Drake-Chenault Open Reel Tapes

Because there were yet no orbiting satellites around this planet to help distribute syndicated radio programming in the 1960s and 1970s, Drake-Chenault radio programming was produced and recorded for open reel audio tapes that were physically shipped to hundreds of radio stations. The services provided by Drake-Chenault included recorded music, radio jingles and promotional announcements.

[ Back to Boss Radio Inner Workings page ]

The photograph shows flat square boxes of open reel tapes actually used in radio programming syndication.

Through an estate liquidation I acquired a total of thirty-eight 10.5 inch open reel tapes containing radio programming content (music but not the station jingles) heard on stations which paid for the Drake-Chenault radio syndication service.

This particular collection features Contempo-200 tapes and other tapes that only have the letter “X” followed by a three-digital numeral.

Tape Box Dimensions: 10.75 inches x 10.75 inches x 1/16 inch
Tape Box Weight = 0.825 lbs
Total Tape Collection Weight = 32 lbs

Pictured is a vintage Shafer automation system used in that era to play open reel tapes along with cartridge tapes which together created professional quality syndicated radio programming services for a monthly fee paid to companies such as Drake-Chenault. The use of automation directly diminished the business justification for radio station owners to invest in unique local radio programming with on-air announcing staffs. The outcome was fewer on-air jobs available especially in smaller markets due to the rise of sparsely staffed or mainly unattended stations which relied upon automated programming.

A direct descendant of the outmoded audio tape playback methods used in the Schafer automation system is 21st century digital automation for radio stations and streaming audio channels which requires no racks of expensive hardware with moving parts.

Boss Radio Links: