Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: HobieSport on November 23, 2008, 01:45:19 AM

Title: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on November 23, 2008, 01:45:19 AM
I can't watch movies the same way anymore.  Especially film noir thrillers and mid-century period pieces. I find myself paying more attention to the design lines of the telephones instead of paying attention to the riveting plot lines.  

Watching a movie the other night and noticed the poor and decent "good girl" character was using a beat up old 302, while the evil murderous rich Femme Fatale had a chrome trimmed colored AE40 that matched her curtains.

I find myself talking to the screen telling Bogart and Bacall to stand the heck more off-frame so I can see the phone better.  I'm telling you folks; it's a disease... ;D

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on November 23, 2008, 10:54:54 AM
I do the same thing with phones and radios, too.  Some of the best "phone watching" movies are Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies from the 1930s.  They're filled with great telephones, mainly AE and Kellogg, and they're usually colored. 

I was watching a movie a while back (I think it was The Mad Miss Manton) that showed a Kellogg Masterphone (the oval manual one) that was chrome plated.  Really beautiful.  Miss Manton had an ivory D1/E1 202 in her apartment.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on November 24, 2008, 09:43:00 AM
I'm glad that I'm not the only one.  Just the other day I was watching the movie "Where The Sidewalk Ends".  Starring Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney.  That movie is a good example of gritty New York black and white angular "film noir" cinematography and neon signs and brickwork.  Telephones where involved, mostly black AE40s is my guess, but they might be Kellogs or Strothbergs-Carlsons.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on November 24, 2008, 11:49:06 AM
We were watching a thing on Carol Burnett on PBS last night, and they showed a lot of old clips of her stuff.  One scene from the late 50's, in black and white as well, had her yank the handset up on a 500 and talk into it.  When she yanked it up the handset cord came right out of the phone, which while being pretty funny as it looked like a flub, was also interesting to me as I could see that the cord had the really early little wire relief strain and very short wire ends, so it must have been a very early 500 with either the separate equalizer or the handset cord terminal block right by where the cord enters the body. 

In a moment of relational savvy I did not bother to mention that I'd noticed any of this to the missus. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on November 24, 2008, 12:53:33 PM
Sometimes when I watch old movies or TV shows, I notice the strain relief on some phones is pulled RIGHT OUT of the handset and it's clearly not being held in by the transmitter capsule holder.  I wonder if the phones acquired by TV/Movie studios didn't have some of the inner working parts.  Another funny things is when the ringer doesn't match the phone.  You hear a loud "500" ring, and then they go pick up their Trimline or Princess phone, which was a single gong ringer, not the two-note gongs of the 500'.  Also movies that take place in the 50's or early 60's and they're using modular phones.

Am I over-analyzing this????  I guess that's why we're here!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on November 24, 2008, 02:06:47 PM
One thing I find interesting is that movies seem to show how long older models were in common use.  In movies from the 1950s that show a lot of phones, like Pat and Mike with Tracy & Hepburn, you see lots of 302s, 202s, and even candlesticks.  That's an indication that such old phones were in common use well past the time they would have been considered "new." 

Another "old" phone that oddly seemed to be in common use in the 1950s was the separate receiver/transmitter pay phone.  That one's almost always seen in movies, rather than a pay phone with a handset. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on November 25, 2008, 02:06:06 AM
I too have noticed that at a certain point in TV and movies all phones had the ring of the 500s.  This continued well into the 80s, even on a Magnum PI the other night the obvious mid 80's cordless one guy had rang like a 500.  Purty interesting.

And I concur about noticing that in old movies, especially stuff from the 50's and 60's, you will see a lot of older phones, candlesticks, 102s, 202s, 302s and AE stuff, in common usage still.  My 354 was in use at least until the 70's in this house, and maybe longer, so that was 20 years and I'm sure that was an easy mark for the old phones to reach back in the old days.  Of course now the 354 is 57 years old and still works just fine. 

We watch a fair amount of British TV, especially murder mysteries and such, most of it new production shows, and I'm often seeing old rotary GPO 700s in scenes set in old homes or shops.  Maybe they are still in common enough use to be that obvious, or maybe the set directors are adding them to get atmosphere. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on November 26, 2008, 09:38:21 PM
You don't see telephones used as weapons as much anymore.

Although not a true old movie, there was that memorable double entendre from Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid parodying Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not:

If you need me, just call. You know how to dial, don't you? You just put your finger in the hole and make tiny little circles.  :o
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on November 27, 2008, 12:35:31 PM
Funny, I'm watching the Godfather. I noticed just after the Godfather is shot, and Sonny takes a call from one of the gangsters in the kitchen. He's using a B1 mount with an E1 handset(no dial, has a dial blank). If you watch carefully, at the right angle you can clearly see there's no transmitter in the handset. But it has the outside cap and spitcup. You can see the alloy base through the spitcup. Must be one of those string phones we built as kids ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on November 27, 2008, 12:36:16 PM
Quote from: Sargeguy on November 26, 2008, 09:38:21 PM
You don't see telephones used as weapons as much anymore.


The Stooges sure made good use of telephones as weapons :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:28:39 AM
I came across a little web page of photos of phones in movies and with "celebrities".  I couldn't resist but to snag a few, rework them in Photoshop, and add a few captions.  Apologies for the multiple posting technique here, but I don't know how to ad captions to individual pictures without using off-forum photo links, and those don't always work...

GROUCHO:  "Put the telephone DOWN sir and step away from the DESK!"

HARPO: "HONK!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:32:11 AM
ZEPPO (?):  "Quiet Please!  We're testing for side tone!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:35:01 AM
CARY:  "...and I'm telling YOU sir, that this is a GENUINE matching dates WE302!"

MAN:  "You can't fool ME young fellow, that's a FRANKENPHONE if I ever saw one!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:38:46 AM
CARY:  "Hey Doll!  You won't BELIEVE how high those suckers on Ebay are going for this fake candlestick!"

DOLL: "That's great, Babe!  Wonder how high we can stick them with this lousy old typewriter!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:43:13 AM
DONNA:  "OH YES Margery, we just got our NEW TELEPHONE installed TODAY!"

JIMMY:  "Wull...Wull...Wull...I can't wait for the PHONE BILL TOMORROW.  There goes my wonderful life..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:45:24 AM
AUDREY:  "What am I WEARING?  I think it's called a G1 handset, dear..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:48:32 AM
JACK:  "...and that's where I come in...   I carry an F1."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:55:42 AM
PETER:  "Yes, I would like a LEESIOWNS for a MINKY..."

MAN:  "Do you mean a license for a monkey, sir?"

PETER: "Yes, That's what I SAID, you stupid Gopheour!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 12:58:32 AM
ALFRED:  "...Yes, operator, let's see if I can just DIAL M right now..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 01:01:50 AM
ANTHONY:  "I'm sorry, Clarise, but I'm VERY disappointed in these Telemarketers these days, and have decided to do something about it.  I do hope it isn't in BAD TASTE..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 01:04:45 AM
DICK:  "WIRED?  WHAT do you MEAN my office is WIRED?!  WHO the HECK authorized THAT?!
Oh.  Yeah.  Right.  Nevermind..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 03, 2008, 01:35:57 AM
Holy Freeze Frame Batman!  What a great collection of pictures!  How did you do that?  And you got that scene from it's a Wonderful Life, that has to be one of the best scenes in moviedom, and that old candlestick is the supporting cast member.  The Hepburn pic is fab too, never seen it, she of course is probably talking into the semi-mythical 1949' model 500.  You gotta quit posting stuff like this, it's raising the bar way too high.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 03, 2008, 02:53:29 AM
.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Mark Stevens on December 03, 2008, 02:39:28 PM
"Who are you calling a chucklehead?"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on December 03, 2008, 03:48:19 PM
stooges.....LOL.......... ;D ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 03, 2008, 06:27:23 PM
Wait!  My son has that Stooge episode! 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on December 03, 2008, 10:38:29 PM
Quote from: McHeath on December 03, 2008, 06:27:23 PM
Wait!  My son has that Stooge episode! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVdUsgYA_D4
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Shovelhead on December 04, 2008, 12:54:01 AM
The ring tone comments made earlier brought something to mind,
A few times the sound of a car starter would be dubbed into a TV show or movie.
They would use a Chrysler gear reduction starter of the 60's and 70's, which had a real pronounced "whine". Very distinctive, but out of place  used on a Ford or GM vehicle...............
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on December 04, 2008, 09:02:52 PM
Or when you see a Bald Eagle in a movie and they dub in the cry of  a Red Tailed Hawk.  Bald Eagles have a cry that sounds like a gull with a cold.  They do the same thing for vultures too.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bill Cahill on December 04, 2008, 09:42:08 PM
I believe it was one episode of Twilight Zone that had two natzis trying to kill an American in the next hotel room.
They were using a phone to frighten him. It was intended that he would pick up the phone, and, it would explode, killing him. It backfired. He discovered it. They went to his room looking for him, and, he called them. The one natzi forgot, and, picked up the phone. It blew up.
Bill Cahill
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on December 04, 2008, 09:55:36 PM
Actually, those were Soviet agents, not Nazi's. Boris and Colonel Kerchenko(something to that effect). Episode was "The Jeopardy Room"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan on December 04, 2008, 10:44:48 PM
Funny you should mention the Twilight Zone. I spent 2 years recording episodes off TV, editing out commercials, and putting them on VHS. (Got every one!) Then boom, ten years later they are released on dvd REMASTERED. What a waste of my time. Anyway I remember the 'Night Call" episode so I'm going to see what type of phone Gladys Cooper used!

Well it was a 202  with a B1 handset WE that rang just like a 500 WE! It's on youtube
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 04, 2008, 11:00:10 PM
Night Call is one of my favorite episodes!  Gladys Cooper was brilliant in that one, and in the one with Robert Redford, where he plays a "policeman" trying to get her to leave her house, which is being torn down.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on December 04, 2008, 11:00:50 PM
Her D1 mount was using a 685A subset ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on December 04, 2008, 11:14:46 PM
How about the original "Night of the Living Dead", I think the old farm house has a D1 mount that the main character tries to dial out on...it shows it up close quite a bit.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bill Cahill on December 04, 2008, 11:48:10 PM
Is that the one where they brought down a series string table model GE tv, and, were watching the news reports on it?
The acting in that movie was fantastic!
Bill Cahill
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on December 05, 2008, 01:41:48 AM
Quote from: bingster on December 04, 2008, 11:00:10 PM
Night Call is one of my favorite episodes!  Gladys Cooper was brilliant in that one, and in the one with Robert Redford, where he plays a "policeman" trying to get her to leave her house, which is being torn down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh0R-osj3rU

If you closely at the E1 handset, you'll notice it's seemless......Why do I notice such useless info? :P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 05, 2008, 02:17:33 AM
I can't believe  all the times I've seen that episode, and as fascinated by the 202 as I've been, that I didn't even notice the subset.  I'll have to watch it again. 8)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on December 05, 2008, 01:38:32 PM
I'm kidding Bing, I really don't know what subset it used. Though the 685A uses the 425a/b network if I'm not mistaken. That would give it the "500 series" bell sound ;) Unlikely as it is.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 05, 2008, 01:58:14 PM
It's funny, I never thought about the sound of a telephone's ring  on a TV show before.  I watched the first part on youtube, and did notice a very non-standard number card, though. 8)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 05, 2008, 08:47:24 PM
LUCY:  "They're going to call it a WHAT phone?!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 05, 2008, 08:49:07 PM
MARILYN:  "But MR. PRESIDENT!  What would JACKIE think?!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 05, 2008, 08:51:00 PM
CLARK:  "What do you mean that you can't put me through?  Frankly, operator..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 05, 2008, 08:52:26 PM
MARLON:  "Yeah, could I speak to STELLA please?  Yes, Blanch, I'll hold..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bill Cahill on December 05, 2008, 09:08:12 PM
Part of my problem is I lack the ability to remember all those fine details you guys remember. My telephone intelligence, if measured 0-10 would be a minus 2.
Bill Cahill
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 05, 2008, 09:15:44 PM
Bill, maybe that just means that you're not as obsessed as some of us...I speak for myself... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 05, 2008, 09:18:26 PM
SUPERMAN:  "Yes, operator, I can't seem to figure out this new-fangled phone card...
I guess I'm just slower than a speeding bullet today..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 06, 2008, 02:47:37 AM
Love your TV and movie clips!!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 06, 2008, 12:25:43 PM
"Hello Operator?  Yes.  I'm all shook up.  Can you send me a wiring diagram for a WE302 please?
Thank you very much."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 10, 2008, 05:26:56 PM
"Hello Agent 99.  I need you here.
Oops. Wrong Number.
Sorry about that Chief."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 10, 2008, 05:38:55 PM
"Mr Gorbachev;
just between you and me
I need you to tear down that wall."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 10, 2008, 05:53:41 PM
"Yes Ladybird. I won't show my scar anymore.
No Ladybird, the war is not going well.
Yes Ladybird I will bring home some puppy chow for the new beagles."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 10, 2008, 06:17:52 PM
Those last two pics show a serious phone upgrade occurred between LBJ and Reagan.  Well, sorta serious, went from a G3 to a G15 handset, so it's not Earthshaking but still, might be handy to know in a crisis.   ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 10, 2008, 06:34:42 PM
"Yes Mr Churchill, I will loan you some  tanks.  No Mr Stalin you can't have Europe.

