Latest / Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas / Dragnet: Production 8 (aka: The Big Missing) (EP1370)

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Dragnet: Production 8 (aka: The Big Missing) (EP1370) · Great Detectives of Old Time Radio Volume 2|Mystery Audio Dramas

0:28
Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
0:35
is your host, Adam Graham. If you have a common email it to
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me Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio
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Detectives, and become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com slash
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Radio Detectives. Well, before we do get started, I do want to
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let you know this programs brought to you by the financial support of our listeners,
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and I particularly want to call out some recent thank you gifts from from
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Roberta and also from Mark. Thank you so much for your support. We'll
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send access to the premium side as we do with all donations of seven dollars
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or more, and you can support the show at support Great Detectives dot net.
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Also over at great Detectives dot net, my review of the Ellery Queen
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book The Greek Coffin Mystery is posted, and you can subscribe to those reviews
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and updates at Great Detectives dot net and through the Kindles store free for two
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weeks. Well, now it's time for today's episode of Dragnet. This one
1:49
is Production eight aka The Big Missing Ladies and Gentlemen. The story you are
2:05
about to hear is true, only the names have been changed to protect the
2:10
innocent. NBC brings you Dragnet. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to
2:27
missing persons detail. You've never heard of Fountain Green, Utah. You've never
2:31
heard of Juanita Laski. Los Angeles is a big city, four hundred and
2:37
fifty two square miles, three million, three hundred and fifty six thousand,
2:42
nine hundred and sixty nine people. Your job find her. Dragnet the documented
2:50
drama of an actual crime, investigated and solved by the men who unrelentingly stand
2:54
watch on the security of your home, your family, and your life.
3:00
While the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department,
3:04
you will travel step by step on the side of the law through an actual
3:07
case, from official police files, from beginning to end, from crime to
3:12
punishment. Dragnet is the story of your police force in action. It was
3:21
Monday, December twelfth. It was cold in Los Angeles. We were working
3:24
the day watch out a missing person's detail. My partner's Ben Romero. The
3:30
boss is ed Backstrand, Chief of Detective. My name is Friday. I
3:34
was on my way back from lunch. And it was twelve forty seven pm
3:37
when I got to Room sixty seven A missing persons detail. Poor gee,
3:45
Federal cafe? Good soup today? What kind corn showder? It was real
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good places jammed with Christmas shoppers. I had to wait. I haven't even
3:53
started my shop and yet you I gotta pick up something for my mother?
4:00
Is her high? I'll send a lot of cards. Will you get married?
4:03
Jo Ever? Try to sell a Christmas card to a kid? They
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got to have something with wheels on it. Yeah, you're right. Missing
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persons Friday, Falton, Green, Utah calling the Los Angeles Police Department.
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You're all missing persons. My party will speak with anyone in charge. This
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is missing person Sergeant Friday. Please, this is ALASKI ready with your call
4:26
to Los Angeles. Hello. Oh hello, here's your party. Go ahead
4:30
please operator, Yes, madam, could you please give me the charges for
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this call. I'm using my neighbor's phone, All right, madam? See
4:39
signal when your call is completed. Oh, yes, yes, I'll do
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that. Go ahead. See hello. Hello, are you missing persons?
4:46
Yes, ma'am. Sergeant Friday, this is miss HALELASKI I'm calling you from
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Salton Green, Utah. Yes, ma'am, this is in the card to
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my daughter, Wannit Alaski. I haven't heard from her and well over a
5:00
month, and I'm terribly worried. Where was she staying in Los Angeles,
5:03
Mislaski? At the Chelsea Hotel for Women. I have the address at nine
5:10
four one South Milrose Street. I can't understand it. Ever since Janita's been
5:15
away from home. She she's written twice a week regularly. When's the last
5:20
time you heard from her? The last letter I have is post block November
5:25
two. You know how it is, Sergeant. We have no relatives in
5:29
Los Angeles, and and she's trying to find work down there, living all
5:32
alone. Now, I just don't know how to do, all right,
5:35
Mislaski. I'll take her description over the phone and make out a preliminary report.
5:39
You'll have to send us a photograph of your daughter and a letter to
5:42
the effect that you want us to trace her. I'll get the letter on
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the snapshot off today. Now what your daughter look like? What's your full
5:46
name, Janita Marie Laski osk e wy no no no no no no e
5:53
all right? Her age, weight and height? She was twenty sixth last
5:56
July tenth, one hundred and twenty eight pounds, and about my well,
6:00
how tall are you Mislaski? Oh? Oh yeah, five seven inches.
