Marking a sharp departure from radio’s hard-boiled gumshoes, the 1949 premier of Jack Webb’s “Dragnet” was a breath of fresh air. No exaggerated characterizations, no purple dialogue, just a dedicated law enforcement officer determined to do his job as completely and as thoroughly as possible. Lt. Joe Friday may have been just another workaday guy trudging thru his daily routine but, in Webb’s hands, the characterization took on a fascinating edge of realism, giving the show a feeling and a mood unlike that of any other radio program of its era. This collection, offering shows from the first and second season of the program’s run, demonstrate just how powerful, just how creative, and just how fascinating radio drama could be when it found itself in the hands and mind of a master.