Good eyes McHeath!  I don't know how you do it.  I really wouldn't know a G3 from a G15 handset even in a serious crisis.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 10, 2008, 06:53:40 PM
Speaking of Roosevelt, here's his D1/F1 on the day he signed congress' declaration of war on Japan.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 11, 2008, 08:27:37 AM
Here's an interesting photo of bandleader Paul Whiteman from December, 1938.  He's working on a score in bed, while Mrs. Whiteman talks on the phone.  The interesting thing (other than that fact that Whiteman apparently worked on his music in bed) is the phone:  It's a hanging handset, but with an E1 handset mated to a G-mount.  The E1 doesn't fit the contours of the G's handset hanger nearly as well as the F1 that's normally found with this mount.  The E1 is designed to fit the C-mount's hanger, instead.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bill on December 11, 2008, 12:18:26 PM
The photo of Roosevelt signing the declaration of war is a real hoot - mostly the guys behind and beside him.

The guy on the far left looks like he's cracking peanuts in his hand, and has one stuck in his teeth.
The second guy is afraid that the Senate cafeteria will sell out of the roast beef special if he doesn't hurry.
The third guy is surreptitiously scratching his nether regions.
The fourth guy doesn't get the joke he just heard. So the fifth guy is telling him again "Like I said, a priest and a rabbi go into a bar ...".

And standing just out of the photo on the right is someone who is actually timing Roosevelt's signature. Sure, "Franklin Delano Roosevelt" has a lot of letters, but really, can't you just let him sign at his own pace?

Somehow I thought that the signing of a declaration of war would be a more serious occasion.

And by the way, why does the Big Guy have a stainless steel dog dish on his desk?

Inquiring minds want to know ...

Bill
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 11, 2008, 04:27:18 PM
Quote from: Bill on December 11, 2008, 12:18:26 PMSo the fifth guy is telling him again "Like I said, a priest and a rabbi go into a bar ...".

And standing just out of the photo on the right is someone who is actually timing Roosevelt's signature. Sure, "Franklin Delano Roosevelt" has a lot of letters, but really, can't you just let him sign at his own pace?

Somehow I thought that the signing of a declaration of war would be a more serious occasion.

And by the way, why does the Big Guy have a stainless steel dog dish on his desk?

Yes! I thought the exact same thing when I saw this photo.  I found another taken at roughly the same moment, and in it, Peanuts is grinning, too.  I thought that was incredibly odd given the circumstance.

I think the dog dish is the bottom of a shell casing.  Roosevelt was a big smoker, so I'm guessing it's an ashtray for when he runs out of room in the tiny ashtray by his left hand.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Perry on December 11, 2008, 07:20:42 PM
FDR's desk is on display at his Presidential library, and it still has that brass thing on it, as well as the phone:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/517159286/sizes/l/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/517159286/sizes/l/)
It looks too clean in all the photos (new and old ones) to have been used as an ashtray.

Here is another photo of his desk from the Life archives. Note the phone doesn't have a dial. I suppose a President wouldn't need one.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 11, 2008, 08:03:12 PM
I find it fascinating that a man as serious and erudite as FDR had so many toys and trinkets on his desk. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Perry on December 11, 2008, 08:53:43 PM
Harry Truman's desk was less cluttered. He also switched to a 302 phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on December 12, 2008, 08:08:27 AM
Several years ago a guy on ebay was selling an Imperial 202 he claimed he removed from the home of Mae West in the early 70's, when he was an installer.  He replaced all her phones with new Princess phones.  He said she had the cord of the Imperial tied around the leg of the bed. He said he asked the maid if Miss West was home, and she said no, but if he came back tomorrow, he could meet her.  So this, he did, and had a cup of tea with her.  He claims she said "I could have a lot of fun with you if I was younger".

Funny story I thought was worth repeating here.  There was also an Imperial on ebay for sale that claimed to have been in Cher's house....also one from Desilu Studios....talk about a GENUINE "Lucy" phone!

A few years ago when "Six Feet Under" went off HBO, they auctioned off a lot of the props on ebay.  They had a 2554 wall phone in their "prep" room, and I remember regretting not bidding on it.  I think it only went for about sixty bucks.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 15, 2008, 01:12:58 AM
They use a lot of G series handsets on the new Battlestar Galactica TV show, and some sound activated navy phones as well.  Some of the G series handsets have armored payphone line cords on them, even with the blue rubber gasket in place. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 21, 2008, 03:05:05 PM
I think (hope) this is a fake pic...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 21, 2008, 03:24:39 PM
Maybe he could take lessons from these guys...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 21, 2008, 07:54:22 PM
Well I'll be a monkey's uncle.

Bad pun.

That picture of Bush has been around awhile, I seem to recall it was a staged picture as a joke.  I note that he is using a K series handset.  So your pictures, first FDR, then Truman, Nixon, Reagan, and Bush II, show that the White House phones do get upgraded as the years go by.  Too bad we can't see what that K series handset is attached to.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 21, 2008, 08:54:44 PM
Yep, the picture of Bush is staged, or worked over in Photoshop, as is this one of Obama.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on December 28, 2008, 01:31:21 AM
Many German period phones in "Valkyrie".
A good movie.
D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 28, 2009, 04:21:36 PM
Here are some frames of the really bad Noir wannabe film "Fingerprints Don't Lie", where a 302 is used as a murder weapon, which my darker side found amusing.  I mean, I always new that 302s were dangerous ;), but this "takes the cake".  Other than that it's a lousy movie. :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: mienaichizu on January 28, 2009, 08:19:45 PM
302 as a murder weapon, scary! Its plausible since some 302's has metal casing and it is pretty heavy.

another thing, way back years before, there was a murder case here in the Philippines in which a telephone cord was used for strangling. well, some phones are deadly, hehehe ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: mienaichizu on January 28, 2009, 08:21:08 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on December 28, 2008, 01:31:21 AM
Many German period phones in "Valkyrie".
A good movie.
D/P

I'm looking forward to see that movie
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve K on January 28, 2009, 08:51:18 PM
Hobie:

That murdering 302 is actually a 460!  That was the key version of the 302 and as far as I know they we all plastic but would still hurt if you got clobbered with one.

Steve
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 28, 2009, 09:33:23 PM
Good eye Steve K! I didn't notice the buttons.  Makes sense because the victim was a big businessman/politician.  The plot and catsup thickens.  By the way, the fingerprints DID lie. They were forged.  But the telephone survived. ;)

D/P, I'm downloading "Valkyrie" now.  I just hope Tom Cruise doesn't try to upstage the cool old German telephones with his big ugly mug.  Why didn't they just put a grenade in Hitlers' phone?  Just lift the receiver and...Kaput. ;)



Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 29, 2009, 01:10:33 AM
QuoteThe plot and catsup thickens

Did you really just call it "catsup"?  Haven't seen that in a while.   I always pronounced that spelling as "cat sup" which makes it sound little cats were part of the deal.  The kids today have no idea what it is when you spell it out like that.


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve on January 29, 2009, 01:40:07 AM

It's ketchup. and coke is pop.  :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 29, 2009, 01:59:25 AM
True, I never learned to spell ketchup.  It's from an old childhood sibling rivalry trauma.  You see, my sister loved ketchup and I hated it, and I loved mustard and she hated that.  So she called it "must-turd" and I called it "cat-sh*t".  And she loved pickled onions (yuck!) and I loved pepperonccinis (sp?).  And she liked horses and I liked motorcycles.  Go figure.
We get along fine now. 
But I still don't like catsup or piggled bunions. :P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 29, 2009, 02:01:26 AM
Quote from: Steve on January 29, 2009, 01:40:07 AM
It's ketchup. and coke is pop.  :)

Nawwww... My dad is "Pop."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 29, 2009, 02:09:20 AM
Hmm.  My Pop was Dad, and Coke wasn't as preferable as Seven-Up.
What a bunch of mixed up, crazy kids; that post war baby boomer generation.
But we never ever called it a "Lucy Phone".  We called it The Telephone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 29, 2009, 02:32:26 AM
We called it "that thing you can't pry out of Mom's hand."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 18, 2009, 11:51:27 PM
Ok, watching the Godfather. Toward the end of the movie, when Mike walks in on Carlo. Carlo is dialing a phone. I just noticed it's an obvious W.E. 5302.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on February 19, 2009, 12:22:52 AM
Quote from: BDM
Ok, watching the God Father. Toward the end of the movie, when Mike walks in on Carlos. Carlos is dialing a phone. I just noticed it's an obvious W.E. 5302.

About how many minutes into the movie is that?  I'll try to post screen shots.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 19, 2009, 12:43:48 AM
Not sure, but it's real close to the end. He's the last guy he has killed before the movie ends.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 19, 2009, 12:48:39 AM
You can see it in this clip, sitting on the desk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6gq1iM4a10
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on February 19, 2009, 01:24:42 AM
Here are three screen shots.
About 2:42 into The Godfather.
I love it when Michael enters and the only sound is the dialing of the telephone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 19, 2009, 01:30:40 AM
Yup, that's it. Just before he hangs up the phone, you can see it's an F1 handset.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on February 19, 2009, 02:54:42 AM
Here are some more pictures of phones that were used in The Godfather.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 19, 2009, 08:38:13 AM
Oh yeah, plenty of D mounts and 302s. I believe in one scene, there is a B mount. I'd have to see it again. No candlesticks that I recall.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on February 19, 2009, 01:13:52 PM
Here's a couple of telephones from Godfather Part Two.
That "gold" AE40 sure looks painted, not solid or plated. 
Probably got it from an unscrupulous seller on Ebay.
And with no line cord...was it even tested? ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 19, 2009, 01:38:09 PM
That AE40 is probably spray painted no doubt.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 27, 2009, 11:43:24 PM
(http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/2659251/sn/1275530649/name/telefon.jpg)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on February 28, 2009, 01:53:13 AM
Never even heard of this movie, great poster!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 28, 2009, 03:26:39 AM
Quote from: McHeath on February 28, 2009, 01:53:13 AM
Never even heard of this movie, great poster!

Good movie. Takes place in the present (1974 I believe, when it was made). There's a scene toward the end, where the Soviet KGB agent is at a hick town bar in the middle of no where. He uses an old W.E. pay-phone with the separate receiver and solid back transmitter. It's been quite a while since I've seen it, but I remember that.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve on February 28, 2009, 11:18:21 AM

:D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on February 28, 2009, 12:28:26 PM
Gina: No telephones required.  Off topic.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on February 28, 2009, 01:23:57 PM
Um, this is gonna make me seem out of touch, but who is she?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on February 28, 2009, 01:32:02 PM
Quote from: McHeath on February 28, 2009, 01:23:57 PM
Um, this is gonna make me seem out of touch, but who is she?

Gina Lollobrigida, Italian actress. She's still alive. She's one of those woman, that still looked good even in her 60s. Do an image search on Google, you'll see ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on February 28, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
Thanks Brian.  Yes indeed that is Gina Lollobrigida.  You're not out of touch at all Heath.  I just couldn't find a photo of Gina with a telephone, and with Gina I always forget all about telephones.  It is one of my many weaknesses.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on March 01, 2009, 08:31:10 PM
I just found this fun shot of Martin and Lewis:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on March 01, 2009, 11:28:01 PM
Okay, I did an image search for Gina L on Google. 

I see.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AET on March 01, 2009, 11:35:24 PM
Quote from: HobieSport on March 01, 2009, 08:31:10 PM
I just found this fun shot of Martin and Lewis:

Dean Martin is one of my favorite singers, and just an overall cool guy.  Love the Dean Martin show!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on March 01, 2009, 11:42:38 PM
My 16 year old is a HUGE Martin and Lewis fan.  Not sure what the other 16 year olds think of that, his favorite comedy work is a couple of goofball post war standups and not any of the current funny guys/gals.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AET on March 01, 2009, 11:46:29 PM
Well, I was a big Dean Martin fan when I was 16, I'm 18 now.  Just bought a 3 disc set of his music too, gonna have to load that onto the computer.  Right now I'm just a bit busy listening to some good ol Waylon Jennings.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 04, 2009, 11:45:09 PM
I'm watching Ronald Reagan in mashing the Money Ring (1939) on TCM channel right now. It's loaded with all sorts of phones. W.E., A.E., even a Kellogg 925 "Ashtray" non dial white phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on March 04, 2009, 11:58:35 PM
Speaking of Reagan, is he yelling into a princess phone here?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 05, 2009, 12:04:31 AM
No, he's recounting the stock prices!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kittybell on March 05, 2009, 11:13:25 AM
Quote from: HobieSport on February 19, 2009, 12:22:52 AM
Quote from: BDM
Ok, watching the God Father. Toward the end of the movie, when Mike walks in on Carlos. Carlos is dialing a phone. I just noticed it's an obvious W.E. 5302.

About how many minutes into the movie is that?  I'll try to post screen shots.

What phone is Sonny using when he gets the "beat-up" call from his sister? The one where it sends him into the toll-booth trap?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 05, 2009, 11:47:57 AM
Probably a D1/202 mount. The handset he's using is an E1. I don't recall seeing anything earlier than a D1 mount. You never see any B1 mounts in the movie. Would make sense giving the time frame the movie is set in, the fact that it's NY city. Most everything would have been converted to anti-side tone by that point, and most likely upgraded to the 202 & 302 sets used in that movie..
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kittybell on March 05, 2009, 12:09:44 PM
Thanks, BDM! I don't know why I always have a mental picture of him using a candlestick receiver, because that would be the wrong time period, but that always stuck in my mind. Thanks again!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on March 05, 2009, 01:12:35 PM
Quote from: Kittybell
What phone is Sonny using when he gets the "beat-up" call from his sister? The one where it sends him into the toll-booth trap?

Yes, it doesn't show the phone, just the E1 handset:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 16, 2009, 03:23:44 AM
How do you capture stills from a DVD?  I have a collection of Film Noir Classics consisting of 4 movies that I just bought.  First one I watched was "Detour" and it was chock full of vintage phones.  Someone was even killed by a phone cord!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on April 16, 2009, 08:11:10 AM
This just reminded me. The scene where Michael is calling home on a pay phone, to see what happened to his father after the attempted assasination. Watch the rotary dial on the pay phone. It's actually turned back the wrong way. The #10 (or -0-) finger hole is at the 3 o:clock position.