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She has all been hair, it's quite long, and her eyes are green.
6:10
Okay, I got it. Any are standing scars, birthmarks, anything,
6:13
it might help us identifier. But what's that I say? Any outstanding
6:15
scars, birthmarks, anything it might help us identifier? No one. Neia's
6:20
a pretty girl, nice disposition. Oh that's about all, sergeants. Where
6:26
can we contact you, Mislaski one two two Brigham Young Street, Fountain Green,
6:30
Utah. When you find Banita, I should have her call me right
6:35
away. I'll pay for the call. We'll do that, Mislaski. What's
6:39
your number up there? This is the neighbor's phone. But if they'll call
6:42
me, it's Fountain Green fourteen R two. Yeah. You will try to
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find her as fast as you can. We'll go to work on it.
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Well, Janita always comes home for the Christmas holidays. Do you think she's
6:55
all right? I wouldn't worry about it, Venslaski. We'll call you as
6:57
soon as we get any kind of a lead on her. Thank you,
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so much, sergeant, And if there's any charge, I'll be glad to
7:03
pay it. No charge. If your daughter's in Los Angeles, I think
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we can find her. Oh, if there's anything wrong, you'll let me
7:11
know right away. Yes, ma'am, you're very kind. Goodbye bye.
7:17
What's you got? Jill? Some girls? Her mother? A letter?
7:20
Come on, Ben, just a routine call. We made the usual check
7:30
the morgue, all the hospitals, the county jail, and then we went
7:32
through the repeater file. We found it wanted Alaski and the files, but
7:36
the agent description didn't match. We put that lead in the discard. After
7:41
the usual paperwork, the next step was to check her last known residence,
7:45
the Chelsea Hotel for Women. Here it is Jill Chelsea Hotel and fifty five
7:51
rooms all outside. You're a home away from home. Now let's go in
8:01
Chelsea Hotel. Thank you, here's a belle. Yes, sir, may
8:09
I help you? We're looking for a miss one. Need to ask you.
8:13
I'll ring her room. Whom shall I say? Is calling? Is
8:16
she in? I believe so? I just saw her about an hour though.
8:18
Okay, would you ring her room? Please? Yes, sir?
8:20
And whom shall I say is calling. My name's Friday. All right,
8:22
mister Friday, just a moment. Do you wish to speak with her on
8:28
the phone? Or shall I have her come down? Ask her to come
8:30
down if she doesn't mind. She doesn't seem to answer. That's funny,
8:35
I'll ring again. No, sir, she doesn't seem to be in Would
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you like to leave a message? Didn't you say you saw her about an
8:45
hour ago? Yes? I did. She must have gone out again.
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I wonder if we could check her room. Oh no, gentlemen are not
8:50
allowed about the main lobby. I'm sorry, man. We're from the police
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department, Missing Persons. I'm Sergeant Friday. This is Sergeant Romero. Oh
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you men, missing persons? Did you say yes, ma'am well, I'm
9:01
sure Janita has just stepped out for a moment. If you care to wait
9:05
here in the lobby, we haven't got much time, man, We appreciate
9:07
it if you'd show us her room, certainly, I'll get to the pasty.
9:13
That's two fifteen. The elevator is right this way. Thank you.
9:20
What seems to be the trouble some friends of Juanita's missing. No, ma'am,
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well, Anita Juanita. Oh, I don't understand her mother's a little
9:30
worried about her. Down this way here we are no wonder she live near
9:45
the phone. She's in the shower. Yes, ma'am. Would you wrap
9:48
on the bathroom door and tell you we'd like to talk to her soon as
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she's through, we'll wait out here in the hall. Juanita, Juanita,
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there are two gentlemen. I'm here to see you, Juanita, I'm coming
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in. It's miss Waters, sergeant. Yeah, there's no one in the
10:13
shower. What's running, isn't it? Yes? And I see a road
10:16
and towel all laid out. You better take a look around. Turn off
10:20
the shower even Yeah, she must have left in a hurry. Hey,
10:24
here's a fresh change of clothing on the bed. Where's the closet, ma'am,
10:28
missed door, Yes, that's right close. It's full of cloor.
10:33
There's a couple of pieces of luggage in there. This isn't like one Eita.
