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Remember Those Live Phone Operator Voices?
The Reason For My Faith ^ | 3/29/21 | Unknown

Posted on 03/29/2021 11:36:20 AM PDT by OneVike

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The days of the old black phone connected to the wall, or sitting on table connected by a cord are almost over. Even if you still have a dial up phone, it's probably working off a main station with a cordless phone. I would guess that 99% of Americans today have cell phones. Those of us old enough to remember those days may be able to relate to this story.

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway.

The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please," I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

“Information."

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No, "I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts." "Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her,

“Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?" She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly,

“Wayne, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone,

"Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice.

"How do I spell fix?" I asked

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.

"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me. Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

"Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do," she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered, "Information." I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute. Is your name Wayne?"

"Yes." I answered.

Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you. The note said,

“Tell Wayne there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?


I have a similar memory. I grew up in a house with 8 kids, and I was the youngest. So everyone kept me off the phone.

Except one time when I was alone and dialed O. It was 56 years ago, and I was about 8 years old. I remember asking if the lady could tell me where my Dad went. She told me to ask my Mom. I told her she doesn't like him anymore. She asked me his name, and after a moment or so, she told me she didn't find anyone with that name. She then asked me some questions to see if she could help. Eventually I told her that I watched some men in a black care take him away, before we moved, and I haven't seen him since.

We did have a short conversation. She was in the middle of explaining how sometimes adults don't get along and one has to leave. About that time my Mom came into the living room. She was upset and told me I was to hang up and stay off the phone. So I was forced to hang up. I had forgotten all about it, until I read this.

Amazing story. Oh how I miss live people in this digital World we live in, where all phone menus are automatic recordings. You can never get a live person anymore. Anyone who remembers those old days, will have their own memories I'm sure.

A few years late I learned where my father went. It was a of information my mother made sure no one told me. I was like 10 or 11 when I finally learned where he went. I remember sneaking into my oldest brothers room to read his superman comic books. When he came in I hid in the closet. That's when I overheard him and another brother talking about Dad.

That was the first time I heard anything from anyone about my father since he left. Turns out he went to prison, and the men in the black vehicle were detectives who came to arrest him. Eventually I learned he had committed incest with my sisters, and was sentence to 14 years.

At that age I no idea of what the word meant, and I knew even less about the physical and phycological damage it had done to my sisters. Oh, eventually I would understand, but at 11 I was clueless. Until I read this story, I had all but forgotten about asking the operator for information on my dad. 

Today I look back and, while I understand their desire to protect me, they actually pushed me away from them. I grew up feeling like an outsider, like there were always things they kept from me. Jokes, stories  and just a stand offish attitude towards me that eventually led me to leave when I was 16. To this day I don't have a tepid relationship with my brothers or sisters. 




TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: information; operators; telephone
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To: OneVike
I was at my mom's this week and while cleaning out the basement came accross two old rotary phones. One was bakelite plastic. I didn't have the heart to throw them out since they brought back a lot of memories.

My grandma would yell at us kids if we'd pick up the receiver. "It costs money!" she'd yell.

I do recall calling the operator when I was about 8 and asking for help with homework. Miss those days with a real live person on the other end.

Slaming down the receiver is such a lost art right now.

41 posted on 03/29/2021 12:56:15 PM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop ("There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration” - Pompeo)
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To: OneVike

i worked as a answering service operator a year after high school.
and anyone remember Dr Hook- Sylvia’s Mother??


42 posted on 03/29/2021 12:58:58 PM PDT by ronniesgal (Hillary wants to be Governor of New York!!)
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To: OneVike

My Mother-in-law at the time in the ‘90s had an old rotary phone and lived in a tiny town. She didn’t really understand caller ID. When she called I would say in a deep, scary voice “Hell, Fran.” She would always get a little scared and say “Don’t do that!”


43 posted on 03/29/2021 12:59:24 PM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper)
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To: 1_Rain_Drop
Slaming down the receiver is such a lost art right now.

Yea, tapping end call when your mad, just doesn't have the same effect.
44 posted on 03/29/2021 1:02:31 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: ronniesgal
"Sylvia's Mother"
45 posted on 03/29/2021 1:10:10 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: OneVike

My husband was playing this in our car, and one of the young girl passengers asked WHAT’s an operator, and why is she asking for money??
We cracked up and just said “another time along time ago”!


