I used to watch Good Times when I was young, and JJ would always answer the phone, “Cello?” (like the instrument). It reeked of cool, even for a gangly ghetto brother.
Before facetiming and apps and smartphones that could shut your garage door for you, phones were a means of communication by using one’s voice. Certain phone images from pop culture take us back to moments in our lives.
How could we forget the iconic scene in It’s A Wonderful Life? I can feel the sexual tension from here.
This one still gives me the creeps. “We’ve traced the call, and it’s coming from inside the house.”
Dum dum dum!!
Surely you remember this scene in 1985’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure when Pee Wee tells the bikers, “Shhh! I’m trying to use the phone!”
Even E.T. tried to get in on the action. But he never did phone home.
But the celeb with by far the most phone pics is the one and only Norma Jean Baker. She favored cross-your-heart phones, endorsed by her pal Jane Russell.
Apparently, she tagteamed quite often.
Although at home, she needed the casual ease of one hand free to express herself.
Keeping private conversations confidential…
In her earlier years, she posed with phones for cheesecake shots. I bet there wasn’t even anyone on the line…
Then she got the call from JFK: it was over.
And she took it well.
I Don't Get It 
A phone again, naturally. Black. Rotary. On a desk or table. It was a big deal when they started to put them on the wall, with long, curly cords to allow you to stretch out from room to room. Then came the push buttons. Holy cow, Kerbey, we were part of a revolution. Or maybe it was just and evolution. By the way, three of your photos didn’t take, leaving just big, white boxes.
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Thanks, Mark. They look fine on my end. I’ll see what I can do.
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I checked again and now they’re fine on my side, too. False alarm, Kerbey.
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Great post. Can you imagine how impatient we would be these days, using a rotary phone? And being on such a short leash?
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yep
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LI-66142. My first phone number. A party line. Back then a phone call was an event. When you wanted privacy your best bet was to use a phone booth. A massive wood cabinet with folding doors. Phones were used for communication only. Now; as you pointed out communication is a mere side effect. Your posts are always fun and thought provoking. One ringa dingie, two…
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That’s neat that you remember your first phone number.
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The Western Electric ( A wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T) Playtex cross your heart phone never really did lift and separate as it promised to do during the now famous Mean Joe Green/Raquel Welch Super-bowl ad.
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False representation.
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Brilliant.
Just plain brilliant.
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Gee, thanks, Hook!
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