10:37
Funny, isn't it You say you're stow about an hour ago? Yes,
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I did, coming in and going out. Oh, coming in,
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I thought you have room service here. Yes, we have a coffee shop
10:46
downstairs. Huh. Portray of food here on the table hasn't been touched.
10:52
Coffee's still warm. Shut that radio off. What you've been Yeah, but
11:00
you had gotten out of the building without you seeing her. No, we
11:01
don't have a rear entrance. Sure you didn't see her go out the front
11:05
door just before we got here. No, no, I did not.
11:07
How about her mail? She been picking it up lately, I think so
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we can check that down at the desk. Yeah, here's some letters postmark
11:15
Utah. Return that address, Missus h. Laski mother. Let me see
11:18
that. This is one of your telephone message forms. Let me see.
11:24
Yes, yes, that's right, says long distance call operator too fine in
11:26
Green, Utah. According to this slip, this call was received at one
11:30
twenty five today. I may I see that? Certainly, Yes, that
11:33
said miss writing missus Tullison took that call. She relieves me for lunch.
11:39
And do you know whether she returned this call? Well, if she did,
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there'll be a record down at to death. Uh huh. Now you're
11:43
positive that you saw one need Laski an hour ago? Yes, Oh,
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I'm sure, just about an hour ago. Five feet, seven hundred and
11:50
twenty eight pounds, Green eyes, red hair, red hair, Oh no,
11:54
why it's a blonde? Her mother told us that whan need Alaski had
11:58
read. Now we weren't too surprised. A lot of women changed the color
12:03
of their hair. It would make identification a little more difficult, but not
12:07
impossible. We checked down at the desk, wanted to Laski had picked up
12:11
all our mail, but she had not answered that long distance phone call to
12:13
Fountain Green. The next step was to question some of the people in the
12:18
Chelsea Hotel who knew Janida. We tried room two seventeen. Yeah, oh,
12:26
Gloria, these many police officers. They want to ask you some questions.
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Well, yes, is it all right for them to yes? Yes,
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of course, this is an exception. Won't you come in? Thank
12:37
you? What's your name, Miss Gloria Edgerton? You know wan need'l Aski?
12:43
Yes, I know her. She has the room right next door to
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me. Have you seen her today? No? I haven't. I've been
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out doing my Christmas shopping. Why we were trying to locate him, Miss
12:52
Edgington? Wasn't she in her room? I thought I heard her shower going,
12:56
Yeah she did, but she wasn't in there. When was the last
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time you saw last night at dinner? We always eat dinner together. Did
13:01
she say anything it might lead you to believe that she was going in where
13:05
day? No, she said she might do some Christmas shopping to day,
13:09
so I suggested she go with me. She agreed. She said she let
13:11
me know this morning. Did she No, she did. I just assumed
13:15
that maybe she was sleeping in, so I went on alone. Are you
13:18
sure she hasn't just stepped out? We don't know. You're just going down
13:22
to the corner. It's a little unusual to leave the shower, running a
13:26
radio on and let your lunch get cold? Did she do that? How
13:30
long has Waneda had blonde hair? Well? Ever since I've known about six
13:33
months. We moved in here together. We work at the same place.
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Where's that miss Egerton? At the Cadget building. We're elevator operators. I
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see who's your immediate superior down there, Darling camp She's cheap starter. M
13:45
M, you got that man. She have many dates? No, not
13:48
too many. Janita likes to go steady. Who was her steady boyfriend?
13:52
Paul Matthews. He works in the kit building too. He's in the dental
13:56
app for doctor Welde, sixth floor. Is there anything else that you'd like
14:01
to add that might help us find her? Well? Are you sure she's
14:05
lost? The Flaggett Building is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It's
14:11
a business and professional building. The cornerstone says erected in nineteen twenty four and
14:16
it stands twelve stories high. The main entrance is on Hill Street. Harpe,
14:24
all right, Harry going up? Harpley? Are you Darlene Camp?
14:30
Yes, just mode going up? All right, Dora? Can I help
14:33
you? I'm charging Friday Police Department. This is Sergey ro Meryl. Yes,
14:37
we need to last y work for you. Yes, she does.
14:39
She's one of my operators. When's the last time you saw anything wrong?
14:43
No, No, we're just trying to locate her. You just missed her
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about forty five minutes, all right, Sylvia. She was in to pick
14:50
up a check. You know where she cash? She's at you most of
14:52
the girls cashing out to the bank on the corner. There's only one around
14:56
here of run eight, you say, about forty five minutes ago. Yeah,
14:58
that's right, thanks very much, Miss Camp. Come on, Ben
15:03
going up, all right. Marian Banks not far from here. It is
15:09
kind of funny. And then what's her room? The shower, the radio?
