Dragnet. The Big Cracker Box 1958. NBC Network. Badge 714, starring Jack Webb and Ben Alexander.

[@ninjabearpress2574]

When Joe said people grab the front box on the shelf I smiled, because I've usually found the fresher items at the back so yeah, I reach into the back of the shelf. I bought a box of crackers a few days ago...excuse me, I'm just gonna go check on something, be right back.

[@MoviecraftInc]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@mohammedcohen]

...I'm close to 75...and the older I gt the more I love appreciate this series..and Webb's performances...

[@rwarren58]

Did you ever see him in “The DI”? I highly recommend it.

[@mohammedcohen]

@@rwarren58 Oh yeah...on of my FAVORITE flocks!!!

[@mohammedcohen]

@@rwarren58 ...he also shows up in The Halls of Montezuma" with Richard Widmark...

[@tomfields3682]

@@mohammedcohen Howzatt?

[@dhgate2]

"Pete Kelly's Bues" is classic. Jack was a big jazz fan.

[@GetMeThere1]

I watched these as a kid all the time. I have to admit though, the coolest part was seeing the guy with the hammer at the end, lol.

[@skykingimagery899]

Right :)

[@CameraBryan]

That's Jack Webb, too

[@GetMeThere1]

@@CameraBryan From the Mark VII article page, on Wikipedia: "The logo, in use in one form or another for much of the company's existence, showed the hands of Jack Webb's construction foreman Harold C. Nyby holding a stamp against a sheet of metal."

[@DennisSullivan-q2r]

The hammer! that's where they got the idea for the clunk, clunk sound, on Law and Order.

[@GetMeThere1]

@@DennisSullivan-q2r Yes. Such sounds are always riveting. It's human nature.

[@skykingimagery899]

I loved Dragnet. Then The Untouchables. Then Columbo. Network TV doesn't hold a candle to today. Jack Webb the understated protagonist

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Columbo was too predictable bcuz they always ended the same way IIRC?

[@deborahnicholson4071]

I used to watch t hese as a child. Loved em then and still do. Ty

[@jamielacourse7578]

All this time has passed and this is STILL great television...........

[@r2gelfand]

I have never seen this one. Thank you so much.

[@MoviecraftInc]

You're welcome!

[@frenchmarky]

Me either, I was sure I had seen them all, never ran across this one. Thanks!

[@garyfrancis6193]

나도

[@asullivan4047]

Nice seeing the city as it once was way back then-!!!😉.

[@cowboy104]

pre taco trucks

[@tc556guy]

Not a single homeless druggie living in a tent on the sidewalk

[@mr.blackhawk142]

U mean back then-???

[@leonardhandzlik6008]

I watched Dragnet every week. I loved that the stories were true. Nothing could match the snappy dialog between Friday and either Smith or the perps. It might seem a little dated but today's standards, but it set a high standard for future cop shows. Jack Webb did a terrific Dragnet skit on the Johnny Carson Show later in life that was terrific. It was called the Copper Caper. It's on KZbin.

[@trilbywilby7826]

@leonardhandzlik6008 Thank you for sharing that. I just watched it. The timing is what makes it so funny. I laughed from the first line to the last!

[@mohammedcohen]

...the Copper Clapper Caper...

[@DennisSullivan-q2r]

The writing, the quirky characters! This time they didn't follow the usual practice of questioning the suspects separately. And it worked.

[@miltonhollis703]

I know for sure Dragnet kelp me from being a Juvenile Delinquent.....when I was a kid Dragnet scared the hell out of Me" and kelp me straight... Great actor's great story..I'm 78 And Dragnet is still one of my favorites besides Highway patrol...

[@KNT.63]

Good shows you deserve a like on that one, thanks for sharing. You're right 👍 these shows like dragnet , highway patrol' stand the test of time. Maybe I'm a nostalgic dreamer, I like seeing some of the old things in these shows, especially the cars.

[@leonardhandzlik6008]

I loved Highway Patrol. Nothing like Broderick Crawford saying "10-4, 10-4". Webb was better at his role than Crawford though.

