Listen to “The Great Detectives Present Dragnet” on Spreaker.

The Golden Age of Radio and Film brought to life many mythic figures: Superman, Batman, Zorro, the Lone Ranger, and many more. These larger than life figures that we saw and heard for the first time were men whose mythic deeds bordered on the fantastic.

However, it wasn’t just these legendary heroes who defied the bounds of reality. There was a string of unlikely heroes with names like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Philo Vance, Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Mr. and Mrs. North, Candy Matson, and Sherlock Holmes. These private detectives and amateur gumshoes solved cases before the police did. Their methods varied, but somehow or another, they managed to wrap up the hardest cases for the courts and cut out the middlemen (i.e. the police). In some cases, the police just got in the way, or got the wrong guy.

Of course, there were exceptions. Dick Tracy worked for the police force in some capacity. However, he also had a fancy car and palatial digs that no policeman could buy in two lifetimes. In some movies, Tracy even had a housekeeper.

Fantasy is okay, and who hasn’t taken pleasure in a good mystery with a brilliant amateur? The problem comes when media portrayals becomes reality in the minds of the public. And when that reality is twisted, it’s a big concern.

The real life of a Private Detective Investigator is far less exciting that a Chandler or Hammett novel. The private investigator spends more time doing background checks and rarely if ever is hired to solve a murder, particularly one the police are investigating. Certainly, no Private Investigator has ever had someone walk into their office and offer them $500 to not conduct an investigation for a potential client who hasn’t even arrived to ask for their help.

Meanwhile, police officers risked their lives while working long hours in a job that could go from boring to deadly in a matter of seconds, only to find themselves portrayed as either absurd super cops, bumbling clowns with an Irish accent, ocor like Inspector Farraday of Boston Blackie, a Captain Ahab with a badge determined to persecute our hero.

In the 1940s, police officers got no respect in the entertainment world, and one of the most notorious shows on the air for its portrayal of cops was Pat Novak for Hire. The show’s cop was the prime antagonist. Inspector Hellman was a brutal sadist who always accused the show’s hero of the crime in order to have a suspect and according to the hero, this Inspector Hellman robbed dead bodies. As the episodes wore on, it became apparent that Hellman was prepared to send a man to his death without regard to innocence or guilt, simply to resolve the case.

This PR nightmare for police departments around America was bested verbally before he was shown to be completely wrong by the smartmouthed protagonist played by Jack Webb, who’d spent his middle and late 20s delivering smart remarks to dumb radio cops.

In 1949, Webb was in his second run as Novak, having left the role in ’46. In between he’d played Novak clone Johnny Madero and a far more realistic and police-tolerant private eye, Jeff Regan. Webb had also portrayed a Police Lieutenant on Murder and Mr. Malone which featured an intentionally positive portrayal of Malone’s smart and police rival. Unfortunately, Malone stretched credibility a bit too far when it imagined a lawyer who solved cases on his own rather than racking up billable hours, trying them in court.

In any case, in 1949, Webb was back in Novak, but also playing a Police Lieutenant in the movie, He Walked by Night. On the set, he had a conversation with a police officer who let Webb know exactly what he thought of the outlandish PI shows. the office suggested that Webb do a show about what police work was really like. Initially, Webb wasn’t interested, but he changed his mind and crime fiction would never be the same.

Dragnet

Webb followed around real officers and learned the minute details of their operation, and after the inevitable fight to get entertainment execs to take a new chance on something new, the first realistic police drama launched in June 3, 1949 and Crime Drama would never be the same.

The show ran for 318 episodes over the radio from 1949-55, and 276 TV episodes from 1951-59.

Dragnet was marked by realistic police language (like R and I, APB, and MO), procedures, and weaponry. The story were “true” or at least based on a true story, though the names were always changed to protect the innocent (as well as the producers.)

Dragnet’s one compromise was reality was Joe Friday constantly changing divisions. He’d be working at Homicide in one episode and Bunco Fugitive in the next. This compromise with reality was a creative device to allow the show to cover the full spectrum of what police officers did.

S.S. Van Dine, the creator of Philo Vance, wrote in one of his twenty rules for writing detective fiction, “There simply must be a corpse in a detective novel, and the deader the corpse the better. No lesser crime than murder will suffice.” This had been applied for years, but Dragnet broke this rule and did it brilliantly.

