List of Dragnet (1951 TV series) episodes

Last updated

This is an episode list for the 1951 American television crime drama series Dragnet . The series pilot premiered on NBC on December 14, 1951. A total of 276 episodes aired between December 14, 1951, and August 23, 1959. [1] Dragnet was on both radio and television from December 1951 through February 1957. [2] When the first Dragnet movie came out in September 1954, it was available on radio, TV and in the theatres for a while. Jack Webb directed all the episodes; James E. Moser, John Robinson and Frank Burt wrote the majority of the screenplays during the 8 season run of the show. [3] Series star Jack Webb also wrote a handful of episodes, as did co-star Ben Alexander.

Contents

Barton Yarborough portrayed partner Sgt. Ben Romero in episodes 1 & 2. In episode 3, although announced as Sgt. Friday's partner, Romero does not appear, and Friday works with Sgt. Bill Cummings (portrayed by Ken Peters). After Yarborough's death on December 19, 1951, Friday's partner became Sgt. Ed Jacobs, portrayed by Barney Phillips, effective from episode #4 until the end of season one. For season two, Kenneth Patterson portrayed Officer Bill Lockwood in episode #15, after which Herb Ellis took the role of Officer Frank Smith. Ellis was replaced by Ben Alexander after five episodes, but because the shows didn't air in production order, Alexander's debut was episode #20, and Ellis' final appearance as Smith was episode #21. Alexander continued as Smith until the program's cancellation in 1959. [4]

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 14December 14, 1951 (1951-12-14)June 20, 1952 (1952-06-20)
2 33September 12, 1952 (1952-09-12)June 26, 1953 (1953-06-26)
3 39September 4, 1953 (1953-09-04)May 28, 1954 (1954-05-28)
4 39August 27, 1954 (1954-08-27)May 27, 1955 (1955-05-27)
5 39September 2, 1955 (1955-09-02)June 1, 1956 (1956-06-01)
6 34September 24, 1956 (1956-09-24)May 23, 1957 (1957-05-23)
7 39September 26, 1957 (1957-09-26)June 26, 1958 (1958-06-26)
8 39September 23, 1958 (1958-09-23)August 23, 1959 (1959-08-23)

Episodes

Season 1 (1951–52)

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byPartnerDepartmentOriginal air date
11"The Human Bomb" Jack Webb James E. Moser,
Jack Webb
Ben RomeroHomicideDecember 14, 1951 (1951-12-14)

Friday and Romero deal with man threatening to blow up city hall if he doesn't get his demands.

  • Cast: Raymond Burr, Jack Kruschen, Sam Edwards, Stacy Harris, Herb Butterfield.
  • The Human Bomb is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
22"The Big Actor"Jack WebbJames E. MoserBen RomeroNarcoticsJanuary 4, 1952 (1952-01-04)

Friday and Romero track down a drug ring through a small-time television actor who is hooked on heroin.

33"The Big Death"Jack WebbJames E. MoserBill CummingsHomicideJanuary 18, 1952 (1952-01-18)
Friday poses as a hired killer for a man who wants his wife dead.
44"The Big Mother"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsHomicideFebruary 1, 1952 (1952-02-01)

A newborn baby is stolen from a hospital nursery and the trail leads the police to a deranged mother.

55"The Big Cast"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsHomicideFebruary 15, 1952 (1952-02-15)

Friday and Jacobs track down a serial killer and get a confession over a meal with the suspect.

66"The Big Speech"Jack WebbJack WebbEd JacobsRobberyFebruary 29, 1952 (1952-02-29)
A doctor is beaten and robbed of prescription drugs.
77"The Big Parrot"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsHomicideMarch 14, 1952 (1952-03-14)
A couple are robbed and murdered, along with their pet parrot. The killer uses a time bomb to start a fire and cover up his crime.
88"The Big Moody"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsHomicideMarch 28, 1952 (1952-03-28)
Friday is assigned to investigate the murder of a rich man.
99"The Big Blast"Jack WebbJack WebbEd JacobsHomicideApril 11, 1952 (1952-04-11)
A divorced mother is killed in bed by a shotgun while her young boy sleeps beside her.
1010"The Big Trial"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsTraffic: Accident Investigation
Hit and Run Felony Detail
April 25, 1952 (1952-04-25)
Friday testifies at the trial of a man accused of a hit-and-run, but the main witness against him suddenly disappears.
1111"The Big September Man"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsHomicideMay 9, 1952 (1952-05-09)

Someone murdered a secretary late at night in her office. She was beaten to death with a metal pipe wrapped in newspaper. Could it be the drunk found three blocks away beating his head against a wall?

1212"The Big Phone Call"Jack WebbJack WebbEd JacobsRobberyMay 23, 1952 (1952-05-23)

Friday and Jacobs interrogate a jewelry store owner about the theft of $20,000 worth of precious gems. The suspect repeatedly tries calling his wife but keeps getting a busy signal because his wife is constantly talking on the phone.

  • Cast: Vic Perrin.
  • Note: this episode has only 3 actors and the entire show is filmed on one set.
  • The Big Phone Call is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
1313"The Big Casing"Jack WebbJack WebbEd JacobsHomicideJune 6, 1952 (1952-06-06)

Friday and Jacobs are called to the apartment of a man who phoned in the fatal shooting of his wife. The husband claims it was suicide, but upon looking at the crime scene and talking to neighbors Friday and Jacobs begin to wonder if it was murder.

1414"The Big Lamp"Jack WebbJames E. MoserEd JacobsBurglaryJune 20, 1952 (1952-06-20)

Friday and Jacobs are out to catch a safe burglar who has been on the loose for seven months.

Season 2 (1952–53)

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byPartnerDepartmentOriginal air date
151"The Big Jump" Jack Webb James E. MoserBill Lockwood†HomicideSeptember 12, 1952 (1952-09-12)
A man stands upon the ledge of a tall building and threatens to jump to his death below.
Unlike every other episode of Dragnet, Friday never explicitly identifies his partner in this episode's opening narration. Friday is called to the scene alone, and arrives alone. Bill Lockwood (played by Kenneth Patterson) is one of the police officers already on the scene, and Friday proceeds to work with him and others.
162"The Big Sorrow"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithRobberySeptember 26, 1952 (1952-09-26)
Friday must cope with the sudden death of his partner, Ben Romero, as he and his new partner track a pair of escaped convicts.
173"The Big Elevator"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideOctober 10, 1952 (1952-10-10)
Friday and Smith search for the person who left a dead woman in a hospital elevator.
184"The Big Seventeen"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithJuvenileNovember 7, 1952 (1952-11-07)

When several teenagers ransack a movie theater Friday discovers they were set off by overdosing on drugs and that a high school student selling the stuff recently robbed a dealer with stuff that will kill him.

195"The Big Trio"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithTraffic: Accident Investigation
(Hit and Run Felony Detail)
November 21, 1952 (1952-11-21)
Friday and Smith investigate three traffic accidents in one night.
206"The Big Imposter"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithJuvenileDecember 5, 1952 (1952-12-05)
A missing young boy is found and returned to his grandfather, but the case gets complicated when the grandfather suspects that the boy is not his own grandson.
217"The Big .22 Rifle For Christmas"Jack WebbJames E. Moser,
Jack Webb
Frank SmithHomicideDecember 19, 1952 (1952-12-19)

Friday and Smith search for a missing boy. The first sign that the case is serious is when blood is found. Further probing reveals the boy's parents had purchased him a .22-caliber rifle for Christmas — and the weapon is missing, removed from its wrapped package.

