Podcast Summary:

Choice Classic Radio Detectives | Old Time Radio
Episode: Dragnet: The Big Squealer 05/17/1955
Date: February 24, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Choice Classic Radio Detectives features a classic installment of Dragnet, titled "The Big Squealer" (originally aired on May 17, 1955). Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner, Frank Smith, investigate the stabbing of a teenage boy found in a downtown Los Angeles alley. The case leads them through a tangled web of teenage angst, parental neglect, and peer pressure, ultimately unraveling the complicated lives of troubled youth in 1950s Los Angeles.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. The Case Introduction [00:22–02:46]

• Joe Friday and Frank Smith are on juvenile detail.
• They respond to a report of a teenage boy found critically injured in a downtown alley.
• The case weighs heavily on the detectives, sparking a brief personal exchange about fatherhood and family worries:
  • Frank: "15 years old, trying to hold up a liquor store." (01:11)
  • Joe: "Most of them turn out OK. I can't help worrying though." (01:17)

2. The Crime Scene & Initial Canvassing [02:46–08:36]

• The detectives survey the alley where the victim was found. Details include:
  • Knife wound in the back, evidence of being beaten, and lack of witnesses or suspects.
• Sam Crest, a tobacco shop owner, gives a memorable commentary on law and society:
  • Sam Crest: "You know, the way they keep making up new laws nowadays. A person can be a criminal without even half trying. Too many rules. That's what's wrong with this country." (04:34)
  • Sam recalls a nervous, red-haired teenager using his phone around 9 PM.

3. Hospital Interview With Victim [10:19–13:59]

• Doctors allow a brief interview with the victim, who identifies as "Tom" (later revealed as Tom Marcotte).
• Tom is evasive, first pretending amnesia, then spinning a tall tale:
  • Tom: "There was this black sedan, see?... 12 guys jumped out..." (12:04–12:19)
  • Joe Friday: "All right, that's enough." (12:19)
• Eventually, Tom provides a name and address, but claims ignorance about his assailant.

4. At the Marcotte Home: Family Dynamics [14:16–17:27]

• Interview with Tom's father reveals a broken, distant relationship:
  • Mr. Marcotte: "We aren't very close."
  • He admits little knowledge or interest in his son’s life, reflecting parental apathy.
  • Mr. Marcotte: "Father and son living in the same apartment. Like we speak a different language." (17:04)

5. School Investigation [17:27–19:40]

• The detectives learn from school staff that Tom is a poor, troubled student but capable of better.
• Ms. Rollins (homeroom teacher) explains Tom’s disruptive tendencies and hints at his lack of parental support:
  • Ms. Rollins: "He's noisy, lazy, impossible to discipline. Similar to a number of the others." (18:08)
  • Memorable moment: She wishes she’d been taught judo for the realities of teaching, not just literature. (19:34–19:40)
• Ms. Rollins mentions Arthur Jollett as Tom’s only close friend.

6. Arthur Jollett and the Code of Silence [19:40–23:32]

• Arthur is evasive and fearful, trying to cover for himself and Tom.
  • Arthur: "I’m no squealer." (22:33)
  • The detectives press for the truth, alluding to the danger Arthur might face for "squealing."
• After pressure, Arthur identifies the real assailant: Jerry Longren, a fellow student.
  • "It was Jerry. Tom tried to date his girl. Jerry heard about it, followed us last night." (22:55–23:04)
  • Arthur expresses real fear: "Jerry finds out I squealed on him, he'll do even worse to me. He ain't gonna find out, is he?" (23:09–23:14)

7. Aftermath and Moral Reflection [23:32–24:11]

• Narrator: The names have been changed, but the story is true.
• Both victim (Tom Marcotte) and attacker (Jerome "Jerry" Longren) face court: Tom goes to foster care; Jerry is sent to juvenile correction.
• The episode closes with a somber note about the real-life consequences of violence, troubled youth, and the complexities faced by families and schools.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sam Crest on Law & Life:
  "Too many rules. That's what's wrong with this country. Too darn many rules. Ought to be just one. How's that do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (04:34–04:52)

• Ms. Rollins on Teaching:
  "As I continue in the profession, I discover that I omitted one essential course... Judo." (19:34–19:40)

• Arthur Jollett, resisting pressure:
  "I'm no squealer." (22:33)

• Frank Smith, parental anxiety:
  "You see a kid like that, you start wondering... how are your own kids going to turn out?" (01:07–01:17)

• Mr. Marcotte on his son:
  "Father and son living in the same apartment. Like we speak a different language." (17:04)

• Arthur Jollett, expressing fear of retaliation:
  "Jerry finds out I squealed on him, he'll do even worse to me. He ain't gonna find out, is he?" (23:09–23:14)

Key Timestamps

• Case intro, personal exchange: [01:07–01:28]
• Crime scene interview, Sam Crest: [04:19–08:36]
• Hospital interview with Tom: [10:19–13:59]
• Marcotte home, father’s apathy: [14:28–17:27]
• Ms. Rollins’ teaching revelations: [18:08–19:40]
• Arthur under pressure: [21:02–23:32]
• Revelation and confession: [22:55–23:32]
• Court outcome & closing narration: [23:32–24:11]

Tone & Style

• The episode maintains Dragnet’s hallmark terse, stoic delivery, balanced with occasional dry humor (notably in banter between Joe and Frank and in Ms. Rollins’ remarks).
• The storytelling is gritty and direct, highlighting both procedural police work and deeper social issues of adolescent alienation and strained familial ties.

Conclusion

Dragnet: The Big Squealer offers a window into 1950s juvenile crime, the reluctance to "squeal," and the struggle for adults to connect with troubled youth. The case is resolved through steady detective work and the breaking of the adolescents’ code of silence, painting a vivid picture of a society—and a justice system—grappling with youthful violence, fractured homes, and the silence that endangers them all.