Payphones Past

These phone booths take cellphones

20 years ago

When I was a kid the church I attended installed baby booths. These were soundproof (almost) rooms where parents could…

Missouri: For a quarter you can’t even make a call

20 years ago

'"AT&T does continue to operate 'as many pay phones in St. Francois County as possible,' Moesner said. He added that…

You Must Remember This…

20 years ago

MacAllister Stone writes: "My personal experiences with payphones over the years tend toward the middle-of-the-night, damn-I'm-in-a-fix variety. You know the…

NPR: There’s No Tech Like Low-Tech

20 years ago

NPR delivers a flailing, unfocused piece that nevertheless opens some interesting windows into the paranoia of Americans who for some…

UK: Phone boxes converted to card-only use

20 years ago

"Rural payphones saved from having the plug pulled on them are being converted to take cards instead of coins. "Merely…

UK: End of the line for payphones

20 years ago

"British Telecom is to scrap three Wirral payphones and remove cash payment facilties from a fourth. '"We appreciate that some…

Boston Globe: A Port in the Storm

20 years ago

"You're climbing your way out of homelessness and trying to get a job. And a place to live. And meds…

Forbes: Want to chat in private? Use a pay phone.

20 years ago

"'A pay phone and a roll of quarters is the best way to protect your privacy if you're really interested,'…

Wales: Couple hope to keep lonely pay phone

20 years ago

"John and Jane Hughes have a telephone at home, but it only takes incoming calls. They got into the habit…

Architecture of Waiting

20 years ago

Alexander Trevi on the architecture of waiting: "... landscapes of waiting. The anticipation of a call, or the prank call,…