228"The Big Cop"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithUnknownJanuary 2, 1953 (1953-01-02)
Friday has to catch a bad cop who has been dealing with the mob.
239"The Big Grandma"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithForgeryJanuary 9, 1953 (1953-01-09)
Friday and Jacobs look for an elderly woman who has been passing bad checks just three different months a year for nearly 10 years.
* The Big Grandma is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
2410"The Big Whiff"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideJanuary 16, 1953 (1953-01-16)
A woman is murdered when she is given an overdose of chloroform.
2511"The Big Show"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithJuvenileJanuary 23, 1953 (1953-01-23)

A woman named Marjorie Lewis reports finding an abandoned baby at a bus terminal. Joe and Frank take the baby but as they investigate they find discrepancies in Lewis' story.

2612"The Big Safe"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithBurglaryJanuary 30, 1953 (1953-01-30)
Friday and Smith are investigating a missing office safe.
2713"The Big Church"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideFebruary 6, 1953 (1953-02-06)
A woman receives threatening letters from an unknown stalker.
2814"The Big Hate"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideFebruary 13, 1953 (1953-02-13)

Gordon Miller, a young pianist, is found near an abandoned freight car holding the dead body of a woman in his arms. He claims he has killed her. Called to interrogate him, Friday and Smith remain skeptical.

2915"The Big Shakedown"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithViceFebruary 20, 1953 (1953-02-20)
Friday is looking for a crooked cop.
3016"The Big Rose"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideFebruary 27, 1953 (1953-02-27)
Friday and Smith are looking for a missing woman that left her three children with her sister.
3117"The Big Building"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideMarch 6, 1953 (1953-03-06)
A prominent dentist denies that his wife is missing, but Friday and Smith can find no trace of her.
3218"The Big Run"Jack WebbJack WebbFrank SmithTraffic: Accident Investigation
(Hit and Run Felony Detail)
March 13, 1953 (1953-03-13)
Two elderly women are struck down by a hit-and-run driver.
3319"The Big Break"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithRobberyMarch 20, 1953 (1953-03-20)

Friday leads a team in a raid on the house of a very dangerous armed robber, which results in a bloody shootout.

3420"The Big Light"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFrank SmithHomicideMarch 27, 1953 (1953-03-27)
Henry Wilson, a Hollywood movie director, has been killed by a falling arc light. Was it really an accident? To answer this question, Friday and Smith go Hollywood with a wonderful excuse to visit the studios. But the two men do not fail to mix business with pleasure and they will wind up solving the mystery.
3521"The Big Waiter"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideApril 3, 1953 (1953-04-03)
An immigrant is brutally beaten to death and the trail may lead to the victim's abused wife.
3622"The Big Test"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFrank SmithHomicideApril 10, 1953 (1953-04-10)
A young man reports that he was robbed by bandits on horseback while he was down in Mexico.
3723"The Big Lay-Out"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFrank SmithNarcoticsApril 17, 1953 (1953-04-17)
A friend of Friday's asks him for help when he discovers that his son has been using drugs, and may be selling them as well.
3824"The Big Fire"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideApril 24, 1953 (1953-04-24)
A landlord begins threatening his tenants so he can force them to move out of his building.
3925"The Big Ray"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFrank SmithHomicideMay 1, 1953 (1953-05-01)
A man suddenly becomes ill and dies after eating his dinner at home.
4026"The Big Frank"Jack WebbJames E. Moser,
Jack Webb
Frank SmithRobberyMay 8, 1953 (1953-05-08)

While investigating a routine robbery with Friday, Smith suffers a critical gunshot wound. Sergeant Friday is out for vengeance.

4127"The Big Lease"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideMay 15, 1953 (1953-05-15)

An elderly widower is missing, so Friday and Smith retrace his actions before his disappearance. Things point to a long vacation until the story of Mrs. Banner, who rented the man's house, doesn't add up.

4228"The Big Hands"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithHomicideMay 22, 1953 (1953-05-22)

In looking into a dead woman case, Friday and Smith track clues all around the city and find a strangler.

4329"The Big Fourth"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithJuvenileMay 29, 1953 (1953-05-29)
Several babies are stolen in the city.
4430"The Big Market"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFrank SmithRobberyJune 5, 1953 (1953-06-05)
The market bandit starts robbing people at local markets.
4531"The Big Friend"Jack WebbJack WebbFrank SmithHomicideJune 12, 1953 (1953-06-12)
Friday and Smith are torn between two suspects when a man reports that his wife has been strangled.
4632"The Big Barrette"Jack WebbJames E. Moser,
Jack Webb
Frank SmithHomicideJune 19, 1953 (1953-06-19)

Friday and Smith search for the brutal killer of a 21-year-old woman.

4733"The Big Dance"Jack WebbJames E. Moser,
Jack Webb
Frank SmithRobberyJune 26, 1953 (1953-06-26)

Friday and Smith are looking for two thugs that seem to have disappeared from the city.

Season 3 (1953–54)

Friday's partner throughout this season is Officer Frank Smith.