If you folks get a chance, watch "Double Indemnity" from 1944. Quite a few shots of early phones like 302s 202s and such. One great scene is where Fred MacMurray opens up the bell-box at his apartment. It's clearly a 634 subset. He sticks a sliver of paper between the bell and clapper so he can tell if someone called while he was away.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on April 29, 2009, 03:48:25 AM
Quote from: Brinybay
How do you capture stills from a DVD?  I have a collection of Film Noir Classics consisting of 4 movies that I just bought.  First one I watched was "Detour" and it was chock full of vintage phones.  Someone was even killed by a phone cord!

Brinybay;  I use Gadwin Printscreen to capture stills.  It's super simple once you set it up, and it's free.  I hope to see some of your stills from Film Noir movies.  Ahh...Film Noir and classic telephones...Heaven!

http://www.gadwin.com/printscreen/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on April 30, 2009, 12:58:15 AM
Quote from: BDM
If you folks get a chance, watch "Double Indemnity" from 1944. Quite a few shots of early phones like 302s 202s and such. One great scene is where Fred MacMurray opens up the bell-box at his apartment. It's clearly a 634 subset. He sticks a sliver of paper between the bell and clapper so he can tell if someone called while he was away.

Thanks BDM; I'd seen Double Indemnity before but just watched it again with my mind on phones.  Here's some stills:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on May 30, 2009, 01:20:53 PM
I just re-watched "His Girl Friday" again, with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel, 1940.  There is a veritable smorgasbord of candlestick phones, typewriters, desks and lighting fixtures, vintage clothing, as well as dialog that moves at about a mile a minute.  Fun movie.  It can be watched for free at IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032599/

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on May 31, 2009, 01:53:42 AM
Never heard of this movie.  I will put it on my summer to-do list. 

We were watching a Magnum PI the other night, the one with Sharon Stone, and there are some cool phone moments there, including some kind of outdoor housing on a red 500.

Also, we were watching It Takes A Thief the other night, lots of old shows we like, and it was set in Rome and the HQ dude had a Princess on his desk.  Ivory.  The weird thing was it had a long straight handset cord that matched in color.  To the best of my knowledge Princess phones never came with that kind of handset cord.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: mienaichizu on May 31, 2009, 10:54:42 AM
Quote from: HobieSport on May 30, 2009, 01:20:53 PM
I just re-watched "His Girl Friday" again, with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russel, 1940.  There is a veritable smorgasbord of candlestick phones, typewriters, desks and lighting fixtures, vintage clothing, as well as dialog that moves at about a mile a minute.  Fun movie.  It can be watched for free at IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032599/



hey matt your back! what happened to you?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on May 31, 2009, 12:33:04 PM
Quote from: mienaichizu
hey matt your back! what happened to you?

Hi Ramil, Nothing really "happened" to me except that a week or so ago I was looking at the forum statistics just for fun and I found out that I spent more time on the forum than anyone, and that actually sort of scared me and made me feel stupid, because I really don't know very much about phones, just that I like them.  I was also spending way too much time on Ebay looking at phones, when I already have too many.  I also felt dumb being a "hero member".  So I decided (without thinking too clearly) to try being off the forum for awhile.  So I deleted my account, which was also stupid, but it kind of forced me to try to change my habits.

Anyway, I'm still here, and I'm glad to be a newbie again, and I'm just spending less time on the forum, and I'm not buying anymore phones, at least until I take care of a whole bunch of other things in my life, including trying to learn to fix up the phones I have and sell some on Ebay.  I still check in on the forum a lot but am just trying to spend less time here.

So what happened was "much ado abut nothing".

My new avatar is Cary Grant looking confused in the movie "His Girl Friday". ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: mienaichizu on June 01, 2009, 01:41:52 AM
ok so that explains much

yesterday I was watching this noir film, I don't know the title, but anyway, in one part of the film, a 202 was flashed in the screen. The plot of the movie is that a lady was on a ship going to Buenos Aires and while on the ship, she met a guy that falls in love with her, and thru time, the lady fell in love with the guy.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rp2813 on June 06, 2009, 01:34:46 PM
Just rented "Sunset Boulevard" this week.  Long story short, went on tour of some local historic homes and one was inspired by this movie and went to the trouble (and $40K expense) of re-creating the same staircase and railing in the front entry.  So decided to rent the movie and compare & contrast. 

I think every phone in this 1950 release was a 202.  And they all looked brand new.  Probably the same phone being used in different scenes. 

Also saw earlier in this thread a shot of Jack Webb holding an F1.  Didn't realize he was in "Sunset Boulevard" playing the role of "Artie" until the movie was over and saw his name in the credits.  I did not recognize him, as Artie was so upbeat and animated.

Great movie.  Hadn't seen it in decades and had forgotten a lot about it.  I can see why it was nominated for 11 Oscars.  Great dialogue and I couldn't find much in the way of continuity mistakes or holes in the plot.  Really well done, and Gloria Swanson totally kills--literally!

Ralph
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 06, 2009, 04:23:50 PM
Thanks for that info, Ralph.  I also haven't watched Sunset Boulevard for decades and certainly not with an interest in phones.  I'll have to re-watch it tonight and post a few stills.

I saw a young Jack Webb recently in "He Walked by Night".  He is surprisingly soft spoken in that pre-Dragnet time, but even in 1948 you can see the beginnings of the Dragnet type "docu-drama".

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040427/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 06, 2009, 10:48:01 PM
Here's some screen shots with phones from "Sunset Boulevard" and a very young Jack Webb.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 06, 2009, 11:23:20 PM
That's an unusually long handset cord on the white 202.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve on June 07, 2009, 12:38:03 AM
Quote from: bingster on June 06, 2009, 11:23:20 PM
That's an unusually long handset cord on the white 202.

That's what She said.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AET on June 07, 2009, 12:40:48 AM
Ha, this was my chuckle of the day!

Quote from: Steve on June 07, 2009, 12:38:03 AM
Quote from: bingster on June 06, 2009, 11:23:20 PM
That's an unusually long handset cord on the white 202.

That's what She said.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rp2813 on June 07, 2009, 06:04:53 PM
Thanks for posting those stills!  I had forgotten about the candlestick in the foyer.  I get the feeling that phone was placed to provide emphasis on the time standing still syndrome of the Desmond household.  Would that many metropolitan homes, particularly those of people with money, have still had candlesticks in 1950?  Rural subscribers are another story, but it seems to me that one would be hard pressed to find a candlestick as the "main" phone in the average metro-American 1950 household. 

Ralph
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 08, 2009, 09:18:03 AM
This movie still shot has many possible captions.

SPADE:  "Never mind the Maltese Falcon, Lady.  At least I know what happened to that pigeon that I ran over this morning on the way to work."

ARCHER: "And my kitty."







Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 08, 2009, 09:28:58 AM
Caption:

SPADE: "No, it's an AE 34.  Who's asking?"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on June 12, 2009, 01:48:25 PM
Came across this surfing the net.  Not a movie, but one of my favorite shows as a kid:



Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on June 12, 2009, 01:50:57 PM
Oh, and Lilly Munster (Yvonne DeCarlo) at age 18 (1940).  
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: foots on June 12, 2009, 05:39:29 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on June 12, 2009, 01:50:57 PM
Oh, and Lilly Munster (Yvonne DeCarlo) at age 18 (1940). 

What a hottie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 12, 2009, 08:59:07 PM
This is the opening shot of the pilot episode of "My Favorite Martian", 1963.  Notice the 5302 with F1 handset.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on June 12, 2009, 09:43:03 PM
That phone Humphrey Bogart is holding as Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon) is right here.  ;)  Take a peek.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 12, 2009, 09:46:06 PM
For my money, one of the classiest phones of all time.

Nice nixie clock, btw!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on June 12, 2009, 09:55:47 PM
It is a very nice phone, but it doesn't belong to me. The owner asked me if I could fix it. The nixie clock is a really cool clock and weather station. It is locked to the WWVB Colorado Station.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Stephen Furley on June 14, 2009, 06:39:30 PM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on June 12, 2009, 09:43:03 PM
That phone Humphrey Bogart is holding as Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon) is right here.  ;)  Take a peek.

Is that a 34?  It looks almost as if it's made out of glazed pottery; I assume it's not.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on June 14, 2009, 06:41:37 PM
Yes, it is a real AE34. All bakelite construction.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Stephen Furley on June 14, 2009, 06:49:37 PM
Around the base it has that very shiny, almost metallic, look that certain types of black pottery glaze have.  It really doesn't look like Bakelite, though the handset, and higher up the case do.  Does it really look like that, or is it an artifact of the lighting or the photography?  The few American Bakelite 'phones I've seen seem to be rather less glossy than the British ones, which I've seen rather more of.
GPO Bakelite here generally used wood flour as a filler, but the handset of my SC 1543, the only piece of American Bakelite that I've got looks more like asbestos-filled.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Stephen Furley on June 14, 2009, 07:01:12 PM
Around the base it has that very shiny, almost metallic, look that certain types of black pottery glaze have.  It really doesn't look like Bakelite, though the handset, and higher up the case do.  Does it really look like that, or is it an artifact of the lighting or the photography?  The few American Bakelite 'phones I've seen seem to be rather less glossy than the British ones, which I've seen rather more of.
GPO Bakelite here generally used wood flour as a filler, but the handset of my SC 1543, the only piece of American Bakelite that I've got looks more like asbestos-filled.

The braided handset cord looks very similar to the ones we had here, though perhaps slightly darker.  Nice 'phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on June 14, 2009, 07:20:48 PM
Hi Stephen:

The problem is that this phone was photographed at night, with a mix of fluorescent and tungsten lamps, so who knows what the camera did to achieve this exposure. During the day time it looks a little dull in appearance, but I think the bakelite hasn't been polished to high luster, like the AE40 in this album.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Amelyenator/AE40# ( dead link 03-11-21 )

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 14, 2009, 09:14:16 PM
Quote from: Stephen Furley on June 14, 2009, 07:01:12 PMThe braided handset cord looks very similar to the ones we had here, though perhaps slightly darker.  Nice 'phone.
That's a special cord made by Automatic Electric called an "Extensicord."   They have an elastic element woven with the conductors which allows it to stretch and retract (as I understand it--I've never seen one in person).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on June 14, 2009, 09:32:55 PM
Bingster, sorry sir, but that is not an Extensicord. Notice that it has only four signal conductors and there are no retractile strings.

The attached picture shows an AE40 with an Extensicord.

If interested, the original patent for this cord can be found here:

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=njF5AAAAEBAJ&dq=1978591
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 14, 2009, 11:23:53 PM
Ahhhh, that explains it.  Having never seen either cord in person, I always assumed that cords like the one in the first photo were stretched out extensicords.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Stephen Furley on June 15, 2009, 05:43:33 PM
I've actually seen one of those cords; It was laying on a desk in Telephone Lines' shop in Cheltenham, where I've bought several 'phones from.  I'd never seen one before, and had to ask what it was.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 20, 2009, 01:43:26 AM
I watched "Revolutionary Road" tonight.  I wasn't all that impressed with it as a movie, but that's just me, your mileage may vary.  The purpose of this post, though, is that I had a difficult time concentrating on the movie (which is set in the summer of 1955), because I was so distracted by all the things wrong with the set decoration.

Regarding the telephones, in the office scene at Leonardo DiCaprio's desk, he has a 500 series key phone.  On the very next desk, his co-worker had something I had never seen before.  It appeared to be a 5300 series key phone.  Either that, or it was a 500 series with an F1 handset on it.  The case did look short, though.  Either way, the phones should have been identical, and they weren't.  Not a big deal though, because...

The real corker was the wall phone in their kitchen.  It was a yellow 554.  Now, from what I've gathered, the summer of 1955 would have been extremely early for the 554, and not many would have been found in average homes.  The fact that it was yellow is another odd thing, because they weren't available at the start.  All that can be excused, though, because even the most meticulous set designer isn't going to possess phone knowledge of that level.  But here's the killer: The phone was MODULAR!  My jaw dropped when I saw that.  At least the office phones were old and hardwired, but there, in the kitchen, was an honest-to-goodness modular 554.  What makes it really bad is that they showed Kate Winslet talking on the phone in a series of close-up shots, and you could plainly see the thin, flat cord that she was twisting in her hands, and the modular hole at the end of the handset.  That sort of blunder is inexcusable.

There were radio/television problems, too.  A table model phono sitting on a shelf inches away from a console radio-phono in the living room.  Another radio-phono in the dining room, with a German radio right next to it.  How many radios and record players did the set designers think people had in each room back then?  Then there's the television with the puny rabbit ears.  The antenna looked awfully cool sitting on the TV, but way out in the suburbs you'd need a rooftop antenna to pick anything up.  Rabbit ears just wouldn't have cut it.

There have been so many other films in which they got all the period details right, that I know it was possible for a better job to have been done on this one.  But as it was, none of the sets in this film rang true.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 20, 2009, 02:20:27 AM
I popped the DVD in the computer to take a couple screenshots.  On further examination, the office phone does appear as long in the back as a 500 series phone, but an F1 handset is inexplicably found resting on it.  Also note the small, round plastic feet--Dead wrong for 1955.  There's something going on with the cord, too.  It looks like a 500-style cord that's been pulled too far out of the handset:

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Viewer.jpg)



And the kitchen phone isn't yellow, it appears to be beige.  Regardless, it just seems too early for this type of phone.  A 354 would have been better suited.  Here's the modular handset:

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Viewer-2.jpg)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 20, 2009, 02:30:25 AM
Kate Winslet looks very upset about the modular handset. ;D

Evidently there were quite a few noticeable set goofs in "Revolutionary Road":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/

I was working with a set painter once and we were talking about the great grungy 1930s sets for the movie "Ironweed" and I said that one of my favorite sets was a really horribly dirty old public restroom.  The fellow I was working with said "Hey, I painted that set!"  I said that it was so great how he got all the stains and patina just right.  He said that he thought so too, but that Jack Nicholson didn't like it.  He said it didn't smell right.  So the set painter peed on the wall.  Jack thanked him.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on June 20, 2009, 08:44:51 AM
Quote from: HobieSport on June 20, 2009, 02:30:25 AM
Evidently there were quite a few noticeable set goofs in "Revolutionary Road":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0959337/

I'm surprised that list isn't longer. 