15:13
At a lunch you were pulled out in a hurry. What do you
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think? I don't know what to figure. It's a new one on me.
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She's alive. We know that she was forty five minutes ago. Anyway,
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Christmas is here, Santa Claus's chimney. Yeah, no, I beg
15:31
your pardon soon. That's all right, Merry Christmas. Same to you here.
15:37
We are you us? We better check with the manager. Huh,
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yeah, you the manager. I'm the assistant manager. Can I help you
15:46
police department? Yes, I'd like to find out if a check has been
15:48
cast here within the hour. Yes, son. What's the party's name?
15:52
Lasky Wanita? Heyroll check like it building? Yes, I'm no miss Laski.
15:56
If you'll step behind the COUNDO get the check? Thank you, If
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you'll just wait right here, okay, thanks. I wonder why she stopped
16:07
writing to her mother. It's a good question. When we find her,
16:08
we'll ask her wonder if anything was wrong where she worked. No, it
16:12
didn't seem to be. We'll check back then when we finish here. Yeah,
16:22
that boyfriend Paul Matthews too. Yeah, Oh, here's our man.
16:26
Yes. Uh, here's the council check. I okay, did you sure
16:30
it's the same girl plunge girl elevator operator in the Claggett building. Was she
16:33
alone? I think so. Did she appear in normal No? No,
16:38
she didn't seem to be as friendly as she usually is. Uh. Does
16:41
she have an account here? She did have a small savings account here,
16:45
but she closed it out about a month ago. I see, And here's
16:48
our card. If you should have him to see her again and give us
16:51
a call, I'll do that, Thank you very much, and tyrely Welcome.
16:53
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. We went back to the Claggett building.
17:02
Ben called the Chelsea Hotel from the phone booth in the lobby of the building.
17:06
Miss Waters, the manager was keeping a sharp lookout, but one need
17:08
Alaski had not been heard from. Paul Matthews worked in a dental lab for
17:14
a doctor Wellie. His office was number six thirty seven. Yes, tell
17:22
them Malthy, we'd like to see Paul Matthew. I'm Paul Matthews. We're
17:26
from Missing Person Police Department. Sergeant Friday, I'm Sergeant Meryll yes, sir.
17:30
Do you know what wan need Alasky? Yes, sir. When's the
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last time you saw her? Saturday night? We went to a show.
17:37
Is it something wrong? We're trying to locate her. Do you see a
17:38
lot of each other? Yes, we do. I don't understand. Lasky
17:41
disappeared from a hotel a couple hours ago. Thought maybe you might know where
17:45
she is. No, I don't to day's a day off. Maybe she's
17:48
out shopping. Has one aeda done anything wrong? No, it's just that
17:52
her mother hasn't heard from her for quite some time. I can explain that
17:56
one need is an elevator operator here in the building. That's how I met
17:59
her. They don't make much money, you know. Yeah, she was
18:02
having a hard time making ends meet. She sends money home to a mother
18:06
every month or so, and besides that, she's got to pay rent and
18:08
buy clothes and eat. Is pretty rough. She seemed just fawning Overallly.
18:12
No, I wouldn't say that, but she was kind of unhappy about not
18:15
getting a raise. Do you have any outside Yoh? No, so she
18:19
didn't. What kind of a girl is she? What do you mean?
18:22
Cheerful, good natured? Oh? Sure, fine, girl. We get
18:26
along, swell, I still don't get it. Well, maybe there's nothing
18:29
to it, just routine. Chay. I hope she's all right. When
18:32
did all this come up a couple of hours ago? We might have to
18:34
check back with you if I can help. Hey, thanks for the information.
18:40
Here's our card if you hear from him or give us a ring.
18:42
You don't suppose anything's happened to her, That's what we're trying to find out.
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Goodbye, mister Matthew. When we got back to Central Division, we
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had a full description of one ed Alaski teletype to all outlying stations in the
18:57
metropolitan area of Los Ange. We also put out an APV. We double
19:03
checked the repeater file and the Wanderer file. We made out a full report
19:07
in our findings to date. During the next eight days, we located a
19:11
missing husband for a wife in Memphis, Tennessee. We picked up a runaway
19:14
boy missing from his home in Reno, Nevada, and a seventy nine year
19:18
old veteran of the Spanish American War who left his home in Bakersfield, California
19:22
because he didn't like his daughter in law's cooking. But Juanita Laski was still
19:26
a mystery for eight days. We checked and rechecked all our known friends and
19:30
habits. We went back over the course a dozen times, but no trace.
