“Calling People of a certain age. “Do you remember this object?
Do you remember the sound of a steady, droning, humming, dial tone? Do you remember the dial phones we grew up with coming in all shapes and sizes; counter top, table top, wall phones with long coiled cables (how many of you as teenagers pulled them into a closet or room and closed the door for privacy?) Yes, a pay phone could be found on every corner, in public spaces and became an icon for Dr. Who, the space alchemist traveling through time. Hop back to 2019. While waiting in line for a restroom I spotted an object on the wall, long and tall and rectangular, with slots for coins and info on how to charge a call with a swipe slot to do so.
Yes, a pay phone, I thought they had gone with the demise of superman, In fact as I reported in another blog entry, I have spotted them world wide re purposed to house AED’s or ATM machines). Some still contain a modern pay phone such as the one I “discovered.” I took the chance and gingerly lifted the earpiece hanging in its saddle. After a 2-3 seconds delay it sounded forth, the almost forgotten HMMMM of the dial tone. At least it wasn’t a voice saying “Number Pleeaase”-drawn out as in the days of old when you could secretly listen in on your neighbors’ calls (I do remember the “party” phones), a phone number shared with one or two neighbors and the phone operator who may have said, “oh, Ellie is at Joan’s house, I will connect you.” I was very very young. I confess, I heard many a conversation in my grade school years with my neighbors the Little’s. The dad was DA in Rochester and I went to school with the son. I bet they heard our calls and our neighbors’ on the other side as well. (my phone number was Hillside 5031M-the M being our party designation.) I apologize for flitting back and forth in time as if I were riding Dr. Who’s rocket booth but I truly did not expect the pay phones to be so present in this age of the smart phone. Now I am more aware of the number of pay phones spotted here and there, but I have not seen anyone attached to a phone but they must be used. Which credit card would you like to use? Next time you encounter a pay phone, stop, pick up the handset and listen to the past.