Joe Friday and his partner could experience a drama investigating a string of shopliftings and the story could pack more punch than another’s show’s murder mystery with its spot on directing, writing, and use of sound. Webb’s sound effects were simply the best in radio. Wherever a scene was set, Webb wanted his listeners to feel like they were there. To hear the ding of the cash register, the ring of the telephone. In one episode (The Big Missing), Webb portrayed a long-distance phone call in detail.

Some didn’t work out too well. One episode recorded on location ended up barely intelligible. But these were exceptions.

Dragnet would leave radio in 1955, as Webb was really overwhelmed with other projects and correctly saw that Radio Drama was not going to be the future. The television show was cancelled in 1959 as ratings had slid.

However, a TV movie filmed in 1966 brought the show back as a mid-season replacement starring Webb and Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon. The revival ran for 98 episodes. This is the version most people remember. Friday, in his 40s was remembered as a righteous police officer, who took on the drug culture with a vengance. Some complain about Friday’s speeches in the 1960s version, but for my part, the change in Friday’s character seemed fitting for a veteran police officer pushing 50, as opposed to the 1940s version of Friday, who was a young Sergeant most likely recently promoted when the series picked up in 1949.

Friday’s role wasn’t just taking on cases like the Blue Boy Story or the Little Pusher. Most shows were normal cases investigating bunco cases, burglaries, robberies, and more. The show’s worst moments were in Season 3, where the shows became too real, featuring episodes covering such mundane aspects of the LAPD as police officers getting together to talk about community relations at a cabin in the woods.

Despite, its flaws, and the critics who dislike it for “preachiness”, its still a favorite with fans because through all the years, Webb’s Dragnet held to values and principles most people would agree with: Respect for the law and equality of all citizens before the law, the need for parents to parent, and that the abuse of children is wrong. And more than anything else, Dragnet made us appreciate that as fun as the outrageous adventures of Philip Marlowe could be, the greater hero was the police officer who day after day laid his line off the line in order to protect and serve.

About the Cast

Jack Webb (1920-82):Much of Webb’s bio was worked into the main article, beginning with his big break playing Pat Novak in 1946. When Webb hit gold with Dragnet, he hoped to parlay that into success in other projects. The most notable of these was Pete Kelly’s Blues, which Webb made three times: As a summer replacement radio program, as a movie, and then as a TV show starring William Reynolds. While these efforts are fondly remembered by fans, commercial success was somewhat elusive.

Other efforts such as the films, “The Last Time I Saw Archie” and “-30-” were forgetable. It was during the time that Webb was reviving Dragnet, that he enjoyed success that proved him more than a one hit wonder.

While he was making Dragnet, Webb launched two other series that would be remembered as TV Classics: Adam 12, which realistically portrayed patrol officers in the same Dragnet had detectives and Emergency, which focused on the work of paramedics.

When Webb died in 1982, the police badge number 714 of Joe Friday was retired. The Los Angeles Police Historical Society created the Jack Webb Awards in 1994 to honor lifelong committment to law enforcement.

Partners:

Barton Yarborough (1900-51): Yarborough is probably the least well-known of Friday’s partners as he only made it into two TV episodes. However, Yarborough played Joe Friday’s partner, Sgt. Ben Romero in 132 radio episodes of Dragnet. So he was paired with Webb more often than the better known Harry Morgan. Yarbough came to Dragnet as a veteran actor, particularly in radio where he played the role of Clifford Barbour for nineteen years in the soap, One Man’s Family. He portrayed Doc Long in I Love a Mystery and Skip Turner in Adventures by Morse. He also played the lead in Western Series Hawk Larabee. He first appeared with Webb in an episode of the Anthology series, Escape and would later do three guest spots on Jeff Regan, Investigator. Yarborough’s Ben Romero was a family man who would add some relief to the episode by complaining about an inconvenience on the case or domestic problems at home. Romero was cool under fire, and would be more likely than his successors to crack the case. Romero was unique in many ways. He was the only regular partner to Joe Friday to be his equal in rank, and he was also the only one to ever take over narrating the show. (The Big Ben.) After Yarborough died in 1951, Romero “died” of the same cause of a death (a heart attack) and Webb mourned him in a memorable episode (The Big Sorrow.)

