Dragnet: Red Light Bandit 07/14/1949
episode
Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
29 min
3 speakers
8 chapters
transcribed 4 hours ago
Transcript
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Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
What is the opening premise of the Red Light Bandit case?
Welcome to Choice Classic Radio, where we bring to you the greatest old time radio shows. Like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, and thank you for donating at Choice ClassicRadio dot com.
Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. NBC brings you Dragnet.
You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to robbery detail. A ruthless fiend roams the streets of your city masquerading as a police officer. For months, helpless citizens have been robbed, beaten senseless, and kidnapped. The criminal is a twisted genius, vicious. Cunning. Your job is to get him. Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime, investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life. For the next 30 minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual case from official police files. From beginning to end. From crime to punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.
It was Wednesday, June 4th. It was warm in Los Angeles. We were working the night watch out of robbery detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The boss is Ed Backstrand, chief of detectives. My name's Friday. I was on my way back from communications and it was eleven thirteen PM when I got to room twenty seven A. Robbery detail. Oh hi, Joe. Hi, Ben. Did you get that message to call home? Yeah, bad news. What's the matter? That doggone kid of mine, chicken pox. Oh, again? Last year it was the mumps. Year before that, the measles. Every time I get set for a vacation, he decides to catch something. Well, forget it, Ben. Think what a comfort he's gonna be in your old age. Go ahead, lad. You'll find out. Yeah.
How are you, Friday, Romero?
Fine. What can we do for it?
You don't look like you remember me. Oh
no, wait a minute. Name Savage, isn't it? George? Johnny, Sergeant. Johnny Savage, remember now? Oh, sure. Those liquor store robberies out in the Wilshire district. About six, seven years ago, wasn't it? Ten years from now. You ought to remember that. You with the trial. We testify in court every week. Ten years is a long time. It's longer in the state pen. It's a lot longer. Yeah, you cried a little at that trial, didn't you, Savage? You said we beat that confession out of you. Yeah, that's why I figured I'd drop in for a little visit. Uh, kind of apologize to you fellas. You gave me a square deal. I guess I kinda lost my head. I figured I'd apologize. Well, that's all right, Savage. When'd you get out? Couple of weeks ago.
I did it the hard way. Serve ten flat. I don't own a day. You find a job yet? Yeah, Friday. I'm working nights. What kind of a job? Laborer in a warehouse, south end of town. Good. Decided to level? Ten years in prison's a long time. You learn a lot of things. Nights are long, you think a lot. You get things straightened out. I hope you mean that. Sure I mean it Friday. I've got everything straightened out. I know who my friends are and I know who to watch after. You sound like maybe on the right track. I got a figure, Romero. Like you two fellows. You caught me red handed and you sung me up for ten years. Well, you did all right, Savage. Five armed robberies. You got off pretty easy. You got a break, Savage. Make the best of Sure, I'm not kicking.
Ten years. A real break. That's right.
How do Friday and Romero first learn about the robberies and the suspect’s method?
Well Uh just dropped in for a little visit. Maybe I'll see you fellas sometime. All right, Savage? Keep your nose clean. Sure. No hard feelings. No. You just took ten years of my life, that's all. There's no such thing as a man going through prison without changing. And Ben and I have seen him switch in both directions. Some men learn their lesson after they land behind bars, and when they're released, they turn into good citizens. Johnny Savage was sour. We made a mental note to check him out later on, and then we went down to the record bureau and pulled his coming out mug. That's about all uh we had time for, because about an hour later we started to get busy.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the opening premise of the Red Light Bandit case?
0:00–4:00
2
How do Friday and Romero first learn about the robberies and the suspect’s method?
4:00–8:32
3
What details do the victims give about the “policeman” who attacked them?
8:32–11:25
4
How does the police obtain the victim’s description and the suspect’s mugshot?
11:25–14:39
5
What steps do the detectives take to launch the city‑wide manhunt?
14:39–21:33
6
How does the pursuit of the red‑light bandit unfold on Wilshire and Sherman alleys?
21:33–25:44
7
How is Johnny Savage finally cornered and arrested?
25:44–27:47
8
What is the outcome of the case and how is the story concluded?
27:47–29:39
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
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