Dragnet: The Big Producer (EP4979)

Summary

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The Great Detectives Present Dragnet (Old Time Radio)

Episode: “The Big Producer” (EP4979)

Original Air Date: May 21, 2026 (as Podcast)

Host: Adam Graham

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Adam Graham presents “The Big Producer,” a Dragnet radio drama originally aired on February 21, 1952. The story follows Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner Ed Jacobs as they investigate the supply of obscene literature infiltrating local high schools, ultimately tracing it back to adult perpetrators using teens as distributors. After the episode, Adam Graham provides critical commentary highlighting how legal consequences for such crimes have evolved.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Case Origin & Initial Investigation

• Problem Introduction: Obscene literature and photographs are flooding into multiple Los Angeles high schools. Authorities believe a student is distributing them.
• Suspect Identified: The detectives target 17-year-old high school senior, Stephen Banner, after tips from other students.

2. Arrest and Interrogation of Stephen Banner

• Locker Search ([04:09]-[06:41]):

  • Detectives find a cache of “joke books” (obscene materials) in Banner’s locker.
  • Banner at first claims innocence, suggesting materials are traded, not sold.
  • Pressed by Friday and Jacobs, Banner admits some involvement but withholds supplier names.

  Notable Dialogue:

  “Maybe you ought to get this straight, son. We're not out to get you. You're way down the line. We want the people at the top, the men who print this junk.”
  — Sgt. Joe Friday [06:22]

3. Home Search and Breakthrough

• Further Evidence ([08:05]-[08:43]):

  • A search of Banner’s home reveals bulk materials hidden in the garage.
  • Banner breaks and supplies names: books from “Charlie Freiberg,” photos from “Jack.”

  Memorable Moment:
  Banner’s guilt grows as hidden evidence mounts, and he laments that his sister will soon find out:

  “My sister? Gonna have to find out.”
  — Stephen Banner [08:29]

4. Modus Operandi of the Supplier

• Charlie Freiberg’s Recruitment Tactics ([08:45]-[11:18]):

  • Freiberg meets Banner and a friend at a downtown arcade, offering books to gauge interest.
  • Freiberg entices the boys to become distributors, then escalates the scheme by hosting “parties” at a seedy motel.
  • Under the pretense of Hollywood connections, Freiberg lures both boys and their girlfriends, plying them with alcohol and promises of fame.

  Notable Quote:

  “Tell them you're gonna get 'em in the movies.”
  — Stephen Banner [11:32]

5. Interviews with the Girls

• Laura Osborne Interview ([14:49]-[16:36]):

  • The girls believe Freiberg is genuinely helping their modeling ambitions, downplaying any wrongdoing.
  • Laura reveals she has a date scheduled with Freiberg, which enables police to set up a sting.

  Key Exchange:

  “He just wanted to help us get some good modeling jobs. That's why he took our pictures. There was nothing wrong. A few bathing suit pictures, that's all. There was nothing wrong in that.”
  — Laura Osborne [15:14]

6. The Sting and Arrest

• Stakeout and Arrest ([18:24]-[19:57]):

  • Detectives surveil the agreed meeting spot; Freiberg appears and is confronted.
  • Freiburg tries to evade, but evidence in his car and a studio key are found.

  Memorable Confrontation:

  “You said you don't have a car, Fryberg?... What are you doing with that parking ticket?”
  — Officer Ed Jacobs [19:53]

7. Climax: Studio Search and Confession

• At West Side Studios ([21:18]-[27:32]):

  • Freiberg brings officers to his dilapidated studio office. Dragnet’s atmosphere is thick with faded Hollywood nostalgia and loss.
  • After initial evasion, Freiberg admits supplying obscene materials, explaining it as a desperate means to survive after failing in the movie business.

  Heartbreaking Confession:

  “How do you think it feels to get cheap like that? I used to be young. I was big. I was talent. I made big pictures. How do you think it feels to get cheap all of a sudden? Cheap enough to do this kind of thing.”
  — Charles Freiberg [26:03]

  • Freiberg is also implicated in hosting inappropriate parties for underage girls and boys and supplying illegal photographs.

8. Resolution and Legal Aftermath

• Court Judgment Announcement ([27:45]-[29:05]):

  • Freiberg and his accomplice Jack L. Lavery are convicted on four counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors, each serving a jail term.

