By Annabella Ramirez
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter, most famous for his role as Joe Friday in the Dragnet franchise, which he created. He was also the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited.
Webb started his career in the 1940s as a radio personality, starring in several radio shows and dramas—including Dragnet, which he created in 1949—before entering television in the 1950s, creating the television adaptation of Dragnet for NBC as well as other series. Throughout the 1960s, Webb worked in both acting and television production, creating Adam-12 in 1968, and in 1970, Webb retired from acting to focus on producing, creating Emergency! in 1972. Webb continued to make television series, and although many of them were less successful and short-lived, he wished to rekindle his prior successes, and had plans to return to acting in a Dragnet revival before he died.
Webb’s production style aimed for significant levels of detail and accuracy. Many of his works focused on law enforcement and emergency services in the Los Angeles area, most prominently the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which directly supported the production of Dragnet and Adam-12.
Webb’s personal life was better defined by his love of jazz than his interest in police work. He had a collection of more than 6,000 jazz recordings. Webb’s own recordings reached cult status, including his deadpan delivery of “Try A Little Tenderness“. His lifelong interest in the cornet allowed him to move easily in the jazz culture, where he met singer and actress Julie London. They married in 1947 and had daughters Stacy and Lisa. They divorced in 1954.
Webb died of an apparent heart attack in the early morning hours of December 23, 1982, at age 62. He is interred at Sheltering Hills Plot 1999, Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, and was given a funeral with full Los Angeles police honors. On Webb’s death, Chief Daryl Gates announced that badge number 714, which was used by Joe Friday in Dragnet, would be retired. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley ordered all flags lowered to half staff in Webb’s honor for a day, and Webb was buried with a replica LAPD badge bearing the rank of sergeant and the number 714.
Webb has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for radio (at 7040 Hollywood Boulevard) and the other for television (at 6728 Hollywood Boulevard). In 1992, Webb was posthumously inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Axel Fredrik Cronstedt (Swedish scientist) –
- Joseph Smith (religious leader; organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) –
- Madam C. J. Walker (entrepreneur, philanthropist, social activist) –
- Robert Bly (poet) –
- Eddie Vedder (musician) –
Died
- Jack Webb (actor) –
- Marjorie Child Husted (home economist, helped create Betty Crocker) –
- Victor Borge (comedian & pianist) –
Events
- Saturn’s moon Rhea discovered –
- George Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia, with no inkling that he would be drafted to President 6 years later –
- A Visit From St. Nicholas, attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, first published –
- Part of Vincent Van Gogh’s left ear was cut off –
- Reginald Fessenden became the first person to transmit voice over a wireless radio –
- Transistor first demonstrated –
- Jeanne Sauvé was appointed governor-general of Canada –
- U.S. pilots, Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager, landed the experimental aircraft Voyager in California after a record 9-day 4-minute nonstop flight around the world without refueling –
Weather
- Ships were lost in a storm on Long Island Sound –
- Strong northerly winds generated a windchill of -100 degrees F in North Dakota –
- Williston, North Dakota, recorded a temperature of -50 degrees F –
- 9.6 inches of snow fell in Wilmington, North Carolina –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