Here's another thing I just thought of that isn't right.  DiCaprio is sitting in a restaurant with a young lady from the office, who he's plying with liquor.  He asks the waiter to bring him the phone, and the waiter brings a DIAL 302.  Leo lifts the handset, taps the plungers a couple times, and gives the "operator" a phone number to get for him.  Since when does tapping the plunger on an automatic switching system get you an operator?  It's a dial telephone... you have to DIAL the operator if you want to talk to her.  Besides, even then the operator would have told you "You can dial that number directly." 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: foots on June 20, 2009, 10:03:48 AM
I watched A Face In The Crowd starring Andy Griffith last night. I spotted several WE 302s and some 500s as well. One of the 302s was carried outside of a home to the table Andy was sitting on - the wall cord must have been 100 foots in length.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on June 20, 2009, 10:18:49 AM
A fellow phone collector sent me a DVD of the movie The Reluctant Astronaut with Don Knotts.  It was made in 1968.  Despite the date of the film so far in the first fifteen minutes (that's all I've watched) there has been a yellow 554 with dark handset cord (may be gray, may be black--hardwired) and a close shot with lots of conversation on a Mediterranean Blue 500 with gray coiled cord.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 20, 2009, 01:34:44 PM
Bingster you could be a historical/technical consultant for proper phone props and techniques related to telephony as a sideline.  I used to work a little in sets and props, and expert advice and research was sometimes hard to find, especially pre-internet.  They just don't take the time sometimes these days for accurate historical research and accuracy, what with deadlines and all in that crazy business.  But that was what I enjoyed most about the work; learning about history.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on June 20, 2009, 06:05:38 PM
Have not seen Revolutionary Road, but I know how out of period stuff can make it harder to get into a movie or show, you keep bumping into things that are not supposed to be there and it jars you out of the moment. 

One of our sons loaned us his first season DVDs of Madmen, thinking that with our fondness for the post war era we'd enjoy the show.  Well, we didn't.  For me, I just kept bumping into the inaccurate historical sets, props, ideas, and attitudes.  For example, in the pilot set in 1960 a women introduces a new secretary to her desk and all it's fancy high tech gear, a rotary 500 and an electric typewriter.  The typewriter is an IBM Selectric I, not introduced until the next year, and the 500 had a clear plastic fingerwheel and what looked like a modular cord. 

Now a lot of people might say that I'm being a pick, that who cares if the materials used are not exact to the year, it's the basic thought that counts and I need to relax and just enjoy the picture.  Shows like Madmen are not really about being exact anyway, they might say, it's just about getting some of the feel of the era.

But still, if I'm watching a show set in 1960 I expect the makers to have tried to at least get the material history right, and if they are blowing the material history then what about the rest?  Is this really a picture about the past, or just a picture about how we think about the past?   

When I do Civil War Reenacting some of the stuff done by other reenactors in their kits is annoying.  I recall one time noticing that the fellow in front of me had a spun aluminum canteen, Swedish I believe, and circa the 1970s.  Another fellow once had a plastic canteen with a Mexican wool blanket cover and a nylon strap, probably bought it at Wal-Mart.  There is one fellow who portrays a Confederate Cav man from Virginia and he carries a Henry rifle. 

Like seeing Kate Winslet crying while talking on a modular G14 handset in your clip from Revolutionary Road, it ruins the moment for me.  I think, if we can't be bothered to get the phone/canteen/rifle/whatever it is right, then what else is wrong and why bother?  What the heck, let's just have Confederate soldiers with M-1 Garands, and put Kate on an iPhone with a rotary dial app. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on June 24, 2009, 11:31:46 AM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on June 20, 2009, 10:18:49 AM
A fellow phone collector sent me a DVD of the movie The Reluctant Astronaut with Don Knotts.  It was made in 1968.  Despite the date of the film so far in the first fifteen minutes (that's all I've watched) there has been a yellow 554 with dark handset cord (may be gray, may be black--hardwired) and a close shot with lots of conversation on a Mediterranean Blue 500 with gray coiled cord.

I was the collector who sent Dennis the DVD of The Reluctant Astronaut. I love old movies and I always look for old phones in movies. Here are three screen shots off YouTube from The Reluctant Astronaut. The first two are of the 554 in the concession stand. The second one is Don trying to talk on the phone with his astronaut helmet still on. Like Dennis said, that cord could be black or dark gray. If you look closely, the strain relief is yellow. I've never seen that before, but I have seen a dark gray cord with a red covering over the wires inside the handset. The third screen shot is of the dark blue phone in the house.

Sorry for the grainy quality of the screen shots, but my DVD of this movie gives me black screens when I try to capture it with Gadwin. I've tried two different computers and get the same result. If anyone knows how to fix that, I'd love to know how. Being a computer technician, I suppose I should know, but I don't deal with capturing DVDs often.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve on June 24, 2009, 02:21:29 PM

You have to turn off hardware acceleration in properties.

right click on desktop and click properties, click settings tab, click advanced, troubleshoot, then slide hardware acceleration to the left (off).

you can turn it back on when you are done taking screenshots.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on June 24, 2009, 03:19:16 PM
Quote from: Steve on June 24, 2009, 02:21:29 PM

You have to turn off hardware acceleration in properties.

right click on desktop and click properties, click settings tab, click advanced, troubleshoot, then slide hardware acceleration to the left (off).

you can turn it back on when you are done taking screenshots.


Thanks, Steve. That worked fine. One more picture, a cropped one, showing the dark blue phone in use. The actor is Arthur O'Connell, who plays Don's father, the war hero. I think they used old phones in this movie because everything in the house is old. Almost everything in the entire town is old. They have a DC-3 at their airport. Only the cars are recent models.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsbrugg on June 30, 2009, 02:20:15 AM
I just happened to catch this film on Hulu yesterday and I happened to recognise this phone thanks to Stephen Furley's thread about the British 300 and the WE 302s.  They happened to showcase the phone in the middle and I recognised it by the little pullout tray at the base.

The movie is called Lisa and I don't know when it was released, but it took place in Europe in the late 40s.  This scene has the lead (a Dutch Policeman) in an office in Scotland Yard. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bill on June 30, 2009, 10:35:32 AM
Quote from: Steve on June 24, 2009, 02:21:29 PM

You have to turn off hardware acceleration in properties.
Hey, Steve, thanks for that tip! I have not had a problem with Gadwin, but I did have it with another screen capture program, and never did know how to fix it.

Now, do you have a tip for making Gadwin's capture window scroll up or down so you can capture a screen-and-a-half of stuff?

Amazing what you can learn on a phone forum. Thanks.

Bill
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve on June 30, 2009, 02:31:34 PM

Glad I could help.

I dont know anything about Gadwin, I just use the print screen key on my keyboard then open up a blank paint window. hit ctrl + v to paste into paint.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on June 30, 2009, 09:14:27 PM
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042041/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on July 05, 2009, 02:49:46 PM
Car phones in 1949, so cool it's scary.  First cell phone I ever used was a Motorola car phone in about 1990, felt like I was some sort of secret agent. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on July 05, 2009, 03:34:40 PM
Besides the phones, those hats look really cool.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on July 05, 2009, 04:25:57 PM
Quote from: JorgeAmely
Besides the phones, those hats look really cool.

I honestly don't know why we stopped wearing fedoras.  I find them very comfortable and classy, but I guess I feel a bit pretentious wearing one these days.  Perhaps I could get away with it by being considered an eccentric old dude.

Heath, somewhere I read about those early car-phone-radios.  I think they involved a large transmitter/receiver housed in the trunk of the car.  Funny, when I looked up "car phone" on wikipedia, they don't mention anything earlier than the 1970s.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 07, 2009, 12:48:31 PM
The movie Bells Are Ringing (1960) was on Turner Classic Movies last week. Did anyone else see it? It may be one of the all-time champion movies for the sheer amount of phones seen on the screen. After the opening title, it starts with a mock commercial for "Susanswerphone" featuring closeups of 500 sets in all sorts of colors. I posted them two to a page, but in the movie they're seen only one phone at a time in full CinemaScope frame, and they only stay on the screen about three seconds each, while a song plays in the background and you hear different pitch phone bells ringing.

In order, they are light gray, yellow, moss green, white, pink (or maybe light beige) and a very interesting red with a straight red cord. This is a very rare phone! Around summer 1956, before coil cords became mandatory, the straight cords on some colors of 500 sets matched the housing, like the mounting cord. I feel safe in assuming the red one is soft plastic, but the others may be a combination considering all color sets used hard plastic by 1960.

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for part two. Below is a link to the trailer for the movie and it has a different format, with three phones on the screen at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io9AjJxwuGI

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 07, 2009, 01:40:43 PM
More from Bells Are Ringing. The first picture is more from the commercial at the beginning. It shows a light beige 500 in a woman's apartment. The bottom picture is a woman clad only in a towel. She heard her pink bedroom 500 ringing while in the shower and ran to answer it, only to have it stop ringing. So she shoved it onto the floor! I bet the phone company didn't like that at all.

Now for some cheesecake!   ;D  The top picture is the same woman, now dressed for her date, but wondering what to do. Her pink 500 seems to have survived unscathed from its trip to the floor, but the handset is on the wrong way round. Funny that in the beginning it's seen this same way, and when she tosses it on the floor, it's back on the right way. The bottom picture is a woman who finally found her aqua blue 500 in her messy bedroom by following the long mounting cord across her bed. That's all I have from the commercial. The rest of the phones are from the movie.

Susanswerphone is an answering service, which is something younger people won't remember in this day of voice mail and answering machines. Judy Holliday plays Ella Peterson, who runs the switchboard and gets overly involved in her customers' private lives. One of the customers is writer Jeffrey Moss, played by Dean Martin. He has a light beige 701 Princess with a long cord and a four-prong jack that came unplugged once and nobody could get him. Interestingly, Judy Holliday's first job was as a telephone operator on Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre (remember War of the Worlds?).

Sue (played by Jean Stapleton, who most of you know as Edith Bunker on All in the Family) owns the answering service and her boyfriend Otto (Eddie Foy, Jr.) is a crook, unbeknownst to her.  He gets Sue to install two phones to take and relay orders for records which are actually bets on horses. Here you see the phone man installing the two phones, a dark gray 500 with a straight line handset cord and a manual black 302. Where do you think they got that dark gray? Note the "Modern Homes Have Handy Phones" boxes they come in. Otto is on the dark gray 500 taking an order and Sue is on the black 302 relaying it to the shipping department. The way they disguise the orders is neat. Different composers are different horse tracks. Beethoven is Belmont Park, Shostakovich is Saratoga and Handel is Hialeah. What trips them up is an order for Beethoven's 10th Symphony and the grocery boy tells them he didn't write 10 symphonies, so they change it to 9, mess up everything and the mob gets mad.

There are lots of musical numbers in the movie, so if you don't like musicals, you're out of luck. It was originally a Broadway musical by Comden and Green. This was also Judy Holliday's last movie. She died in 1965.

The last picture shows Dean Martin on a payphone and it looks to be in the actual New York Subway because there's a train behind him.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on July 07, 2009, 02:12:31 PM
Thanks for all the  great pics and info on Bells Are Ringing.  I'd never heard of it before. I'll give it a shot and watch it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on July 07, 2009, 03:08:30 PM
Great job on the photos and descriptions.  There are some great looking telephones there!  One of us out in collector land may own one of those by now.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: foots on July 08, 2009, 04:30:36 AM
I missed Bells Are Ringing. Those are some really nice phones - I like that guy's blue couch too.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 20, 2009, 04:15:38 PM
Bells Are Ringing will be on at 8pm July 27th (a week from today) on Turner Classic Movies.

Mark your calendars.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 20, 2009, 04:34:20 PM
OK, are you ready for another phone-laden movie? It's The Glass Bottom Boat with Doris Day and Rod Taylor. This may be the all-time champ for phones. It's from 1966, but it has some phones from the 1950s and some from the 1960s, as you will see. I have this one on LaserDisc and remembered it had a lot of phones. It's a kooky movie, directed by Frank Tashlin, who directed lots of Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Brothers, and it has the same kind of pacing and gags. In fact, the kitchen in this movie uses something from his "House of Tomorrow" movie--the automatic vacuum cleaner. Anyway, on to the phones...

The first picture is Doris Day on a light beige payphone. She has to call her dog Vladimir because the only exercise he gets is running around when the phone rings.

The next picture, on the left, is a light gray 500 in Doris' very Colonial house. The dog is running around off screen. I'll post that in the dogs thread if any of you are interested.  ;)  The right side shows two light beige keysets at NASA, where Doris and Rod work. She's trying to hide and got caught.

Next we see Doris calling her pooch again. I think this is a real payphone at NASA. On the right is Dom DeLuise who's in one of Rod's many bedrooms after he fell into the pool. A light gray 500 is at the bedside.

Next we really get into the good phones. There's Edward Andrews on an aqua blue Princess in the blue bedroom. In the futuristic kitchen is a Bell System 750 silver panel phone. This is one of the very few appearances of a panel phone in a movie. No touch-tones in this movie, BTW. At the far right Doris is on a white Princess in the red bedroom, overhearing something awful.