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
481"The Big White Rat" Jack Webb Jack Webb,
Ben Alexander,
John Robinson
September 3, 1953 (1953-09-03)
Friday and Smith investigate the report of a drug ring.
492"The Big Revolt"Jack WebbPaul CoatesSeptember 11, 1953 (1953-09-11)
A woman reports her husband missing and Friday and Smith are assigned to find him.
503"The Big Bull"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonSeptember 18, 1953 (1953-09-18)
Smith takes a personal interest when a strong-arm bandit threatens his family if he doesn't back off the case.
514"The Big Betty"Jack WebbJames E. MoserSeptember 25, 1953 (1953-09-25)
Cast: Allene Roberts, Mel Ford, Robert Clarke, Gloria Saunders
Con artists sell junk disguised as valuable jewelry to relatives of recently deceased people by reading obituaries and posing as people contacted by their deceased relatives. Friday and Smith use information from a former con man gone straight to bust the gang.
The Big Betty is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
525"The Big Sophomore"Jack WebbJames E. MoserOctober 2, 1953 (1953-10-02)
A teenage boy steals food for his starving family.
536"The Big Pill"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 9, 1953 (1953-10-09)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a gang that is robbing local drugstores.
547"The Big Lie"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 16, 1953 (1953-10-16)
558"The Big Fake"Jack WebbJames E. MoserOctober 23, 1953 (1953-10-23)
A police rookie is accused of assaulting a citizen and stealing his money.
569"The Big Dream"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 30, 1953 (1953-10-30)
Friday and Smith investigate the murder of a girl who came to Los Angeles with a dream of being an actress.
5710"The Big Guilt"Jack WebbBen Alexander,
John Robinson
November 6, 1953 (1953-11-06)
A man is found dead in an alley and it's up to Friday and Smith to find his killer and notify the man's wife.
5811"The Big Will"Jack WebbBen Alexander,
John Robinson
November 13, 1953 (1953-11-13)
Friday and Smith investigate the murder of a rich man.
The Big Will is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
5912"The Big In-Laws"Jack WebbJames E. Moser,
Chan Hadlock
November 20, 1953 (1953-11-20)
Friday and Smith try to capture a ring of truck hijackers.
6013"The Big Lilly"Jack WebbBen Alexander,
John Robinson,
William Weiner
November 27, 1953 (1953-11-27)
6114"The Big Kill"Jack WebbJames E. MoserDecember 4, 1953 (1953-12-04)
A cop is gunned down at home by a vengeful ex-con. Friday must go undercover in prison to obtain a full confession.
6215"The Big Lover"Jack WebbJames E. MoserDecember 11, 1953 (1953-12-11)
Friday and Smith investigate a con man that marries rich women just for their money.
6316"The Big Thief"Jack WebbBen Alexander,
John Robinson
December 18, 1953 (1953-12-18)
Cast: Dororthy Abbott, Art Gilmore, Gloria Saunders
Robbers phone doctors for house calls then assault them and steal their drugs, and when they are cornered by Friday and Smith one opens fire and is shot to death by Friday, leaving him shaken to where his girlfriend Ann Baker must reassure him he was in the right.
The Big Thief is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
6417"The Big Little Jesus"Jack Webb Richard L. Breen December 25, 1953 (1953-12-25)
It's Christmas Eve when Father Rojas at the Old Mission Plaza Church in Los Angeles discovers that the statue of the Infant Jesus is stolen from the crib. The statue's worth is only a few dollars, but it is of great sentimental value for the parish. Friday and Smith promise to try to get it back before mass on Christmas Day, but this means that they have less than 24 hours to catch the thief. This episode underwent an almost word-for-word remake in the 1967 Dragnet series as The Christmas Story.
The Big Little Jesus is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
6518"The Big Eavesdrop"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonJanuary 1, 1954 (1954-01-01)
Friday and Smith overhear a suspicious conversation while on a coffee break in a diner.
6619"The Big Trunk"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJanuary 8, 1954 (1954-01-08)
Cast: Richard Garland, James Anderson
Three men are taken into custody for the murder of a former vaudeville actress who owned a large steamer trunk. The three men maintain innocence so they are left alone in a station office that is wired to pick up their conversations, though one of them suspects just that.
The Big Trunk is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
6720"The Big Youngster"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJanuary 15, 1954 (1954-01-15)
Friday and Smith catch a boy who has been vandalizing private property, but they discover that the boy's problems begin at home.
6821"The Big Boys"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJanuary 22, 1954 (1954-01-22)
Cast: Leonard Nimoy, Mel Ford, Harry Bartell
Friday, Smith, and Sergeant Tony Chavez get word that four armed toughs (two of them Army deserters) have been engaged in car thefts and other robberies in San Francisco and have made their way to LA; after determining they are staying at a cheap hotel Friday and Smith stake the place out, but must depend on a drunken desk clerk not to blow their cover.
The Big Boys is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
6922"The Big Ham"Jack WebbBen Alexander,
John Robinson
January 29, 1954 (1954-01-29)
Cast: Ellen Corby, Robert Knapp
Friday and Smith investigate the death of a young girl that is initially ruled a suicide but turns out to be murder.
7023"The Big Chance"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFebruary 5, 1954 (1954-02-05)
Signs point to foul play when a highway patrolman disappears from his car along a deserted road.
7124"The Big Children"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFebruary 12, 1954 (1954-02-12)
Three children are found abandoned, filthy and starving. Friday and Smith charge the mother with neglect.
The Big Children is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
7225"The Big Poison"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFebruary 19, 1954 (1954-02-19)
An elderly couple suddenly disappears from a fashionable neighborhood.
7326"The Big Quack"Jack WebbChan HadlockFebruary 26, 1954 (1954-02-26)
The victim of a so-called "mental therapist," a young woman commits suicide after being robbed of her furs and jewels. It is up to Friday and Smith to trace the man and to stop him from striking anymore.
7427"The Big Winchester"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 5, 1954 (1954-03-05)
An elderly man appears to have killed himself with a rifle, but the cops soon learn that it was no accident.
The Big Winchester is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
7528"The Big Shoplift"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 12, 1954 (1954-03-12)
There seems to be a lot of recent theft at retail stores in the city, and Friday and his partner are on the case. The detectives question a salesperson from a big department store downtown, and she denies any involvement. They talk to a woman who was at the bus station, who saw another woman leave a parcel which contained a fur coat. Eventually Friday talks to a teenage girl, who saw a woman discard boxes of new items in a vacant lot. The girl knows the woman's identity, and soon the officers are interrogating the shoplifter, a doctor's wife with a lot of time on her hands.
The Big Shoplift is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
7629"The Big Hit and Run Killer"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 19, 1954 (1954-03-19)
A truck kills an old lady and her little grandson at a crossing and drives away. The owner of the truck asserts that he let a man called Paul borrow the truck for one hour, but he doesn't know the last name of this man or where he lives. The police must investigate all circumstances, but should Friday and Smith squander resources to seek a man they hardly believe exists?
(1st) The Big Hit and Run Killer is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
(2nd) The Big Hit and Run Killer is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
7730"The Big Drink"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 26, 1954 (1954-03-26)
7831"The Big Girl"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 2, 1954 (1954-04-02)
The detectives try to track down a tall, beautiful woman who has been terrorizing the city by robbing men, beating them up and in some cases shooting them. Their job is made more difficult by the fact that there are many inconsistencies in the victims' reports.
The Big Girl is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
7932"The Big Mattress"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 9, 1954 (1954-04-09)
Friday and Smith investigate a corrupt cop.
8033"The Big Pug"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 16, 1954 (1954-04-16)
An elderly woman is badly beaten and robbed while on her way to the bank. The trail leads to an ex-prizefighter.
8134"The Big Frame"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 23, 1954 (1954-04-23)
A man is found dead in the gutter. At first it seems as a hit-run case, but Friday and Smith become suspicious when all witnesses from the night before give exactly the same story. Usually witnesses are at variance in some respects.
The Big Frame is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
8235"The Big Plant"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 30, 1954 (1954-04-30)
A woman disappears and her husband is the prime suspect, but Friday and Smith will have a hard time getting past his fierce guard dogs.
8336"The Big Check"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMay 7, 1954 (1954-05-07)
A check forger is victimizing small businessmen in a particular neighborhood.
8437"The Big Threat"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMay 14, 1954 (1954-05-14)
A man is beaten and robbed, then the thieves intimidate him and his family so he'll refuse to testify against them.
8538"The Big Dare"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMay 21, 1954 (1954-05-21)
A single mother is stabbed to death in her home. The list of suspects includes her teenage son and her many boyfriends.
8639"The Big False Make"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 28, 1954 (1954-05-28)
Friday begins to question a local gardener, who has been arrested for holding up a grocery store. During the interrogation Friday begins to have strong doubts about the man's guilt, and sets out to discover why the man has confessed to a crime Friday believes he didn't commit.
The Big False Make is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive

Season 4 (1954–55)

Friday's partner throughout this season is Officer Frank Smith.

