Radio Retropolis
1,076 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 42 ratingsA network of podcasts under several genres relating to the retro pop culture field and how these features are relevant to everyone today.
These podcasts will consist of classic radio dramas and commentary from Jim Romanovich, blogs, new interviews from individuals who contributed to the pop culture experience, and high-end audio documentaries.
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Episodes
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #100- The Big Set Up
August 17, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 18.6 MBA gang of thieves are breaking into affluent homes stealing furs and jewelry. Friday and Romero have no leads, yet they must find them. Commentary on the Swedish housekeeper witness and the role of Swedes in the U.S. from the turn of the last century and into the 1950's.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #99- The Big Love
August 14, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.4 MBA husband and father is frantic when his wife runs off with another man and takes their two year old daughter who suddenly goes missing. Commentary on the dark sadness of this episode and how Dragnet was able to tell this story as no other drama could.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #98-The Big Cliff
August 13, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.4 MBAn elderly man claims he has no idea what happened after he found his wife dead on the floor beside the bed. Commentary on why this episode was a slight departure from the rest with Joe Friday doing something he never does.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #97- The Big Run
August 11, 2021 19:00 - 31 minutes - 18.1 MBTwo elderly women are mowed down by a hit and run driver and Friday and Romero must find him before the trail grows cold. Commentary on Joe's mother, his relationship with her, and why this was crucial in the ongoing success of Dragnet.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #96-The Big Building
August 11, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.7 MBFriday and Romero investigate the murder of an architect’s wife as both the husband and her step father blame the other for the killing. Commentary on how Dragnet combined the styles of the procedural and of the mystery to make a really smart, not whodunit, but "whichdunit".
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #95- The Big Imposter
August 10, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 16.8 MBA missing boy is returned to his grandfather, but the grandfather believes there is something terribly wrong with his grandson. Something unrecognizable. Commentary on a softer tone direction plus being fooled as to the identity of the imposter.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #94- The Big Bindle
August 07, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18.3 MBFriday goes deep undercover as a dealer looking to expose a drug ring working out of a high-class hotel. Commentary on Jack Webb playing a tough con with comparisons to his previous series Pat Novak, For Hire. Plus, a special look at the exceptional use of sound effects in this episode's opening act.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #93- The Big Mailman
August 06, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 18.9 MBFriday and Romero tackle forgery as someone has been successfully stealing mail and cashing other people’s checks. Commentary on the first use of a comedy routine with Friday and Romero that would be a staple in Dragnet from this point forward. Plus Harry Morgan talks about the humor in Dragnet as well as his relationship with Jack Webb.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #92-The Big Blast
August 05, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 19.9 MBA young mother is shot dead in her bed while her seven-year-old son sleeps by her side. Friday and Romero received honorary Deputy Sheriff commendations in Baton Rouge which leads to a personal story from Jim about his same experience with actor Erik Estrada while working with the Bedford County Sheriff's Department.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #91-The Big Drills
August 04, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 18.6 MBFriday and Romero are stumped in a safe-cracking caper when after several months of stake-outs they have not been able to generate a single lead. Commentary on the change of tone in this episode that is different than other episodes. Plus the rise and fall of the phone booth. Finally, Dragnet writer James Moser wins the Edgar Award.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #90- The Big Casing
August 03, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.3 MBFriday and Romero investigate a possible suicide of a woman but quickly suspect her husband of murder. Commentary on what makes this a unique standout episode with a rare break from the usual Dragnet format.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #88-The Big Speech
July 31, 2021 03:00 - 36 minutes - 20.9 MBA doctor is severely beaten, robbed and near death. A narcotics addict is the prime suspect. Commentary on the facts about narcotic addiction and crime. Plus, the interesting dynamic between Joe and his mother.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #87-The Big Threat
July 30, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18.1 MBA man is severely beaten and the assailants are nowhere to be found. The beaten man knows who attacked him yet refuses to file a report. Commentary on police protection realities and the father of the accordion.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #84-The Big Trunk
July 29, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 18.9 MBA woman is found murdered in her apartment and the only clue is a trunk that she never opened. Commentary on while people kill, plus some fun Jack Webb facts including a famous skit with Johnny Carson.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #83-The Big Ben
July 28, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18.2 MBWhile Friday and Romero investigate a man who was pulled from his car on a deserted street who was also robbed and severely beaten , the police duo encounter an unexpected tragic event. Commentary on the dramatic turn of events before Act 2 and the creative choice Dragnet made for the rest of the episode.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #79-The Big Cast