With Yarborough’s death, Webb had to find a replacement partner.For 18 episodes on Television, fans saw veteran character actors Ken Peters, Barney Philips, and Herb Ellis fill in as Friday’s partner. Of course, the television show only aired once every two weeks and took the Summer off. On radio, the limbo period lasted 37 episodes and in addition to the three actors mentioned previously, radio veterans Harry Bartell, Ken Patterson, Vic Perrin took turns as Friday’s partner, along with future Route 66 and Adam 12 star Martin Milner.

Ben Alexander (1911-69) was a former silent film star whose most famous film role was in All Quiet on the Western Front. In the 1930s, his film career declined and Alexander shifted to a career as a radio announcer and small businessman. He opened a Ford Dealership and hosted a local game show. According to Writer Jim Doherty, Webb had a picture of the role of Officer Frank Smith, “A humorous, dependable, supportive family man. Someone who could provide some comic relief, but still be believable doing realistic police work. A little off-center, perhaps, but someone you could count on when it came to the crunch.” And Webb had the picture of the perfect man for the job, Ben Alexander. However, he assumed Alexander was unavailable. Opportunity knocked when Webb found out Alexander was a big fan and would like to do a guest spot. Webb immediately offered the Frank Smith role. Alexander declined, saying he was only interested  in doing one show. Webb got Alexander to agree to do the role of Smith for four shows. Said Alexander later, ““[Webb] knew those four episodes would be enough to get the hook into me. So here I am. A perpetual monument to a smart man’s come-on.” (source: Doherty.) Alexander played the role of Frank Smith for more than 400 TV and radio performances as well as in the 1954 Dragnet Motion Picture.

Seven years after Dragnet went off the air, Alexander found himself working on another TV cop show with a cast led by another great radio star when he co-starred in Felony Squad with Howard Duff (of Sam Spade fame.) His commitment to ABC and Felony Squad meant that he was unable to reprise the role of Frank Smith when Dragnet returned to television in 1967.

Alexander was a vital part of the show, providing a real human element that brought out the best in Jack Webb. He was able to take a larger or smaller role, as the script dictated. Alexander was a big admirer of Webb and provided his picture of Webb in a 1957 story in TV People.

Dragnet Episode Log (right-click to download):

