21st Precinct

21st Precinct was a police drama radio series that aired on CBS from 1953 to 1956. The show was produced in cooperation with the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York and presented "adaptations from true criminal records in New York from the policeman's point of view."

The Stars

The role of precinct Captain Frank Kennelly was played by Everett Sloane for the first 109 episodes and briefly in episode 135. During episode 109, Captain Frank Kennelly was promoted to Deputy Inspector and reassigned out of the 21st Precinct. He was replaced by Captain Cronin (played by James Gregory, 1955–56) and then Captain Keough (Les Damon, 1956). Other cast regulars were Ken Lynch (as Lt. Matt King), Harold Stone (as Sgt. Waters), Jack Orrison (as Sgt. Collins), and Santos Ortega (as Lt. Gorman).

Key Dates

21st Precinct debuted on CBS radio on July 7, 1953, and ran until July 26, 1956. It was initially a summer replacement for My Friend Irma.

Other Information

The program was produced by John Ives and was usually directed and written by Stanley Niss. Norman Frank was the program supervisor. A review in the trade publication Variety called 21st Precinct "an exciting show" and noted that the program essentially imitated Dragnet, "down to the last, authentic, understated detailing of police procedure and the curtain-line explanation: 'Names have been changed to protect the innocent.'" However, it added that 21st Precinct offered more insights than Dragnet into a police captain's routine, making the character "seem all the more human".

The announcer began the program's opening each week with the following introduction:

"21st Precinct. It's just lines on a map of the city of New York. Most of the 173,000 people wedged into the nine-tenths of a square mile between Fifth Avenue and the East River wouldn't know, if you asked them, that they lived or worked in the 21st. Whether they know it or not, the security of their persons, their homes, and their property is the job of the men of the 21st."

At that point the lead actor would complete the introduction: "The 21st Precinct. 160 patrolmen, 11 sergeants and four lieutenants of whom I'm the boss. My name is Kennelly. Frank Kennelly. I'm Captain in command of the 21st." The program's other announcers included Art Hannes, Bob Hill, and Hugh Holder.

Conclusion

21st Precinct was a police drama radio series that aired on CBS from 1953 to 1956. The show was produced in cooperation with the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York and presented "adaptations from true criminal records in New York from the policeman's point of view." The role of precinct Captain Frank Kennelly was played by Everett Sloane for the majority of the show's run, with other cast regulars including Ken Lynch, Harold Stone, Jack Orrison, and Santos Ortega. The program was well-received, with Variety noting that it offered more insights into a police captain's routine than the similar Dragnet series.