  Narrator’s Legal Note:

  “Contributing to the delinquency of minors is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000. Or by imprisonment in the county jail for one year. Or by both fine and imprisonment.”
  — Narrator [28:28]

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Adam Graham’s Commentary: Then & Now

Legal System Reflection ([30:00]-[32:15])

• Graham compares the relative leniency of past punishments to modern standards:

  “A year in the county jail and $1,000 fine. If you did what Mr. Freiberg did and you're caught today, you are looking at multiple felony counts, potential federal prosecution and a lot more. And just listening to the accounts of what he did...this should not be a misdemeanor.”
  — Adam Graham [30:00]

• He notes that the Dragnet TV adaptation heightened these issues, revealing evolving standards of justice and public protection.

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Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• On Parental Responsibility:

  “Pair of young girls like that out at motel parties till 3am Drinking? 17-year-olds. No reason for it. No reason at all.”
  — Joe Friday [13:40]

• On Exploitation:

  “He had a lot of connections in Hollywood. The last party I was at, he said he was going to get the girls. Screen test. A lot of malarkey like that.”
  — Stephen Banner [10:49]

• On Lost Glory and Regret:

  “All I want to do is make pictures. There isn't a chance anymore. Not like the old days. You need hundreds of thousands, millions. It's gone. It's all gone. Had to eat. Had to put clothes on my back.”
  — Charles Freiberg [26:23]

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Important Timestamps

• [04:09]-[06:41]: Banner’s locker search & initial denial
• [08:05]-[08:43]: Finding the bulk evidence in Banner’s garage
• [08:45]-[11:18]: Banner reveals Freiberg’s recruitment and methods
• [14:49]-[16:36]: Laura Osborne interview (recruitment of girls)
• [18:24]-[19:57]: Stakeout, confrontation, and arrest of Freiberg
• [21:18]-[27:32]: Studio search, Freiberg’s confession, and moral reflections
• [27:45]-[29:05]: Legal outcome announced
• [30:00]-[32:15]: Adam Graham’s commentary on punishment then vs. now

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Tone & Style

This episode weaves tense, methodical police procedural with poignant social commentary. Dragnet’s signature stoic, matter-of-fact narrative is counterbalanced by the regretful confession of Freiberg, providing an almost tragic, human portrayal of a fallen Hollywood figure drawn into criminality.

Adam Graham’s commentary is earnest, reflective, and critical, highlighting the shortcomings of historic justice while underscoring societal progress and the ongoing necessity of vigilance against exploitation.

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Summary

“The Big Producer” is a sobering portrayal of how insidious crimes target the vulnerable and thrive through manipulation, secrecy, and adult exploitation of youth. The investigators’ diligence ultimately prevails, but the episode also reveals gaps in parental supervision and legal consequences of the era. Adam Graham’s modern-day perspective illuminates just how much criminal justice—and social awareness—has evolved since Dragnet first aired.

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Transcript

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[Liberty Mutual Male Voice (Bird Owner)]

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[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. This is your host, Adam Graham. In a moment, we're going to bring you this week's episode of Dragnet. But first, I do want to encourage you if you're enjoying the podcast to please follow us using your favorite podcast software. And today's program is brought to you in part by financial support of our listeners. You can support the show on a one time basis. App to box Thirteenreatetectives.net and I want to thank Christopher for sending along a donation. That way you can also become one of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as little as $2 per month. Just go to patreon.comgreatdetives.net now from February 21, 1952, here is the big producer

[Liberty Mutual Male Voice (Doug)]

and Doug. There's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show.

[Liberty Mutual Male Voice (Bird Owner)]

Hey everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date?

[Liberty Mutual Male Voice (Doug)]

Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird.

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Yeah, the bird looks out of your league.

[Liberty Mutual Male Voice (Doug)]

Anyways, get a'@libertymutual.com or with your local agent.

[Liberty Mutual Male Voice (Bird Owner)]

Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty.

[Narrator (Dragnet Introduction)]

The story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned a juvenile division. A steady supply of obscene literature is finding its way into a half a dozen high schools in your city. You get a lead on one of the sources of supply, a 17 year old high school senior. Your job.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Pick him up.

[Narrator (Dragnet Closing)]

Dragnet, the documented drama of an actual crime. 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 transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end, from crime to punishment, Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Was Wednesday, November 8th. It was windy in Los Angeles. We were working the day. Watch out. A juvenile division. My partner is Ed Jacobs. The boss is Captain Stein. My name's Friday. It was 11:05am when we got to the basement floor of Gorman High School. The locker room.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Which way, Steve? Want to show us which locker's yours?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

You still haven't told me what this is all about.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Routine check, son.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah, but why do you have to pick on me? Why do you have to see my locker?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

We're not picking on you, Steve. Now, how about it? Which locker's yours?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Right here. This is mine. 318. Here's the key.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

No, you open it, Steve.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Just a couple of personal things of mine, that's all. Mm. All right, I'll open it. Well, there you are. See for yourself.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Wanna take your things out of the locker, son?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

You can see what's in there, can't you? My gym stuff, couple of textbooks.

[Officer Joe Friday]

How about digging back in the corner? Left hand side there.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Where?

[Officer Joe Friday]

You know where I mean. Come on, Steve. Dig him out back here.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

You mean these joke books?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That's right. Let's have a look, huh?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Why? Just a couple of joke books. A kid gave them to me.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Bring them out, Steve.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Okay. Just a couple of them. Kid came to me. There.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Looks like more than a couple.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That's what you call a joke book, Steve?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

That's what the kids call them, yeah. Some of them are a little dirty. Not so bad, though.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

They're filthy, Steve, and you know it. Now, where'd you get them?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

I told you. Kid gave them to me. Who?

[Officer Joe Friday]

What's his name?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Some kid around school, I don't remember right now.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Gave you these books for nothing?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Sure, I had a couple he wanted. We traded off. A lot of the kids have them. They trade them around.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That stack you got there, they looked pretty new. Couldn't have been passed around much.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Maybe not. I don't know.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Matter of fact, they look brand new, don't they? Don't even look like they've been opened yet.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

How come you're rousting me on this thing? What about the other kids? They got them too.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

They're buying them, Steve. They're not selling them.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

I'm not selling them. Anybody says that's a liar.

[Officer Joe Friday]

No good, son. We talk to the fellows here at the high school. Some kids over the junior high school too. They all say you're the one who's selling them.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

They're liars.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Both the fellas in high school and the kids down the street in junior high. They say you've been selling this stuff for months now. How about it?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

They're lying, that's all. They don't know what they're talking about.

[Officer Joe Friday]

You've been selling these? 35 cents apiece. Three for a dollar. Last couple of weeks you've been peddling pictures, too. A dollar apiece. You got any of them in your locker, Steve?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

A couple. I got them off another kid.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What other kid? What's his name? What's his name?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Some kid. I don't remember.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

It's not much of an answer, son.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

What do you want from me, anyway? I told you, I'm not selling the books. I don't care what those other goofs say. It's my word against theirs.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Maybe you ought to get this straight, son. We're not out to get you. You're way down the line. We want the people at the top, the men who print this junk. The wholesalers, the big distributors.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

So why ask me? I don't know anything about it. Nothing.

[Officer Joe Friday]

You don't want to cooperate, is that it?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

What am I supposed to cooperate about? I'm not mixed up in anything.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

We think you are, son. We know you are. Who you selling this for? Where do you get your supply?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

All you see is what's in my locker. I ain't selling. I don't have any supply. You gotta go far to prove I have.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Not very far, Steve. What? From about here to your home. 11:38am after picking up his supply of obscene books and photographs to be booked later as evidence, Ed and I drove the subject, Stephen Banner, to his home approximately a mile from the high school. His apprehension and our theory that he probably kept the bulk of his supply of books and pictures at or near his home was no accident. For weeks we'd known that a steady stream of pornography was being fed into a half a dozen high schools and junior high schools throughout the city. Books, photographs, pictures and pamphlets of the worst kind. Because of embarrassment on the part of the curious teenage kids who bought this stuff, it wasn't easy to pick up a solid lead. After weeks of observation and questioning, we finally narrowed down the principal source of supply to a single teenage boy, Stephen Banner. Even then, we knew he must be only one of a hundred small time distributors working for the persons directly responsible for manufacturing this sort of thing. Our only hope was that he'd be willing and able to supply us with the names of the persons responsible. When we got to Stephen Banner's home. Where he lived with his sister and brother in law. We searched it thoroughly, but we found nothing. Both his sister and brother in law were at work. We went back and started checking through the garage at the rear of the house.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Joe, back here in the corner.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Narrator (Dragnet Introduction)]

Have a look.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Steve, you want to tell us about this?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah.

[Officer Joe Friday]

These books here, these pictures. Case full of them.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How about it, son? Your sister and brother in law know about this?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

No, they don't know anything. I didn't think you'd find them.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Are you ready to tell us about it?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

My sister? Gonna have to find out.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

I don't know, Steve. It's gonna be pretty hard to keep it from her.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Who's the contact, son? Where'd they come from?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Charlie. Charlie Freiberg. Only the books, though. Pictures came from another guy. It's a long story.