• • • • • • Production 2 (aka: Nickle Plated Gun): Original Air Date: June 10, 1949
          • Production 3 (aka: Robbery: The Werewolf) Original Air Date: June 17, 1949
          • Production 4 (aka: Homicide: Quick Trigger Men) Original Air Date: June 24, 1949
          • Production 5 (aka: Helen Corday Matter) Original Air Date: July 7, 1949
          • Production 6 (aka: Red Light Bandit) Original Air Date: July 14, 1949
          • Production 7 (aka Attempted City Hall Bombing) Original Air Date: July 21, 1949
          • Production 8 (aka: The Big Missing) (Original Air Date:July 28, 1949)
          • Production 9 (aka: Benny Trounsel) (Original Air Date: August 4, 1949)
          • Production 10 (aka: The Maniac Murderer (Original Air Date: August 11, 1949)
          • Production 11 (aka: Sixteen Jewel Thefts) (Original Air Date: August 18, 1949)
          • Police Academy (Original Air Date: August 25, 1949)
          • Myra the Redhead (Original Air Date: September 1, 1949)
          • Eric Kelby (Original Air Date: September 3, 1949)
          • The Sullivan Kidnapping (Original Air Date: September 10, 1949)
          • James Vickers (Original Air Date: September 17, 1949)
          • The Brick Bat Slayer (Original Air Date: September 24, 1949)
          • Truck Hijackers (Original Air Date: October 1, 1949)
          • The Mother-in-Law Murder (Original Air Date: November 24, 1949)
          • The Spring Street Gang (Original Air Date: December 1, 1949)
          • The Jade Thumb Rings (Original Air Date: December 8, 1949)
          • The Garbage Chute Murder (Original Air Date: December 15, 1949)
          • A .22 Rifle for Christmas (Original Air Date: December 22, 1949)
          • The Roseland Roof Matter (Original Air Date: December 29, 1949)
          • The Big Escape (Original Air Date: January 5, 1950)
          • The Big Man, Part One (Original Air Date: January 12, 1950)
          • The Big Man, Part Two (Original Air Date: January 19, 1950)
          • The Child Killer (Original Air Date: February 2, 1950)
          • The Big Girl (Original Air Date: February 9, 1950)
          • The Big Grifter (Original Air Date: February 23, 1950)
          • The Big Kill (Original Air Date: March 2, 1950)
          • The Big Thank You (Original Air Date: March 9,  1950)
          • The Big Boys (Original Air Date: March 16, 1950)
          • The Big Gangster, Part One (Original Air Date: March 23, 1950)
          • The Big Gangster, Part Two (Original Air Date: March 30, 1950)
          • The Big Book (Original Air Date: April 6, 1950)
          • The Big Watch (Original Air Date: April 13, 1950)
          • The Big Trial (Original Air Date: April 20, 1950)
          • The Big Job (Original Air Date: April 27, 1950)
          • The Big Badge (Original Air Date: May 4, 1950)
          • The Big Knife (Original Air Date: May 11, 1950)
          • The Big Pug (Original Air Date: May 18, 1950)
          • The Big Key (Original Air Date: May 25, 1950)
          • The Big Fake (Original Air Date: June 2, 1950)
          • The Big Smart Guy (Original Air Date: June 8, 1950)
          • The Big Purse (Original Air Date: June 15, 1950)
          • The Big Frame (Original Air Date: July 6, 1950)
          • The Big Bomb (Original Air Date: July 13, 1950)
          • The Big Gent, Part One (Original Air Date:  July 20, 1950)
          • The Big Gent, Part Two (Original Air Date: July 27, 1950)
          • The Big Dare (Original Air Date: August 3, 1950)
          • The Big Actor (Original Air Date: August 10, 1950)
          • The Big Youngster (Original Air Date: August 17, 1950)
          • The Big Chance (Original Air Date: August 24, 1950)
          • The Big Check (Original Air Date: August 31, 1950)
          • The Big Poison (Original Air Date: September 7, 1950)
          • The Big Make (Original Air Date: September 14, 1950)
          • The Big Pair (Original Air Date: September 21, 1950)
          • The Big Death (Original Air Date: September 28, 1950)
          • The Big .38 (Original Air Date: October 5, 1950)
          • The Big Quack (Original Air Date: October 12, 1950)
          • The Big Grandma (Original Air Date: October 19, 1950)
          • The Big Meet (Original Air Date: October 26, 1950)
          • The Big Church (Original Air Date: November 2, 1950)
          • The Big Mother (Original Air Date: November 9, 1950)
          • The Big Parrot (Original Air Date: November 16, 1950)
          • The Big Betty (Original Air Date: November 23, 1950)
          • The Big Car* (Original Air Date: November 30, 1950)
          • The Big Picture (Original Air Date: December 7, 1950)
          • The Big Break (Original Air Date: December 14, 1950)
          • The Big Family (Original Air Date: December 28, 1950)
          • The Big Holdup (Original Air Date: January 4, 1951)
          • The Big Jump (Original Air Date: January 11, 1951)
