Ready Eagle – May 3, 1954
‘Night Watch,’ Radio Show, Real
Thing in Police Work
By NON THOMAS
Hollywood, May 3 (AP) – The new “Night Watch” radio show tops “Dragnet” for realism in the cops-and-criminal
department. It’s the genuine thing.
Listeners to “Night Watch” on CBS
Monday nights will hear the actual nabbing of a criminal. The recording was
made during an arrest by Culver City, Calif., police.
Columbia’s answer to Jack Webb is
an enterprising young man named Donn Reed. A radio veteran, he dreamed up “Night Watch” in an effort to find something new in radio.
“I remember one day I came out of
a radio conference feeling very depressed,” he told me. “I said to another
fellow that I was tired of rehashing the same old things in radio. If only
there was something new.
“That day I went over to the place
where I play handball. Another person who plays there is Ron Perkins who plays
there is Ron Perkins, a sergeant with the Culver City police. He had his
uniform on, and I asked him what he had been doing lately. He told me about
some of his cases, and they sounded fascinating. He invited me to come along
with him some night.”
Finds Wealth of Material
Reed went in the prowl car one
night and found a wealth of material. Perkins talked to Chief W. N. Hildebrande
of the Culver City police about allowing Reed to record some cases. Permission
was granted, and the project got under way.
“Our first problem was the
recording equipment,” reported Reed. “To get really professional quality meant
using about 1,000 pounds of gear. Obviously that was impractical, since much of
the time I had to race after police to get my recordings.
“We finally worked it down to a
self-inclusive unit that weighs only 16 pounds. That makes me much more
maneuverable. We carry an engineer with us, but he stays in the car. It wouldn’t
be right to ask him to accompany us.”
Reed referred to the danger. It can
be considerable. Once he was in close proximity when a holdup man was
apprehended. The hood reached for his gun, and Reed hit the deck. He saved
himself from danger, but he still was angry. The fall damaged the recording
equipment and ruined his report on the crime.
On another occasion, the police
picked up a dope addict who confessed the source of supply. This led to the
undercover interview with a dope pusher whose previous method of selling the
stiff was recorded on tape.
Exciting Life
Such exploits provide an exciting life
for Reed. Too exciting, claims his insurance firm. “My premium has been tripled
since I started this work,” he lamented.
Reed spends most of his evenings
with the Culver City police. He now enjoys a night out with his wife only about
once every four weeks. In addition to his night work, he keeps the radio in his
CBS office tuned to the police reports. He knows the code numbers, and when a promising
call come over, he hops in his car and hurries to the scene.
The district attorney’s office has
found his work useful. Reed often records witnesses’ statements at the scene of
the crime, as well as the arrested party’s words.
I asked if any of the culprits
objected when they saw his microphone.
“No,” Reed replied. “They’re
generally too occupied with other matters.”
Born in Los Angeles, Reed started
in radio back in 1937. He was an announcer and actor at CBS. During the war, he
suffered a broken back and a stomach wound. His injuries kept him an invalid
until 1948. He returned to radio as a producer. “Night Watch” went on the air a
month ago and already has aroused more comment than any new show in years.
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