Podcast Summary: The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Episode: Dragnet: The Big Imposter (EP4783)

Host: Adam Graham
Release Date: August 21, 2025

Overview

This episode features Adam Graham’s revisit of the classic radio series Dragnet, focusing on the episode "The Big Imposter" (original airdate: June 7, 1951). This particular Dragnet drama dives into the true-crime tale of a missing child case that twists into a baffling matter of mistaken identity and child impersonation, based on documented police files. Adam also shares his perspective on the episode, invites listener engagement, and responds to a comment about fanfiction on Joe Friday’s WWII backstory.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Setting Up the Investigation (03:02–09:14)

• Premise: A 10-year-old boy, Jimmy Sherman, disappears from his home in a remote area of Los Angeles and is missing for two days without a trace. The case is handled by Sgt. Friday, his partner Ben Romero, and the Juvenile Bureau.
• Notable Procedures: Searches are deployed, neighborhood canvases are conducted, and possible areas of interest (like local reservoirs) are scoured.
• Touching Moment:
  • Oscar Sherman (Grandfather, 06:43):
    “He wasn't gone for two nights and two days...Maybe you'll just say I'm old and I've got funny ideas. But I got a feeling, Sergeant, something's happened to Jimmy."

2. Misdirection and Community Suspicions (09:39–13:58)

• Lead from a Neighbor: Frank Grady accuses Harold Gilby, a disliked local ex-con, of possibly kidnapping Jimmy, but the tip proves baseless.
• Commentary on Human Nature: The detectives reflect on how crisis can breed suspicion and reveal underlying neighborhood tensions.
  • Sgt. Friday (12:51):
    "Spiteful, small-minded neighbors trying to use a tragic situation to work out their jealousies and prejudice…”

3. The Case Grows Colder (13:51–15:49)

• Extended Search: Weeks, then months pass—summer rolls into winter with no leads.
• Human Cost: Jimmy’s grandfather collapses under the strain.

4. Break in the Case: A Boy Found (15:49–17:54)

• Big News: A telegram arrives from Dayton, Ohio, reporting that Jimmy Sherman has been found wandering along a highway, dazed but alive.
  • Sgt. Friday (15:54):
    "Jimmy Sherman. They found him."
• Details from Dayton Police: The boy claims he was kidnapped and moved from state to state.

5. Doubt and the Imposter Theory (17:54–19:32)

• Emotional Reunion: The boy is reunited with his grandfather, but Mr. Sherman quickly feels that something is not right.
  • Oscar Sherman (17:39):
    “That boy out there, Sergeant, I’m not sure he’s really my grandson.”
• Initial Investigations: The police and community initially dismiss the grandfather’s doubts, thinking the trauma has affected him.

6. Clues & Confrontation (19:32–24:46)

• Crucial Detail: The grandfather notices the boy has an appendix scar, something his real grandson never had.
  • Oscar Sherman (19:48):
    “This boy’s got a scar on his side. He’s had his appendix out. My grandson never had an operation in his life.”
• Police Interviews: Neighbors and the boy himself are questioned, but inconsistencies begin to pile up.
• Direct Approach:
  • Sgt. Friday (24:01):
    “What’s your real name?”
  • Donald Rush (the Imposter, 24:46):
    “All right. I’m not Jimmy Sherman.”

7. The Imposter Revealed (24:54–27:42)

• The Real Story: The boy is Donald Rush from Springfield, Ohio, a runaway misidentified by police who, due to his high IQ and photographic memory, learns all about Jimmy Sherman from news articles provided by police during transit to California.
• Emotional Fallout: The grandfather is devastated, and Donald expresses regret for the pain caused.
  • Oscar Sherman (26:14):
    “I know. I was right all along, wasn’t I?”

8. Epilogue: The Actual Crime Solved (28:17–29:23)

• Resolution: Donald Rush is returned to his real family. Four months later, Jimmy Sherman’s body is found, and his murderer—a neighborhood farmer—is brought to justice and executed.
• Summary Statement (28:38–29:23): The tale closes with the sobering reminder that while the imposter was discovered, the initial tragedy was all too real.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Gut Instinct:
  • “Maybe you'll just say I'm old and I've got funny ideas. But I got a feeling, Sergeant, something's happened to Jimmy.”
    (Oscar Sherman, 06:43)
• Skepticism on Neighborhood Accusations:
  • “Spiteful, small-minded neighbors trying to use a tragic situation to work out their jealousies and prejudice…”
    (Sgt. Friday, 12:51)
• Grim Confirmation of Doubt:
  • “That boy out there, Sergeant, I'm not sure he's really my grandson.”
    (Oscar Sherman, 17:39)
• Revelation of Imposture:
  • “All right. I'm not Jimmy Sherman.”
    (Donald Rush, 24:46)
• Sad Farewell:
  • “Thought I had a peck. Thought I had him.”
    (Oscar Sherman, 27:34)

Adam Graham’s Commentary & Listener Engagement (29:34–33:27)

“This is one of those stories which is stranger than fiction.”
(Adam Graham, 29:34)

• Adam highlights the bizarre plausibility of the imposter scenario, noting that it seems incredibly far-fetched—but Dragnet bases these stories on actual casefiles, lending them chilling credibility.
• He speculates on the psychological background of the imposter kid, Donald Rush—wondering about his motives and home life, and mentioning that a modern investigation would likely probe these aspects further.
• Listener Comment (Alfred): Alfred requests Joe Friday fanfiction detailing his WWII service. Adam responds by referencing episodes and positing how little canon information is available for such an undertaking, noting a few possible directions for creative writers.
• Shout-out: He thanks Kelly, a Patreon supporter since 2017, for continued support.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:02] Start of Dragnet episode – Jimmy Sherman Disappearance Introduced
• [06:43] Grandfather’s Emotional Intuition
• [09:39] Case Summary – Trousers Found
• [13:51] Search Becomes Desperate; Grandfather Collapses
• [15:54] "Jimmy Sherman. They found him."
• [17:39] Grandfather's Doubts Surface
• [19:48] Appendix Scar – Evidence of Imposter
• [24:46] Donald Rush Confesses
• [26:14] Confrontation with Grandfather
• [28:38] Narration: Final Case Resolution
• [29:34] Adam Graham's commentary post-episode
• [32:30] Listener comment on Joe Friday fanfic

Tone & Style

• The podcast and original radio drama maintain a sober, methodical, and empathetic tone, reflecting both the procedural rigor of Dragnet and the tragic emotional currents of the case.
• Adam Graham’s commentary is thoughtful, respectful, and gently speculative, inviting listeners to ponder the deeper "what ifs" of real crime stories.

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies Dragnet's commitment to realism and emotional complexity—telling a tale that explores the rare but real phenomenon of child impersonation and the heartbreak of unresolved tragedy. Through Adam Graham’s recap and commentary, listeners are invited to reflect on the timeless tensions between procedural police work, the frailties of memory and hope, and the mysteries that sometimes linger even after a case seems closed.