Your HOLIDAY SOR-BAY: Dragnet "The Big Little Jesus" and "The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas"

Here is a "HOLIDAY SOR-BAY" that we could use to artificially stimulate our Christmas spirit.

Today in Television History December 22, 1953 Dragnet becomes the first network series with a regular sponsor.

Fatima cigarettes signs on to back the show. Dragnet had already gained popularity on the radio, where it debuted in 1949, and quickly gained a loyal audience on TV as well. The program was one of the first dramatic series in a medium that had been dominated to that point by anthology shows. This was a Christmas episode titled "The Big Little Jesus".

The episode was remade on Dragnet 1967: Season 2, Episode 15 "The Christmas Story" and aired on December 21st 1967.

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There are three cast members from the original series in addition to Jack Webb reprising their original roles.

While we are on the subject of Dragnet and Christmas, watch The Big .22 Rifle for Christmas (First aired December, 18th 1952). The Story is as relevant today as it was then.