46 posted on 03/29/2021 1:21:58 PM PDT by ronniesgal (Hillary wants to be Governor of New York!!)
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To: OneVike
I bought my daughter a Crosley candlestick phone from an antique store many years ago. She keeps it on her roll top desk. Looks spiffy! One just like this.


47 posted on 03/29/2021 1:29:54 PM PDT by jy8z (When push comes disguised as nudge, I do not budge.)
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To: OneVike

A long time ago, I was one of those live phone operators.


48 posted on 03/29/2021 1:30:06 PM PDT by Duchess47 ("One day I will leave this world and dream myself to Reality" Crazy Horse)
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To: OneVike

I remember the crank telephone on the wall in the downstairs hall in southern York County, PA, which was considered the boonies. We were on Line 17. It was a “party line” with a half dozen neighbors all on the same line. If we wanted to ring someone on that line we could ring it ourselves. Our number was 17-R-13. (one long and three shorts). Groves’ number was 17-R-3. (Three shorts). To ring the Grove house we’d give 3 short cranks: ding-ding-ding. When anyone on our line got a call, all the others’ phones rang too. Our ring was one looong riiiing and 3 shorts. You only picked up the receiver if it was your ring.....unless you wanted to eavesdrop on a neighbor’s call.

To make a call to someone on a different line, or a long distance call, you’d give one looong ring and one of our local operators; older ladies, Ordella Hess or Nettie Slenker would pick up and connect the call for you. One was on days and the other on nights. It was that way when I enlisted in Uncle Sam’s Army in 1957. When I came back in 1961 there were still “party” lines, but we had dial-up phones. Within a few years we all had private lines.


49 posted on 03/29/2021 1:34:13 PM PDT by Tucker39 ("It is impossible so to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." George Washington )
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To: Mears

Had a young ATT guy come to the door and promise me the absolute bestest services bundle of TV, Internet and PHONE!
Told him they would be the last people I ever dealt with.
Asked him if he knew of Ma Bell and he didn’t. Explained what a hardass company they were and I vowed I would never deal with them again. He just was flumoxed.
But after 40 years the crap they pulled and the money they charged still rankled.
He left shaking his head...and I was shaking mine.


50 posted on 03/29/2021 1:49:16 PM PDT by Adder ("Can you be more stupid?" is a question, not a challenge.)
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To: jy8z

Now that’s cool


51 posted on 03/29/2021 2:02:11 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: PAR35

DUnkirk 6-9358... My folks had that number for 50+ years...


52 posted on 03/29/2021 2:02:46 PM PDT by dakine
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To: Duchess47

Oh wow.

So, do you have any memories to share about callers?


53 posted on 03/29/2021 2:02:46 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: dakine
Allan Sherman: "Let's All Call Up AT&T and Protest to the President March"
54 posted on 03/29/2021 2:05:20 PM PDT by Publius
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To: Tucker39

I was born in “56”, and I remember in 1094 we had a two person party line. I was pretty young still, but I do remember my Mom telling my older siblings to not to hog the phone because the other lady, (don’t recall her name) was complaining that every time she needed it it was busy, or she was sure one of us were listening in on her call. That I know was happening, because my brothers would laugh when they did.


55 posted on 03/29/2021 2:06:57 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: Tucker39

Tucker, you must be in your mid 80”s I guess. Am I right?


56 posted on 03/29/2021 2:07:48 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: lee martell

I heard that song the other day. Hadn’t heard it in years!


57 posted on 03/29/2021 2:09:19 PM PDT by dandiegirl (BOBBY m)
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To: Adder

My wife’s grandfather owned a few thousand shares of Ma Bell, when they were split up, they owned shares in all of them. By the time they died they had some good stocks to pass down to their son, my wife’s father.


58 posted on 03/29/2021 2:10:06 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: dakine

Ever ask them if they thought it interesting their number was the same name as the battle of Dunkirk where the British escaped Nazi Germany in 1940?


59 posted on 03/29/2021 2:12:15 PM PDT by OneVike (Just another Christian waiting to go home)
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To: Adder

Good for you.

.


60 posted on 03/29/2021 2:13:58 PM PDT by Mears (.)
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