I'll conclude in the next post, since I have 7 pictures to attach.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 20, 2009, 04:49:02 PM
Part two of Glass Bottom Boat...

Here we see the villain of the movie on a light beige Call Director. To his right, Doris is in the powder room on a yellow 500 that looks to me like a soft plastic since it has a thick coil cord, but I can't tell for sure. It has a very raspy dial. She calls all these random numbers to try and make the people listening in think she's a spy giving out coded messages.

Next we see some of the hapless dopes she manages to reach with those random numbers. A man with a glass of beer sitting in front of his TV, with a black 500 straight line. Next, a woman in an apartment hallway (Florence Halop who later was on Night Court) on an old payphone. Next we see Rod in the living room on a red 500.

In the next picture is the rarest phone, on the left, a dark beige soft plastic 500 with dark gray cords. How'd that get in there? That's Paul Lynde standing behind Rod Taylor. In the middle is technically not a phone, it's the handset and cradle to a two-way radio Doris has to communicate with her dad, played by Arthur Godfrey. At right is the phone in the hall of her neighbors, played by the same man and woman who played Gladys and Abner Kravitz on Bewitched.

So not only are there lots of phones in this movie, there are lots of 1960's bit players too.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on July 20, 2009, 04:58:34 PM
Thank you for that run-down Jonathan.  Some very nice phones.  I'll be glad to add the dark beige with dark gray cords to my collection.  Nice collage of photos.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jester on July 20, 2009, 05:32:38 PM
There were a few "Doris Day" movies that would prove fun for phone spotters-- remember Pillow Talk?  As a sidenote, does anyone besides me remember those late seventies Bell System commercials where Edward Andrews plays the sharp CEO that thoroughly understands the value of WATS to his bottom line & customer service?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on July 20, 2009, 05:51:28 PM
I admit that I have never seen either of the movies "Glass Bottom Boat" (with Dorris Day and Rod Taylor) nor the movie "Pillow Talk".

Now of course I want to see these movies, to see the phones with pretty women.

Thanks for mentioning these movies and posting the good pictures and descriptions.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 20, 2009, 08:01:45 PM
I've seen Pillow Talk but can't find my LaserDisc of it at the moment and don't have it on DVD to capture. It has mostly ivory soft plastic from 1959 in both apartments and maybe a couple more like a black keyset in the office, but nothing outstanding. The movie is better than its phones, though, and the first part revolves around Doris trying to get a private line because the other party on her line (Rock Hudson) abuses it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on July 20, 2009, 09:50:57 PM
Great pics and lots of fun phones.  I've seen this movie once or twice back in the 70's but could not tell you anything of substance about it, so it will have to go on the rotation.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 22, 2009, 09:51:48 AM
Here's another movie with several nice phones, and it's a bit more sinister. The Birds, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, from 1963, starring Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor and Jessica Tandy. It's another example of many of the phones being older than the movie.

The first picture illustrates twice what I call the "Tippi twist." She had a habit of taking the cord in her left hand and twirling it. I blame her for all those cords we find with kinks in the middle.  ;D  The left shot takes place in a pet store in San Francisco, and from the looks of it, it was a real pet store. The phone may have been a prop, though. It's a moss green 500 with gray cords. The right shot is from Annie Hayworth's house in Bodega Bay. It looks to be a soft plastic 500 in light gray, judging by the fat handset cord.

The next picture is from the store in Bodega Bay. It's a garden variety black 554. It looks like it has the smaller switchhook, but it's hard to tell since it's in the background.

The next picture is in the Brenner house. Jessica Tandy (you may remember her from Driving Miss Daisy) plays Mitch's mother. She's calling her neighbor to ask him about his chickens being off their feed. The phone is another moss green 500 with gray cords. At least it looks to be. The lamp casts a shadow on the cord, so it's hard to tell. Next to her skirt it looks dark gray to me.

In the fourth picture we have another black 554 with a small switchhook in her neighbor's house when she drops by to see him. Notice the broken cups. The Birds have invaded his house. The scenes following this are some of the best of the movie, where she sees her neighbor dead with his eyes pecked out and then goes running to her Ford truck so scared she can't talk. She drives the short way back home at full throttle.

Next is Tippi about to twist again, calling from The Tides Restaurant on a black 500.

The last picture takes place when the birds attack the town and there's a gas spill and resulting fire and a '55 Buick coming at her. Tippi ducks into a phone booth where we can plainly see the 1950s payphone with an F1 handset, and I think twirling the cord is the last thing on her mind.

I hope you enjoyed the phones from The Birds. If you haven't seen it, and can stand a little gore and a lot of suspense, I highly recommend it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on July 22, 2009, 11:50:56 AM
Thanks for posting the pics from "The Birds", jsowers, that is a fun movie. Really scary (in a good way) when I watched it as a kid. I had forgotten about the scene in the phone booth during the gas explosion.

And yes, now we know where all the twisted phone cords came from. ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 27, 2009, 09:15:13 AM
First, I want to remind everyone Bells Are Ringing comes on at 8pm tonight (July 27th) on Turner Classic Movies.

Now for another movie with several phones in it. Send Me No Flowers (1964). The last of the Doris Day-Rock Hudson-Tony Randall movies. The set for this movie was built like a real house, with interconnecting rooms. It must have cost a fortune. You can even see plugs in the wall in places. What always intrigued me about this movie set was the white 500 on the patio. Besides being a great luxury, I can imagine the UV from the California sun would never be kind to something like that.

OK, here are the pictures, and I apologize for the fuzziness. It's a LaserDisc dubbed to a DVD.

The first picture shows a beige bedside 500 among lots of pill bottles. Rock Hudson plays a hypochondriac and those are his pills. The green 500 with lots of cord is in a restaurant.

Another beige 500, this time in the doctor's office. It's Edward Andrews again.

Next is the yellow 500 set in Doris' kitchen. She's refilling his sleeping pills with sugar. There are no 554s or Princess phones in this movie. It's all 500s. I don't think product placement had much to do with it.

Next we see a white 500 in the living room on a counter. This may be the same phone we also see later on the patio. In the same restaurant as above, we see Pat Barry on a black 500.

Closeup time. The ivory 500 on the left is in Tony Randall's bedroom. On the right is the white 500 on Doris Day's patio.

The last picture shows the green 500 set in Tony Randall's living room and another black 500, this time on a roll top desk in the train station.

Unlike the previous movies I've posted, the phones aren't as integral in this movie as the others. Half of them were used and the other half were set dressing.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on August 01, 2009, 07:15:46 PM
My personal "niche" was inspired by Fight Club, I did some research on US types and discovered whats what.

My first discovery was the 500 C/D, and I found a black one for peanuts on ebay US, black, no line cord, no handset cord, unfortunately the postage wasn't so peanuts to the UK.

Anyway found a site that does replacement modular line/handset cords, so I got a black RJ11 to BT PST line cord, new handset cord (10 foot) and it looked fine, even worked, but no ring!

Thanks to the folks on Singing Wires soon put me straight about that pesky wire aduster on the bells.

Next was the wallphone in the Paper Street house.

It was a 554 black tatty and with white paint splashes on it, and a smiley sticker.

Again stupidly I buy a beat up one from ebay US.

No line cord, grey flat handset cord and hard-wired!

So I had a spare black RJ11 to spades line cord, wired it up, then ordered a 5 foot and 15 foot spaded coiled cord from the US company as before.

Wired it up ( after researching how to open the thing without breaking the case) and with an RJ11 to BT socket again works fine.

I tried the 5 foot first, but have got bored with it and just changed tonight for the 15 foot one for that "roaming round the room" experience so familiar from all those US films and TV shows I watched as a child of the 70's.

Next the daddy, I found on ebay US a 1C2 payphone similar to the one used in the film, from a wholesale buyer who had dozens, waited weeks for delivery but its here, and again the RJ11 as was converted just plugs into a BT convertor.

My bank was less than pleased with the last purchase, you can imagine the postage from the US to UK, then £48 custom duty when I collected it.

I'm working on photoshopping Fight Club "Telnex" dialling instruction cards based on screengrabs from the DVD for this, again I had to ask the folks on Singingwires how to get the plastic fascias off, then I needed to buy a hex set (from US again) to get the nuts loosened.

Lastly, not in the movie, and having become quite enamoured with the Western Electric 500 series I seen a nice red one on ebay US again.

Again cheap to buy and crippling in postage this lovely beast worked fine but the modular case plugs quickly cracked and broke when putting new cables in, so back to the US for replacements, its now the "Presidential hotline" in my room.

The only other money I have expended on them is a set of repro dial lables for the three, I think I've spent enough, would have been cheaper buying them from UK dealers in up and running order, but where's the fun in that eh?

Anyhow now have all my Fight Club vintage phones thanks to a lot of help, research, hours of work and shedloads of money I will never recoup!

To end, I have found the Western Electric machines so easy to restore compared with GPO phones I have still in bits in boxes, really straightforward, just needs a screwdriver and some parts, and an internet connection for help.



Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on August 27, 2009, 12:23:34 AM
And now for your viewing pleasure; a fine example of a 302 with brown cloth cord, from "The Seven Year Itch".  Isn't it just lovely? Such grace, such form...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JorgeAmely on August 27, 2009, 12:31:17 AM
HobieSport:

What phone? What cord?  ??? ??? ???

I only see Miss Monroe sliding down a chair.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on August 27, 2009, 01:11:16 AM
QuoteSuch grace, such form...

Yes indeed.  Oh and Marilyn's ok too.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on August 27, 2009, 01:19:26 AM
See? That's what I mean. Starting this thread many moons ago I was asking if I was the only one who got distracted by phones in movies. Okay, I admit, I did notice Marylin in this case, but dang, I noticed the brown cloth cord too! Sick.;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on August 27, 2009, 01:20:40 AM
Quote from: jsbrugg on June 30, 2009, 02:20:15 AM
I just happened to catch this film on Hulu yesterday and I happened to recognise this phone thanks to Stephen Furley's thread about the British 300 and the WE 302s.  They happened to showcase the phone in the middle and I recognised it by the little pullout tray at the base.

The movie is called Lisa and I don't know when it was released, but it took place in Europe in the late 40s.  This scene has the lead (a Dutch Policeman) in an office in Scotland Yard.

(http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=312.0;attach=5477;image) 

Silly me, I clicked on the arrow in the middle to watch the movie...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on August 27, 2009, 01:57:10 AM
I just watched "It Happened One Night" (Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert), and it's rife with old phones.  But lacking the ability to screen capture, I was trying to see if I could find a scene shot online, and happened across this website,  Telephones in the Movies and on TV:

http://www.paul-f.com/telmovie.htm (http://www.paul-f.com/telmovie.htm)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on August 27, 2009, 04:38:25 PM
Here are a couple of screen shots (cropped) from "It Happened One Night", 1934.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 01, 2009, 12:10:41 PM
Some screen shots from "The Battle of Britain". I hadn't watched the movie in years; it looks and sounds great after the remaster in it's original panoramic glory. I remember watching it on it's release in 1969 at our local drive-in. Remember those? ;)

Great to see so many real planes used in a movie; Spitfires, Hurricanes, Hienkels, 109s, Stukas... I'll take that to any CGI effects any day! Not to mention the lovely Susannah York. Some things just can't be replicated by computer...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on September 01, 2009, 01:48:50 PM
It's something to see all the old school way of making movies, using the actual stuff and real people inside them.  Rewatched The Road Warrior over the summer, real car crashes with actual humans at the wheel, I found myself wincing more knowing that people could, and some did, really get hurt.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: The Operator on September 01, 2009, 08:01:19 PM
Quote from: HobieSport on September 01, 2009, 12:10:41 PM
Great to see so many real planes used in a movie; Spitfires, Hurricanes, Hienkels, 109s, Stukas...

As a scale modeler of WWII aircraft... you're talkin' my language! ~The Operator
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 01, 2009, 08:26:23 PM
Quote from: The Operator
As a scale modeler of WWII aircraft... you're talkin' my language! ~The Operator

Cool! Do you have any pictures to share of your models? Maybe post them in a new thread in the off-topic section? I'm not a modeler, but really appreciate the art of realistic miniatures.  Spitfires are my favorite WWII aircraft, as the Sopwith Camel is my favorite from WWI, but I'm probably biased with my Brit ancestry...

When I was a kid in the early 60s, on Saturday mornings a crop duster flew the fields near our home in a Curtiss Jenny. Better than Saturday morning TV!  Gosh knows what they were putting on the fields though...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: The Operator on September 01, 2009, 11:33:32 PM
I've been meaning to do that since I got a decent digital camera. It's more of a fall/winter season thing for me as it's difficult to airbrush with the humidity. It won't be long now. ~The Operator
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 01, 2009, 11:41:54 PM
Speaking of phones in the movies....

A few years ago TCM had a 1960's Sidney Poitier (sp?) movie, and I can't remember its name.  Filmed in Seattle, the plot was a woman who had taken a whole bottle of sleeping pills before the days of 911 and caller ID.  Sidney was a volunteer in a suicide call center who took a call from her.  She was calling from a hotel room.  There was a lot of shots of central office guys running around tracing the call.  They barely got there in time, but the woman survived.

Any way, there was little in terms of old telephones all by themselves and a lot of central office shots, but it was kind of an interesting drama.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 02, 2009, 12:05:08 AM
The Sidney Poitier movie is "The Slender Thread", 1965:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059729/

Sounds like a good drama and worth a watch. Thanks!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 02, 2009, 01:39:16 AM
Yep, that's the one.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on September 02, 2009, 09:15:51 PM
Quote from: HobieSport on September 02, 2009, 12:05:08 AM
The Sidney Poitier movie is "The Slender Thread", 1965:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059729/

Sounds like a good drama and worth a watch. Thanks!

