Dragnet/Quotes

Radio Show
"Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed, to protect the innocent."

- George Fenneman, Narrator, series opening

"Dragnet -- the documented drama of an actual crime investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life. For the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action!"

- Hal Gibney, Narrator, introduction of program

"You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detail. There is a potential killer on the loose in your city. Eighteen women have been beaten and robbed by this man. The newspapers call him "the Werewolf". Your job is to get him."

- Hal Gibney, Narrator, episode preview, "The Werewolf" (Production 3, June 17, 1949)

"Sgt. Friday: It was Saturday, November 23rd -- it was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of homicide detail. My partner's Ben Romero; the boss is Blaine Steve, Captain of Homicide. My name's Friday. It was 6:35 p.m. when we got to the corner of Western and Lexington: Western Fur Shop."

- "The Big Mink" (Production 54, June 22, 1950)

"Chief Backstrand: All right, here it is. Fifty-five minutes ago, a man walked into this building with a homemade bomb under his arm. If we don't release his brother from the county jail by nine o'clock this morning, he says he'll pull the trigger on the bomb and blow up the whole building.

Sgt. Romero: He's kidding, skipper.

Sgt. Friday: Who is the guy?

Chief Backstrand: Name's Vernon Carney. Here's his package. He and his brother have been in and out of jail since 1937. Small time thieves.

[pages turning]

Sgt. Friday: Yeah. Here's the FBI kickback -- we had them once before, both of them.

Chief Backstrand: Brother's name is Elwood. Serving a year for a car-stripping.

Sgt. Romero: And this two-bit thief is sitting in here with a bomb on his lap?

Chief Backstrand: That's right -- in the next room."

- "Attempted City Hall Bombing" (Production 7, July 21, 1949)

"Just the tropes, ma'am."