Old Radio

Jack Webb was an American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the 1950s TV series "Dragnet." Here's twelve FUN FACTS for you to know: Jack Webb was born on April 2, 1920 in Santa Monica, California. He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where he was a bomber pilot. In 1949, Webb created and starred in the radio series " Pat Novak for Hire ," which was the basis for the later " Dragnet " TV series. " Dragnet " was one of the first police procedural dramas on television, and it ran for eight seasons from 1951 to 1959. In addition to his work on " Dragnet ," Jack Webb also directed and produced several other TV shows, including "Adam-12," "Emergency!" and "Mark VII Limited." He was known for his distinctive style as a director, which involved using close-ups and quick cuts to convey a sense of immediacy. J...

A happy birthday to legendary actor Raymond Burr , born this day in 1917. Radio fans know that he did a lot as an actor besides playing the famed role of Perry Mason . He was also Captain Lee Quince on the "adult Western" series Fort Laramie . Aided by excellent writers, Burr was able to get deep into the psychology of the cavalry leader.  And let's not forget Dragnet . Burr played the Chief of Detective on Jack Webb 's legendary series, making him an A-list radio star. He also appeared in Pat Novak For Hire . Improbably, the actor who played so many masculine, no-nonsense characters would go on to become a great wine maker and owner of Raymond Burr vineyards.

On this day in 1920, radio superstar Jack Webb entered the world. The man who breathed life into the character Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet was also a screenwriter, producer, and jazz enthusiast. You know all about Dragnet and its contribution to American popular culture. But let's take a minute to tip a digital hat to some of Webb's other contributions to radio . Many of you remember Pat Novak For Hire , a detective show in which the title character contracts to do difficult and dastardly deed around San Francisco. Webb was the original Pat Novak , with Ben Morris taking over later. But do you recall The Jack Webb Show, which ran briefly in 1946? How about The New Adventures of Michael Shayne? Webb appeared in about a baker's dozen episodes of this series in '48. He also lent his talents to Escape , Suspense , Jeff Regan , Investigator, and other great programs. We extend our gratitude to Jack Webb , for the great memories!

April 2: Happy Birthday, Jack Webb The story you are about to read is true. Jack Webb , born on this day in 1920, is best known in the world of radio for his work on the popular series Dragnet . This radio series was birthed as a way of showcasing the hard work that L.A. police officers did. Webb was, personally, an admirer of cops, and he thought they usually got a bad rap from the media. So, with several acting jobs, some of them as detectives, under his belt, he began developing a program that would showcase the techniques of police. It became, though, known for the various quirks and mannerisms of Webb's character, Joe Friday: "Just the facts, ma'am," etc. It also lent to the canon of American pop culture the lines from the opening narration, "the story you are about to read is true," and "this is the city: Los Angeles, California." Books could be--and have been--written on  Dragnet . Here, let's mention also that Webb was e...