Odd, I can't find it on Netflix.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 09, 2009, 12:29:11 PM
Here's an AE 40 in the movie "My Family" ("Mi Familia") 1995.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113896/

I'm not sure how authentic it would be to have an AE phone in Los Angeles in the early 1950s. I just thought it would be a WE phone, being on the West Coast? Would the Bell System have allowed an AE phone in California in those days?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on September 09, 2009, 05:34:15 PM
I doubt Bell would have allowed that in a residence, although a mix of phones was common in office settings.  You see this on That 70s Show, too.  The Formans have Bell System phones in the house except for a pale green Starlite in the den.  And the payphone at "The Hub" is an AE, I think.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on September 09, 2009, 05:38:30 PM
Were there no Independent Telco's in California??  Like here in Michigan there was General Telephone that used Automatic Electrics.  But the Bell System (Michigan Bell) was the largest company in the State.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 09, 2009, 08:35:21 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham
Were there no Independent Telco's in California?

That's what I'm trying to understand in my newbieness, Dennis. I have assumed that all phones in California (let's just say the West Coast) in the 1930s-1950s would be Bell/Western Electric models, because of the monopoly, and all phones approved by the Bell System would be WEs.

I really don't know. So if anyone can enlighten me otherwise, "that would be great". When seeing old phones in movies I sometimes wonder if it just wasn't some prop person deciding if the phones in the movies were matched for the era in general, but not necessarily for real California phone history.

I am a fan of AE phones and I do wonder if they ever had much use in California as independents in those days. :)

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on September 09, 2009, 08:43:45 PM
There were definitely independent telephone companies in California.  The big cities were Bell territories, and their outlying areas probably were, too.  The independents would have been found in rural areas (or areas which had once been rural).   But keep in mind that independent rural telcos weren't the only companies that used equipment from independent manufacturers.  Independent office telephone systems used non-Bell equipment in vast quantities within Bell territories.  But residences were a different animal altogether.  Whereas you could easily find several telephones of various manufacture on a businessman's desk, you wouldn't find that situation in his home.  The telephones there would have been all Bell, or all Kellogg, or all AE, etc., depending on where he lived.  Bell was a monopoly, but that didn't mean they controlled everything.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 09, 2009, 09:42:40 PM
In the states of Washington and Oregon, there were lots and lots of independants.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on September 10, 2009, 01:37:01 AM
I know of at least one indie phone company in California during the Bell System days, the Kerman Telephone Company down the road from me:

http://www.kermantelephone.com/about/index.php (http://www.kermantelephone.com/about/index.php)

I don't know what kind of phones they used.  I never saw anything but WE phones in service back in the day, but then I was never in the Kerman area back then. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 10, 2009, 07:32:36 AM
So was it then possible and normal that there were some AE telephones in California in the 1930s-50s?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 10, 2009, 12:14:04 PM
Absolutely.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 10, 2009, 12:22:07 PM
I didn't know that. Thanks.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on September 12, 2009, 01:04:50 AM
Screen shot of "FDR's" desk from the movie "Flags of Our Fathers". Notice the dial-less WE 202 and intercom on the left, and the dial AE 40 on the right. I looked at all the photos I could find of FDR's real desk, from 1933 through 1945, and all of them showed a no-dial 202, but no intercom, and none showed an AE 40 (nor the amusing Adolf pin cushion). So maybe the prop people took some liberties in the movie set.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on September 12, 2009, 01:32:40 AM
I'd like to know who made that clock/barometer set--they're pretty snappy.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on October 17, 2009, 04:20:26 AM
I can't capture stills from movies, but I just started watching "The Thin Man", and early in the movie you get glimpses of a gorgeous ivory 202.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 04, 2009, 01:03:42 AM
Been a bit since anyone added to this, so here is a shot.  This is from the latest Indiana Jones movie, the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.  It's taken in the mock 1950's town that is about to be nuked by an A-bomb test, this is a millisecond before the flash of the bomb comes in from the left.  Note the AE 80 on the table with the handset off hook.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: migette on December 04, 2009, 07:20:10 AM
Hi thought I was the only one who looked at the old phones and radios in films looking out for mistakes, one of our tv mysteries was set in older times 60s 70s and was supposed to be in England, however in the office there was our 700 and the next desk a 500. On looking further into the production it was filmed in republic of Ireland,which used the 500 made by northern of Canada, interesting also they were wired like the 700 inasmuch as the ringing current rang the bells in series only one capacitor being used, this was common here in UK and also prevented bell tinkle when dialing out. Our 700 type can also be found in Israel Portugal and New Zealand where the dial is back to front  0 gives 1 digit 1 gives 10,
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 04, 2009, 03:20:51 PM
Quote from: migette on December 04, 2009, 07:20:10 AM
Hi thought I was the only one who looked at the old phones and radios in films looking out for mistakes, one of our tv mysteries was set in older times 60s 70s ...

GAAAAHHHH!!!  60s and 70s "older times"?!!!!  Tell me it's not true!!!!   If you hear a loud bang, it's just me shooting myself...  :-[
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 04, 2009, 06:19:44 PM
You fossil you!! ;) ;) ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AET on December 04, 2009, 11:00:50 PM
Thatsnwhen my PARENTS were kids lol

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 13, 2009, 06:25:52 PM
I was trying to recall a movie I saw with a lady kidnapped and locked in a barn, and the bad guy remembers there is a white 554 screwed on a post in the barn and whacks it with a sledgehammer before she can use it.

Well now its on TV, and it is called "Cellular", the lady is Kim Basinger and the bad guy is Jason Statham.

She manages to get the remnants of the 554 to work and calls random folk trying to get help.

It's a cracking phone flick, and no doubt ghost-written by someone on here!

PS - why would anyone have a WHITE 554 in a barn?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bellsystemproperty on December 13, 2009, 06:29:39 PM
It wasn't a white 554, wasn't it a 2500? Or was there more than one phone?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 13, 2009, 06:34:48 PM
Donno dude, the barn one last like 20 seconds before Statham whacks it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6V96fY9fqw

Not for the faint hearted, phone-wise (CONTAINS A SCENE SOME PEOPLE HERE MAY FIND DISTRESSING)!

Anhyow some of us have had parcels delivered like that, obviously Statham has an extra job in the postal service...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bellsystemproperty on December 13, 2009, 06:43:08 PM
Ok you're right it is a 554. That' so sad, he killed an innocent phone. PHONE MURDERER!!!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 13, 2009, 06:50:49 PM
Grabs: def a dial.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 13, 2009, 06:53:34 PM
Ha ha, its white because thats the only colour that would light well in that dark set.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on December 13, 2009, 07:04:04 PM
Maybe the one John S. showed a week or so ago came from a barn.  Sure looks like it.  And I saw the movie about her piecing the phone together to make a call.  Reminded me of what we sometimes do to get these things to work.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on December 13, 2009, 11:13:21 PM
Oh yeah, we could totally get that 554 to work again.  You'd have to try a lot harder to kill one than simply wacking it with a sledge hammer.  As we all know these phones are like cockroaches, they refuse to die. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 14, 2009, 12:48:28 AM
Quote from: McHeath on December 13, 2009, 11:13:21 PM
Oh yeah, we could totally get that 554 to work again.  You'd have to try a lot harder to kill one than simply wacking it with a sledge hammer.  As we all know these phones are like cockroaches, they refuse to die. 

Kim Basinger did a good job on that 554, do you think we should offer her guest membership? I would.

And on a similar note:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfCYzJAgwrw
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 14, 2009, 12:54:24 AM
Quote from: Phonesrfun on December 13, 2009, 07:04:04 PM
Maybe the one John S. showed a week or so ago came from a barn.  Sure looks like it.  And I saw the movie about her piecing the phone together to make a call.  Reminded me of what we sometimes do to get these things to work.



No Bill,

He'd need Statham with a hammer, or the postal service to get it in that condition, I'd still rather have Ms Basinger fiddle with my bits though...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 14, 2009, 04:30:41 AM
Quote from: bellsystemproperty on December 13, 2009, 06:43:08 PM
Ok you're right it is a 554. That' so sad, he killed an innocent phone. PHONE MURDERER!!!

At least it's not a lamp!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 14, 2009, 04:49:35 AM
Quote from: gpo706 on December 13, 2009, 06:25:52 PM
... - why would anyone have a WHITE 554 in a barn?

So later on when it gets good and dirty and they think it's junk they will sell it cheap to a phone collector who can clean it up nicely, like this former barn phone ($11.25):

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1638.msg21800#msg21800 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1638.msg21800#msg21800)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on December 14, 2009, 07:03:40 AM
That's lovely Brinybay, but what if Statham came round with his hammer?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 15, 2009, 05:56:37 AM
Quote from: gpo706 on December 14, 2009, 07:03:40 AM
That's lovely Brinybay, but what if Statham came round with his hammer?

I'm armed:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 17, 2009, 10:06:26 PM
I just re-watched the 1966 movie "The Russians Are Coming". It's one of my favorite movies and was filmed in our little town. I didn't live here in 1965 when they filmed it, but we watched it when it first came to our theater in 1966.

It's really interesting to see our town back then, and compare it to "East of Eden" which was also filmed partly here in the early 1950s. Most of the buildings in both movies are still here, and the town has mostly only changed to this day with more paved roads, refurbished historical houses, underground phone and power lines, and of course too many tourists and cars. But it's still a great little town...

They needed a full sized Russian submarine for the film, and of course those were a bit hard to come by in those days, especially when they asked the Russian and US governments/navies if they could borrow a sub for a couple of months... I would have loved to be "a fly on the wall" when they tried to negotiate that with the Navy... So instead they built a full sized sub mock up. It looked great sitting in our quaint little small town fishing harbor.  :o

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060921/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on December 17, 2009, 10:12:05 PM
That was a good movie.  I'll have to see it again.  It's been a long time.

Good to have you back, Matt!

-Bill Geurts
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 18, 2009, 12:31:38 AM
A friend of mine grew up in your town and as a kid was one of the extras in one of the scenes. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 18, 2009, 02:52:45 AM
In "The Russians are Coming" as far as I can tell, the house on the beach scenes were done on the old log hauling road on Ten Mile Beach just North of Fort Bragg. The harbor scenes were done in Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg. The town scenes were done in Mendocino where I live now, and most of those houses and other buildings still exist, just that now they are all spruced up. And I believe that some scenes were shot in the town of Elk, about 15 miles south of here.

Whatever the case, I wish I had that full sized Russian sub mock up. I can just see sailing it quietly and nonchalantly into Mendocino Bay on a nice sunny day and scaring the crud out of the tourists...heh heh.

Short of that, here's an amusing trailer for the film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_nGW7pWBDY

-Matt
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: foots on December 18, 2009, 11:55:54 PM
     I've been watching a lot of "old" movies lately on AMC since television shows seem to be really crappy these days - especially the "cough" reality shows. The only series I do really enjoy, The Sons of Anarchy, just ended its season, so now I just TiVo a buch of shows off of AMC and watch those. They may have been made long ago, but many of them are new to me since I haven't seen them before. Thanks to you people, I now pick out and identify every phone that I spot, along with automobiles, motorcycles, typewriters, and radios as well as the actors and actresses.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on December 19, 2009, 12:39:25 AM
I didn't really "get into" movies until a couple of years ago.  I mean, I've always loved watching lots of good movies, old classics or new, but renting videos was a little expensive. For awhile I used Netflix and that was great, but I wasn't always in the mood to watch the particular movies that I had ordered. Then we got high speed internet and now I just download whatever I want. Yeah, I know, it's evil, but...I'm a poverty stricken movie addict.  Just don't tell anyone. ;)

And yes, I love recognizing all the good old phones, clocks, cars, motorcycles, fans, typewriters, radios, boats, travel trailers, furniture, heck, even old toasters... Oh yeah, and those other pesky props called actors and actresses too. ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 19, 2009, 09:25:45 AM
Lauren Bacall once said there's no such thing as an old movie, if it's one you haven't seen before.  Bright lady, that Lauren.  And not too hard on the eyes. ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 04, 2010, 01:08:54 AM
It would seem that Lady Gaga is a fan of rotary phones.  Note the high quality phoneware in these two shots from her videos "Just Dance" and "Paparazzi"

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 04, 2010, 01:20:41 AM
And yet another rotary phone makes a showing in a Lady Gaga video, this time it's in "Eh Eh".

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 04, 2010, 05:11:07 AM
I just watched an old William Holden movie "The World of Suzie Wong" (1960).  I don't have a DVD screen capture, but at least every other scene in that movie was in his hotel room which had a candle stick phone by the bed, and was used frequently.  I googled all over looking for just one still that had the phone, gave up.  This phone collection stuff must be getting serious if I'm passing up pictures of a young Nancy Kwan, aka Suzie Wong, looking for a darn phone!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on January 04, 2010, 10:36:30 AM
I watched Revolutionary Road this past week on DVD.  This movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet.  It was set in 1955.  They even showed a calendar on the wall for June of 1955.  Throughout the movie there were various office scenes with men in cubicles using black model 500's and even a scene in a restaurant where a waiter brought a 302 to the table for DiCaprio to use.  Even though it had a dial he just banged the plungers and had the operator connect him to his number.  But where the movie fell apart for me was when they showed a beige or ivory 554 hanging on the wall in the family kitchen.   Ok, mid 1955----MAYBE an Ivory 554.  But with each passing glance I got I could see the handset cord attached at the left corner of the base of the phone, not in the center.  Could they have used a modular 554 for this scene?  I looked as often as I could and confirmed it was a modular phone.  Also where the dial card should go to me looked like a much later #9 series dial...the white plastic hub was visible.  My suspicions were confirmed near the end of the film when close-up shots of Winslet using the phone clearly revealed she was talking on a modular 554.  When she hung up the phone they zeroed in on the phone as she SLAMMED the handset into the hook----a clear plastic Lucite hook and a finger wheel with no dial card, just the plastic #9 dial hub.  This phone would not have been created for another fifteen or twenty years!