[Officer Joe Friday]

We got the time, son. Who is this Freiburg?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Met him downtown one Sunday. Penny arcade on Broadway. Me and this other kid were in there. Bud Spencer. Fryberg came up, started to talk to us.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

All right, go on.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

He finally took a couple of these books out of his pocket, gave them to us. He wanted to know what we thought of them. Told us he had plenty of them. If we knew any other kids who wanted them.

[Officer Joe Friday]

He knew you and your friend Bud were in high school?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah, that's right.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What else, Steve?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

That's about it. He asked me and Bud if we wanted to sell for them around school.

[Officer Joe Friday]

This friend of yours, Bud Spencer, he's selling them, too?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah. He goes to a different school, though. Both of us did pretty good with the books. Sold real fast. The pictures are even better.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That's so. You say you didn't get the pictures from Freiburg? There was somebody else.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Man by the name of Jack and don't know his last name. Fryberg put us onto him, gave us an introduction, set up the deal. We got the pictures for 75 cents. Most of the time they got us a dollar, dollar and a half apiece. Bud and I did pretty good.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You know any other fellows working for this Freiburg, Steve? Any other kids in school and.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

No, just Bud and me. That's all I know. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just the books. That lousy, Charlie. You had to go and promote the party routine. Get everybody mixed up in that.

[Officer Joe Friday]

What do you mean? What's that all about, Charlie?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

He stays at this place out on Sepulveda. It's a motel. That's where we always contacted him.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah, after a couple of weeks.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

When we got to know him, he asked me and Bud out to this place. Said he was going to throw a party. Told us to bring our girlfriends along. Turned out we were the only ones at the party. Me and Bud and the girls and Charlie Freiberg. Party lasted pretty late. I should have been smart enough to figure it out. I wasn't.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What do you mean, Steve? Figure out what?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Why'd Charlie be throwing parties just for us? The first two times, there wasn't anything wrong. We just talked. Danced with the girls, drank some beer. Charlie told us to have a good time. He threw a party every Friday night. Never broke up till after 3 o'. Clock.

[Officer Joe Friday]

How old are your girlfriends? Yours and Bud's?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

17. They're both 17. They've been around though. No use kidding you. They weren't very smart, I can tell you that. None of us were, I guess. Next couple of parties, Charlie had whiskey there. Them girls drank right along with them. So did we.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Freiberg served the whiskey, didn't he?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Yeah, that's right. He loaded the drinks, kept handing the girls a lot of stuff. About how he used to be a director in pictures. He had a lot of connections in Hollywood. The last party I was at, he said he was going to get the girls. Screen test. A lot of malarkey like that.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What else, Steve?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

I don't know. I had a beef with Charlie about it and I walked out. I haven't been back since.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Does he still throw these Friday night parties, do you know?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Maybe. I don't know. There were three or four. After the last one, I walked out on dumb girls. Think Charlie's just great. God. So I can't stand the guy.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How about the parties you didn't show up for, Steve? You get a rundown on them?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

I heard a couple of things. Yeah, sure. Glad I wasn't there.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How do you mean?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Dumb girls. Never fails. The oldest line in the world. They still go for it.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What's that?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Tell them you're gonna get em in the movies.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

We continued questioning the subject. 17 year old Stephen Banner. He gave us a full description of the man who'd been selling him the books. Charles Freiberg. And also a description of the man known as Jack. The one who had been supplying him with pictures and photographs. In addition, he gave us the addresses of the two men. A fair description of Freiberg's car, no license number. And the names and addresses of the two girls he and his friend had taken to Freiburg's parties. 1:20pm Ed and I took the case of obscene books from the garage, loaded it in the backseat of our car, and Stephen Banner directed us to the high school attended by his friend Bud Sir Spencer. We picked up the Spencer boy and drove him and Banner downtown to Georgia Street Juvenile, where we booked them in on 700B. Welfare and institution code lack of supervision. We drove to the motel out on Sepulveda. But the suspect, Charles Freiberg, had moved out five days before. No forwarding address. It wasn't a dead end, though. From his motel registration card, we got the description and license number of his car. On the way into the office, we checked out the address of his confederate, the man known as Jack. He'd moved the same day as Freiburg. No forwarding address. Back at the office, DMV got a make on the license number for us. The car registered in Freiburg's name, 239 W. 92nd St. We went down to R and I and pulled the package on the suspect. 3:40pm

[Officer Joe Friday]

Last address on was 3 years old. How does his record read?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Well, he's been in the business before. A couple of vag charges, a 311 charge. Two possession, obscene literature.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Served eight months in county jail. Mug shot there?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Here? Mm.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Close enough to the way the boy described him?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

I'd say. So it was MO2, huh? Same pitch the last time they got him working the high school trade. Passed himself off as a studio man, movie director.

