lectures.

[@Mikey_Sea]

Hahaha

[@joseh3564]

Barney's "girlfriend" looks 40 years younger than he does.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

Barney's make-believe "girlfriend" is kind of cute.

[@scottjones3038]

Another bottle episode from low-budge taskmaster Jack Webb. Production costs for this episode were probably about $17.50. No wonder NBC loved this guy.

[@joseh3564]

Yeah, and we're still watching 50 plus years later.

[@frankdenardo8684]

​@joseh3564 Pretty much the show was done cheaply. Minimal sets, same clothing, the actors and actresses were paid on SAG scale

[@mountainryder3056]

A time when criminal action had actual consequences

[@OneWeirdDude]

Budget episode!

[@vim1000]

Exact lecture I will give when get caught :p

[@sleepytickle]

Ole Owens. Forest Ranger 'Wanna be'

[@frankdenardo8684]

He did not get prosecuted for impersonating a forest ranger which is a federal offense.

[@purplevanman9635]

Had to be one of the lowest budget episodes. I love that chic's hairdo.

[@muffs55mercury61]

There was more than one episode that there was only one guest star (here there's three) Webb was able to construct a good episode consisting of interrogating one person.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@muffs55mercury61 There is an episode with Kent McCord. He played an undercover cop who was picked up but was cleared in the end. This episode I mentioned aired in 1967.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@frankdenardo8684 "The Big Interrogation". It was a good one. No music, no real surprises but great dialogue. From what I understand, Webb was so impressed with McCord's performance it played a big role in him getting cast as officer Reed in Adam 12.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@muffs55mercury61 Another episode also worth mentioning is "The Squeeze" from the 1967-1968 season. John Sebastian played a mobster named George Foxx. Friday and Gannon called him in to talk about an extortion attempt on the owner of an electronics firm. This episode is the second of three episodes that had one guest star.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@frankdenardo8684 Yep Sebastian had the entire episode to himself and pulled it off well. Webb was good in that he could do that with just one guest star. You need good dialogue to do that. Liam Sullivan as "Brother William" did excellent in that one.

[@strfltcmnd.9925]

My name is Friday It was Saturday Bill and I were in the mood for a sundae

[@leongwat1]

rain water really nut case

[@RRaquello]

Stacey Harris was really wacko in this one. Eb Dawson's girlfriend makes another appearance on this one, though they made her look kind of weird with those glasses and that hairdo. I think she's way too young to be going out with that Ranger.

[@adamschwartz3449]

She was Miss Pennsylvania for 1965 and competed in the 1966 Miss America pageant.

[@The1200r]

Poor man 😢

[@MichaelMinniti-dt6zg]

When Barney gets upset at the end do you know why I'm highly thought uf that would upset you

[@victor-th4qs]

I am no Angel. I have made stupid mistakes. Drunk driving. But I never hurt anybody.

[@leongwat1]

mentaly messed up wow

[@arieswaters]

This was so stupid

[@frankdenardo8684]

Would be funny if Barney Regal used profane language. He get more milage out of using the seven words you cannot say on television

[@davidbennett6912]

Stacy Harris a good character actor he was a good friend of Jack Webb I think he passed away of heart attack in 1974 if I'm not mistaken he played this part here pretty good he's always got an answer