          • The Big Dance (Original Air Date: January 18, 1951)
          • The Big Tomato (Original Air Date: January 25, 1951)
          • The Big Children (Original Air Date: February 1, 1951)
          • The Big Cast (Original Air Date: February 8, 1951)
          • The Big Crime (Original Air Date: February 15, 1951)
          • The Big Couple (Original Air Date: February 22, 1951)
          • The Big Partner (Original Air Date: March 1, 1951)
          • The Big New  Years (Original Air Date: March 8, 1951)
          • The Big Ben (Original Air Date: March 15, 1951)
          • The Big Friend (Original Air Date: April 5, 1951)
          • The Big Threat (Original Air Date: April 12, 1951)
          • The Big Speech (Original Air Date: April 19, 1951)
          • The Big Saint (Original Air Date: April 26, 1951)
          • The Big Casing (Original Air Date: May 3, 1951)
          • The Big Drills (Original Air Date: May 10, 1951)
          • The Big Blast (Original Air Date: May 17, 1951)
          • The Big Mailman (Original Air Date: May 24, 1951)
          • The Big Bindle (Original Air Date: May 31, 1951)
          • The Big Imposter (Original Air Date: June 7, 1951)
          • The Big Building (Original Air Date: June 14, 1951)
          • The Big Run (Original Air Date: June 21, 1951)
          • The Big Cliff (Original Air Date: June 28, 1951)
          • The Big Sophomore (Original Air Date: July 12, 1951)
          • The Big Late Script (Original Air Date: July 26, 1951)
          • The Big Screen (Original Air Date: August 9, 1951)
          • The Big Winchester (Original Air Date: August 16, 1951)
          • The Big In-Laws (Original Air Date: August 23, 1951)
          • The Big Crazy (Original Air Date: August 30, 1951)
          • The Big Sour (Original Air Date: September 20, 1951)
          • The Big September Man (Original Air Date: September 27, 1951)
          • The Big Want Ad (Original Air Date: October 4, 1951)
          • The Big Shoplift (Original Air Date: October 11, 1951)
          • The Big Story Man (Original Air Date: October 18, 1951)
          • The Big Lease (Original Air Date: November 1, 1951)
          • The Big Hit and Run Killer (Original Air Date: November 8, 1951)
          • The Big Bungalow (Original Air Date: November 15, 1951)
          • The Big Hands (Original Air Date: November 22, 1951)
          • The Big Affair (Original Air Date; November 29, 1951)
          • The Big Canaries (Original Air Date: December 6, 1951)
          • The Big Overtime (Original Air Date: December 13, 1951)
          • The Big Sorrow (Original Air Date: December 27, 1951)
          • The Big Red, Part One (Original Air Date: January 3, 1952)
          • The Big Red, Part Two (Original Air Date: January 10, 1952)
          • The Big Juvenile Division (Original Air Date: January 17, 1952)
          • The Big Court (Original Air Date: January 24, 1952)
          • The Big Almost No Show (Original Air Date: January 31, 1952)
          • The Big Honeymoon (Original Air Date: February 7, 1952)
          • The Big Phone Call (Original AIr Date: February 14, 1952)
          • The Big Producer (Original Air Date: February 21, 1952)
          • The Big Plant  (Original Air Date: February 28, 1952)
          • The Big Evans (Original Air Date: March 6, 1952
          • The Big Fire (Original Air Date: March 13, 1952
          • The Big Border (Original AIr Date: March 20, 1952
          • The Big Rose (Original Air Date: March 27, 1952
          • The Big Street Car (Original Air Date: April 3, 1952)
          • The Big Show (Original Air Date: April 10, 1952)
          • The Big Bunco (Original Air Date: April 17, 1952)
          • The Big Elevator (Original Air Date: April 24, 1952)
          • The Big Safe (Original Air Date: May 1, 1952)
          • The Big Gamble (Original Air Date: May 8, 1952)
          • The Big Mail (Original Air Date: May 15, 1952)
          • The Big Shakedown (Original Air Date: May 22, 1952)
          • The Big Fourth (Original Air Date: May 29, 1952)
          • The Big Whiff (Original Air Date: June 5, 1952)
          • The Big Donation (Original Air Date: June 12, 1952)
          • The Big Jules (Original Air Date: June 19,1952)
          • The Big Roll (Original Air Date: June 26,1952)
          • The Big Trio (Original Air Date: July 3, 1952)
          • The Big Hate (Original Air Date: July 10, 1952)
          • The Big Signet (Original Air Date: July 31, 1952)
          • The Big Impression (Original Air Date: August 7, 1952)
          • The Big Drive (Original Air Date: August 14, 1952)
          • The Big Paper (Original Air Date: August 21, 1952)
          • The Big Test (Original Air Date: August 28, 1952)
          • The Big Ray (Original Air Date: September 4, 1952)
          • The Big Tear (Original Air Date: September 11, 1952)
          • The Big Bull  (Original Air Date: September 14, 1952)