I couldn't get over how the props department could overlook this when the rest of the movie had cars from the 50's, old kitchen utensils etc.  For that I give the movie one star.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 04, 2010, 11:02:19 AM
This just in: Experts agree that the tragic downfall of the quality of movies coming out of Hollywood these days is not because they keep making redundant remakes, or too many movies about comic book heroes, but simply because the props people these days just don't seem to care enough anymore to consult this forum about historically correct telephones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 04, 2010, 04:58:21 PM
That's interesting about the total failure to use a period correct phone in Revolutionary Road.  Curious as well.  Lady Gaga's rotary phones were all hardwired at least, and she's not even trying to be time period correct, weird how the Hollywood world works.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dewdrop on January 04, 2010, 11:41:45 PM
Before I caught the phone bug I would look at the vintage dishes and kitchenware in old movies and TV shows. Way back in the I Love Lucy picture on page 3 of this thread I noticed the mixing bowls on the shelf in the background. I've watched several episodes of I Love Lucy and have seen the complete set on the shelf. I think they were a set of Pyrex mixing bowls. The largest came in yellow (4 quart), then green (2 1/2 quart), red (1 1/4 quart) and the smallest blue (1 pint). This set is known as the Primary Colors mixing bowl set that was introduced in the 50's, 60's and through the early 70's. I have a set and many more Pyrex bowl sets and covered refrigerator sets. You might remember these from your grandmother or mother's kitchen.

Debbie
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 05, 2010, 02:42:00 AM
Debbie, the only bowls I have and use are the Pyrex "Four Primary Set", and they are the best! I bought them new last year, not out of nostalgia, but just because they seemed like the best set of all purpose bowls with lids available. And they truly do look and function great. Highly recommended!

When I get my 1950s trailer kitchen and appliances better organized and fully functional and photogenic, I'll post pictures. (I just moved in on Xmas, so things are not all set up quite yet.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 10, 2010, 04:06:48 AM
And now for your viewing pleasure...

I went through The Maltese Falcon again, looking for a wall phone similar to Brineybay's WE hotel phone, but there isn't a phone like that in the movie. But I did capture these swell screen shots. 8)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 10, 2010, 04:29:20 AM
Cradling an E1 handset between head and shoulder like that takes skill!  (Dang, who was it we saw talking into an hotel phone?  Must have been ol' CG.)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 10, 2010, 10:06:46 AM
There's a white one in one of the Thin Man movies.  Somebody gets shot in a kitchen, and there's one hanging on the wall.  If I can remember which Thin Man film it was in, I'll post screen caps.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 10, 2010, 03:32:53 PM
Quote from: bingster on January 10, 2010, 10:06:46 AM
There's a white one in one of the Thin Man movies.  Somebody gets shot in a kitchen, and there's one hanging on the wall.  If I can remember which Thin Man film it was in, I'll post screen caps.

I recently watched The Thin Man series, it appears in the first one and I think a couple others after that.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bellsystemproperty on January 13, 2010, 09:53:54 PM
Don't they use a bunch of rotary phones in the Matrix? I remember seeing an AE40. I tried to find some screenshots online but I couldn't.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 17, 2010, 11:02:48 PM
Was watching the British series "Wire in the Blood" the other night.  The main character went to Texas to investigate a murder, and this bug was in the room while he was questioning a suspect.

(the episode was made in 2007)

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 28, 2010, 11:13:28 PM
Just a couple of screen shots of Bogart and Bacall at the ending of Key Largo... 8)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ntophones on January 29, 2010, 08:12:50 PM
How do you guys capture those screen shots?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Craig T on January 29, 2010, 09:56:22 PM
I think they are just using their print screen button while watching it on the computer. If you pause the clip you are watching and hold the Fn (Function) key & press the print screen key (the key on the left of the key in the upper right corner) this will copy the screen you are looking at.

You can then paste into many programs, for example Microsoft Word or Microsoft Paint.

Try it with the screen you are looking at now. Then paste it into an empty Word or paint document by

1. right clicking and selecting "paste" or

2. you can also hold in the shift key and press insert (the same key as print screen)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on January 29, 2010, 11:37:15 PM
Most PC's don't have a function key.  Mine works with print screen with either control or shift.

Do you have a Mac?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 30, 2010, 12:33:07 AM
I have a MacBook and just watch the movie on it.  Then I use the Grab program, pause the movie, and select the paused scene, save it as a jpg file, and shazam it's done.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Craig T on January 30, 2010, 12:37:57 AM
No I have a PC. Compaq Presario laptop. I have a Fn key in between my ctrl and window key. (all bottom left corner of the keyboard).

At any rate, our print screen feature sounds like the long way around compared to the Mac.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on January 30, 2010, 12:54:01 AM
I just use "Control + Print Screen" and then paste it into Photoshop, saving it "for the web" (which is a jpg).  There are a couple of steps involved and it requires me to open up Photoshop.  The Mac sounds like a good way to go.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ntophones on January 30, 2010, 07:33:13 AM
McHeath, I've never really gotten the Grab program to work. You just watch the movie, say on hulu, and then Open Services, select Grab image from screen, select and save?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on January 30, 2010, 11:44:24 AM
Grab is in the Utilities folder, which is in the Applications folder on the Hard Drive.  It works pretty much as you said, you get the movie on screen, pause at the scene you want, then open Grab and from it's menu choose "Capture" and then "selection".  It will give you a selector tool and you size it to the movie frame and when you let go of it the program will create a file of that image.  Then you can open that file from the desktop, or where ever you saved it to, with Preview and then do a Save As and make it a jpg file. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ntophones on January 30, 2010, 12:08:27 PM
Ah, thanks.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on February 17, 2010, 09:57:43 AM
Here's a really old one, from the movie Heaven Can Wait (1943). The actress is Gene Tierney. I can see a Bell Logo on the phone. Looks like they went to great pains to be accurate, but phones of this vintage are way beyond my knowledge. I got this picture from Turner Classic Movies' site, in the Movie Morlocks blog.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on March 05, 2010, 12:38:38 AM
This is from The Day the Earth Stood Still made in 1951.  The shot is early in the movie and only lasts a moment, right after the UFO sets down in the ballfield.  The phone is a 302 with an E series handset, rare today and from what I know indicates a very early 302, maybe first year of production.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on March 17, 2010, 03:33:56 PM
Hi Everyone,

I've been off the forum for over two months now as I'm experimenting with not having a connection at my home. Nowadays I walk into town with my computer and go on line at the local pizza joint about once a week. So now I have sixteen pages of unread topics. I don't think I'll go through them all...

Anyway, I'll check in on the forum about once a week. Meanwhile, here are some more Bogart captures. I forget which movie the three shots of him working on a 202 are from ("Dark Passage", or possibly "The Enforcer"). Anyway, in this sequence he "bugs" a 202 by putting a circular piece of paper under the dial and somehow attaches a bit of pencil lead to the underside of the dial. According to the plot, in this way he can "read" the last phone number dialed by studying the marks made on the paper by the dial turning the lead on the stationary bit of round paper. Whether or not this could really work, I could not say...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bwanna on March 17, 2010, 05:14:59 PM
hi matt!....great clips :).. i want that payphone ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on March 17, 2010, 09:26:21 PM
I like the big honking Rauland Amplicall on the desk, too.  Very nice.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Drew on March 18, 2010, 09:55:45 AM
My interest in this film is three fold - First, my father Sterling Hayden was in it, playing the role of Jack D. Ripper. Second, it's simply an amazing movie on so many levels.  Third and most relevant to this forum - the telephone is used over and over in an attempt to prevent man from destroying the World, but the phone's not the problem, it's the people. With sophisticated phone communications, we can't save ourselves despite many attempts....Ripper informing his base via phone that a Wing Attack against the U.S.S.R. is underway. The President (Peter Sellers) trying to explain to the Russian Premier on the phone why the planes can't all be called back. Or Mandrake (also played by Peter Sellers) desperately trying to reach the President with the recall code as time is running out and he has no change for the pay phone. And of course, George C. Scott on the phone with his girlfriend while in the War Room as all out Nuclear war is about to unfold.  So much frustrating use of the phone in this move, it's actually the focal point of tension. I've read that director Stanley Kubrick specifically used the telephone this way in the film.

Strangelove broke new ground in it's dark approach to satire, the deadpan seriousness of the approach made the film even funnier.  My father quite making movies for a ten year period in the 1960s but this is the one movie he made.


Drew
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on March 18, 2010, 12:26:39 PM
Drew;
Welcome to our forum, I hope you continue to stop by.
I think the phone has played pivotal roles in more movies than we realize. Even in many old Time radio programs. It is and always will be either a great tool for convenience or major frustration.. The worst sound known to man, has got to be the busy signal. I can recall slamming the receiver down many times due to the busy signal.
Dr. Strangelove, was a very popular movie in my crowd. It was a spoof so to speak of "Fail Safe" and a very well done one at that.  Slim Pickens will stick in my mind forever, riding that bomb like a bull.
Your Dad was a favorite of mine, and I will never forget his final scene in The "Godfather", a corrupt Police officer getting his just reward. I've never seen a more realistic scene in any movie.
Did he ever comment to you about that ?
D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on March 18, 2010, 12:32:42 PM
Drew;
What was the subtitle of Dr. Strangelove, if I recall it was; "Something, Something, and how I learned to love the Bomb."
D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Drew on March 18, 2010, 12:46:44 PM
It was;  'How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb'.  Also, Strangelove was not a parody of Fail-Safe....Columbia Pictures took over distribution of Fail-Safe which was directed by Sindey Lumet and promised to release it after Dr. Strangelove - Strangelove opened in Dec. 1963 and Fail-Safe opened in Oct. 1964. The whole story is long complicated and political.

Love this forum and have learned much about phones since joining this week, and am amazed at the detail you guys have gone into about production changes and history.

  Bitten by the 500 sets bug !

Drew
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Wallphone on March 18, 2010, 01:06:03 PM
Drew,
Your father was a very interesting person. And he was ruggedly handsome.
I remember around 1976 when he was on the Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder.
He talked about getting a caboose and traveling about the country on the back of a train.
How awesome would that be? That was probably one heck of an adventure (party).
That interview has always stuck in my mind.
When both were younger, he reminded me a lot of Buddy Ebsen.
Dougpav
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on March 18, 2010, 01:28:57 PM
Drew;
WOW!  That is a real surprise to me, I thought for sure "Fail-Safe" came out first, was it maybe in the works, and the plot leaked ?

I have a nice collection of 500's, but my heart is with the 302's.
You may find other sources for telephone information, but you won't find a better place anywhere as far a willingness to help.
D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on March 18, 2010, 02:06:48 PM
Drew, my favorite movie of your dad's was The Asphalt Jungle (1950). His character was named Dix. Jean Hagen played his wife. Marilyn Monroe also had a bit part. It's very suspenseful. I'm sure there are lots of phones in it too. I posted a neat picture from that movie below with all the major stars looking down through a glass table. Your dad is bottom right. Jean Hagen is next to him on the left and Louis Calhern is next to her. Monroe is upside down on top. She played Calhern's girlfriend. The movie is going to be on Turner Classic Movies on Friday March 26th at 2:30pm Eastern, so I may record it and capture some of the phones.

I haven't seen Dr. Strangelove all the way through, but I agree about the phone being pivotal in the movie. I found a bunch of stills from it all over the net and they're posted below. The first one is your dad with a long cigar, in case anyone doesn't know who we're referring to here. I left the title as is. "Essence" fits it well, don't you think?

Next is Peter Sellers on the phone. It looks like a British phone to me. Next is Sellers as a different character, on a G3 handset. Next is an odd one, from Getty Images, where they are filming Strangelove and the girl in the bathing suit is on the phone. Next is another shot of the girl and you can see the phone in the background.

I have a couple more shots if anyone is interested. Another interesting bit of trivia... Peter Sellers and my dad were born on the same day in the same year,  September 8, 1925. They were nothing alike.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Steve on March 18, 2010, 09:35:27 PM

Your Father is great in that movie.

"Do you realize that fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face?"

Asphalt Jungle is my favorite movie with him.
He is a great actor, you must be proud.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on March 18, 2010, 10:47:38 PM
Strangelove is an old favorite of mine, cool to know that your dad was part of it.  It's a pretty edgy movie for 63', the first time I saw it in the mid 70's it was hard to know if I was supposed to laugh or not as they play it straight but it's so absurd. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on April 04, 2010, 04:12:11 AM
Remember the cheesy 1970s thriller "Burnt Offerings?"  Sure ya do.  But do you remember the godawful phone?  It looks as though it should be a 202.  The E-type handset has been worked over by the property department, though, and the base looks to me to be one of the Korean repro bases (did they also repro the handsets?).  The dial seems to be standard Bell issue, or at least the fingerstop is the in proper WE/NE position.  Later in the film, the phone is dialed, and you can hear the unmistakable clicking of a #4.  Whether that's a sound effect added later or is the actual dial on this phone is hard to tell.  Like most movie phones of the last half of twentieth century, it rings like a 500 (sound effect). 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on April 04, 2010, 12:40:08 PM
Never saw that movie but that phone looks like a classic Hollywood work over job.  And it's funny how every phone that rings in a movie or TV show from about 1960 to 2000 sounds like a 500.  Must be that they did not want to confuse the audience with other sounds since we all were programmed to recognize that sound as a ringing phone.  Sort of like all the doorbells in shows of that time sounded pretty much the same as well, that classic "ding-dong".
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on May 08, 2010, 07:39:50 PM
I watched Philo Vance and the Kennel Murder Case today, and there was a smorgasbord of phones in use throughout the film. In honor of our current auction contest, here's a WE 102 in a metallic finish. My guess is that it's Old Brass.  It's too dark for Oxidized Silver, and with the light body color and dark highlights, it's probably not Statuary Bronze, which is dark with light highlights.  You can see that the transmitter cap has been replaced with a standard black one.

