"Dragnet" recreation of the lost premiere episode of famous police procedural audio drama from June 3 1949 (plus bonus parody)

About this episode

This episode features a recreation of the lost premiere episode of the classic audio drama 'Dragnet' along with a parody titled 'Hairnet'.

Just the facts, ma'am: DRAGNET is one of the few programs from the classic age of audio drama which is still recognized by most people today - for the iconic four-note theme, at least. But even Dragnet didn't hit the airwaves at the start in its fully-realized familiar form. Episode number one, which aired on June 3, 1949, survives only via a script, not a recording. That script reveals a compelling cop show, but one which doesn't quite match our memories of Jack Webb's LAPD detective formed from years of radio, television, and movie versions. All of which makes Project Audion's new reconstruction of that very first episode such a fascinating show worth listening to. Even the Dragnet theme isn't yet there. But Joe Friday is, along with his partner Ben Alexander, and the true-life crime stories where "only the names have been changed - to protect the innocent." But wait -- there's more (as they used to say on the commercials accompanying Dragnet TV reruns). R. L. Mills, that senior scriptwriting script and storyteller from the days of Bob Hope, has penned a parody of Dragnet called "Hairnet" - and THAT plays back right AFTER our lost premiere. The same cast is heard (and seen) in…

People in this episode

Host: Larry Groebe

Topics covered

• audio drama
• police procedural
• reconstruction
• parody
• classic radio

Keywords

• Dragnet
• audio drama
• R. L. Mills
• Hairnet
• Jack Webb
• police procedural
• classic radio
• reconstruction

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Dragnet, Hairnet

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• "A Christmas Carol" classic holiday Audio Drama recreated for a live studio audience · December 24, 2025 · 40 min
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