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
871"The Big Producer" Jack Webb James E. MoserAugust 27, 1954 (1954-08-27)
Obscene literature and pictures are spread among youngster at a school in Los Angeles. The supplier of this illegal stuff turns out to be a former film producer from the days of silent movies.
The Big Producer is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
882"The Big Fraud"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonSeptember 3, 1954 (1954-09-03)
A group of con artists are posing as cops and victimizing out-of-town businessmen in fashionable hotels.
The Big Fraud is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
893"The Big Crime"Jack WebbJames E. MoserSeptember 10, 1954 (1954-09-10)
Four-year-old twin girls are abducted from the local park.
The Big Crime is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
904"The Big Pair"Jack WebbJames E. MoserSeptember 17, 1954 (1954-09-17)
An old man and his granddaughter are burgled, leaving them broke and starving.
The Big Pair is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
915"The Big Escape"Jack WebbJames E. MoserSeptember 24, 1954 (1954-09-24)
A case hits too close to home for Friday when his old army buddy robs a liquor store and shoots his partner. Friday believes his friend wants to go straight after doing time, but things get worse when his friend breaks jail.
926"The Big Kid"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 1, 1954 (1954-10-01)
When Friday and Smith learn that a showdown between two teenage gangs is about to take place within 48 hours, they do their utmost to prevent it. But for all their efforts a tragedy occurs: an 11-year-old boy is killed.
937"The Big Missing"Jack WebbJames E. MoserOctober 8, 1954 (1954-10-08)
Friday and Smith are looking for a missing businessman.
948"The Big Bar"Jack WebbJames E. MoserOctober 15, 1954 (1954-10-15)
A holdup man is sticking up bars. After he takes the money he kills many of his victims. Sergeant Friday has few leads other than that the holdup man likes a certain song on the jukebox.
The Big Bar is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
959"The Big Present"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 22, 1954 (1954-10-22)
Friday and Smith are looking for a burglar who leaves a milk bottle at the scene of the crime. They suspect a juvenile might be involved.
The Big Present is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
9610"The Big Gangster: Part 1"Jack WebbJames E. MoserOctober 29, 1954 (1954-10-29)
An attempt is made on the life of a gang leader. Friday and Smith must find the shooters before his followers seek revenge.
9711"The Big Gangster: Part 2"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 5, 1954 (1954-11-05)
Friday and Smith must find the men who murdered a gang boss before an open gang war starts.
9812"The Big New Years"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 12, 1954 (1954-11-12)
On New Year's Eve, Friday and Smith are working out of Central Receiving Hospital.
The Big New Years is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
9913"The Big Want Ad"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 19, 1954 (1954-11-19)
Friday and Smith investigate a man who is conning people by using the want ads.
10014"The Big Affair"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 26, 1954 (1954-11-26)
Friday and Smith discover that the key to finding a hold-up artist lies in his married girlfriend.
10115"The Big Bible"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Earl Schley
December 3, 1954 (1954-12-03)
Cast: Lillian Powell, Marian Richman
The estranged husband of Nora Hamlin storms her mother's house threatening to kill himself, and is found dead. But when the case appears open and shut, examination of the death bullet shows it could not possibly be fired from the gun the man was holding, so Friday must reinterview the man's mother-in-law, who'd been reading The Bible when the man stormed into her house.
NOTE: This episode was remade for Dragnet 1967 ...episode "The Bullet", aired May 11, 1967.[ which? ]
10216"The Big Bindle"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Jack Webb
December 10, 1954 (1954-12-10)
Friday goes under cover to bust a drug ring that is operating out of a high-class hotel.
10317"The Big Office"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonDecember 17, 1954 (1954-12-17)
Friday and Smith are assigned to the business office, where they must deal with the paperwork on a busy weekend.
10418"The Big Rod"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonDecember 31, 1954 (1954-12-31)
An expectant mother is run down and killed by a teenager in a hot rod.
The Big Rod is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
10519"The Big Rescue"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonJanuary 7, 1955 (1955-01-07)
A group of bandits arm themselves and break their comrades out of jail.
10620"The Big Family"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonJanuary 14, 1955 (1955-01-14)
CAST: Robert Knapp, Herb Butterfield, Sarah Selby, J.P. O'Donnell
Local businessman John Keith Jarrett disappears and evidence of suicide is discovered. Friday and Smith check on the surviving members of his family and find them not the least concerned about their father's death, with his son a tennis bum, his daughter promiscuous, and his wife drunken. The case gets even murkier when a report comes in of a traffic incident upstate involving a camper in which the driver was using Jarrett's license.
The Big Family is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
10721"The Big Shock"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonJanuary 21, 1955 (1955-01-21)
Friday and Smith go after a burglar who plans to break into a bank through a tunnel.
10822"The Big Screen"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonJanuary 28, 1955 (1955-01-28)
Friday and Smith team up with a newspaper reporter so they can investigate television repairmen who may be overcharging their customers.
10923"The Big TV"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFebruary 4, 1955 (1955-02-04)
The detectives search for a missing mother and child at the behest of her mother-in-law, unaware that the girl's husband has died in action and is not overseas as the woman had claimed.
The Big TV is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive (note: this episode is mislabeled as The Big Bounce at the Internet Archive.)
11024"The Big Dog"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFebruary 11, 1955 (1955-02-11)
An old man sits on his front porch with a shotgun, threatening to kill the man who poisoned his dog.
11125"The Big Underground"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Earl Schley
February 18, 1955 (1955-02-18)
Friday and Smith use a stolen check as a lead to a series of used car lot robberies.
11226"The Big Key"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Earl Schley
February 25, 1955 (1955-02-25)
A woman's badly mutilated body is found in a churchyard on Christmas eve. The only clue is a key lying under her.
11327"The Big Mailman"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMarch 4, 1955 (1955-03-04)
Friday and Smith go after a bandit who is robbing mailboxes and then trying to cash other people's checks.
11428"The Big Customer"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMarch 11, 1955 (1955-03-11)
Friday and Smith investigate a man who is writing bad checks.
11529"The Big Tar Baby"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMarch 18, 1955 (1955-03-18)
A bartender's wife is kidnapped, beaten and rolled in hot tar.
11630"The Big Number"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMarch 25, 1955 (1955-03-25)
Friday and Smith Investigate a Bank Robbery. The suspect is found by a witness getting three numbers from his license plate.
11731"The Big Mask"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 1, 1955 (1955-04-01)
A masked bandit is holding up supermarkets and the police are not able to catch him.
11832"The Big Sucker"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 8, 1955 (1955-04-08)
A con artist is swindling jewelers using fake diamonds.
11933"The Big Mustache"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 15, 1955 (1955-04-15)
Friday and Smith investigate the robbery of an appliance store.
12034"The Big Heel"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 22, 1955 (1955-04-22)
Friday and Smith use an unusual footprint to help solve a murder case.
12135"The Big Gone"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Earl Schley
April 29, 1955 (1955-04-29)
The owner of a flower shop kills a man who is trying to rob him, but the corpse mysteriously vanishes.
12236"The Big Student"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 6, 1955 (1955-05-06)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a bunch of teenagers selling fake magazine subscriptions.
12337"The Big Watch"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 13, 1955 (1955-05-13)
Friday and Smith investigate a man based on a tip from an informant.
12438"The Big Dig"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 20, 1955 (1955-05-20)
Friday and Smith are looking into a report of a missing woman that turns into a murder investigation.
12539"The Big Mug"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 27, 1955 (1955-05-27)
Two hold-up men are robbing and beating pedestrians in the downtown area.

Season 5 (1955–56)

Friday's partner throughout this season is Officer Frank Smith.

