Dragnet : Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

I am a big fan of the old B & W Dragnet series, and recently bought a "Brentwood Home Video" DVD from amazon with about 20 old episodes.

It seems that lots of differnet companies are putting out hodge-podge packages of Dragnet, but mostly there are the same episodes over and over on different compilations (e,g, "The Big Seventeen, The Big Boys etc).

Where do these companies "get" these old tapes from ,and why are so few of the episodes avaiable? The show was on from 1951 to 1959 and filmed about 35-40 news episodes each season.

Where are the rest of the episodes? Are some of the tapes simply lost or destroyed, or are there rights issues? I would assume all of the ones released now are in public domain. How does a distribtor like Brentwood get their hands on this old stuff in the first place?

Sad they can't just release all of the episodes, for us few folks who like this old stuff. Obviously none of these will ever be broadcast on re-runs again b/c the police procedures depicted are now largely illegal, the chain-smoking of Webb (and just about everyone else) wouldn't look good, and let's face it, this old stuff is not for everyone.



Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

I was doing some research on Hedy Lamarr... and found that the episode on Dragnet about the pretty lady who was a shop-lifter was actually a semi-true story of Ms. Lamarr... she was prosecuted for shoplifting in 1965; she was acquitted.But, in 1992 she was caught again. She was born in Vienna in 1913, she passed away in 2000.

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

"Sad they can't just release all of the episodes, for us few folks who like this old stuff. Obviously none of these will ever be broadcast on re-runs again b/c the police procedures depicted are now largely illegal, the chain-smoking of Webb (and just about everyone else) wouldn't look good, and let's face it, this old stuff is not for everyone."

Well it must be for someone becuase RTN (Retro Television Network-cable channel 117 in Seattle) is showing Dragnet every weekday afternoon at 5:30pm). They just started showing them July 21. Of course the Comcast channel guide still lists it as Hogan's Heros but it's really Dragnet. So far they are jumping all over the place with episodes. The first one (7/21) was "The Big Little Jesus" (S3E17). I missed the next day but Wednesday the 23rd was one of my favorite episodes "The Big Phone Call" (S1E12), 7/24 was "The Big Trunk" (S3E19) and 7/25 was "The Big Cast" (S1E5) which is a famous episode starring a young Lee Marvin that showcased just how cold-blooded he could be.

But then today (Monday 7/28) they leaped all the way into Season Seven with "The Big War" (S7E28). So it's anyone's guess as to which episode from what season they'll show tomorrow. And yes, Comcast is still labeling it as Hogan's Heros. But then they are still labeling Adam-12 (which shows right before Dragnet at 5 o'clock PM as Get Smart. But at least with Adam-12 they started with Episode One and are showing them in order. I'd really like to see Dragnet in it's original order to better see how thew characters, as well as the production quality, evolved. As it is I can really see big differences from season to season.

I also like the fact that nothing looks to be remastered and the commercials are inserted only where they were originally meant to be. I almost get the sensation that I'm watching it in 1952.

I guess Dragnet is a little too dark for TVLand and those other channels that are showcasing vintage TV. I don't think RTN is a well known network (out here it is the alterego of our CBS affiliate KIRO-7 and called KIRO2) but if you're a Dragnet (and/or Adam-12) fan hopefully your cable system carries it.

And those are the facts ma'am.

Also, Stars Retro is showing the 1954 Dragnet movie this coming Saturday at 7:10 AM Pacific time and August 6 at 4:35 AM.

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

"I guess Dragnet is a little too dark for TVLand and those other channels that are showcasing vintage TV."

Sadly TVLand is getting to the point where they aren't going to be airing vintage TV, it used to be all they showed, now they have their own reality shows, reruns of that house makeover show from ABC, movies, and newer TV series- like 'Scrubs', I guess their excuse for this is 'Scrubs' got the future-classics TV Land award.


Hey, this guy's not gonna leak all over my ice cream, is he?

Are they showing the original 1950's shows?

Thanks for the info, btw, I looked up the RTN website and found that they broadcast on UHF channel 30 here in Las Vegas (guess it's time to dig out some rabbit ears).

The way the show is listed on the website, it appears they are showing only the later, color episodes that came in the 1960's. I like these episodes okay, but the original run filmed in the 50's score a lot higher, in my opinion.

I guess I'll tune in tomorrow at 5:30 and find out.

Thanks again.

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

do you really think they're gonna care about Joe Friday smoking?

There was an episode from the 60's series that had him lighting up.

And even though Police procedured have changed since then, I can't see how that would stop them from showing the old 50's series.

Most people are wise enough to know things change over time and I'm sure many who watched the original series who are still around today and would like to see it.

Most even think it's better than the 60's remake.

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

Dragnet was actually out on the radio back in the day too. In fact several of the OTR (Old Time Radio) episodes that I've listened to were later filmed. One was the "Little Jesus" story. It was on radio first then a black and white version was made and then years later a color version. If anyone is interested in listening to the original Dragnet radio series it can be found at http://zootradio.com/ There are episodes as far back as 1949 and going til 1957. Best of all they are free to download. Cigarette's were part of the show way back at the beginning. Fatima cigarette's and then Chesterfield's served as the sponsors for the series when it got its start in radio.

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

They get them from 16mm film prints that fell into private hands. The original negatives and 35mm prints are all safely tucked away in Universal's vaults and they have no interest nor financial incentive to do anything with them.

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

My local 'America One' affiliate shows the B&W "Dragnet", as well as "Martin Kane, P.I." and "Lock Up".

Re: Where do they 'get' these episodes from?

The same 30 or so episodes that float around on PD prints. No one has aired the full run since the mid-60s.
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