19:36
It was almost as if she had ceased to exist. That day in
19:37
the Chelsea Hotel, the letter and photographed from her mother had arrived and we
19:42
circulated it to cities all over the country. Our mother wrote that during the
19:45
war Juanita was a whack corporal. We put a trasure through to the war
19:49
department. That way we'd have another photo and a full set of fingerprints.
19:53
Well, where do you want to start today, I'll get it. Missing
20:00
Person's Friday, Joel. This is Spencer over in the Morgue. Yeah,
20:03
Archie, you still looking for that girl? What's your name? Ramona Laski?
20:07
Janita? Yeah, just had one brought in. Looks like your girl
20:11
to me. The City Morgue is located in the basement of the Hall of
20:17
Justice on West Temple Street, across the street from the City Hall. A
20:22
lot of missing person's cases and right here Archie Spencer met us at the door.
20:26
Hi, Joe, how's the wife? Ben? Oh? Fine,
20:30
Archie over here, Joe cooler twenty three, give me a hand. Uh,
20:41
that's her, isn't it. When's going to be posted as soon as
20:42
your fingerprint man gets here. Yeah, that's from Mona Laski, isn't it?
20:48
One da? I mean no, No, that's not her, Archie
20:52
You sure? Yeah? I was almost positive. Sure looks like this picture
20:57
in your bulletin. Yeah. Yeah, she looks a lot like the picture,
21:00
but it's not one. Need to ask you. Five foot seven,
21:03
green eyes, blonde hair, about one to thirty. How close can you
21:08
get? Look at the face? You sure that's not her? Yeah,
21:12
I'm sure. Look at her hair, the roots, Yeah, they're blonde
21:18
all the way down. They ought to be dark. Our girls of bleats
21:21
blonde. Yeah, I see what you mean. Look at her right hand
21:23
index and middle fingers, heavy nicotine stains. Our girl didn't smoke. Archy,
21:27
Yeah, I see what you mean. Yes, I was wrong.
21:34
That's not Ramona Waneda. Come on Ben. That afternoon, we got another
21:44
phone call from Fountain Green, Utah. One need tol Aski's mother. We
21:48
told her we hadn't found any trace of her daughter. It was a hard
21:51
job. We had answered calls like this before, but maybe it was just
21:55
the season of the year. Somehow we felt that we had to find one.
21:59
Need to ask you by Chris Us. We covered every angle we could
22:02
think of. We kept close watch on all incoming reports. We stayed in
22:06
close contact with her friends and miss Waters at the Chelsea Hotel. Regardless of
22:11
the name on the incoming reports. We checked every set of fingerprints against those
22:14
we had received on Jannita Laski from the War Department. Still no trace.
22:18
December twenty third, we checked in for work at eight thirty am. Chief
22:22
at Backstrand wanted to see us done. A little accepting on the Lasky girl
22:29
might help you. What is this Kevin man by the name of Willard Harris
22:33
owns a bar out in Pomona. Phoned in this morning. Now found a
22:36
woman's handbag left in the bar, driver's license made out to Juanita Laski.
22:41
Why do you think the coole that he's got a television set in this bar?
22:45
Saw the Lasky Girl's picture on Sergeant Rosenquist broadcast last night. How about
22:48
the girl says he can't place him. You better hop out and pick up
22:52
that purse. Willard Harris owned the Mission Trail bar was in the bar terminal
23:00
in the heart of Pomona. The Christmas traffic was heavy all the way out
23:03
Garvey Boulevard. It was ten forty five when we pulled up in front of
23:07
the bar. Willard Harris was inside taking a liquor inventory when we walked in.
23:11
How'd you do you, mister Harres? Yes, that's right, you
23:15
fellas with General Liquor. Los Angeles Police Department. My name's Friday, is
23:18
the Siza Romero. Oh say we did to know you? Boys? Yeah,
23:22
I call Los Angeles this morning. We came right out. See how
23:27
about a little eye opener. Got some fine Irish whiskey? No, thanks,
23:30
mister Harris. How about your partner? There? No thinking? All
23:36
right? Boys? I guess you want that purse? Huh? Yes?