[@tonypanzarella9387]

Dragnet got me to start smoking Chesterfields.

[@darthmauljr]

It's funny you say that. I'm 55 years old, and I grew up. and I grew up on it, watching it with my father. You've mentioned highway patrol. You and me have a lot in common. I love highway patrol. I just started watching them again for the first time in almost 45 years. But how a patrol this is my first time watching. I love the way Jack Webb does. in my opinion, he was a better actor Then Harry Morgan In my opinion, he should have been more. Amazing how Harry Morgan got. more popular. I think Jack Webb is awesome. He produced, directed and he starred. and being the narrator was cool. I am like you. It would have scared the hell out of me. I'll watch shows like this nowadays, because my father died three days after my birthday, 3 years ago. I feel like I'm watching TV with my daddy. I'll watch highway patrol because of the cars. My dad told me about he was the teenager at the time. Broderick Crawford. What a man. Now, that was one hip, dude. Yes, I'm the 60s baby. But like my dad said, quoting. the 50s were the greatest years of his life. I now know why. I love you, Daddy. Sir your words touched me.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

Too much KELP??? :P

[@BartlettTFD]

I remember watching Dragnet in those good ole days 👍

[@tacoheadmakenzie9311]

That Peg...what a swell dame.

[@thisisamistake7771]

Mom and Dad would always go Uncle Joe’s house to watch Dragnet before we got our own 📺

[@patriciajrs46]

Loved Dragnet when I was young. Still love them. Thanks.

[@davidsigalow7349]

It's always fun spotting 50s - 60s character actors. This one featured Sid Melton, aka "Alf Monroe" - one of the Monroe Brothers from "Green Acres."

[@ChadQuick270W]

Another great episode that I’ve not seen until now. These are so good to watch. Thanks so much again for this one 👍🏻

[@MoviecraftInc]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@donmoore7785]

The introduction to this alone is gold, with its historic footage and crisp dialog. The way Friday responded to this crime, you would think someone was murdered. It was just a robbery. Not on his watch, apparently.

[@bikdav]

I wish that I had my Dad’s old 1956 Setchell Carlson TV, so I could play this back on that TV.

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Thanks for the great quality. I don't remember this episode

[@MoviecraftInc]

You're welcome. Glad to oblige...

[@XyzXyz-mm9vq]

Wow! What a great quality copy, and that’s including audio and picture! I wish there were more out there like this one. Thank you so much.

[@MoviecraftInc]

You're very welcome

[@muffs55mercury61]

Love the old cars and the landmarks. Remembered them well. By the 1970s many were gone. The Brown Derby closed in 1985.

[@MoviecraftInc]

Watching the "backgrounds" in these shows is a lot of fun.

[@kathleenking47]

The late 40s to late 60s Are my favorite Car chassis

[@JiveDadson]

All the cars are from Ford Motors. Even the crook was said to drive a Mercury.

[@waynewright2886]

The Dome of the Brown Derby was Moved to a Temple across the Street from USC at Vermont & Exposition N/W Corner, you can't Recognize it anymore after the Brim was Removed.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@waynewright2886 So sad !!!

[@jatco84]

Great to see these classics once again..!

[@Fred-mp1vf]

Imagine that, a dishonest thief! 😅 Thanks for sharing this one!

[@MoviecraftInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@mr.blackhawk142]

That's an oxyMORON! :P

[@CuppaTeaandaSliceoCake]

Terrific! a classic ...

[@MoviecraftInc]

Certainly is a favorite!

[@stephenrobinson9449]

Awesome quality video. Thanks.

[@MoviecraftInc]

Much appreciated!

[@131dyana]

I watched the series on T. V. when I was younger. Love seeing them again. thanks.

[@MoviecraftInc]

You're welcome...

[@nightshift5201]

16:56..."pulled a year for purse snatching." Those were the days.

[@TheBlackbelair]

So much crime is dummy-downed now.

[@leonardhandzlik6008]

YEAH, today, you steal less than $1000 from a grocery store and get caught, and you are back out on the streets the same day.

