Dragnet Voices - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Madame X · 02-17-2010, 04:26 PM

Dragnet featured two well-known voices at the beginning and the end of the episodes.

George Fenneman was the main title announcer who said "The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent." He also was the radio announcer on Dragnet and the Groucho Marx show "You Bet Your Life." Later he made the move to TV with Groucho and Jack Webb.
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John Stephenson was the narrator at the end of the episode who made the statement about the Court of Los Angeles and he gave us the results of the trial. He was featured in a lot of cartoons: The Flintstones (Mr. Slate, among others), Jonny Quest (the first Dr. Quest), Hanna-Barbera cartoons, Scooby-Doo, The Transformers and The Fantastic Four, etc. (This photo is from a rare on-screen appearance on "Green Acres").
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TV Knowledge Fan · 03-08-2010, 12:49 AM

...considered George Fenneman his "good luck charm", ever since he was the announcer/spokesman for the show's original sponsor on radio and TV in the '50s, Liggett & Myers [Chesterfield]. Fenneman was always heard at the beginning of each episode: "Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear/see is true...". In the '50s, NBC staff announcer Hal Gibney was the show's main announcer [his famous radio opening: "'DRAGNET'- the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with state, federal and local authorities, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case history, transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end- from crime to punishment- 'DRAGNET', is the story of your police force in action"], also delivering the outcome of the suspects' fate at the end of the program.

In the 1967-'70 color series, Webb used Fenneman again, but chose John Stephenson as the closing announcer for the first three seasons. However, because of tighter budgets, Fenneman replaced Stephenson as the closing announcer in the final season.

Madame X · 03-14-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

However, because of tighter budgets, Fenneman replaced Stephenson as the closing announcer in the final season.

I didn't know that! I guess it'll be a while until 1970 comes out so I can check it out. It took a long time to get 1967!

02-17-2010, 04:26 PM	#1
Madame X Senior Member Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,806	Dragnet Voices Dragnet featured two well-known voices at the beginning and the end of the episodes. George Fenneman was the main title announcer who said "The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent." He also was the radio announcer on Dragnet and the Groucho Marx show "You Bet Your Life." Later he made the move to TV with Groucho and Jack Webb. John Stephenson was the narrator at the end of the episode who made the statement about the Court of Los Angeles and he gave us the results of the trial. He was featured in a lot of cartoons: The Flintstones (Mr. Slate, among others), Jonny Quest (the first Dr. Quest), Hanna-Barbera cartoons, Scooby-Doo, The Transformers and The Fantastic Four, etc. (This photo is from a rare on-screen appearance on "Green Acres").

03-08-2010, 12:49 AM	#2
TV Knowledge Fan Senior Member Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,427	Jack Webb... ...considered George Fenneman his "good luck charm", ever since he was the announcer/spokesman for the show's original sponsor on radio and TV in the '50s, Liggett & Myers [Chesterfield]. Fenneman was always heard at the beginning of each episode: "Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to hear/see is true...". In the '50s, NBC staff announcer Hal Gibney was the show's main announcer [his famous radio opening: "'DRAGNET'- the documented drama of an actual crime. For the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with state, federal and local authorities, you will travel step-by-step on the side of the law through an actual case history, transcribed from official police files. From beginning to end- from crime to punishment- 'DRAGNET', is the story of your police force in action"], also delivering the outcome of the suspects' fate at the end of the program. In the 1967-'70 color series, Webb used Fenneman again, but chose John Stephenson as the closing announcer for the first three seasons. However, because of tighter budgets, Fenneman replaced Stephenson as the closing announcer in the final season.

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