The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas

Christmas cheer has been emphasized all these years on radio, television, and most especially, the movies despite attempts to have more dysfunctional families in these holiday staples recently. For "Dragnet"s initial attempt at doing a holiday episode, however, they focused on a tragedy. First done on radio taking place on the date that was also the name of the broadcast day-December 22 which was the airdate in 1949-"The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas" was later filmed for the second television season before airing on December 18, 1952. In both, Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and his partner (Barton Yarborough as Ben Romero on radio, Herb Ellis as Frank Smith on TV) investigate a missing child with blood residue and a bullet being the clues in his backyard. Another child who he played with is also later missing. I'll stop there and say besides Webb the other performer who appeared in both the radio and TV version here was William Johnstone as one of the boys' father. (Interesting note: His surname was Morheim on radio and Martin on TV.) Both versions were compellingly presented but there were some noticeable differences. Like on radio, the partner talked to one of the boys while here it's Friday meaning Ellis doesn't do much here. There's also one visual addition: as Johnstone slams his door, a Christmas ornament from a wreath falls and breaks. Most chilling in both versions is the last line from Joe: "Don't get a kid a gun for Christmas." I'm sure even the N.R.A can't disagree on that! With that said, "The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas" episode of Dragnet explores just how traumatic childhood tragedy can really be though at least here some forgiveness is visited to the parties involved...P.S. I have to mention that Olan Soule, who played Ray Pinker here, had acted on stage in my birthtown of Chicago before going on radio in 1933.