In the 1960s, Standard School Broadcasts were educational radio programs primarily used in the United States to supplement classroom learning, especially in elementary and secondary schools. These broadcasts were produced by Standard Oil Company of California (now Chevron) as a public service initiative, beginning in the late 1920s and continuing through the mid-20th century, with significant popularity in the 1960s. The programs aimed to enhance education by providing lessons in subjects like music, history, literature, geography, and science. They were designed to align with school curricula, making them a valuable resource for teachers.
Broadcasts were typically 30-minute episodes aired weekly on local radio stations, often during school hours. They featured a mix of narration, music, sound effects, and sometimes dramatized skits to engage young listeners. Programs were hosted by educators or professional broadcasters who presented material in an accessible, storytelling style. Accompanying materials, such as teacher guides, student workbooks, and sheet music, were distributed to schools to integrate the broadcasts into lesson plans.
The broadcasts were aired on AM radio stations across the U.S., particularly in the western states, where Standard Oil had a strong presence. Schools would tune in using classroom radios, and teachers would prepare students for the content using provided materials.
In the 1960s, radio was still a dominant medium for mass communication, though television was gaining popularity. The Standard School Broadcasts remained relevant because many schools lacked TVs or the budget for audiovisual equipment. The programs were a precursor to later educational media, such as PBS television shows and educational podcasts.
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Looking back
April 28, 2025 at QZVX
William Engelhardt says:
In the 1950s, the Standard School Broadcasts were aired each week via the PA system to our classrooms at Hazel Valley Elementary School. Other than the name of the program, no commercials.
The orchestra ”under the direction of Carmen Dragon,” intoned the stentorian announcer in a smoothly mellifluous introduction. Took a while before I understood he was not saying “Common Dragon.
Standard School Broadcast
April 29, 2025 at QZVX
Dick Ellingson says:
My sister and I went to Olympic View School in Seattle and heard the program every week, probably 1947 to 1951. No commercials, but the program’s open and close gave credit to The Standard Oil Company of California.
I’ve never forgotten a vacation to San Francisco in our first family car, a ’48 Dodge. We spotted a billboard for something called Standard School, looked at each other and shouted in unison, “Standard School Broadcast!”
Carmen Dragon was Toni Tennille’s father-in-law.
Here’s an episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=budZzGfNJBY
The Captain & Tenille
April 29, 2025 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
While there’s no definitive confirmation, Daryl Dragon was suspected by his wife, Toni Tennille, to have been on the autism spectrum. Toni’s suspicion stemmed from Daryl’s behavior and challenges she experienced in connecting with him. She later found out he had Parkinsonian symptoms, including tremors, which were exacerbated by anxiety and PTSD from childhood abuse.
Can it get any worse?
April 29, 2025 at QZVX
Jason Remington says:
Tennille was vicious about Dragon, criticizing his looks and revealing his failed attempt at a hair transplant and deriding his medical condition that gave him unusually large eyeballs in her memoire. But Dragon told The ENQUIRER he never read the vicious book.
Dragon’s befuddlement at the divorce was compounded by the possibility of Tennille allegedly having a female lover. A source told The ENQUIRER there were “rumors abound around town that Toni might be gay. In fact, in all the years she’s been here, I’ve never seen her out and about with Daryl. It’s always been with a woman. Once I saw her at a Mexican restaurant, and she had her arm slung around the back of the chair of this attractive, younger blonde woman. I noticed she kept her arm in that position for most of the meal.”
Responding to Dick E’s comment
April 29, 2025 at QZVX
John Fortmeyer says:
Olympic View School, huh? Dick, I live in Oregon now but probably grew up about three or four blocks from you. Please email me at wjohnfortmeyer@gmail.com so we can compare notes.
John Fortmeyer