THROWBACK THURSDAY - One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingy...

While most of the tech world is getting excited about the availability of 5G connections, I'd like to pay homage to a classic from my past--the humble rotary telephone.  Having one in your home was a big deal when I was growing up. It wasn't so much the luxury of it that got Mama Josie to get one,  it was because my older siblings living out of town insisted upon it.

Of course we didn't have a private line at first.  As I recall, we had a party line and later upgraded.  For you young folks, that's when you shared a line with another person.  I think we shared one with Miss Nettie Parker, the blind lady down the street. If it was in use, you could actually pick up the phone and hear other people talking.  So you politely hung up and waited until they hung up to place your call. Unless, of course you were nosey!

Our telephone on Brooklyn Street was on a table by the front door.  It was unusual for the time because it was a two-toned color (black and red).  I can't remember seeing another one like it.  I often wondered if Mama chose that combo because she liked the color or because it was cheaper and less popular than the others.  In some homes, telephones sat on a special table with a seat attached to it like the picture below.  The space beneath was for the telephone books (another blast from the past).

 Neighbors were kind enough to let you use their phone if you didn't have one, as long as it wasn't long-distance. You would get charged extra on your bill.  Most of the time, they were considerate enough to keep it local and for emergencies only.  I do remember one exception. A mentally unstable neighbor of ours, we called him Radio, asked to use our phone one day. All was fine until he told the operator to put him through to the President in Washington, D.C.  Mama quickly showed him to the door! 

That's another thing.  For long distance or collect calls (calls that were paid for on the receiving end) you had to go through an operator.  Back then you could actually dial "0" and talk to a real person not a recording to get help with emergencies, directory assistance, or placing collect calls. Our telephone service was provided by Southwestern Bell Company. I think A.T. &T, acquired it many years back.

CHEATING MA BELL!

As teens, we did not have the convenience of a cell phone to make calls if you were away from home.  If you needed to place a call you went to the nearest neighbor's house, a store with a pay phone, or popped into a telephone booth to drop in your coins.  Look at this picture. When was the last time you used one of these bad boys?  

Teens, telephones, and taking short cuts!  Not a lot has changed. Hubby Gary  and I often laugh about how he would walk me home from a Currin's cafe date (a local teen hangout) and then check back in to say a final good night. 

There was a pay phone booth like this one on a corner near his house and before he headed in, he would put in a quarter, let it ring three times and then hang up and get his money back.  That was my signal to call him back at the telephone booth's number which I had conveniently memorized.  We could then talk free and privately a few minutes longer. 

But don't throw shade on teenagers!  This next one adults used quite often.  Say you returned home from an out of town visit with relatives.  You couldn't text and let them know you made it home safely.  But you could make a collect call and ask for "yourself."  Whoever answered would decline the call but would stay on the line. The relative would then hear the operator say something like, "sorry the person you called is not there." You would say "thank you" and hang up. If your relative knew your voice then it was evident that all was well and you made it home safely!

"HARRIS GROCERY, MAY I HELP YOU?"

Harris Grocery, our family store has had a telephone for as long as I can remember. The older siblings could probably tell you what the number was at the time.  There was a desk phone in the back of the store where Daddy's office was but if customers needed to use one, a wall pay telephone was available.  At the Locust street address, it  hung on the wall beside the coke machine and big picture window at the entrance of the store. We didn't have an extension close to the cash register so anybody working the front of the store would have to answer this one if it rang.  Like today, folks would call to see if a certain item was in stock or if a friend or relative was there. And if business was slow, you could even talk to Daddy for a few minutes and say hello. 

We've been blessed with the wonders and convenience of modern technology.  Things we do with a smart phone today seemed like something from the Jetsons cartoon when I was growing up.  Who would believe that one day you would be able to actually see the person you're talking to.  Take pictures and send them to another. Buy almost anything--even a car. Find a date and even go to church....all by telephone. 

 I'll let you reflect on the little bit I've shared in this post and then let you decide.  Were we better off then or now?  One more thing:  I just had to show you what that telephone on Brooklyn Street looked like.  Wasn't it neat! George, Alfred and I had some fond memories of that phone.  It brought good news, sad news, and even bad news.  But it did let us know that somewhere somebody was thinking about us!

TODAY'S FAMILY BLOG QUESTIONS:  

What was the nickname for the one-piece telephone and telephone book chair shown in the picture above? What was the telephone number for Mama Josie's Brooklyn Street home in Charleston, Mo?  

HINT:

It started with MU 3-

Love to All,

Your Family Griot - Carolyn Harris Betts