Product ID: NWDE
Control Number: 7790489
Night Watch 62 Episodes
Night Watch was a groundbreaking and gritty old time radio series that offered listeners an unprecedented "fly on the wall" look at the reality of police work. Unlike the dramatized and often sensationalized crime shows of the era, this program was a precursor to modern reality television. It featured actual recordings made by a police reporter riding along with officers on their nightly shifts. The show captured the raw, unscripted sounds of the city after dark, from the tension of a highspeed pursuit to the quiet, often tragic domestic calls that defined the graveyard shift.
Authentic, stark, and deeply human, Night Watch was known for its documentary style and its rejection of typical Hollywood heroics in favor of the unvarnished truth of the beat.
The Stars
The central figure of the series was Donn Reed, a police reporter for radio station KCOP in Culver City, California. Armed with a portable tape recorder a rarity for the time Reed acted as the narrator and observer, providing context and interviewing officers and witnesses as events unfolded.
The "cast" consisted of real police officers and the citizens they encountered on the streets of Culver City. Because the show used actual field recordings, there were no actors or scripts; the voices heard were those of real people caught in the middle of real-life dramas, making it one of the most unique listening experiences in the history of the medium.
Key Dates
Night Watch premiered on April 5, 1954, on the CBS Radio Network.
The series ran for a single but highly influential season, airing through 1955.
Episodes were broadcast in a 30minute format, usually featuring several different calls or incidents recorded during a single night's shift.
The program was produced in close cooperation with the Culver City Police Department, which allowed Reed nearly unlimited access to their nightly operations.
Other Information
The show was famous for its technical innovation. At a time when most radio was performed live in a studio, the use of a portable recorder to capture "natural sound" was revolutionary. Listeners could hear the crackle of the police radio, the hum of the patrol car engine, and the ambient noise of the nighttime streets, all of which added a layer of realism that scripted dramas couldn't match.
A signature element of the show was the lack of a traditional resolution. In many episodes, a call would end without a clean "arrest" or a tidy ending, reflecting the often repetitive and inconclusive nature of police work. Donn Reed’s calm, objective narration helped guide the audience through these moments, emphasizing the social and human aspects of the crimes rather than the thrill of the chase.
Today, Night Watch is hailed by historians as a pioneer of the "cinema verité" style in broadcasting. It remains a fascinating time capsule of midcentury American life and a powerful reminder of how radio could be used to document the real world with startling honesty.
This collection comes preloaded on a USB stick, allowing you to easily transfer all episodes to the device of your choice. Enjoy seamless playback a perfect blend of vintage charm and modern convenience.
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99
Mice Price: $11.59
Length: 15
Width: 52
Weight: 0.0500 pounds
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