NYC – The Payphone Project

New Year, Old Payphones

the payphone project — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 21:46:47 +0000

When I first heard about 80s.nyc, a Streetview for NYC in the 1980s, I thought it sounded like inspiration for an extended dream sequence from "Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer". I went out clicking for payphones and phone booths, and found quite a few. It was good fun, even if it chewed up a little too much time.

Phone Booths of Astoria, 1960s. Steinway Street Near Broadway.

the payphone project — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 00:43:06 +0000

I spotted these beautiful 1960s Manhattan phone booths while clicking through an underappreciated Facebook group called Astoria Beat.

Manhattan’s Last Outdoor Phone Booths: What’s The Deal?

the payphone project — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 18:27:26 +0000

One of the more oddball moves by the CityBridge consortium was its replacement of Manhattan's classic American Airlight style phone booths with Canadian models. Let's look at them.

Jorge Vasconcelos: 42nd Street Phone Booths, 1985.

the payphone project — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 13:23:27 +0000

Photo is from November 25, 1985, by Jorge Vasconcelos. Please take a tour of his Flickr stream.

NYC Phone Booth Roundup

the payphone project — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 20:56:53 +0000

Just a few sightings of phone booths around New York, with more to come.

Who’s the Photographer? Woman Using a Public Phone, NYC, 1970.

the payphone project — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 19:51:07 +0000

This image appears on several web sites, none of which give credit to the photographer. Can anybody identify whose picture this is?

Is it Possible to Call Payphones in New York City and Talk to Whoever Answers?

the payphone project — Sat, 29 Apr 2017 23:58:41 +0000

A follower of the Payphone Project’s Facebook page wrote to ask a question I don’t think I’ve heard in a long time: Is it still possible to call random payphones in New York City and talk to whoever might answer? As the subject might be of general interest to visitors of this website I rewrote and supplemented my response to the question and share it herewith.

NYC Payphone Customer

the payphone project — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 02:38:11 +0000

A New Yorker using a Titan-branded payphone under the RFK/Triborough Bridge.

Someone Went Payphone Handset Hunting For Easter

the payphone project — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 00:35:23 +0000

It looked to me as if someone had been hunting for payphone handsets instead of eggs on this past Easter Sunday.

Lonely Old Phone Booth on Yankee Pier, Governors Island

the payphone project — Sun, 16 Apr 2017 23:22:16 +0000

Seen on Yankee Pier off the east side of Governors Island is, for whatever the distinction might be worth, probably the most beautifully located phone booth in New York City.

New York City: Payphone in a Toilet

the payphone project — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 18:25:58 +0000

Ron Dunn, a new follower of the Payphone Project Facebook Page, yesterday offered up this Pulitzer-worthy shot of a New York City payphone in its finest hour, dangling inside a toilet.

The Payphone Project on “CBS Sunday Morning”

the payphone project — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 20:53:21 +0000

The Payphone Project get about a minute of air time on CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley. Reviews all seem positive, with the only complaint being that people actually wanted to see more of me!

Talking on the Telebeam — But For How Much Longer?

the payphone project — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 20:17:52 +0000

People still use payphones. I spotted this woman talking on a Telebeam payphone today. Telebeam's continued existence, however, may be short-lived, as the CityBridge monopoly inches closer to putting the company out of business.

Penn Station Musician Heard Through a Nearby Payphone

the payphone project — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 01:56:04 +0000

Any endeavor which depends on the reliability of the public telephone is imperiled from the start. I was glad to catch at least this one segment today, from a musician who is unnamed because no identifying information was to be seen at his performance space.

Payphone Down. Broadway in Astoria.

the payphone project — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 16:11:44 +0000

This Citybridge payphone suffered a fatal blow last week. Today all traces of this payphone are gone.