Podcast Summary: Dragnet – "The Big Set" (Aired 03/15/1955)

Podcast: Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode Title: Dragnet: The Big Set
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Original Air Date: March 15, 1955

Overview

In this episode of Dragnet, Detective Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Frank Smith, pursue two violent holdup men terrorizing Los Angeles. Listeners follow the detectives through their methodical investigation, marked by dead ends, pressure from superiors, and finally, a breakthrough that leads to the criminals’ ultimate apprehension. True to its "documented drama" style, the episode immerses the audience in the procedures, frustrations, and breakthroughs of real detective work in the 1950s.

Main Theme:
The relentless pursuit of two armed robbers as detectives Joe Friday and Frank Smith battle mounting pressure, public panic, and a frustrating lack of concrete leads. The case intensifies when the crimes escalate to murder, demanding swift police action.

Key Discussion Points & Story Progression

1. Crime Unfolds at the After Hours Café [01:22–05:22]

• Friday and Smith interview Harry Prentice, bartender at the After Hours Café, about the robbery and assault of patron Jeffrey Hanks.
• The robbers: one "big one" (ordered scotch on the rocks), the other (ordered grapefruit juice). They appeared ordinary, sat quietly, and later became aggressive when asked to leave.
• Hanks, the victim, is described as a newcomer to the bar: "Nice looking guy...quiet. Good drinker. Doesn't bother the singles at the bar. Nice. You know what I mean?" — Harry Prentice, [02:54]

2. Early Investigation & Frustrations [05:22–08:54]

• The detectives report to Captain Donahoe and sift through files, mug books, and prior reports, but "we were no closer to the hold up men than we had been."
• The robbers' MO: start a conversation outside a bar, cajole victims into a car, then beat and rob them.
• Captain Donahoe emphasizes the urgency: "I don’t care how you do it ... I want those two men, and I want them fast." — Captain Donahoe, [08:07]

3. A New Lead: The Betrayed Girlfriend [09:33–14:39]

• Bartender Jack McCready tips the detectives off to a woman crying in a Wilshire bar, claiming her boyfriend, Derwin Holbrook, is involved in the robberies.
• The woman is emotional, bitter, and forthcoming: "For twelve years he’s been telling me when he gets a couple of bucks, we take a step. Then he runs out with another girl. Lousy Derwin." — Girlfriend, [13:39]
• Provides Holbrook's address and description: "Dark hair, kind of a little wave...about 6 feet, couple hundred pounds, thin."

4. Holbrook in Custody—But Still No Proof [15:25–16:49]

• Holbrook denies all involvement, claiming profits from “wise investments.” No incriminating evidence is recovered in his room or from witnesses—he walks free.
• "You’ve got to prove I didn’t make it from investing." — Derwin Holbrook, [16:34]

5. Murder Escalates the Stakes [17:10–18:58]

• The next robbery victim dies, turning the case into a homicide. Surveillance places Holbrook elsewhere during the murder, ruling him out.
• Investigation is now joint Robbery-Homicide. Pressure mounts from public and city officials.

6. Rolling Stakeout & The Break [19:39–20:47]

• Detectives organize a sweeping, rolling stakeout after more attacks. Bartenders start closing early as public fear escalates.
• During a late-night diner stop, Friday and Smith spot two men who match the descriptions of the suspects—one appears to be prepping another victim.

7. Arrest and Interrogation [20:50–24:06]

• After a brief confrontation and arrest, one suspect, Emmett Noonan, is identified by victims but denies all charges.
• Noonan: “There’s nothing different about me. Lots of guys look the same.” — Emmett Noonan, [22:21]
• Friday retorts: "By the time we get through with you, we'll have enough on you for a five-minute deliberation." — Joe Friday, [23:42]

8. Resolution: Justice is Served [24:06–end]

• Both Noonan and his accomplice, Jerome Nathan Pollock, are tried, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death.
• The episode concludes with a sober account of the case’s resolution and the consequences for the criminals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pressure from Above:
  "I don’t care how you do it ... I want those two men, and I want them fast."
  – Captain Donahoe [08:07]

• Holbrook's Gambit:
  "You’ve got to prove I didn’t make it from investing."
  – Derwin Holbrook [16:34]

• Desperate Betrayal:
  "For twelve years he’s been telling me when he gets a couple of bucks, we take a step. Then he runs out with another girl. Lousy Derwin."
  – Holbrook’s Girlfriend [13:39]

• Friday’s Cold Logic:
  "By the time we get through with you, we'll have enough on you for a five-minute deliberation."
  – Joe Friday [23:42]

• Noonan’s Arrogance:
  "You’re out on a limb, cop. You got nothing. I’ll be free in a couple hours."
  – Emmett Noonan [21:31]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:22] Crime Recap at the After Hours Café
• [05:22] Debrief with Captain Donahoe—Mounting Pressure
• [09:33] Lead from Derwin Holbrook’s Girlfriend
• [15:25] Holbrook Arrest & Interrogation
• [17:10] Murder Elevates Case—Police Under Scrutiny
• [19:39] Rolling Stakeout Begins
• [20:50] Diner Encounter—Suspects Caught in the Act
• [22:08] Noonan’s Interrogation & Denial
• [24:06] Final Resolution and Sentencing

Tone & Style

Dragnet delivers in its signature laconic, duty-bound tone, with detectives speaking in clipped, matter-of-fact dialogue, and the narrative staying focused on the procedure and details of police work. The tension is ever-present but always filtered through Friday’s methodical, no-nonsense perspective.

This episode is a classic example of the Dragnet series’ focus on authenticity, persistence, and the incremental processes of real-life crime-solving, culminating in a high-stakes, high-pressure resolution. For listeners interested in the routine and rigor of police work—in contrast to sensationalism—this episode is a prime specimen from the Golden Age of Radio.