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1261"The Big Pipe" Jack Webb John RobinsonSeptember 2, 1955 (1955-09-02)
Friday and Smith investigate the murder of a young woman who was beaten to death with a lead pipe. A filmed remake of radio episode #4, "Who Killed Helen Corday".
1272"The Big Chet"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonSeptember 9, 1955 (1955-09-09)
1283"The Big No Rain"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonSeptember 16, 1955 (1955-09-16)
1294"The Big Lift"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonSeptember 23, 1955 (1955-09-23)
Sgt Friday and officer Smith struggle to crack a case involving a cat burglar.
The Big Lift is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
1305"The Big Confession"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonSeptember 30, 1955 (1955-09-30)
A man walks into the station and tells Friday that he wants to confess to a murder, but the cops have a hard time verifying his story.
1316"The Big Gap"Jack Webb Frank Burt October 7, 1955 (1955-10-07)
Cast Lillian Powell, Peggy Webber, James Stone, Red Barry, Mel Ford
A pawn shop owner alerts Friday and Smith when a man claimed to have purchased an expensive ring that turns out to be junk and then asked the pawn shop owner to sell him a gun. Friday and Smith find the man and learn he is the latest victim of two con artists, Ernest Wilcoxson and Parker Cleaver, who are now working with a third man named Norman Crist. But when Crist is found dead in a car accident, the two conmen cannot be prosecuted.
The Big Gap is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
1327"The Big Look"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 14, 1955 (1955-10-14)
Friday and Smith are assigned to a case of a woman who was beaten outside her home.
The Big Look is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
1338"The Big Glasses"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 21, 1955 (1955-10-21)
Cast Red Barry, Edward Keane
A housewife, Ella Ryburn reports to Friday and Smith that she cannot contact her mother, who is married to Alfred Rudolph Shroder. When he is questioned, Shroder claims his wife left him and that he sold their house and put her items in storage, but Friday and Smith do some more checking and find some discrepancies, then when they go to the house with Ella Ryburn they discover the basement ceiling contains blood. But it isn't until the two officers find a pair of glasses that they deduce what happened.
1349"The Big Bird"Jack WebbFrank BurtOctober 28, 1955 (1955-10-28)
Sgt. Friday investigates a robber who only targets pet stores and homes that have pet birds.
The Big Bird is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
13510"The Big Laugh"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonNovember 4, 1955 (1955-11-04)
A con man makes lonely women fall for his charms, then steals their money and disappears.
13611"The Big Smoke"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonNovember 11, 1955 (1955-11-11)
An invalid woman and her elderly father are brutally beaten, the father fatally, and the trail leads police to a former handyman.
13712"The Big Bounce"Jack WebbFrank BurtNovember 18, 1955 (1955-11-18)
Joe Friday searches for a check forger who has been using the name of the old-time movie villain Parker Allington, who died three years ago. The search takes him to a former extra who has given up show business for crime.
13813"The Big Shot"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonNovember 25, 1955 (1955-11-25)
A night club owner is shot down and there are no witnesses to the crime.
13914"The Big Locker"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonDecember 2, 1955 (1955-12-02)
Friday and Smith happen to catch a man trying to sell a stolen ring at a pawn shop.
14015"The Big Note"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonDecember 9, 1955 (1955-12-09)
Friday and Smith receive an anonymous note that leads them to a group of neglected and drug-using teenagers.
14116"The Big Genius"Jack WebbFrank BurtDecember 16, 1955 (1955-12-16)
Friday and Smith investigate what seems to be the perfect crime.
14217"The Big Reminisce"Jack WebbFrank BurtDecember 30, 1955 (1955-12-30)
Friday and Smith talk about some of their past cases during a slow New Year's Eve shift.
14318"The Big Tour"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
January 6, 1956 (1956-01-06)
14419"The Big Sisters"Jack WebbFrank BurtJanuary 13, 1956 (1956-01-13)
Friday and Smith are sent to investigate a burglary report filed by an elderly person, only to find out that the report is a fake.
14520"The Big Ruling"Jack WebbFrank BurtJanuary 20, 1956 (1956-01-20)
14621"The Big Fall Guy"Jack WebbFrank BurtJanuary 27, 1956 (1956-01-27)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a robbery suspect that has robbed two stores.
14722"The Big Set"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFebruary 3, 1956 (1956-02-03)
A city councilman is beaten to death outside a bar and it's up to Friday and Smith to find his killer.
14823"The Big Child"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFebruary 10, 1956 (1956-02-10)
A report of a two-year-old child drinking bleach sends Friday and Smith on a hunt to find the mother for questioning.
14924"The Big Slug"Jack WebbFrank BurtFebruary 17, 1956 (1956-02-17)
Friday and Smith investigate the fatal shooting of a liquor store owner.
15025"The Big Daughter"Jack WebbFrank BurtFebruary 24, 1956 (1956-02-24)
Friday and Smith investigate a missing persons report.
15126"The Big No Suicide"Jack WebbFrank BurtMarch 2, 1956 (1956-03-02)
Friday gets a call from a former mental patient who is threatening to kill himself and his family.
15227"The Big Siege"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMarch 9, 1956 (1956-03-09)
Police find themselves in a stand-off when an armed bank robber takes a woman hostage in her home.
15328"The Big Mama"Jack WebbFrank BurtMarch 16, 1956 (1956-03-16)
15429"The Big Revision"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMarch 23, 1956 (1956-03-23)
Friday and Smith have a hard time getting a robbery suspect to confess to his crimes.
15530"The Big Ex-Blonde"Jack WebbFrank BurtMarch 30, 1956 (1956-03-30)
Friday goes undercover to catch brothers who steal people's money by posing as real-estate agents.
15631"The Big Bobo"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 6, 1956 (1956-04-06)
A police officer is suspended from duty when he is accused of taking a bribe in exchange for a prisoner's release.
15732"The Big Rush"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 13, 1956 (1956-04-13)
Friday and Smith start an investigation of two men who killed an off-duty policeman in a downtown Los Angeles bar.
15833"The Big Setup"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 20, 1956 (1956-04-20)
An informant tips off police to a shipment of heroin coming into the country. Friday goes undercover to bust open the ring.
15934"The Big Deal"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonApril 27, 1956 (1956-04-27)
Friday and Smith are investigating a rash of car thefts. The stolen cars are being sold with forged pink slips.
The Big Deal is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
16035"The Big Wish"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
May 4, 1956 (1956-05-04)
A teenage boy turns himself in and confesses to being an addict, but he refuses to give up the names of his friends who supplied him.
16136"The Big Hat"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 11, 1956 (1956-05-11)
A young man is found hiding in an empty train car with the strangled body of an older woman next to him.
16237"The Big Housemaid"Jack WebbFrank BurtMay 18, 1956 (1956-05-18)
16338"The Big Gift"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
May 25, 1956 (1956-05-25)
16439"The Big Salvage"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
June 1, 1956 (1956-06-01)

Season 6 (1956–57)

Friday's partner throughout this season is Officer Frank Smith.