[Officer Joe Friday]

How about the other man, Jack? You got anything there?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

No, not yet. I gave the information on him to the stats office. They're gonna make a run for us. Well, I guess we better check on the kids girlfriends, huh? And get their stories.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Yeah, I suppose so. That sure gets me, Joe.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What's that?

[Officer Joe Friday]

Pair of young girls like that out at motel parties till 3am Drinking?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Officer Joe Friday]

17 year olds. No reason for it. No reason at all.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

I can think of one that might do their parents. We checked out the suspect address furnished us by DMV and also the information from the R and I package. They went nowhere. We had a second interview with Stephen Banner and his friend Bud Spencer. We showed them Freiburg's mug shot and both of them identified it. We got out of broadcast and an APB on him. 4:12pm Together with policewoman Doreen Statesel, Ed and I drove out to interview the two teenage girls involved. A Dorothy Ryan and a Laura Osborne. We stopped at the home of the Osborne girl first, but she wasn't there and neither were her parents. An older sister told us that both the mother and father were working and that Laura was at a neighborhood school for models taking her weekly lesson. We checked at the modeling school, a converted second floor social hall. Where we finally located the girl. A tall brunette, dark eyes, fair complexion. The heavy makeup didn't do much to hide her age. While the modeling lesson went on, Policewoman Statesel Ed and I talked to the girl off in one corner of the hall.

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Your friend Steve Banner, he took you to Those buddies at Mr. Freiberg's place? Uh huh. That's right. Very nice man. He was always nice to Dorothy and me. Dorothy Ryan? She came to the parties with Bud. He's a friend of Steve Banner's.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You have no complaint to make about this Mr. Freiberg? He never caused you trouble of any kind, Charlie?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Well, no. I told you before. That business about Steve getting mad just because Charlie told us he'd get us in the movies. Well, it was silly, that's all. Plain silly. Charlie was just helping us.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How do you mean, Laura?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Well, he's in Hollywood. You know Charlie Freiberg. He has lots of connections. He just wanted to help us get some good modeling jobs. That's why he took our pictures. There was nothing wrong. You continued going to these Friday night parties without the two boys, is that right? Yes, Dorothy and me. There wasn't anything wrong with it. We knew Charlie as well as they did by that time. A few bathing suit pictures, that's all. There was nothing wrong in that. Do you ever see prints of any of those pictures? Either you or Dorothy Ryan? No, but Charlie's gonna get us some. He promised he would.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You know where he is now?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

No, he moved. I haven't any idea where he is.

[Officer Joe Friday]

When's the last time you saw Freiburg, miss?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

About 10 days, two weeks ago. What's this all about, officer? You looking for Charlie?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How does he usually contact you, Laura?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

By phone?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Yeah. Usually calls.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Has he called you lately?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Well, I don't know. Why are you looking for him? Can't you tell me?

[Officer Joe Friday]

Routine investigation, miss.

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Oh, I'm sorry. I don't know where Charlie is. Why can't you tell me why you want him?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

We want him.

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Why can't you give me a reason? This is one of the reasons, Laura. Would you look at this picture? Charlie took this.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

It's his business, Laura. That's the way his police record reads.

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

I can't believe it.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That's one reason. We want Freiburg. There's lots of others. You willing to help us, Laura?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

He said they'd be beautiful, glamorous. They're not.

[Officer Joe Friday]

You know where he stays?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Now?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

No. I'll find out though.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How do you mean?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

I've got a date with him. Supposed to meet him out on Wilshire. Wilshire and La Brea.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

When's that?

[Liberty Mutual Female Voice]

Eight o' clock tomorrow night.