[@bobbybecker80]

Amazing, today this could have been a six episode mini-series with the same number of snappy jokes.

[@John-ih2bx]

Classic, thank you

[@MoviecraftInc]

You're welcome...

[@LorenIpsum75]

Enjoyed the pre-Harry Morgan Dragnet episodes. The early TV episodes were re-written from Dragnet radio scripts. Friday's boss, Chief Det. Ed Backstrand, was played by Raymond Burr!

[@kathleenking47]

These are more FILM NOIR The radio show, even got Into drug addicts

[@Joeblow-ms3cv]

Indubidubly 🙂

[@clairewyndham1971]

There is one of the radio dramas where the news was delivered that Backstrand got the job! It's kinda cool.

[@george2113]

What's wrong with Harry?

[@BlueWingedRino]

Harry Morgan played in a couple early Dragnets. He was a jewel thief and a hotel clerk.

[@RogerArthur-z2v]

Love those old cars

[@peterm1826]

Great series.

[@NancyChin-eq5lm]

Brings back memories.

[@mikeburrill779]

Nice job 15 years. Good job 👍👍👍

[@tommypeacock3298]

Back in the fifties, my Dad was stationed at Luke AFB, his badge number on his care was 714. Gave him a lot of grief over that!!!!

[@donallan6396]

Trivia but 714 was Babe Ruth's home run record total apparently

[@jason60chev]

First time I watched an episode from the earlier series. Am more familiar with Officer Bill Gannon, as his partner. Format and presentation didn't change. Good program.

[@leonardhandzlik6008]

Yep, Gannon was played by Harry Morgan from MASH.

[@wolfgang1094]

FYI: In the late 50s early 60s we had a TV series called Stahlnetz (steel net) in Germany starting with the same fanfare and the same film music. Might have been sort of franchise.

[@marlenemorris7889]

I love Dragnet

[@johnkingsley9525]

The scene of Ciro’s nightclub out on the Sunset Strip brought back memories of the home I was raised in the hills just above the nightclub. The theme music is something you never forget- those were the days. Now living in Costa Rica 🌴😎🌴

[@trilbywilby7826]

What's it like over there? Is it safe? Expensive? Amenities?

[@randomwrestlingarchive3937]

Never saw this one!

[@MoviecraftInc]

Yes, a pretty rare episode.

[@harryscott9533]

❤ love dragnet ❤

[@shamrock1961]

The HQ building on the show has been torn down. Parker Center is no more!

[@vegas1a]

Like everything else in LA.....

[@MrCoach1957]

@@lilajagears8317 It's not on the same spot and it is not called Parker Center...

[@johncox2865]

Too bad.

[@1940limited]

Nice to see that again. I like the older episodes in B&W.

[@MoviecraftInc]

Glad to oblige.

[@giveitathink6749]

...rest my arches. Love the Jazz talk.

[@Joeblow-ms3cv]

That's steak "Tar-TAR," Joe. 🙂

[@tomfields3682]

Yeah! And it's Loss Anjeliss, Judge, not Las Angle -eez.😉

[@trilbywilby7826]

@@tomfields3682 Yes, I noticed so many shows from back then pronounced it Angle-eez! Even on Perry Mason there were actors who pronounced it like that. I wonder where that pronunciation came from?

[@bruceboome]

Wow, some memories. When I was a little boy I watched Dragnet, but not this episode as we left in 1957 from London to South Africa where there was no T.V.

[@davidgibson7615]

Sherry TV, Inc was set up a dummy production unit of MCA, Inc.to acquired the original incarnation of Jack Webb's Mark VII Limited which owns Dragnet. Today Dragnet and all Mark VII programs are owned by MCA's forerunner, NBCUniversal. Dragnet radio shows are owned by the estate of Jack Webb.

[@miltonhollis703]

Wow!! No idea....

[@Celluloidwatcher]

Thank you for Dragnet, The Big Cracker Box, from 1958. James Gavin appeared in the Perry Mason episode, The Case of the Nervous Accomplice during the '57-'58 season, the same one as this episode of Dragnet, playing a cab driver. They really got around in movies and television those actors, getting rewarding work.

