net ▁became ▁a ▁successful ▁television ▁show ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 2 . ▁Bart on ▁Y ar borough ▁died ▁of ▁a ▁heart ▁attack ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 1 , ▁after ▁film ing ▁only ▁two ▁episodes , ▁and ▁Bar ney ▁Phill ips ▁( S gt . ▁Ed ▁Jacob s ) ▁and ▁Herbert ▁Ell is ▁( O ffic er ▁Frank ▁Smith ) ▁tempor arily ▁stepped ▁in ▁as ▁partners . ▁V eter an ▁radio ▁and ▁film ▁actor ▁Ben ▁Alexander ▁took ▁over ▁the ▁role ▁of ▁j ov ial , ▁bur ly ▁Officer ▁Frank ▁Smith . ▁Alexander ▁was ▁popular ▁and ▁remained ▁a ▁cast ▁member ▁until ▁the ▁show ' s ▁can cellation ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 9 . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 4 , ▁a ▁full - length ▁feature - film ▁adaptation ▁of ▁the ▁series ▁was ▁released , ▁st arring ▁Web b , ▁Alexander , ▁and ▁Richard ▁Bo one . ▁ ▁The ▁television ▁version ▁of ▁Drag net ▁began ▁with ▁this ▁narr ation ▁by ▁George ▁F enn eman : ▁" L ad ies ▁and ▁gentlemen , ▁the ▁story ▁you ▁are ▁about ▁to ▁see ▁is ▁true . ▁The ▁names ▁have ▁been ▁changed ▁to ▁protect ▁the ▁innoc ent ." ▁Web b ▁would ▁int one , ▁" This ▁is ▁the ▁city : ▁Los ▁Angeles , ▁California ." ▁He ▁would ▁then ▁make ▁a ▁historical ▁or ▁top ical ▁point , ▁describe ▁his ▁duties , ▁his ▁partner , ▁and ▁superior ▁on ▁the ▁episode . ▁The ▁radio ▁series ▁had ▁a ▁similar ▁opening , ▁though ▁Web b , ▁as ▁Friday , ▁did ▁not ▁give ▁a