[Narrator (Dragnet Closing)]

You are listening to Dragnet authentic stories of your police force in action.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

November 8th, Wednesday, 5:30pm after our interview with 17 year old Laura Osborne, policewoman Doreen Statez and I drove to the home of Laura's girlfriend, Dorothy Ryan, who was also present at the motel parties given by the suspect, Charles Freiberg. Her story of what had happened was essentially the same as the one we got from the Osborne girl. That night we met with the parents of both girls. They were well meaning and cooperative. They admitted their mistake was the same old story of lack of supervision and very little home life. The parents told us that they had no idea of what had been going on or the late hours that their teenage girls had been keeping. Besides promising closer supervision of the girls, they told us they would notify us immediately if the suspect, Freyberg, made any attempt to contact their daughters. 6:25pm we got back to the office, put in a call to Stephen Banner's home and notified his sister and brother in law that the boy was being held for further interrogation. We also notified the parents of Bud Spencer. The following morning, Ed and I went across the street to the district Attorney's office, presented our case and a warrant was issued on Charles Freiberg for 702 WIC, contributing to the delinquency of a minor. At 7 o' clock that night, Ed and I staked out on a cocktail lounge near the intersection of Wilshire and La Brea. The place where the suspect had told Laura Osborne to meet him. 7:30, 7:45. We waited.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Think maybe we're in business, Joe?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

What?

[Officer Joe Friday]

Down the corner there. Waiting for the signal to change. Dark suit, dark hat?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Could be crossing over now. Heading for the bar.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

All right, let's go. Mm.

[Officer Joe Friday]

No mistake.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Hey, fella, hold it up on there, will you? How's that police officer? Is your name Fryberg?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

What? No, that's not my name.

[Officer Joe Friday]

See your identification, please.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yes, I've got my identification.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Why?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Can we see it, please?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Why?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

What do you want?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Your identification.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

What for? I haven't done anything.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Let's go, mister. Talk about it downtown.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Wait a minute. Just a minute. I don't want any trouble. I'll show you. There. Driver's license, rest of my stuff.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Charles Freiberg. It's an old address, isn't it?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yeah. Haven't had Time to change it. Just got back in town. What's the matter anyway?

[Officer Joe Friday]

Where you staying?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Freiberg Place. I just got back in town. I told you that. Not staying any place yet. No connections at all.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Where's your car?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

I don't have one. I haven't had one for a year. I sold it. Look, how about filling me in? What do you want with me?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You want to step over here, Fryberg,

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

out of the way.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

All right. Just like to know what's going on, that's all.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Like to see what you're carrying in your pockets. Take everything out of the please, one pocket at a time.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

What is this, a shakedown?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

We start with your coat pockets.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

All right?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

There.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Okay.

[Officer Joe Friday]

All right. Now the other one.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Okay.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You said you don't have a car, Fryberg?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

No, of course not. I told you that.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What are you doing with that parking ticket? We walked the suspect, Fryberg, two blocks to the parking lot listed on the claim check that he had in his coat pocket. He had black hair streaked with gray. Looked to be in his mid-50s. We questioned him on the way, but he admit nothing. We located his car in the parking lot and searched it in the glove compartment. Besides a half a dozen photographs and small books. We found a key with a metal disk attached to it. Stamped on the disc with the words west side Studios, number 23. Freiburg refused to identify the key. He refused to admit a thing. We walked him back to our car and together the three of us headed out for the old west side Studios. Just off Jefferson Boulevard. On the way, we tried again to question the suspect. But we got nowhere. He refused to answer even the simplest questions. One look at the west side Studios knew right away the place had seen better days. It had been fairly prominent in the early days of motion picture making. But all that was Left now was 2.2square blocks of broken down scenery. One dilapidated sound stage and a row of weather beaten cottages. The tar paper peeling off the roofs. We got out of the car and started up the walk. The faded sign over the main gate read, west side Studios. Founded 1920. And down in one corner. Admission by pass only. The guard shack at the gate was boarded up. No sign of a night watchman.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

We kept walking.

[Officer Joe Friday]

How come they don't keep a watchman at the gate, Fryberg? Don't they make pictures here anymore?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

You bet they do. Place has been going downhill for a long time. It's coming back, though.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Then you do know the place. Is that right?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yeah, I know it. I should know it.

[Officer Joe Friday]

What do you mean by that?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Nothing.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You rent an office here, is that it?

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Fryburg?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yeah, that's right. Straight down the way there. Cottage 23.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

What's your job? You in some kind of movie work?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yeah, have been for 30 years. More than 30 years.

[Officer Joe Friday]

That's so. You an actor?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Freiburg? Haven't you ever heard the name? I'm a producer.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Oh, I see.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Why don't you tell us that to start with?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

I don't know. Different reasons. I don't like to throw my weight around. I have a lot of connections in Hollywood, you know.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That's so in the trade.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

30 years. I was one of the first. You can make a lot of friends in 30 years.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Yeah, I guess so. How about those books we found in your car?

[Narrator (Dragnet Introduction)]

Those pictures.