23:38
Please? Yeah, Hey, are just as I found it. I opened
23:44
it up to get the owner's name, but that's all. Didn't touch a
23:45
thing. Oh kay, thanks mister Harris. You said that you didn't remember
23:49
seeing a woman who left this No I don't HERB works with me here.
23:53
He might have seen her, but he didn't. I asked him to night
23:56
we found it. How long go did you find this? Per Oh?
24:00
Bit about of two weeks? A little closer to a week. Yeah,
24:03
about eight days ago. I usually hold something like this for thirty days.
24:07
That's the lawyer, you know. Yeah, but I saw that fell on
24:11
the television, on that missing person's program. That's how come I called you
24:15
boys. Well, thanks very much, mister Harris, and all boys cold
24:21
out this morning. Sure you don't want a little nit No, thanks,
24:23
mister Harris, goodbye. We checked the personnel at the bus terminal, but
24:30
none of them seemed to recognize one Needelaski's photograph. We checked the contents of
24:34
her purse, but we found nothing unusual. Four one dollar bills and some
24:37
change in the normal things women carried. Since it was money in the bag,
24:41
we felt sure that waned Alaski had lost the purse herself. That meant
24:45
that she was alive eight days ago, two days after she walked out of
24:48
a Chelsea hotel. It's the only print carried on a California driver's license.
24:52
It matched the same print on the War Department record. It didn't prove anything
24:56
except that all the evidence tied in and belonged to the girl were we're looking
25:00
for one need Alaski. The next morning, December twenty fourth, we checked
25:03
in for work at eight thirty morning. Ben. All right, Joe,
25:08
here's a digital. Of course, you don't check them. There's a mess
25:11
of them. Let's get at him. You look through any of them?
25:11
You no, not, Uly, I figured a way for you. All
25:14
right, I'll take care. Huh. Got any shopping don no you it's
25:18
lunch. You'm found some nice cards if you are to sendment one, Yeah,
25:23
I'll hand it to you in the morning. Let's trade shaven motions like
25:26
we did last year. If I get any, he gets so. My
25:30
kid's got a bottle all picked out for his called staff pool for that cool.
25:34
Yeah, he's only a kid. If you feeling want it bitter and
25:37
he gets older, oh, he'll do it. Tell him type body on
25:41
the LASTI case. Thanks homes Ben, listen to this. Yeah. Bureau
25:48
of Criminal Investigation, Sacramento, here's a kickback on our APB. Yeah what
25:52
you said reading your APB number forty three. On twelve twelve, forty eight,
25:56
our records disclosed that one need a LASKI applied for a position of civilian
26:00
clerk at Marchfield, California, US Army Airbase using alias Jean Davis. How
26:03
about the thing prime classification? Let me find yeah, fpc key nineteen primary
26:08
thirty two over thirty two in her over outer final fifteen over seventeen French check
26:14
out that's a girl, Jill. The Sacramento report stated that Jean Davis had
26:21
applied for government work at Marchfield, California. Well, a couple of things
26:25
dropped into place. Her purse had been found in Pomona, that's right on
26:29
the main highway from Los Angeles to Riverside. And the application for a job
26:33
at the Army air base a few miles beyond Riverside. We put through a
26:37
long distance phone call and they told us that Jean Davis was employed there as
26:41
a civilian clerk, but failed to show up for work that morning. It
26:44
seems like we run for a shout of luck aver treep ning. We get
26:48
so close and then she's gone again. What'd you think she's on the go
26:51
for? If I could figure that I could find her, I'll get it
26:57
Missing Persons Friday. Yeah, we'll be right over. We didn't find her,
27:06
but she's been found. Jan need ALASKI just walked into the Chelsea Hotel.
27:12
We went over to the Chelsea Hotel. Technically our job was completed.
27:15
Now want need to Laski had been found. We went over to make out
27:19
a routine report. The streets were pretty jammed with last minute Christmas shoppers,
27:23
so we walked the last block to the hotel. What's your guess, j
27:34
Let's ask her. Come on, let's go in. That looks like her
27:41
over by the desk there, Yeah, pretty well memorized that face. This
27:45
is wan Little Laski. Sergeants Friday, Sergeant Romera, Juanita, how do
27:51
you do, Miss Laski? How do you do? I'm sorry, I'm
27:55
terribly sorry. This water's told me, do you mind telling you? Where
27:57
have you been? Certain? I don't know. These last twelve days have
28:03
been a complete loss to me. His water's told me what happened. I
28:06
went over to see my doctor. He said I had temporary amnesia treatment.
