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Racket Squad

  • TV Series
  • 1950–19531950–1953
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
130
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Racket Squad (1950)
  • Crime
  • Drama
This series dramatizes confidence games which fall under the jurisdiction of Captain John Braddock.This series dramatizes confidence games which fall under the jurisdiction of Captain John Braddock.This series dramatizes confidence games which fall under the jurisdiction of Captain John Braddock.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
130
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Reed Hadley
    • Hugh Beaumont
    • Keith Richards
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Reed Hadley
    • Hugh Beaumont
    • Keith Richards
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 2 nominations total

    Episodes98

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos13

    Racket Squad (1950)
    Reed Hadley in Racket Squad (1950)
    Reed Hadley in Racket Squad (1950)
    Reed Hadley in Racket Squad (1950)
    Reed Hadley in Racket Squad (1950)
    Reed Hadley in Racket Squad (1950)
    Louise Currie in Racket Squad (1950)
    Milburn Stone in Racket Squad (1950)
    Louise Currie in Racket Squad (1950)
    Reed Hadley and June Wurster in Racket Squad (1950)
    Louise Currie and Milburn Stone in Racket Squad (1950)
    William Shatner, Lon Chaney Jr., Louise Currie, Kurt Kasznar, Billy Pearson, Milburn Stone, and Benay Ventura in The Life of Riley (1948)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Reed Hadley
    Reed Hadley
    • Capt. John Braddockas Capt. John Braddock…
    98 episodes98 eps • 1951–1953
    Hugh Beaumont
    Hugh Beaumont
    • Narrator (prologue)as Narrator (prologue)…
    33 episodes33 eps • 1952–1953
    Keith Richards
    Keith Richards
    • Charley Woodsas Charley Woods…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1951–1953
    Griff Barnett
    Griff Barnett
    • Claude Andersonas Claude Anderson…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1951–1953
    Douglas Evans
    • Horse Race Calleras Horse Race Caller…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1951–1953
    Robert Bray
    Robert Bray
    • Desk Sergeant in Prologueas Desk Sergeant in Prologue…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1951–1953
    Pierre Watkin
    Pierre Watkin
    • Dr. Trevillonas Dr. Trevillon…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1953
    Fay Roope
    Fay Roope
    • Clayton Carswellas Clayton Carswell…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1953
    Gloria Saunders
    Gloria Saunders
    • Elviraas Elvira…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1953
    Harry Tyler
    Harry Tyler
    • Henry Simpsonas Henry Simpson…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1952–1953
    Russell Hicks
    Russell Hicks
    • Jeremiah J. Gatesas Jeremiah J. Gates…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1952
    Don Dillaway
    Don Dillaway
    • Al Kelleras Al Keller…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1952–1953
    Emlen Davies
    Emlen Davies
    • Susan Lesteras Susan Lester…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1952–1953
    Lorin Raker
    • Mr. Lesteras Mr. Lester…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1953
    James Kirkwood
    James Kirkwood
    • Judge Harperas Judge Harper…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1953
    Louis Lettieri
    Louis Lettieri
    • Boyas Boy…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1952–1953
    Douglass Dumbrille
    Douglass Dumbrille
    • George Vermillionas George Vermillion
    3 episodes3 eps • 1951–1953
    Robert Rockwell
    Robert Rockwell
    • Don Kerbyas Don Kerby…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1951–1952
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This series dramatizes confidence games which fall under the jurisdiction of Captain John Braddock.
    • fraud
    • police
    • police detective
    • detective
    • confidence game
    • 2 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After one year in syndication, CBS added this show to its schedule in 1951.
    • Quotes

      [Introduction to each episode]

      Captain Braddock: [to the camera] What you are about to see is a real-life story, taken from the files of the police racket and bunco squads, business protective associations and similar sources around the country. It is intended to expose the confidence game - the carefully worked-out frauds by which confidence men take more money each year from the American public than all the bank robbers and thugs with their violence.