[Officer Joe Friday]

How do you explain them?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

This studio will be back on the street in a year. I'll bet $1,000 on it. This whole block here, sound stages. I got the plans for him in my desk.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That's so. You have an interest in this lot?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Not exactly. Not right now, anyway. I did have an interest, though. I will again. I was one of the original owners, you know.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Still haven't got an explanation. How about the books and pictures we found in your car?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Oh, that. Nothing to explain, is there? Just a few gimmicks I picked up.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You know a boy by the name of Stephen Banner?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Banner? No, I don't think so. Why?

[Officer Joe Friday]

How about Bud Spencer? You know him?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

No. I knew a George Spencer once. Actor. That was back in the old days, though.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How about Laura Osborne, Dorothy Ryan? You know them?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

No. It's pretty hard to say. You know, Sergeant, over the years in this business especially, you meet an awful lot of people.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

These are fairly recent. You ought to remember them. They're just kids. 17 year olds.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

No, afraid I don't recall the names. Soundstage. Belle. We got a company over there doing some shooting tonight. Television films. They make them too fast. Trade's not like it used to be. Quality. That's what we went after. It's gone now. It's all gone. West side will do it again, though. You can bet on that. We're coming back.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Look, how about leveling Freiburg? You know why we picked you up? You know why we're out here?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

I just did. I don't know why. Jose, look across the road. That's set over there. The old greenhouse there. It's a Colonial mansion. Weather's faded the colors a little. Typical old Southern estate now. You know, we shot some beautiful footage there. Pictures are classic in its own right. Maybe you remember it. Moonlight Magnolias. They changed the title later. Love in the moonlight. Beautiful thing. You ever see it?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

No, I don't think so.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

I couldn't tell you how many beauties we turned out that year. I was a young fellow then. Song and strife. Moonlight Magnolias. Little orphan girl. Sweetheart. The campus.

[Officer Joe Friday]

That's your cottage there, Mr. Freiberg. What's that just down the way there? Number 23.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Oh, yeah. Completely forgot about it. I hope you'll excuse the way it looks. I haven't been able to find good accommodations in town. I've been staying at the office. We have a little couch there. I sleep on that. We have a hot plate, too. Good enough to boil a coffee in the morning.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Mm. How come you couldn't find space in town? Hotels aren't that rushed, are they?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Well, the ones I'm used to staying at, yes. I just as soon camp here at the studio Than stay at one of those places downtown. Say, wouldn't you like to see the rest of the lot? Pretty interesting if you've never seen a real movie lot. I mean, a high class one.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

We've seen them. Mr. Freiberg, we'd like to check your office.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Oh, all right. This is it. Cottage is needing a good coat of paint. Of course, it'll all be done pretty soon. West side is going to come back strong. You can bet on that.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Uh.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Oh, watch out on that first step there. It's loose. Have to call maintenance and get that fixed.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah. Sorry.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Here we are. Well, as you can see, the office isn't very much. What is? You wanted, gentlemen?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You want to check that cabinet there, Ed? I'll take a look through these cases over here.

[Officer Joe Friday]

Okay.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

This picture here on the wall, that's the cast and the production staff of my first film. Here's the other one. Me and R Z. Bernard. He autographed the picture for me. Bernard himself. Those were the days, all right.

[Stephen Banner (Teenage Suspect)]

Quality.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

That's what we went after in pictures. Real quality. Not like today. Gone. The good days. Fine pictures. It's gone. All gone.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How about it, Freiburg? These cases of books here and these photographs.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Not my fault, believe me. I had to make a living. I had to make money. How do you think it feels to get cheap like that? I used to be young. I was big. I was talent. I made big pictures. How do you think it feels to get cheap all of a sudden? Cheap enough to do this kind of thing.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Nobody forced you. It was your choice, mister.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

It wasn't my choice. You're wrong. All I want to do is make Pictures. There isn't a chance anymore. Not like the old days. You need hundreds of thousands, millions. It's gone. It's all gone. Had to eat. Had to put clothes on my back.

[Officer Joe Friday]

You admit you're responsible for this? Books, pictures. You're working in the high school trade. Kids like Steve Banner, bud Spencer.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

After 1935, I couldn't get a job. I didn't want this. I had to do it. I'm ashamed. Who wouldn't be? I had to eat. It was the only way. And I had to live.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

There's honest jobs to be had. How about this man named Jack?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

He was in with me. He was my cameraman back in the old days. You can't blame him either. He had to live, too.

[Officer Joe Friday]

You want him to come downtown with us? Give us a statement?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yes, all right, all right. Anything.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

How about the parties? The two girls? Laura Osborne, Dorothy Ryan.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

I took some pictures, that's all. I didn't harm them. Not in any way.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

You had it wrong, Freiburg. You know that.