July 24, 2021 03:00 - 36 minutes - 21.1 MBFriday questions Henry Ross, a suspect in a man's disappearance, which Friday believes is actually a murder. Commentary on the unusual format of this episode which starts right at the interrogation and never lets up. Plus, we discuss the first uses of the polygraph machine.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #78-The Big Children
July 23, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18.1 MBAn eight-year-old boy and his sister have been going from door to door begging for food even though they are from well to do parents. Commentary on yet another award won by Dragnet. This one was The Motion Picture Herald Association with Fame Award. Also discussed are the millions of children abused each year and why this episode may have had special meaning for star Jack Webb.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #77-The Big Tomato
July 22, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.5 MBA band of dope peddlers launches a full-scale operation in Los Angeles targeting high-school children. Commentary on the recent commendation both Dragnet and Jack Webb received for the best new star of tomorrow and excellence in programming.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #75-The Big Jump
July 21, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 17.1 MBWalter Harrison is on the window ledge of a downtown building, thirteen stories above the street threatening to leap to his death at exactly 2 pm just 22 minutes from now. Commentary on this great real-time episode when everything happens in 22 minutes.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #73-The Big Family
July 20, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 19.9 MBA wealthy businessman is thought to have committed suicide although murder has not been ruled out. Friday and Romero investigate the suspicious circumstances and make a startling discovery. Commentary tonight on the Dragnet pattern of determining the guilty party. Plus, we look at the possibility with present day technology how one can or cannot carry out the deed that one of our characters actually does in 1950 Los Angeles.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #71-The Big Picture
July 17, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 19.7 MBA pair of phony talent scouts are targeting young girls with dreams of stardom in Hollywood. Commentary tonight on the tragedy of fame and fortune plus Jim shares a very personal tragic story about a close friend of his.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #68-The Big Parrot
July 16, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 17.9 MBArson is suspected in a cover-up of a gruesome double murder. Commentary on why this is one of the best Dragnet episodes so far. This episode was one of the first to be adapted for television for its brilliance. The final ten minutes are exceptional Dragnet drama not to be missed!
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #67-The Big Mother
July 15, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.4 MBFriday and Romero investigate the abduction of a three day old baby from Mercy Hospital. Commentary on Hispanic mothers and emphasis on family. Also a look at the guest actors who gave these excellent performances. One of Dragnet's finer moments.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #66-The Big Church
July 14, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18.2 MBFriday and Romero investigate a woman who is receiving life-threatening letters and phone calls and need to find this stalker before she winds up dead. Commentary on how this was a departure from its regular procedural format and how mental illness was treated in 1950.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #65-The Big Meet
July 13, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 17.9 MBSgt. Friday tries to trap Howard Scully, a careful narcotics wholesaler, by posing as a buyer. Commentary on Joe Friday's tough character when faced with a situation of having to actually kill someone...or be killed.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #63-The Big Quack
July 10, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.5 MBA man posing as a doctor is burglarizing homes in the city. Commentary on William H. Parker, Los Angeles Police Chief, who in this episode gives Dragnet and Jack Webb a citation for merit for the authentic portrayal of the LAPD. Parker modeled his tenure as chief after Dragnet.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #62-The Big .38
July 09, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.4 MBA store clerk has been murdered and all Friday knows is that the killer is well dressed and escapes using taxis. Commentary on the specific detail of the beverages being consumed and why Webb felt it was important to focus on these minor moments. Plus, we'll discuss why Joe Friday's catchphrase is "Just the Facts, Ma' am" -or was it?
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #61-The Big Death
July 08, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 17.1 MBFriday goes undercover as a hit man to prevent a man from murdering his wife.` Commentary on Jack Webb's role in Marlon Brando's first film The Men as well as his characterization of Friday's undercover role as being similar to his Pat Novak, For Hire character-a series he did the year before Dragnet.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #60-The Big Pair
July 07, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18 MBTonight’s case-Thieves are breaking into homes all over the city stealing furniture with no leads available. Commentary on a casting misfire with this episode as well as a rare blooper.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #59-The Big Make
July 06, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 17 MBTonight is the case of a small bakery shop being held up and a man and his daughter who are shot dead. Commentary from two different sources with two completely different assessments on Jack Webb and what he brought to Dragnet.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #58- The Big Poison
July 03, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.5 MBAn elderly couple have suddenly disappeared from a fashionable neighborhood in Los Angeles. There’s no trace of them not a clue to their whereabouts. The final five minutes are not to be missed. Commentary on the brilliant dramatic conclusion of this episode which is why Dragnet is a standout series.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #54-The Big Actor