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1651"The Big Cat" Jack Webb John Robinson,
Frank Burt
September 27, 1956 (1956-09-27)
A circus man reports that a tiger escaped from his truck and is now on the loose in Los Angeles.
1662"The Big Missus"Jack WebbFrank BurtOctober 11, 1956 (1956-10-11)
Friday and Smith investigate a report from a wife that her husband is about to commit a crime.
1673"The Big Beer"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
October 18, 1956 (1956-10-18)
1684"The Big Net"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
October 25, 1956 (1956-10-25)
Cast Norman Bartold, Peter Brocco, Julie Van Zandt
Women are attacked in a small area at bus stops, but when the attacker is scratched in the face in a fight with a woman he is cornered and shoots an officer.
1695"The Big Convertible"Jack WebbFrank BurtNovember 1, 1956 (1956-11-01)
A man forges checks to keep himself and his wife in an expensive lifestyle, but he goes too far when he buys a slick convertible.
1706"The Big Limp"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
November 8, 1956 (1956-11-08)
A teenage boy under arrest admits to police that his brother is planning to rob a loan company.
1717"The Big Tattoo"Jack WebbMilton GeigerNovember 15, 1956 (1956-11-15)
Friday and Smith are looking for a robber with an unusual tattoo.
1728"The Big Odd"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
November 22, 1956 (1956-11-22)
Friday and Smith investigate a gabling racket.
1739"The Big Bill"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
November 29, 1956 (1956-11-29)
Friday and Smith investigate reports of counterfeit money appearing all over the city.
17410"The Big Search"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
December 6, 1956 (1956-12-06)
A distraught father reports that his teenage daughter is missing, and things look more bleak when her murdered pet is discovered in her room.
17511"The Big Talk"Jack WebbFrank BurtDecember 13, 1956 (1956-12-13)
A watch salesman reports that he was robbed by two men whom he drank with the night before.
17612"The Big Doting Mother"Jack WebbMichael CramoyDecember 20, 1956 (1956-12-20)
17713"The Big Handcuffs"Jack WebbMichael CramoyDecember 27, 1956 (1956-12-27)
17814"The Big Father"Jack WebbFrank BurtJanuary 3, 1957 (1957-01-03)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a burglar who breaks into houses in broad daylight.
17915"The Big Switch"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
January 10, 1957 (1957-01-10)
18016"The Big Steal"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
January 17, 1957 (1957-01-17)
Friday and Smith investigate a rash of burglaries.
18117"The Big Manikin"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
January 24, 1957 (1957-01-24)
A woman reports that her husband has failed to come home after going out with his business partner.
18218"The Big No Tooth"Jack WebbFrank BurtJanuary 31, 1957 (1957-01-31)
A bandit carrying a sawed-off shotgun is robbing hotels in the downtown area.
18319"The Big Skip"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFebruary 7, 1957 (1957-02-07)
18420"The Big Fin"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonFebruary 14, 1957 (1957-02-14)
A tourist leaves her purse in the back of a cab and it's up to Friday and Smith to track it down.
18521"The Big Game"Jack WebbJerry GruskinFebruary 21, 1957 (1957-02-21)
Friday and Smith investigate another con ring.
18622"The Big Coins"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Frank Burt
February 28, 1957 (1957-02-28)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a robber/arsonist that takes nothing of value and then sets the house on fire.
18723"The Big Close"Jack WebbMichael Cramoy,
John Robinson
March 7, 1957 (1957-03-07)
Friday and Smith reopen a closed case because a tip leads them to believe they have the wrong person.
18824"The Big Tie"Jack WebbFrank BurtMarch 14, 1957 (1957-03-14)
Friday and Smith investigate the former employee of a tie manufacturing company.
18925"The Big Cup"Jack WebbJerry GruskinMarch 21, 1957 (1957-03-21)
A howling dog leads to the unearthing of the battered body of an old woman in her garden.
19026"The Big Truck"Jack WebbMichael CramoyMarch 28, 1957 (1957-03-28)
Friday and Smith investigate the hit and run of a little girl.
19127"The Big Saint"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Jack Webb
April 4, 1957 (1957-04-04)
Friday and Smith try to prove that a salvage yard operator is using his business to fix up stolen cars.
19228"The Big Match"Jack WebbMichael Cramoy,
John Robinson
April 11, 1957 (1957-04-11)
An auction house is held up and the only clue to the bandits lies in a dropped matchbook.
19329"The Big Help"Jack WebbMichael Cramoy,
John Robinson
April 18, 1957 (1957-04-18)
Friday and Smith get a tip about a case from an unexpected place.
19430"The Big Celebration"Jack WebbMichael CramoyApril 25, 1957 (1957-04-25)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a thief whose victims are attending weddings and funerals.
19531"The Big Cry Baby"Jack WebbJerry GruskinMay 2, 1957 (1957-05-02)
19632"The Big Lesson"Jack WebbMichael CramoyMay 9, 1957 (1957-05-09)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of three masked men responsible for over thirty robberies.
19733"The Big Soldier"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonMay 16, 1957 (1957-05-16)
19834"The Big Make"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
James E. Moser
May 23, 1957 (1957-05-23)
A bakery owner and his daughter are shot down during a robbery.

Season 7 (1957–58)

Friday's partner throughout this season is Officer Frank Smith.

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1991"The Big Constitution"Jack WebbFrank BurtSeptember 26, 1957 (1957-09-26)
2002"The Big Candy Box" Jack Webb Frank Burt October 3, 1957 (1957-10-03)
2013"The Big Button"Jack WebbFrank BurtOctober 10, 1957 (1957-10-10)
2024"The Big Yak"Jack WebbJohn RobinsonOctober 17, 1957 (1957-10-17)
2035"The Big Howard"Jack WebbJames E. MoserOctober 24, 1957 (1957-10-24)
2046"The Big Tomato Cans"Jack WebbMichael CramoyOctober 31, 1957 (1957-10-31)
2057"The Big Dip"Jack WebbMichael CramoyNovember 7, 1957 (1957-11-07)
Friday and Smith investigate money being taken from a department store's registers with the help of store security.
2068"The Big License Plates"Jack WebbMichael CramoyNovember 14, 1957 (1957-11-14)
Friday and Smith investigate a con involving fake license plates.
2079"The Big Blank"Jack Webb John Meredyth Lucas,
Frank Burt
November 21, 1957 (1957-11-21)
A bunch of forged checks are popping up all over the city and it's up to Friday and Smith to catch the forger.
20810"The Big Tease"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 28, 1957 (1957-11-28)
20911"The Big Love"Jack WebbJames E. MoserDecember 5, 1957 (1957-12-05)
A man reports that his wife ran off with his little girl and the man she was having an affair with. The trail leads Friday and Smith to a suicide pact.
21012"The Big Red Wagon"Jack WebbMichael CramoyDecember 12, 1957 (1957-12-12)
21113"The Big Prescription"Jack WebbKen Kolb,
James E. Moser
December 19, 1957 (1957-12-19)
Mrs. Eileen Multon picks up the wrong prescription. Now it's up to Friday and Smith to find her before it's too late.
21214"The Big Full Moon"Jack WebbFrank BurtDecember 26, 1957 (1957-12-26)
21315"The Big Jade"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJanuary 2, 1958 (1958-01-02)
Friday and Smith investigate a series of jade robberies.
21416"The Big Tip"Jack WebbMichael CramoyJanuary 9, 1958 (1958-01-09)
21517"The Big Stubby"Jack WebbFrank BurtJanuary 16, 1958 (1958-01-16)
21618"The Big Baby Face"Jack WebbMichael CramoyJanuary 23, 1958 (1958-01-23)
21719"The Big Lip"Jack WebbMichael CramoyJanuary 30, 1958 (1958-01-30)
Friday and Smith are on the trail of a hit-and-run driver.
21820"The Big Boot"Jack WebbKen KolbFebruary 13, 1958 (1958-02-13)
Friday and Smith investigate a home invasion and their only clue is a boot print in the mud by a window.
21921"The Big Rip"Jack WebbMichael CramoyFebruary 20, 1958 (1958-02-20)
A man accuses his son of stabbing him, but Friday and Smith find out that his son has an airtight alibi.
22022"The Big Excuse"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Michael Cramoy
February 27, 1958 (1958-02-27)
22123"The Big Knot"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 6, 1958 (1958-03-06)
22224"The Big Hobby"Jack WebbMichael CramoyMarch 13, 1958 (1958-03-13)
22325"The Big Organizer"Jack WebbMichael CramoyMarch 20, 1958 (1958-03-20)
Friday and Smith are trying to bring down a street gang but are having a hard time getting to the top man known as The Organizer.
22426"The Big Gent"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 27, 1958 (1958-03-27)
An ex-con called The Gentleman Bandit begins working again when he holds up a bank with two helpers.
22527"The Big Wardrobe"Jack WebbMichael CramoyApril 3, 1958 (1958-04-03)
Friday and Smith track a man who writes bad checks for expensive clothes and then sells the clothes for a profit.
22628"The Big War"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 10, 1958 (1958-04-10)
Friday and Smith investigate a report of a teen gang war in the middle of Los Angeles.
The Big War is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
22729"The Big Bad Count"Jack WebbMichael CramoyApril 17, 1958 (1958-04-17)
22830"The Big Evans"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 24, 1958 (1958-04-24)
A man reports that a police officer blackmailed him for money and then beat him up, and he has the bruises to prove his story.
22931"The Big Pack Rat"Jack WebbKen KolbMay 1, 1958 (1958-05-01)
23032"The Big Honeymoon"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMay 8, 1958 (1958-05-08)
Friday and Smith are looking for a man who sells fake honeymoon trips to unsuspecting couples.
23133"The Big Eyes"Jack WebbJack JacobsMay 15, 1958 (1958-05-15)
23234"The Big Cracker Box"Jack WebbMichael CramoyMay 22, 1958 (1958-05-22)
Friday and Smith investigate a rash of supermarket robberies, and the burglar's calling card is leaving crackers scattered all over the floor of the store.
23335"The Big Perfume Bottle"Jack WebbFrank BurtMay 29, 1958 (1958-05-29)
A unique and costly perfume bottle is taken from an upscale home and it's up to Friday and Smith to get it back.
23436"The Big Bed"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJune 5, 1958 (1958-06-05)
23537"The Big Ruthie"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJune 12, 1958 (1958-06-12)
A disgruntled ex-con helps Friday and Smith take down a forgery ring that has cashed thousands of dollars in forged payroll checks.
23638"The Big Grifter"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJune 19, 1958 (1958-06-19)
A con artist operating in the gentle swindle steals money from grieving relatives after their loved ones die.
23739"The Big Irony"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJune 26, 1958 (1958-06-26)
Friday and Smith investigate a murder-suicide of a husband and wife.