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

Yeah, I know. But just to have the kids there. They made you remember the days in your life. Best days in anybody's life.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

That so?

[Charles Freiberg (Suspect)]

When he used to have money. When he used to be young.

[Narrator (Dragnet Introduction)]

The story you have just heard was true. The names were changed to protect the innocent.

[Narrator (Dragnet Closing)]

On January 29, trial was held in Superior Court Department 87, City and County of Los Angeles, State of California. In a moment, the results of that trial. The suspects, Charles Zeman Freiberg and his accomplice, Jack L. Lavery, were tried and convicted on four counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors. Both of them served full terms in the county jail. Contributing to the delinquency of minors is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000. Or by imprisonment in the county jail for one year. Or by both fine and imprisonment. You have just heard Dragnet. A series of authentic cases from official files. Technical advice comes from the office of Chief of Police W.H. parker, Los Angeles Police Department. Heard tonight were Barney Phillips, Virginia Greg and Ralph Moody. Script by Jim Moser. Music by Walter Schumann. Hal Gibney speaking.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Now it's counterspy on NBC.

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[Officer Joe Friday]

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[Officer Ed Jacobs]

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[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

Welcome back. You know, there are some people who imagine that in the past we were tougher on crime as a general rule, and we've gotten softer. The truth is usually quite a bit more complicated. As you will see that there are some crimes we have gotten more strict on enforcing and others we've let up on. And this is a good example. A year in the county jail and $1,000 fine. If you did what Mr. Freiberg did and you're caught today, you are looking at multiple felony counts, potential federal prosecution and, and a lot more. And just listening to the accounts of what he did and in particular the one girl they talked to, to be like, this is not. This should not be a misdemeanor. And the TV version of this has even more issues in that regard. But that was the state of affairs back then. Well, now we turn to listener comments and feedback and we go to our listener survey. And Peter in Franklin, Massachusetts, comments. I've been listening more or less daily since I discovered this podcast in 2020. Few things have captured my attention as long as Old Time Radio has. I guess you could say that I'm hooked. And Joe in Dixon, Missouri writes, great show. And now it's time to thank our Patreon supporter of the day. And I want to thank Jeffrey, Patreon supporter since July of 2023, currently supporting the podcast at the Psalmist level of $4 or more per month. Thanks so much for your support, Jeffrey. And that will do it for today. If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow us using your favorite podcast software and be sure to rate and review the podcast podcast wherever you download it from. We will be back next Thursday with another episode of Dragnet. But join us back here tomorrow for yours truly, Johnny Dollar. Where George Reed here.

[Johnny Dollar]

So what happened, George? The cops hauled him off and throw him into the clink.

[George Reed]

Durango.

[Johnny Dollar]

Who else?

[George Reed]

Johnny? This man is unbelievable. It's fantastic, huh? I don't know how he worked it, how much it cost him. And of course, as always, he came here loaded with money. Thousands, Johnny. Yeah, well, but the police didn't even take those six guns away from him.

[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

Oh brother.

[Johnny Dollar]

All the more reason why I'm getting out of here.

[George Reed]

Yes, Durango still Thinks he's living in the old days of the wild and woolly west, when the only. What? You're leaving?

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, you bet your life I am. And I'm putting all the costs of transportation on expense accounts. Well, now, listen. After all, it was you who got me into this whole thing.

[George Reed]

Listen to me. Where are you going?

[Johnny Dollar]

What do you think? I tell you, you're in cahoots with this wild old man that's trying to get me to marry his niece.

[George Reed]

Johnny, if you and Carol love each

[Johnny Dollar]

other so what do you think? We want him to force us into it?

[George Reed]

Well, now, look, suppose we. Yeah.

[Johnny Dollar]

Oh, come on, George. I'm in a hurry. George.

[George Reed]

Are you in your apartment, Johnny?

[Johnny Dollar]

That's right. But not for any longer than. Why do you ask that?

[George Reed]

You stay right there, Johnny Durango.

[Johnny Dollar]

You just stay right there.

[George Reed]

I'm coming right over.

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

I gotta talk to you, young feller. And that ain't all.

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You hear me, Johnny?

[Officer Ed Jacobs]

Yeah.

[Adam Graham (Podcast Host)]

I hope you'll be with us then. In the meantime, send your comments to Box [e-mail] follow us on Twitter at radiodetectives and check us out on Instagram. Instagram.com Great detectives from Boise, Idaho, this is your host, Adam Graham, signing off.

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