          • The Big Shot (Original Air Date: September 21, 1952)
          • The Big Brain (Original Air Date: September 28, 1952)
          • The Big Jolt (Original Air Date: October 5, 1952)
          • The Big Lie (Original Air Date: October 12, 1952)
          • The Big Pill (Original Air Date: October 19, 1952)
          • The Big Number (Original Air Date: October 26, 1952)
          • The Big Light (Original Air Date: November 2, 1952)
          • The Big Dive (Original Air Date: November 9, 1952)
          • The Big Walk (Original Air Date: November 16, 1952)
          • The Big Guilt (Original Air Date: November 23, 1952)
          • The Big Shirt (Original Air Date: November 30, 1952)
          • The Big Mole (Original Air Date: December 7, 1952)
          • The Big Eavesdrop (Original Air Date: December 14, 1952)
          • The Big Mask, Part One (Original Air Date: December 28, 1952)
          • The Big Mask, Part Two (Original Air Date: January 4, 1953)
          • The Big Small (Original Air Date: January 11, 1953)
          • The Big String (Original Air Date: January 18, 1953)
          • The Big Layout (Original Air Date: January 25, 1953)
          • The Big Strip (original Air Date: February 1, 1953)
          • The Big Press (Original Air Date: February 8, 1953)
          • The Big Tooth (Original Air Date: February 15, 1953)
          • The Big Smoke (Original Air Date: February 22, 1953)
          • The Big Want (Original Air Date: March 1, 1953)
          • The Big Laugh (Original Air Date: March 8, 1953)
          • The Big Impossible (Original Air Date: March 15, 1953)
          • The Big Informant (Original Air Date: March 22, 1953)
          • The Big Dream (Original Air Date: March 29, 1953)
          • The Big Compulsion (Original Air Date: April 5, 1953)
          • The Big Chet (Original Air Date: April 5, 1953)
          • The Big Compulsion (Original Air Date: April 12, 1953)
          • The Big Rip (Original Air Date: April 19, 1953)
          • The Big Scrapbook (Original Air Date: April 26, 1953)
          • The Big Carney (Original Air Date: May 3, 1953)
          • The Big Joke (Original Air Date: May 10, 1953
          • The Big False Move (Original Air Date: May 17, 1953)
          • The Big Gun, Part One (Original Air Date: May 24, 1953)
          • The Big Gun, Part Two (Original Air Date: May 31, 1953)
          • The Big Will (Original Air Date: June 7, 1953)
          • The Big Lily (Original Air Date: June 14, 1953)
          • The Big Revolt (Original Air Date: June 21, 1953)
          • The Big Ham (Original Air Date: June 28, 1953)
          • The Big Bop (Original Air Date: September 1, 1953)
          • The Big Lift (Original Air Date: September 8, 1953)
          • The Big Cab (Original Air Date: September 15, 1953)
          • The Big Slip (Original Air Date: September 22, 1953)
          • The Big Try (Original Air Date: September 29, 1953)
          • The Big Little Mother (Original Air Date: October 6, 1953)
          • The Big Plea (Original Air Date: October 13, 1953)
          • The Big Paint(Original Air Date: October 20, 1953)
          • The Buckley Shakedown Racket (Original Air Date: August 27, 1947)
          • The Big Fraud (Original Air Date: October 27, 1953)
          • The Big Rain (Original AIr Date: November 3, 1953)
          • The Big Kid (Original Air Date: November 10, 1953)
          • The Big Flight (Original Air Date: November 17, 1953)
          • The Big Present (Original Air Date: November 24, 1953)
          • The Big Odd (Original Air Date: December 1, 1953)
          • The Big Pick (Original Air Date: December 8, 1953)
          • The Big Brink (Original Air Date: December 15, 1953)
          • The Big Little Jesus (Original Air Date: December 22, 1953)
          • The Big Steal (Original Air Date: December 29, 1953)
          • The Big Listen (Original Air Date: January 5, 1954)
          • The Big Switch (Original Air Date: January 12, 1954)
          • The Big Bill (Original Air Date: January 19, 1954)
          • The Big Bid (Original Air Date: January 26, 1954)
          • The Big Filth (Original Air Date: February 2, 1954)
          • The Big Broad (Original Air Date: February 9, 1954)
          • The Big Sucker (Original Air Date: February 16, 1954)
          • The Big Pipe (Original Air Date: February 23, 1954)
          • The Big TV (Original Air Date: March 2, 1954)
          • The Big Cup (Original Air Date: March 16, 1954)
          • The Big Rod (Original Air Date: March 16, 1954)
          • The Big Mustache (Original Air Date: March 23, 1954)
          • The Big Confession (Original Air Date: March 30, 1954)
          • The Big Saw (Original Air Date: April 6, 1954)
          • The Big Note (Original Air Date: April 13, 1954)
          • The Big Net (Original Air Date: April 20, 1954)
          • The Big Lift (Original Air Date: April 27, 1954)
          • The Big Stop (Original Air Date: May 4, 1954)