[@sarahshouse1890]

Excellent show!!!👍👍🫠

[@MoviecraftInc]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@randallloomis4756]

Fridays favorite three words: "is that so"

[@tnekkc]

I was watching the reruns again in 1975...and pasted a pic of Webb on my $50 black and white TV.

[@tnekkc]

@@mikeh.7499 Webb on SNL showcased his talent for speaking. In the 70s leftists who hated Nixon suggested Webb play Nixon in a movie.

[@noahstanley5891]

Today I appreciate the snappy dialogue. Ane when Jack Webb played Pat Novak for hire was even better yet! The lines were amazing and apparently Jack would contribute to them immensely.

[@silviasteinbacher7230]

Que hermosa película! No hay nada como el cine de oro Mexicano❤️

[@larsch6529]

Don't forget XM radio. They broadcast these shows. Do you remember the saying "crime does not pay"?

[@eastcoastrifraf]

I wish i could live in this time.

[@Catlover2016]

Whenever I hear or see something stupid, the theme from Dragnet (the '69 and '70) runs through my mind. And when I vocalize the music, MANY youth don't know the source. 🤣😹

[@barryjones872]

I remember watching this on a little black and white TV ,it was that grainy it was hard to make out some of the scenes

[@YAFONOOB]

20:04 After 45 takes they finally agreed to just let the box fall over...

[@Rick-np9vz]

It's amazing how they solved all of these crimes without violating people's rights!

[@oldcop18]

Before we got a TV to watch Dragnet we listened to radio programs like Johnny Dollar, Private Eye.

[@EricSchreierMrWonderful]

I fucking love Johnny Dollar. Especially with Bob Bailey. I can listen to them over and over again. And still do.

[@r2gelfand]

Seems to me I was born married😂

[@donovanbryan5000]

Back then the police actually cared. Actually protected citizens.

[@wandahall4435]

Jack and Ben ❤❤❤

[@fromthesidelines]

Originally telecast on May 22, 1958.

[@sandy-pf9bb]

One month before I was born.

[@tonyneal4716]

Burglary Friday. Unusual name.

[@sherrychastain2920]

thank you..

[@MoviecraftInc]

Welcome!

[@patchbunny]

4:54 Weird. The film is flipped, or just that one box? Looks like a normal K to the right.

[@bobdunn778]

They are great,even if they are old.

[@MM-vv8mt]

"Snitches get stiches, Timmins!"

[@AnnacolleenEtters]

That actress who played "Peg" is gorgeous. I wonder why they never married Joe off.

[@montanacrone8984]

OMG. I know all these stores and restaurants. I was barely 5 years old!

[@theloyalorderofclassictv5435]

Nice Quality Print!

[@MoviecraftInc]

Thanks!

[@johnrudy9404]

The office guy just wouldn't shut up. How can anyone be that un-self aware?

[@thegreencat9947]

" Just the facts, ma'am....just The facts".

[@davidlium9338]

Were these totally restored? It looks like they were.

[@MoviecraftInc]

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, we restored the episodes from 16mm film elements.

[@soaniway9396]

Oh, I get it. Safe CRACKER!

[@MoviecraftInc]

I think you are the first to "get it". Nice work!

[@fmnut]

Aah, the glory days before Miranda.

[@ralphturner3798]

So why did the thieves put the money in the cracker boxes? They could have easily carried it out when they left with their safe cracking tools. That would have eliminated the necessity to go into the store the next morning, which was dangerous because someone might have recognized them.

[@macmcleod1188]

I believe it was too fool the other thief.

[@michaelreyes8182]

Superb acting!😂

[@jackzaccardi1896]

Sid Melton at 6:15. Great 50’s side actor in TV

[@davesnowjonesboro]

Ha ha! I thought that was Morey Amsterdam!!

[@johnstuartsmith]

Ichabod Mudd (With two D's..) on "Jet Jackson, the Flying Commando." I was much more interested in airplanes than cop equipment.

