This is epic, this is one of my favorite episodes from the radio. Can't believe how close the show is to it. Also had no idea that distinct voice of Friday's chief in the radio version was Raymond Burr. So great to watch this. Thanks for the Dragnet uploads, these are great!
Unfortunately, the day after actor Barton Yarborough (who portrayed Sgt. Ben Romero) filmed the the next episode, which was only the second episode of this series, he suffered a massive heart attack and died four days later on December 19, 1951.
I always wanted to see this episode. It's one of only three that Barton Yarborough made before he suffered a fatal heart attack. I'm a huge fan of the radio series and this is one of the few times that the same cast was used for a tv adaptation of a radio series. Thanks Jack Webb!
It's amazing how little Raymond Burr, or Jack Webb, have changed over the next 25 years or so. Obviously the Perry Mason movies of the 80s had a much older Burr, but really the only change is his hair colour.
Seems to me they could have, placed police to outside hidden to watch where they go and get them that way then let them get away instead of going through all that trouble. I could be wrong of course.
A sad note- a few days after this aired on December 16, 1951, Barton Yarborough, who played Sgt. Friday's original partner, "Sgt. Ben Romero", on radio, died of a heart attack. He'd already filmed another episode, and it aired as the first regular episode of "DRAGNET". Jack Webb then filmed another one, an adaptation of a December 27, 1951 radio script he'd done to end- and pay tribute to- his co-star. At the start of "The Big Death", Sgt. Friday learns that Ben Romero died of a heart attack...
This episode, the first of the TV series (adapted from a 1949 radio script) was originally previewed on "CHESTERFIELD SOUND-OFF TIME", a program that was replaced by its sponsor in favor of "DRAGNET" in January 1952.
I hate when the courts find people like this mentally incompitents and they don't serve jail time.
MIKECNW 6 days ago in playlist TV
This is epic, this is one of my favorite episodes from the radio. Can't believe how close the show is to it. Also had no idea that distinct voice of Friday's chief in the radio version was Raymond Burr. So great to watch this. Thanks for the Dragnet uploads, these are great!
TheyCallMeLackey 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Unfortunately, the day after actor Barton Yarborough (who portrayed Sgt. Ben Romero) filmed the the next episode, which was only the second episode of this series, he suffered a massive heart attack and died four days later on December 19, 1951.
Mdriver1981 2 months ago
Comment removed
shym0nk3y 3 months ago
I always wanted to see this episode. It's one of only three that Barton Yarborough made before he suffered a fatal heart attack. I'm a huge fan of the radio series and this is one of the few times that the same cast was used for a tv adaptation of a radio series. Thanks Jack Webb!
It's amazing how little Raymond Burr, or Jack Webb, have changed over the next 25 years or so. Obviously the Perry Mason movies of the 80s had a much older Burr, but really the only change is his hair colour.
MrGroverJones 4 months ago 2
Comment removed
benni1023fm 4 months ago
Pure vintage Dragnet! Great stuff!
asgaard636 5 months ago 2
Seems to me they could have, placed police to outside hidden to watch where they go and get them that way then let them get away instead of going through all that trouble. I could be wrong of course.
Strikesis 6 months ago
Interesting to see Raymond Burr and Jack Webb in the same scenes. Joe Friday and Perry Mason teaming up: The bad guys can't win!
WSenator1 8 months ago 2
@WSenator1
was that the VERY first episode of that long running crime show aired in that year?
thefirefighter2011 6 months ago
Later season opening credits have been grafted onto this print, the typeface used in the early episodes was different...
But still priceless!
Conniptions886 8 months ago
Since Dragnet was based on actual events, does anyone know the story behind this epiosde?
MIKECNW 9 months ago
Thank you for posting this!! I can't get enough of these!
bunnyknows1 11 months ago
A sad note- a few days after this aired on December 16, 1951, Barton Yarborough, who played Sgt. Friday's original partner, "Sgt. Ben Romero", on radio, died of a heart attack. He'd already filmed another episode, and it aired as the first regular episode of "DRAGNET". Jack Webb then filmed another one, an adaptation of a December 27, 1951 radio script he'd done to end- and pay tribute to- his co-star. At the start of "The Big Death", Sgt. Friday learns that Ben Romero died of a heart attack...
fromthesidelines 11 months ago
This episode, the first of the TV series (adapted from a 1949 radio script) was originally previewed on "CHESTERFIELD SOUND-OFF TIME", a program that was replaced by its sponsor in favor of "DRAGNET" in January 1952.
fromthesidelines 11 months ago