28:11
I see, what's your doctor's name, Miss Lasky? Doctor redno gon cringehaw.
28:15
Well, we're glad you're okay. Kind of had us going there for
28:18
a while. I'm sorry. Did I use your phone? Miss Waters?
28:21
Oh? Certainly help yourself. Long distance? I'd like to place a person.
28:30
The person called a missus Hannah Laski, Fountain Green, Utah. That
28:36
number is fourteen R two, Fountain Green, Utah fourteen R two. That's
28:41
right. Your name and number please, Joe Friday and this is Hampstead eight
28:45
five nine four. Thank you Raid operator Fountain Green, Utah. Route and
28:55
night person rate from Los Angeles Pleasant night Person one for all through Salt Lake,
29:07
Lake Mount, Pleasant Mount, Pleasant Fountain and Green Fountain Green fourteen R
29:18
two. Missus Hannah Laski, Los Angeles, California calling, Thank you bringing
29:26
up ring Hello missus Hannah Alaski please, Los Angeles, California calling. Oh
29:36
yeah, yeah, hang on, I'll get it. Waiting on your party.
29:40
Thanks getting through all right? Yo, Lucky Christmas Eve? Yeah,
29:45
Hello, Hello, Hello, hello miss Laski. Yes, just a minute,
29:48
Miss Laski. Janita, Yes, you're wanted on the phone. Oh
29:55
who isn't just say hello? She'll take it from there. Let's go then,
30:00
Hello, Yes, hello, mother, come on, Yes, I'm
30:07
all right. Mother. Is so good to hear you say. It's more
30:18
Joe, Merry Christmas. Yeah, it is. The story you have just
30:33
heard is true, only the names were changed to protect the innocent. Upon
30:38
further examination by competent medical authorities, jan It Alaski was found to be suffering
30:44
from periodic spells of amnesia. She was given treatment and a complete cure was
30:48
affected. You have just heard the eighth in a new series of authentic cases
30:57
from official files. Technical advice for Dragnet is furnished by the Los Angeles Police
31:03
Department. Tonight's program is dedicated to Corporal Grady A. Beecham of the ninth
31:11
Precinct Metropolitan Police Force, Washington DC, who, on the ninth of December
31:18
two, nineteen forty eight, gave his life so that yours might be more
31:23
secure. Dragnet came to you from Los Angeles. This is NBC, the
31:37
National Broadcasting Company. Welcome back this episode. I didn't mention it at the
31:52
start. This episode aired July twenty eighth of nineteen forty nine, so we
31:59
have a case of dragnets Christmas in July. Well, Dragnet did have a
32:05
couple of true Christmas episodes in the twenty two Rifle for Christmas and The Big
32:13
Little Jesus. It also did have some programs set at the holiday season that
32:20
were either depressing or has This one had a pretty happy ending in one way.
32:25
I think it also the Christmas in July thing could also have been for
32:30
the sake of people of the network who might have thought of Dragnet at this
32:37
point, you know, after those first seven weeks as kind of just one
32:40
type of program dealing with true stories of robberies and murders and the seamy side
32:46
of life. And certainly you could say that's the bulk of what Dragnet did.
32:52
But here already Dragnet is showing the listening public and also, perhaps more
33:00
importantly, the network some versatility, the ability to portray all sides of the
33:06
police officer's job, and it was Dragnet's ability to be accurate with its portrayals.
33:15
Too many programs would have police officers regularly discharging their weapons, regularly encountering
33:22
grisly martyrs, predictable that it would happen every episode. But Dragnet showed realism
33:29
just through showing the dark and seamy side of life, but also those cases
33:37
that worked out well, those cases where it was resolving, and occasionally later
33:42
on even a bit of humor thrown in. And I will say that that
33:45
is something just kind of as an aside that I often have with many writers
33:50
programs. They'll claim that their programs are realistic because they're dark, but dark
33:57
and realistic aren't the same thing unless you're just incredibly cynical. If you have
34:02
someone who's life and experience is all sunshin and roses, that is not realistic.