Season 8 (1958–59)

Both Friday and Smith receive promotions in the 8th and final season. Lt. Friday's partner throughout this season is Sgt. Frank Smith.

No. in
series
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
2381"The Big Beating"Jack WebbKen KolbSeptember 23, 1958 (1958-09-23)
Friday and Smith investigate a report of a man hitting his wife.
2392"The Big Sweet Annie"Jack WebbJames E. MoserSeptember 30, 1958 (1958-09-30)
Friday and Smith have to watch out for sweet Annie.
2403"The Big Star"Jack WebbFrank BurtOctober 7, 1958 (1958-10-07)
Friday and Smith investigate a robbery report.
2414"The Big Oskar"Jack Webb William Spier October 14, 1958 (1958-10-14)
The detectives take a report of valuables stolen from the home of a somewhat eccentric old lady. They begin to suspect something is amiss when she starts talking about how she gets the "scoop" on crimes by being the first to report them to the local newspaper.
The Big Oskar is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
2425"The Big Little Boy"Jack WebbFrank BurtOctober 21, 1958 (1958-10-21)
Friday and Smith are looking for a missing child.
2436"The Big Voice"Jack WebbKen KolbOctober 28, 1958 (1958-10-28)
Friday and Smith investigate a gang of thugs.
2447"The Big Juke Box"Jack WebbMichael CramoyNovember 4, 1958 (1958-11-04)
Friday goes undercover as a bar owner in order to break up an illegal jukebox operation.
2458"The Big Doll"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 11, 1958 (1958-11-11)
2469"The Big Border"Jack WebbJames E. MoserNovember 18, 1958 (1958-11-18)
Friday and Smith must track a pair of escaped convicts across the Mexican border.
24710"The Big Nazi"Jack WebbFrank BurtNovember 25, 1958 (1958-11-25)
Friday goes undercover to catch a racist murderer.
24811"The Big Hot Rod"Jack WebbKen KolbDecember 2, 1958 (1958-12-02)
Friday is on the hunt for a group of teens that are stealing sports cars.
24912"The Big Green Monkey"Jack WebbMichael CramoyDecember 9, 1958 (1958-12-09)
A woman reports her Jade collection stolen and it's up to Friday and Smith to find it.
25013"The Big Hype"Jack WebbMichael CramoyDecember 16, 1958 (1958-12-16)
25114"The Big Maria"Jack WebbJames E. MoserDecember 23, 1958 (1958-12-23)
25215"The Big Donation"Jack WebbJames E. MoserDecember 30, 1958 (1958-12-30)
Two con artists are selling phony magazines subscriptions to unsuspecting suckers.
25316"The Big Malcolm"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Ken Kolb
January 6, 1959 (1959-01-06)
25417"The Big Smart Girl"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJanuary 13, 1959 (1959-01-13)
25518"The Big Doctor"Jack WebbKen KolbJanuary 20, 1959 (1959-01-20)
Friday and Smith investigate a doctor making false insurance claims.
25619"The Big Signet"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJanuary 27, 1959 (1959-01-27)
Friday and Smith have to find a man selling forged passports and paperwork.
25720"The Big Accident"Jack WebbKen KolbFebruary 3, 1959 (1959-02-03)
An insurance adjuster files a report with Friday about possible fraudulent insurance claims.
25821"The Big Mail"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFebruary 10, 1959 (1959-02-10)
Friday works with a postal inspector to catch a gang using the mail to scam money from people.
25922"The Big Roll"Jack WebbJames E. MoserFebruary 17, 1959 (1959-02-17)
26023"The Big Thirteen"Jack WebbKen KolbFebruary 24, 1959 (1959-02-24)
26124"The Big Sour"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 10, 1959 (1959-03-10)
An elderly couple are beaten and robbed. The key to finding the bandits lies in a paper boy and an alert bartender.
26225"The Big Starlet"Jack WebbKen KolbMarch 17, 1959 (1959-03-17)
26326"The Big Holdup"Jack WebbJames E. MoserMarch 24, 1959 (1959-03-24)
A robber called "The Rattlesnake Bandit" takes pleasure in beating and shooting his victims after he takes their money.
26427"The Big Name"Jack Webb Frank Burt March 31, 1959 (1959-03-31)
26528"The Big Couple"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 7, 1959 (1959-04-07)
Friday and Smith investigate a husband and wife con team that have a long criminal record.
26629"The Big Squeeze"Jack WebbMichael CramoyApril 14, 1959 (1959-04-14)
Friday investigates a robbery that is caused by a blackmail victim's refusal to pay.
26730"The Big Picture"Jack WebbJames E. MoserApril 21, 1959 (1959-04-21)
A young girl commits suicide after she is tricked by a pair of movie talent scouts who are really operating a prostitution ring.
26831"The Big Carnation"Jack WebbJohn Robinson,
Ken Kolb
April 28, 1959 (1959-04-28)
26932"The Big Operator"Jack Webb Jack Laird,
Wilton Schiller,
Frank Burt
July 7, 1959 (1959-07-07)
27033"The Big Bray"Jack WebbJames E. MoserJuly 12, 1959 (1959-07-12)
27134"The Big Infant"Jack WebbJack JacobsJuly 19, 1959 (1959-07-19)
Friday and Smith track down a missing baby.
27235"The Big Appetite" Jack Webb Gene Coon July 26, 1959 (1959-07-26)
27336"The Big .38"Jack WebbJames E. MoserAugust 2, 1959 (1959-08-02)
Cab drivers are being held up, but the descriptions given by the victims don't match.
27437"The Big Byron"Jack Webb Frank Burt August 9, 1959 (1959-08-09)
Did someone really try to kill George Byron? Friday and Smith are on the case to find out.
27538"The Big Counterfeit"Jack WebbKen KolbAugust 16, 1959 (1959-08-16)
A man impersonating a police officer is going to local businesses and asking for donations for the widows and orphans fund. Smith and Friday set out to stop the con man.
27639"The Big Red" Jack Webb James E. MoserAugust 23, 1959 (1959-08-23)
Friday and Smith investigate a series of robberies. This is the final episode of the series.