    • Connections
      Referenced in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show: Gracie and George Locked Out of Their House (1953)
    • Soundtracks
      The Grand Canyon Suite
      by Ferde Grofé Sr. (uncredited)

      (Original theme over the opening credits, which was the signature music for their sponsor, Phillip Morris cigarettes.)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    All of those Cons, Tricksters, Grifters, Pick Pockets and Sneak Thieves and not one Heart-o-Gold Among them! What would Damon Runyan say?
    Forget about Gun Play, Car Chases and Grueling Interrogation Rooms. You won't see any of them in RACKET SQUAD(1950-53). That stuff just is not there, just as it usually is not in real life. That, Schultz, would make it much more realistic.

    The format was very simple, yet it was probably perfect for these half-hour dramas. Following some opening credits, we were brought by the camera to the Desk, complete with a uniformed copper manning the desk. As the telephone rings, in a sort of a deep, sort of gravely voice, he answers the phone, "Rrrrracket Squad!" We then meet Captin John Braddock(Hollywood Veteran & my own personal Favourite "Zorro", Reed Hadley). After that we get a typical opening monologue about how "......the Confidence Man, whose carefully worked out schemes are responsible for taking more money from the American Public than all the Thieves and Thugs with their violence!" Break for Commercial, and then; the uniformed Desk Officer (who by the way is decked out with earphones and switch board), buzzes on the intercom, "Captain Braddock, Captain Braddock! Ready! And then the good Cap'n 'ould start off the story. Captain reappears after second break with the stock remark (and stock film)remarking, "Let's see how this Case is progressing!", while reading from the file.

    In the stories, all sorts of devious Criminal ploys and scams are dramatized and thus exposed to the viewers. In some of the episodes we have, we see A Phony Spiritual Reader & Medium, bogus Charities, phony "Gasoline" tablets,a Dance Studio/Black Mail scam, a Crooked Used Car Salesman(imagine that!) and Counterfeit Firemen's Charitable Organization. And by the way, all of the Cons dramatized are real, having been used then and even now, as you read this, Schultz! And good use was made of the practice of having Guest Stars in the Episodes. Just off the top of my head, I can recall Billy Halop, John Ducette, Jimmy Gleason, Allen Jenkins, Eddie Keane, Anthony Caruso and even Henry Kulky in various supporting roles.

    And RACKET SQUAD had no stated locale, nor even an implied one. So, the stories could be in any kind of terrain, just as long as it was in the "good old" USA. A farm area one week, a busy inner-city locale the next and finally an "upscale" community/neighborhood the following, they'd all get their turn, and did.

    As for our friend, Captain Braddock, you never hardly saw him in the story itself; but he almost always showed up in the end for making "The Pinch."* He had a sufficient number of Detectives and Uniformed Cops with him. They would then presumably take 'em all downtown!(We weren't sure, 'cause we then saw another commercial.

    After the final commercial break, we were back in Captain Braddock's Office for the sign-off and his final words of wisdom:

    "Remember, there are people who can slap you on the back with one hand. and Pick Your Pocket with another! And it could happen to you!" God, how we loved that show! It was so informational and entertaining! And it proclaimed and endorsed a closer, more decent way of life. And it possibly had just about as good a thumbnail sketch of what Policemen and Police Departments are all about.

    Thank You again, Lord, for my VHS and DVD's and for making RACKET SQUAD available!

    NOTE: * The "Pinch", term first heard by my little ears from my own Dad, while watching RACKET SQUAD! Thanks, Dad!

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John T."Red" Ryan is a lifelong Chicago Resident, a Veteran "Bumper Morgan-Type" Street Cop, Retired after 35 years. He now just watches the grass grow and helps out the Wife, Deanna, with her Real Estate Business. Their Nest is now empty, with both Daughters, Jenn and Michelle(Notre Dame Grads,both), living in the D.C.area.
    helpful•16
    6
    • redryan64
    • Sep 25, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 7, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Squadra mobile
    • Filming locations
      • Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hal Roach Studios
      • Showcase Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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