It's a "Sgt. Joe Friday" Friday

One of the photos in my Jack Webb/Dragnet collection

For all you Dragnet Fans...

While preparing my Sept. 1954 post a few weeks ago that included the showing of Dragnet at the Palace, I had a few things that I didn't have time to post. So seeing as it's Friday, we'll make it a Sgt. Friday Friday.

As I mentioned, I've been a big fan of Dragnet and Jack Webb since seeing the 1960s revival on TV. Locally the reruns appeared on Channel 43. They had a big effect on me and probably shaped a lot of my longstanding attitudes about drugs and the law.

Anyway, for some reason Dragnet seemed to figure prominently in my life during the latter part of my high school days. Besides the Dragnet reruns on TV, I bought an old Mad paperback (at the Book Seller Paperback Exchange on Griswold) that included a hilarious parody of the 1950s version of the show. Here it is, courtesy of Bart Solenthaler's flickr page. I love the preoccupation with cigarettes (which is understandable since the show was sponsored by a cigarette company).

I also remember seeing a Dragnet parody with Daffy Duck and Porky Pig for the first time back then. It was one of the cartoons in rotation on The Porky Pig Show, which I watched a little bit each day while getting ready to head off to Admiral King High School.

All this Dragnet influence inspired me to do a short arrangement of the Dragnet theme (complete with Dum-de-dum dum) for the Admiral King High School Marching Band trombone section to play at appropriate times during football games.

Meanwhile, a few of my A. K. high school buddies (especially Scott Welko) and I were becoming familiar with the old comedy records of Stan Freberg, which contained – what else? – several Dragnet parodies. Here's one of the most popular ones: Little Blue Riding Hood (1953).

Since then, I've continued to be a big fan of Dragnet and own all the DVDs of the 1960s revival, as well as both the 1954 movie and the 1966 TV movie (that didn't air until 1969). I have a small collection of Dragnet items including books, a few photos and even a replica Badge 714 (Sgt. Friday's) pin. 

Publicity photo for Dragnet 1969

Of course, the badge is in miniature. Otherwise, I'd be guilty of violating Section 2913.44 Ohio Revised Code – Personating an officer, a misdemeanor of the first degree.