Related Research Articles

<i>Dragnet</i> (franchise) Radio, television, and film series, mostly about LAPD detective Joe Friday

Dragnet is an American media franchise created by actor and producer Jack Webb, following Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Joe Friday and his partners as they conduct by-the-book police work and solve crimes in Los Angeles. Originating as a radio drama on NBC in 1949, Dragnet has been adapted into several successful television shows and films, though the franchise's popularity has reduced since Webb's death in 1982. Its name is derived from the police term "dragnet", a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Webb</span> American actor, producer, director, and writer (1920–1982)

John Randolph Webb was an American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter, most famous for his role as Joe Friday in the Dragnet franchise, which he created. He was also the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Alexander (actor)</span> American actor (1911–1969)

Nicholas Benton Alexander III was an American motion picture actor, who started out as a child actor in 1916. He is best remembered for his role as Officer Frank Smith in the Dragnet franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Morgan</span> American actor (1915–2011)

Harry Morgan was an American actor whose television and film career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter in both December Bride (1954–1959) and Pete and Gladys (1960–1962); Officer Bill Gannon on Dragnet (1967–1970); Amos Coogan on Hec Ramsey (1972–1974); and his starring role as Colonel Sherman T. Potter in M*A*S*H (1975–1983) and AfterMASH (1983–1985). Morgan also appeared as a supporting player in more than 100 films.

<i>Adam-12</i> American police procedural television series, 1968–1975

Adam-12 is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb and produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol Los Angeles in their police cruiser, assigned the call sign "1-Adam-12". Adam-12 stars Martin Milner and Kent McCord, with several recurring co-stars, the most frequent being William Boyett and Gary Crosby. The series ran over seven seasons from September 21, 1968, until May 20, 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Milner</span> American actor (1931–2015)

Martin Sam Milner was an American actor and radio host. He is best known for his performances on two television series: Route 66, which aired on CBS from 1960 to 1964, and Adam-12, which aired on NBC from 1968 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Friday</span> Fictional police detective

Joe Friday is a fictional character created and portrayed by Jack Webb as the lead for his series Dragnet. Friday is a detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. The character first appeared on June 3, 1949, in the premiere of the NBC radio drama that launched the series. Webb played the character on radio and later television from 1949 to 1959 and again from 1967 to 1970, also appearing as Friday in a 1954 theatrical release and a 1966 made-for-TV film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent McCord</span> American actor (born 1942)

Kent Franklin McWhirter, known by his stage name Kent McCord, is a retired American actor, best known for his role as Officer Jim Reed on the television series Adam-12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Glatman</span> American serial killer (1927–1959)

Harvey Murray Glatman was an American serial killer and rapist during the late 1950s. He was known in the media as the Lonely Hearts Killer and the Glamour Girl Slayer. He would use several pseudonyms, posing as a professional photographer to lure his victims with the promise of a modeling career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark VII Limited</span> Production company of actor and filmmaker Jack Webb

Mark VII Limited was the production company of actor and filmmaker Jack Webb, and was active from 1951 until his death in 1982. Many of its series were produced in association with Universal Television; most of them were originally broadcast on the NBC television network in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Yarborough</span> American actor (1900–1951)

William Barton Yarborough was an American actor who worked extensively in radio drama, primarily on the NBC Radio Network. He is famous for his roles in the Carlton E. Morse productions I Love a Mystery, in which he played Doc Long, and One Man's Family, spending 19 years portraying Clifford Barbour. In addition, Yarborough spent three years portraying Sgt. Ben Romero on Jack Webb's Dragnet.

<i>The Felony Squad</i> American TV crime drama (1966–1969)

The Felony Squad is a half-hour television crime drama originally broadcast on the ABC network from September 12, 1966, to January 31, 1969.

<i>The D.A.</i> (1971 TV series) 1971 American TV series or program

The D.A. is an American half-hour legal drama that aired Fridays at 8:00-8:30 pm on NBC for the 1971-72 season. It ran from September 17, 1971 to January 7, 1972 and was replaced by Sanford and Son the following week. The show was packaged by Jack Webb's Mark VII Limited for Universal Television and is not to be confused with a show Webb produced in 1959 with a similar name, The D.A.'s Man, which starred John Compton in the lead role.

Dragnet was an American radio series, enacting the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show took its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects.

<i>Dragnet</i> (1967 TV series) American television series

Dragnet is an American crime drama television series starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan which ran for four seasons, from January 12, 1967, to April 16, 1970. To differentiate it from the earlier 1950s Dragnet television series, the year in which each season ended was made part of the on-screen title—the series started as Dragnet 1967 and ended as Dragnet 1970. The entire series aired Thursdays at 9:30–10:00 pm (EST) and was directed by Jack Webb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Ellis (actor)</span> American actor

Herbert Ellis was an American character actor and writer. He was best known for his collaborations with Jack Webb, and he frequently portrayed law enforcement officers in film and television.

<i>Dragnet</i> (1954 film) 1954 American film

Dragnet is a 1954 American crime film directed by Jack Webb and written by Richard L. Breen. The film stars Webb, Ben Alexander, Richard Boone, Ann Robinson, Stacy Harris, Virginia Gregg and Vic Perrin. The film was adapted from the radio series of the same name, and is part of the wider Dragnet media franchise. The film was released by Warner Bros. on September 4, 1954.

<i>Dragnet</i> (1951 TV series) Original 1951–1959 TV series

Dragnet – later syndicated as Badge 714 – is an American crime television series, based on the radio series of the same name, both created by their star, Jack Webb. The shows take their name from the police term dragnet, a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Webb reprised his radio role of Los Angeles police detective Sergeant Joe Friday. Ben Alexander co-starred as Friday's partner, Officer Frank Smith.

Harold T. "Hal" Gibney was NBC's West Coast announcer for more than 20 years.

The D.A.'s Man is an American television crime drama, produced by Jack Webb, that aired on NBC from January 3, 1959, to August 29, 1959.

References

  1. Hayde, Michael (June 2000). "List of Dragnet TV Episodes, 1951–1959" . Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  2. "Episode list for "Dragnet" (1951)". Internet Movie Database. 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  3. ""Dragnet" (Mark VII/NBC) (1951–59) starring Jack Webb". The Classic TV Archive. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  4. Michael J. Hayde, My Name's Friday: The Unauthorized but True Story of Dragnet and the Films of Jack Webb, Cumberland House, 2001, ISBN   1-58182-190-5