[@sarahmariah100]

That was a really good one

[@giantgeoff]

1957, they taught us how to read Roman numerals along with writing cursive with a nib pen, and when they figured fountain pens weren't a passing fad they taught us how to use them as well.

[@macmcleod1188]

Taught my grandson's cursive last summer. It's faster for note taking.

[@tomfields3682]

At my school they wouldn't let us write with ballpoints.

[@tomfields3682]

@@BSC8987 Because they thought it would hinder us from writing cursive.

[@scottjones3038]

Where are you getting these episodes? It's been many years since any "new" Dragnets have popped up on KZbin or elsewhere. This is really exciting, thank you so much for posting these. Do you by chance have "The Big White Rat" episode from 1953 ?

[@MoviecraftInc]

Sorry but don't have that episode. These lost episodes were acquired from a gentleman who had them in his film collection.

[@MM-vv8mt]

I had a good buzz going before I watched this, and then I saw Jack Webb. Goodbye buzz!

[@TheBlackbelair]

[@skibee421]

🐝🐝🚬

[@SatoshiOfBitcoin]

🤣: We were working Vice...we we're working Missing Persons...we we're Directing Traffic...we we're working Burglary...every episode they're working a different department within the department!

[@Porsche996driver]

1:04 Lawry’s on La Cienega what a classic place.

[@skyhawkbill556]

Video quality is very good. How do you get these old films that clear?

[@MoviecraftInc]

Moviecraft Inc. only uploads transfers from master films, and we are trained in film to tape transfer. A lot of the poor uploads you see on KZbin and elsewhere are copied from old VHS tapes instead of 16mm motion picture film.

[@dkcorderoyximenez3382]

A+ quality...​@@MoviecraftInc

[@scottbennett777]

"Held as an ex convict with a gun" but no assault charge for punching woman in the eye.

[@aliceputt3133]

Sounds about right for the period.

[@crazyredhare]

My favorite Joe Friday moment is when the President visited L.A. and the Secret Service offered Joe a job on security detail.

[@jayferguson8127]

I saw all 350 episodes I don't remember this one

[@miltonhollis703]

Same here" over the years since 1955 when I was Ten I've watched so many episodes But NOT THIS ONE.....

[@vegas1a]

The Big Cracker Box, Season 7, episode 34 Original air date May 22, 1958 In my personal collection I only have one episode for this season, so good for me and all who are new to these late arrivals!!

[@stuartmcpherran5115]

⁠@@vegas1aWhat episode do you have?

[@vegas1a]

@@stuartmcpherran5115 When I wrote my comment, I had only one existing episode, Dragnet - 7x28 The Big War in season 7. Finding The Big Cracker Box made my day as I really like these 1950s episodes, much more so the the 60s versions. I then went to this channel and found 2 more episodes uploaded recently. Dragnet - 7X35 The Big Perfume Bottle 1958 and Dragnet - 7X36 The Big Bed 1958. Pretty good quality on all 3 of these 'new' episodes. Have not taken the time to do a full YT search so I don't know if there are more available. I am now up to 67 of these great episodes.

[@stuartmcpherran5115]

@@vegas1a I'm up to 72.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

I like this format better than the later episodes with Harry Morgan acting the fool at the start of each episode. If you wanted it to be a comedy act then make it a comedy act. But if you want it to be taken as a serious crime drama, cut out the slapstick.

[@ronald-vt8ew]

Its Alf from Green acres!

[@wendellmarthers3519]

You know if you did a shot of booze every time someone said "Is that so" during this show you'd be pretty buzzed

[@michaelpistey4001]

How much can you steal today in LA and not even worry about arrest?

[@jacquelinemilton6387]

I watched this along time ago

[@sherrychastain2920]

very cool..

[@ericemmons3040]

Michael Ann Barrett is only the second woman I've heard of named "Michael," the only other one being Michael Learned. . .

[@McIntyreBible]

10:56, this character actress appears in other episodes of Dragnet.

[@edwardebel1847]

Ever notice they never say, "Just the facts, ma'am."? and I'm glad they don't...its the non-facts in the dialogue that add a bit of color to these black & white gems!