34:12
But you have to honor those parts of life where things actually turn out
34:21
okay. And it all adds to a realistic thing, which means when the
34:25
body is found, when the shots are fired, when someone dies, it
34:30
actually means something to the audience. All right, well we have some listener
34:36
comments and feedback, and we start with Joan, who ask what are where
34:42
are you getting the AKA titles? I downloaded your original drag Net podcast and
34:46
most of the shows were called the Big Something. But with this new way
34:51
you're presenting them as production such and such and AKA title you are throwing me
34:57
off. Are you following the same show into the same order as you did
35:00
in the old time Dragnet show with Adam Graham podcasts? This is the one
35:07
I redownloaded, with most of the shows titled the Big Something, like The
35:10
Big Canary that was air December sixth, nineteen fifty one, and the last
35:14
show being The Big Close. And are their earlier shows not showing in iTunes?
35:20
The answer is yes. The biggest feed of old time Dragnet programs I
35:24
have in the iTunes store goes back to sept to a program that I originally
35:30
podcast in September of two thousand and seven, and that was entitled The Big
35:37
Grifter, which was a few months after after the Dragnet went to using the
35:47
Big in titles. It certainly did not begin that way. The first thirteen
35:53
episodes were really just titled Production one and and so on, with titles really
36:02
being things that were come up by the fans, and most of them fit
36:06
pretty well, and this one, The Big Missing, is particularly apt.
36:10
This one has perhaps more of a basis in reality, since that's also the
36:17
name of the television show that was adapted from this. Many of these early
36:22
scripts were just never even adapted to television. But for the first thirteen episodes
36:29
Dragged Now it was just production one, Production two all the way up to
36:31
Production thirteen, and then there were script titles throughout the rest of nineteen forty
36:37
nine, but not always the Big But this was a naming idea that was
36:43
popular with Web. He used the Big in four titles in nineteen forty nine,
36:50
and starting in January of nineteen fifty, the Big Escape. All but
36:57
two of the programs, the scripts were always titled The Big a tradition which
37:04
continued until the second season of Dragnet's revival in the nineteen sixties. So that's
37:10
the reason for the difference is with the titles. But in a few months
37:15
we'll be to the Big This and the Big That every single week. And
37:20
we have some other listener comments from Facebook. Kate says, Dumpty dam listening
37:27
while I get ready for work, and Rebecca said I heard an Australian version
37:31
of Dragnet on another podcast. It proved to me that only Jack Web can
37:37
play Friday. Well thanks, Rebecca. I would be curious to hear an
37:42
Australian version of Dragnet. I don't know if I would play it, except
37:46
perhaps as a special, but it'd be interesting. It'd be interesting to hear.
37:52
I do know that Dragnet comic strips did make it to Australia. I
37:57
actually have a book containing three drag Net comic stories that I've been meaning to
38:04
get scan so that people could read them, and I haven't quite gotten around
38:07
to it, but that's one of those things I hope to do in the
38:12
next few weeks. And we also received a note from Dawn, who says
38:15
I took an adult ed cast at You See Santa Clara eons ago that was
38:22
entitled Radio Drama Theater for the Ear, and it was taught by David Ausman
38:27
of the Fire Sign Theater. We had quite a few old scripts that we
38:30
read in class, learned about sound effects, and finally did an on air
38:35
Halloween show that we wrote on one of the FAM stations in Santa Barbara.
38:40
I used to listen to radio drama when I was growing up in the Los
38:44
Angeles area. Can x AM had shows on Sunday night, and I did
38:49
my best to not miss any of them. Thanks for what you're doing for
38:52
us well, thanks so much, Don, and I have to tip my
38:57
hat to can x I've lost count of the number of times that listeners have
39:01
emailed me and said that they first got hooked on radio drama by can x
39:07
sas broadcast late at night. By far, that's the number one source that
39:14
I hear about, and it's amazing, particularly you know you're dealing with something
39:20
late at night, that this would become something that people enjoyed, that it
39:24
was a habit and something they'd seek out years later. It shows the power
39:30
of radio drama when it's only given exposure to people so that they can truly
39:35
enjoy it. All right, well, that will do it for now.
39:38
Join us tomorrow for video Theater will be bringing you He Walked by Night,
39:44
the movie where Jack Webb met Marty Win and which in many ways served as
39:49
an inspiration for Dragnet. Be sure and watch tomorrow, and we'll be back
39:53
with another radio episode on Monday with the Saint, and we'll be introducing Vincent
40:00
Priced in the role. In the meantime. Send your comments to Box thirteen
40:04
at Great Detectives dot net, follow us on Twitter at Radio Detectives, and
40:07
become one of our friends on Facebook, Facebook dot com. Slash Radio Detectives
40:13
from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Grahamson and off