Calling All Cars

Broadcast History: 29 November 1933 to 8 September 1939

Calling All Cars was one of the very first police shows to be broadcast. The format was similar to Dragnet in many ways. It was based in California, it dramatized true crime stories, and it included interviews with real officers. Calling All Cars was never broadcast nationwide. It was only heard by listeners in areas where Rio Grande Gasoline was sold. Rio Grande sponsored the program through its six year run and used the air-time to convince listeners that by using its “cracked” gasoline their car would run like a police car – advice which I am sure was taken on board by every crook in the vicinity.