          • The Big Look (Original Air Date: May 11, 1954)
          • The Big Help (Original Air Date: May 18, 1954)
          • The Big Watch (Original Air Date: May 25, 1954)
          • The Big Cowboy (Original Air Date: June 1, 1954)
          • The Big Student (Original Air Date: June 8, 1954)
          • The Big Cat (Original Air Date: June 15, 1954)
          • The Big Customer (Original Air Date: June 22, 1954)
          • The Big Chick (Original Air Date: June 29, 1954)
          • The Big Search (Original Air Date: July 6, 1954)
          • The Big Rescue (Original Air Date: July 13, 1954)
          • The Big Heel (Original Air Date: July 20, 1954)
          • The Big Match (Original Air Date: July 27, 1954)
          • The Big Stand (Original Air Date: August 3, 1954)
          • The Big Wish (Original Air Date: August 10, 1954)
          • The Big Cad (Original Air Date: August 17, 1954)
          • The Big Shock (Original Air Date: August 24, 1954)
          • The Big Office (Original Air Date: August 31, 1954)
          • The Big Trunk (Original Air Date: September 7, 1954
          • The Big Cut Original Air Date: September 14, 1954)
          • The Big Try (Original Air Date: September 21, 1954)
          • The Big Bible (Original Air Date: September 28, 1954)
          • The Big Handsome Bandit (Original Air Date: October 5, 1954)
          • The Big Tar Baby (Original Air Date: October 12, 1954)
          • The Big Mannikin (Original Air Date: October 19, 1954)
          • The Big Key (Original Air Date: October 26, 1954)
          • The Big Locker (Original Air Date: November 2, 1954)
          • The Big Coins (Original Air Date: November 9, 1954)
          • The Big Dog (Original Air Date: November 16, 1954)
          • The Big Switch (Original Air Date: November 23, 1954)
          • The Big Gone (Original Air Date: November 30, 1954)
          • The Big Dig (Original Air Date: December 7, 1954
          • The Big Lens (Original Air Date: December 14, 1954)
          • The Big Underground (Original Air Date: December 28, 1954)
          • The Big Mug (Original Air Date: January 4, 1955)
          • The Big Complex (Original Air Date: January 11, 1955)
          • The Big Token (Original Air Date: January 18, 1955)
          • The Big Gap (Original Air Date: February 8, 1955)
          • The Big Hat (Original Air Date: February 15, 1955)
          • The Big Slug (Original Air Date: February 22, 1955)
          • The Big Set-Up (Original Air Date: March 1, 1955)
          • The Big Father (Original Air Date: March 8, 1955)
          • The Big Set (Original Air Date: March 15, 1955)
          • The Big Talk (Original Air Date: March 22, 1955)
          • The Big Death (Original Air Date: March 29, 1955)
          • The Big No Tooth (Original Air Date: April 5, 1955)
          • The Big Tie (Original Air Date: April 12, 1955)
          • The Big Deal (Original Air Date: April 19, 1955)
          • The Big Child (Original Air Date: April 26, 1955)
          • The Big Mamma (Original Air Date:May 3, 1955)
          • The Big Revision (Original Air Date: May 10, 1955)
          • The Big Squealer (Original Air Date: May 17, 1955)
          • The Big Siege (Original Air Date: May 24, 1955)
          • The Big Sisters (Original Air Date: May 31, 1955)
          • The Big Limp (Original Air Date: June 7, 1955)
          • The Big Fall Guy (Original Air Date: June 14, 1955)
          • The Big Grab (Original Air Date: June 21, 1955)
          • The Big Convertible (Original Air Date: June 28, 1955)
          • The Big Rush (Original Air Date: July 5, 1955)
          • The Big Genius (Original Air Date: July 12, 1955)
          • The Big Bobo (Original Air Date: July 19, 1955)
          • The Big Housemaid (Original Air Date: July 26, 1955)
          • The Big Sheet (Original Air Date: August 2, 1955)
          • The Big Missus (Original Air Date: August 9, 1955)
          • The Big Beer (Original Air Date: August 16, 1955)
          • The Big Blonde (Original Air Date: August 23, 1955)
          • The Big Fellow (Original Air Date: August 30, 1955)
          • The Big Ruling (Original Air Date: September 6, 1955)
          • The Big Daughter (Original Air Date: September 13, 1955)
          • The Big Close (Original Air Date: September 20, 1955)

          TV Soundtracks

          • The Big Lamp (Original Air Date  June 19, 1952 of radio script that originally aired October 20, 1949)
          • The Big Trunk (Original Air Date: January 7, 1954 based on a radio script that originally aired March 29, 1951)
          • The Big Bar (Original Air Date: October 14, 1954 based on a radio play that originally aired November 10, 1949.)

          
          Christmas Episode (Played Out of Order):

           

          • The Big Little Jesus (Original Air Date: December 22, 1953)

          End of Log

          *Played out of Order