Racket Squad

Three episodes of Racket Squad were edited into a 74m. second feature. Released in UK cinemas, in July 1955, by Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors under the title Mobs Incorporated. Classified with an A certificate by the British Board of Film Censors. No child under 16 could see an A film, unless accompanied by an adult. It was a common practise back then for kids to get around this minor difficulty by approaching a complete stranger in the cinema queue and pleading " 'ere Guv'nor, can you take us in ? ". Reed Hadley gives an authoritative performance as a police captain with integrity and an overwhelming desire to see lawbreakers apprehended and taken into custody to face justice. Highly entertaining series of television films, featuring Hadley, the great all-rounder, who never failed to turn in a polished performance.

This is a superb show. I love programs from this era. Since I was born in the late 60's, I never experienced them first hand, but, better later than never. The majority of them like the Twilight Zone, (my favorite), Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Hour, Dragnet, Perry Mason, Andy Griffith, were all in syndication over the years to enjoy but I only found this in the last 5 years.

They are real crimes retold for TV, like Dragnet, etc. Reed Hadley has an incredible presence and the stories are very original. That's whats great about older shows, the stories are fresh and to the point, not rehashes of the same thing over and over. There are no flashy effects, grating music nor gratuitous scenes not germaine to the story-simply a ratings grab.

Yes, I do like the CSIs and NCISs as they have really good plotlines as well and I'm well aware they take immense liberties with the science. However, the old shows just tell it like it is. You get the story, plain and simple. Many of the plotlines are relevant today.

I think more people, especially the younger generations should watch and try to appreciate how it "used to be" instead of expecting remakes of everything and have it dumbed down and awash with needless extras.

I love old TV shows and often watch them on my computer. How? Well, archive.org has a lot of public domain TV series and I have tried quite a few over the years. One of these is "Racket Busters". While they don't have every episode, they have quite a few and they are well worth your time--even if they are a bit dated when you see them today.

Each episode features Captain Braddock (Reed Hadley) as the seemingly all-knowing cop. He investigates cases involving frauds and con artists. Each episode begins and ends with the same spiel--a weakness of the show. Instead of tailoring the narration for each episode, it's just tacked on to the standard introduction--a preachy one at that.

What follows are various recreations of various crimes. Some are rather unusual but many (such as one about pyramid schemes) are timeless and might help you avoid such scams today. In each case, the crime is recreated AND Braddock always catches them. And, surprisingly, in most cases, he gets the money back to the victims! Not exactly real life, but quite enjoyable and worth your time--particularly if you like shows like "Dragnet" or "The Naked City".

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.

If I recall correctly, the main character used to address the camera at some point to tell the audience, "Remember, there are people who will slap you on the back with one hand, and pick your pocket with the other!"