July 02, 2021 03:00 - 35 minutes - 20.6 MBA large hospital in Los Angeles is held up and $10,000 in high-grade narcotics is stolen. The trail leads to a Hollywood set where fiction and truth collide. Great commentary on how the answers we want are prolonged by LIFE as one's daily routine may prolong the anticipation of the dramatic conclusion of another life. The answer we want is prolonged by LIFE outside our realm. A beautifully written script.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #53-The Big Dare
July 01, 2021 03:00 - 36 minutes - 20.8 MBDetective Sergeant Joe Friday in homicide detail. Investigates the brutal knifing murder of a woman in her own home and the unusual circumstance around it. Commentary on the simplicity of story which made it even more interesting along with the real story of Mendocino State Hospital and the connection to a very famous cult, plus part 3 with Bill Roddy on one of his biggest radio gaffes, and Jack Webb's smoking habit.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #52-The Gentleman Bandit Part 2
June 30, 2021 03:00 - 33 minutes - 19 MBThree people have been shot down in a twelve thousand dollar hold-up. One of the bandits is apprehended, convicted and sent to prison for life, while Frank Chaney, the rich man murderer, is still at large. Commentary on the ballad of Joe Friday in which the success he has as a cop is polar opposite to his life away from the badge. Also, part 2 of our conversation with San Francisco radio legend and roommate to Jack Webb on his greatest broadcasting achievement.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #51-The Gentleman Bandit Pt. 1
June 29, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 20 MBFriday has to track down a rich man on a who continues to rob and kill people, even after an eighteen year stay in prison. Commentary and part 1 of an exclusive interview with legendary San Francisco radio announcer Bill Roddy who housed Jack Webb in the mid 40s right before Webb's success.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #46- The Big Press
June 26, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.3 MBReports of several women that have been beaten and robbed and the victims have been unable to identify the criminals. Commentary tonight on LAPD Chief Worton as well as Dragnet announcer George Fenneman.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #44-The Big Fake
June 25, 2021 03:00 - 33 minutes - 19.3 MBIn a very special episode, Detective Sergeant Joe Friday investigates a case of a man who accuses a rookie cop of beating him up, robbing him, and breaking his arm.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #41-The Big Knife
June 24, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18 MBDetective Sergeant Friday is assigned to the juvenile bureau as he searches for a potential killer who roams the halls of one of the high schools in the city brutally slashing the female students.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #40-The Big Badge
June 23, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18.1 MBFor two months, "The Badge Bandit", who is a depraved criminal, has struck fifteen times in which men and women have been robbed and brutally attacked and Joe Friday comes to a new realization.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #39-The Big Job
June 22, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 18 MBThe Police receive information that an escaped criminal, Alfred Garvey, is hiding out in the City. While searching for him at a hotel Garvey shoots an off-duty cop who is also a close friend of Friday and Romero.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #36-The Big Book
June 19, 2021 03:00 - 30 minutes - 17.6 MBThe high schools in the city have been flooded with obscene literature. When the cops stamp out one source a dozen more spring up. It’s Friday’s job to stop it at the top.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #31-The Big Kill
June 18, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 17.2 MBJack Carver, just out of Folsom, is suspected of killing a cop for revenge. Friday poses as a criminal in jail to find the missing murder weapon.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #25-The Big Escape
June 17, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBTwo armed bandits have robbed a large jewelry store in his city. One of the suspect escapes but one is apprehended and identified as an army buddy of Friday’s. Shortly after he is sent to prison, he escapes and Friday is faced with the final showdown.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #22- Garbage Chute Killer
June 16, 2021 03:00 - 29 minutes - 16.9 MBFriday investigates the murder of a professional organist who was killed by a man who entered the garbage chute.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #20-Spring Street Gang
June 15, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 18.7 MBA rash of crimes has broken out in the city. Suspicion points to an organized gang of juveniles. Detective Sergeant Joe Friday has been assigned to Juveniles Bureau and it's his job to stop them. Commentary on the juvenile delinquency issues of the 1950s.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #19-Mother in Law Murder
June 12, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 19.7 MBMr. Reynard's mother has been murdered and his wife is suspected of being the killer.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #8-Benny Trounsel Murdered
June 08, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 14.9 MBA small-time narcotics user named Benny Trounsel has been beaten to death shortly after tipping the cops to a new narcotics ring in town.
The Dragnet Radio Podcast #2-Werewolf
June 02, 2021 03:00 - 34 minutes - 16 MBA criminal dubbed "The Werewolf" by the media has beaten up and robbed eighteen women. This big, ugly man always seems to be one step ahead of Friday, Romero and the other cops.
A Final Word with Jim Romanovich
May 31, 2021 03:30 - 6 minutes - 7.02 MBJim summarizes this past season as well as what you can expect for the summer and what's new for season 7 in the Fall. The return of select episodes My Favorite Husband with exclusive interviews from I Love Lucy cast, producers, writers and crew you won't want to miss. Plus, we say goodbye to The Shadow Radio Podcast with a special "look back" at this fan favorite.
The Superman Radio Podcast #464- Is There Another Superman Pt. 13
May 31, 2021 03:00 - 15 minutes - 9.52 MBThe dynamic trio discovered where the heist was going to be held and are now lying in wait to make their final assault, yet the burglars are nowhere to be seen. Could Superman and the others have miscalculated their clues? Commentary on the Boris character misfire. Plus, a look into how the next serial could betray The Adventures of Superman established dramatic style.