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Picture5.png)



This phone makes an appearance in two different places in the film:  Once in a swanky house (above), and again at the purser's desk on a ship (below, right).

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Picture6.png)


Here's a standard WE wall phone in a kitchen:

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Picture7.png)


And here's a prop department mongrel.  It's a WE B-mount with an AE handset and dial.  The dial is missing it's center, and the whole thing, including fingerwheel, has been painted in a matte finish, medium-colored paint:

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Picture8.png)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on May 09, 2010, 01:44:30 AM
Quote from: bingster on May 08, 2010, 07:39:50 PM

And here's a prop department mongrel.  It's a WE B-mount with an AE handset and dial.  The dial is missing it's center, and the whole thing, including fingerwheel, has been painted in a matte finish, medium-colored paint:

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e376/bingsterdc/Picture8.png)

At least it's not a lamp!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Just4Phones on May 12, 2010, 08:55:49 PM
I agree 100%  My problem is though once I see it on TV I have to have one.  On a Bewitched a few weekends ago Samantha had a beige 10 button.  The best show to see 10 buttons is Mission Impossible.  It's on reruns on American Life TV if you get that stations it is worth a watch.  Ah a white 10 button with no discoloration ....what could be finer?  As far as movies go you need to watch the movies from the 30's/40's with rich folks in them.  They all had colored phones that we would all die to own.  If anyone wants to see some colored classics, watch "The Women" with Norma Shearer (1939)....you will overdose on colored AE's.  Watch for the bath scene with Joan Crawford  :P   
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on May 13, 2010, 12:10:08 AM
A nice clean 10 button with no yellowing or fading, that would be great.  I'll have to watch some old Mission Impossibles.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on July 04, 2010, 03:29:29 PM
I must have been on a Doris Day kick when I added a few movies to my Netflix que.  When I add movies, I don't usually put them to the top, I just wait for them to cycle up.  "Pillow Talk", "Glass Bottom Boat" and "Pajama Game" just came in the mail.

Anyway, just watched "Pillow Talk".  The title is off, IMO, should have been called "Party Line", but that's for another discussion.  I don't care what some people think, I like the young Doris Day.  Gorgeous, charming, vitalic.  

Enough of that.  The phones.  The two phones used by the leads, DD and Rock Hudson, were white 500s.  I gave me a new perspective on my so far only white 500 from the 60s.  (It's in a thread here somewhere).  It will be getting more attention in the near future.  Although it cleaned up very well using just Oxiclean and a Novus rub, it could still use a little more whitening, particularly the handset caps.  I'm at the point now where I'm more willing to try the Retrobrite process.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tjmack99 on November 26, 2010, 11:09:02 AM
How about the SOUND of old phones? I'm thinking of a couple of recordings from the radio series Suspense!. Sorry Wrong Number and The Hitchhiker. Both have plot lines centered around making a phone call, and like the old radio shows themselves, the listener can only "see" the action in his/her mind. I'm sure the experts here could tell the make and model of the phones just by sound :)Funny how so much effort was involved in making and receiving a call, especially long distance, from the operator connections across the country and waiting for the coins to drop into the payphone.

Not sure how to post an audio clip, but if I can I'll try to...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tjmack99 on November 26, 2010, 11:30:24 AM
Let's see if this works.....Orson Welles trying to call long distance....
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tjmack99 on November 26, 2010, 11:33:26 AM
Nope, my attachment doesn't work.....sorry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 26, 2010, 11:51:35 AM
Quote from: McHeath on April 04, 2010, 12:40:08 PM
Never saw that movie but that phone looks like a classic Hollywood work over job.  And it's funny how every phone that rings in a movie or TV show from about 1960 to 2000 sounds like a 500.  Sort of like all the doorbells in shows of that time sounded pretty much the same as well, that classic "ding-dong".

And speaking of "Ding Dongs", how about the single slot payphones in movies that still ding and dong when a coin is put into them!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on November 26, 2010, 11:56:00 AM
There's a fascinating clip from Dragnet (the radio version), in which Joe Friday places a long distance call, and we get to hear the entire process with the operators and real sounds.  I wish I could remember the episode it came from, because it's a real glimpse into the past that most people have forgotten.

The clip may have been shared here, but I just can't remember.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on November 26, 2010, 12:00:32 PM
Russ Price has made this clip available via C*NET.  The number to listen to the clip is 1-442-3724.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: cchaven on November 26, 2010, 01:12:57 PM
Quote from: tjmack99 on November 26, 2010, 11:09:02 AM
How about the SOUND of old phones? I'm thinking of a couple of recordings from the radio series Suspense!. Sorry Wrong Number and The Hitchhiker. Both have plot lines centered around making a phone call, and like the old radio shows themselves, the listener can only "see" the action in his/her mind. I'm sure the experts here could tell the make and model of the phones just by sound :)Funny how so much effort was involved in making and receiving a call, especially long distance, from the operator connections across the country and waiting for the coins to drop into the payphone.

Not sure how to post an audio clip, but if I can I'll try to...

I love both of those Suspense! episodes.  You can often find them on CD at the Cracker Barrel restraunts for sale.  I believe "10 cents a dance" with Lucille Ball also has some telephone sound effects, but I could be wrong.  "The Hitchhiker" has been a favorite story of mine for many years.

Jeff
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on November 26, 2010, 01:29:52 PM
Near the beginning of Dr. Strangelove, there's a scene where Mandrake and General Ripper are having a phone conversation, each talking on nifty old Call Directors.  I have no way to do a screen capture and share the pictures, but maybe one of you out there can do it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on November 26, 2010, 04:12:41 PM
Post an audio clip just like you would a photo.  Just attach the clip.  When the reader wants to hear it and clicks on it, it will open in their defaulted audio program.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: baldopeacock on December 19, 2010, 11:58:15 PM
Watching "Miracle on 34th Street" tonight,  I counted several D-mounts with both E and F handsets as well as two or three 302s.

Since it's the holiday season and all the classic old movies are back around, might be fun to report classic phone spottings in those old films.

Office scenes in "Miracle" showed multiple D-mounts on a single desk - I guess Macy's didn't pop for multi-line phones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 20, 2010, 03:45:27 AM
I'm watching Lady In The Lake (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039545/) (1947).  There was a scene where he went into the press room of a police station to use a phone, and he had a choice of a table full of 202s.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on December 20, 2010, 04:46:39 PM
I think there are some color AEs in the offices and apartments in Lady in the Lake too. And a great scene in a payphone where Bob Montgomery can barely dial the number before he slumps to the floor. That's a great movie, all shot from the main character's point of view. It's a Christmas detective movie. It begins with Jingle Bells and the credits are neat old-fashioned holiday cards from the 1940s.

I have it on DVD and may be able to post some screen shots, if I have time.

About all the 202s, that was common practice before keysets were in widespread use, which didn't happen until the late 1950s. What I would like to see is where they mounted all the subsets. Probably nowhere. You never see subsets in the movies. Every now and then in an old movie I see a phone with no mounting cord and have to laugh.

There's another holiday movie you need to catch. Susan Slept Here with Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds. They have a multitude of 302s with those plastic color covers on them. This movie's in Technicolor and I guess they didn't want the phones to look blah. :)  It's from 1954. You'd think they'd have used the new color 500s, but no. The movie is on Turner Classic Movies on Christmas Day at 10am, for those who aren't opening their stocking right about then.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on December 20, 2010, 07:59:19 PM
Here's 3 from "Lady in The Lake".

D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: baldopeacock on December 20, 2010, 11:35:58 PM
Dan/P, looks like two ivory AE40s in that second pic?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 20, 2010, 11:52:33 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on December 20, 2010, 07:59:19 PM
Here's 3 from "Lady in The Lake".

D/P

There's a radio behind him on the corner table I'd like to have too, that is, the real one, not a prop.  Any gun experts know what that lethal looking pistol is?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on December 21, 2010, 07:31:40 AM
I thought the spelling of the word "clews" in the newspaper headline looked wrong.  It should be "clues".   There are several definitions for CLEW but the way it's used on that newspaper it should be clues.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on December 21, 2010, 12:37:23 PM
Dennis;
great catch, I wonder if that photo is a phortoshop, I can't imagine the studio making that huge a mistake, the two Clues/Clews are not even close in definition.

I tried to blow up the photo of the AE40, but couldn't retain any definition.

D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 21, 2010, 05:13:24 PM
Collecting old books and magazines as I do (what don't I collect!), that spelling of clue ("clew") is familiar.  It was a fairly common spelling of the word once upon a time.  I have no idea why, though.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on December 21, 2010, 06:13:38 PM
As I was typing this, Bingster beat me to it. :-)  Had this been a few days ago, I would have agreed with you, that "clew" was a misteak.

However, incredibly coincidentally, last Sunday I read an episode of the old "Tom Swift" books, entitled "Tom Swift and His Photo Telephone".  It was written in 1914.

As you might know, Tom is an inventor and amateur detective.  In this book he uses the word "clew" several times, in the context you'd expect, a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime or solving of a mystery.

I looked it up, "clew" is indeed an archaic variant spelling for "clue".

It comes from the Dutch "kluwen", a ball of string.  Unravelling a ball of string can help you find you way back out of a maze, clues, as it were, to help you backtrack.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on December 21, 2010, 06:28:45 PM
Thanks Bingster and Dave for the education.  I just thought it looked funny and looked up the definition on Dictionary.com.  I did see a reference to string but didn't relate the two together.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AET on December 22, 2010, 01:13:29 AM
A Christmas Story
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x908CSKJhI4/TQG-UxuFpqI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/-JpGsskXufw/s1600/29.PNG)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 22, 2010, 06:00:25 AM
Quote from: AtomicEraTom on December 22, 2010, 01:13:29 AM
A Christmas Story
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_x908CSKJhI4/TQG-UxuFpqI/AAAAAAAAVQ0/-JpGsskXufw/s1600/29.PNG)

What is that phone?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernMan on December 22, 2010, 07:45:30 AM
Looks like a fine Northern to me.  Must be a Canadian movie .
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Doug Rose on December 22, 2010, 09:22:05 AM
Its a Northern #2, the wall phone brother of the Uni #1....very cool....Doug
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on December 22, 2010, 11:07:25 AM
There's currently one for sale on eBay.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AET on December 22, 2010, 01:51:04 PM
Most of the movie was filmed in Canada, but the house and the department store were in Cleveland.  They probably purchased the prop up there.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on December 22, 2010, 02:04:47 PM
You actually hear the dial in that scene, where Ralphie's mother calls his friend's mother to tell her the bad word her little boy said. Then we hear the lady's astonished reaction (WHAAAAT?) and then she wallops the boy over the phone and he screams and cries. I think that scene is just before or after the scene where Ralphie is enjoying the piquant flavor of Lifebuoy in his mouth. If you haven't seen that movie, TBS is running it again this Christmas for 24 hours.

The house in Cleveland that was used in the exterior shots is now a museum devoted to that movie. There are many loyal fans who know all the lines by heart.

And yes, those are two ivory AE40s in that scene with Audrey Totter sitting at her desk. I knew I remembered some color AEs in that movie. It's from 1946 and that was the prime time for those phones. Thanks, D/P, for posting that. The radio in that scene with the newspaper is a Philco. I have one like it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on December 22, 2010, 02:29:34 PM
The big line from that movie (A Christmas Story) that I used to recite to my sons......."you'll shoot your eye out" as the reason they were discouraged from wanting a BB gun.  It didn't work (the threat).  Junior #2 is an avid hunter in his adult life.  So far he hasn't shot his eye out.

Those that live in climates like ours (and Cleveland) can relate to getting one's tongue stuck on a piece of metal--like the flag pole.  Great movie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on December 22, 2010, 02:50:51 PM
Norway has never been big in films, but 2 hits from the 50'ies:
"Fjolls til fjells" translated to "Fools in the mountains" is about a modern hotel for the richer ski tourists. (Humoristic) Here you may see 2 white Elektrisk Bureau 1953 telephones on the desk, and 2 telephones indicates "enormous luxury" ;D

The second picture is a little bit harder to identify, my guess is an American made Western Electric from about 1924.  The film from 1943 is a sketch made under German occupation, and is a story of haw they tried to give messages to the relatives on the contry-side about what they needed of food, underground.

dsk


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on December 22, 2010, 03:00:53 PM
I was just wondering what software you folks use to get those screen captures from DVDs.  I don't think I currently have anything that will do it.  Thanks.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on December 22, 2010, 04:43:09 PM
I use snagit 5.0 (freeware)
Just pause the film and snag the picture, and save as e.g. jpg  file.

You may find it here: http://tinyurl.com/3afulg8

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on December 22, 2010, 10:05:02 PM
Quote from: d_s_k on December 22, 2010, 04:43:09 PM
I use snagit 5.0 (freeware)
Just pause the film and snag the picture, and save as e.g. jpg  file.

You may find it here: http://tinyurl.com/3afulg8

dsk
Thanks for the info.  I'll check it out.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on December 22, 2010, 11:02:33 PM
Quote from: NorthernMan on December 22, 2010, 07:45:30 AM
Looks like a fine Northern to me.  Must be a Canadian movie .

Yes it was a Canadian movie.
D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jester on December 22, 2010, 11:57:26 PM
I've been wanting to try my hand at screen captures, so imagine my delight when I discovered that the last movie I watched fit this category!!
I had seen this film, Bell, Book and Candle, some twenty years ago.  And while I was definitely a phone collector then, all of the phones showcased in this movie were "newer" than what I was actively collecting at that time, so I barely noticed them.  I was delighted to find, after buying the DVD version, that there are a few colored 500's in this film.  My provocation for putting it in this thread: most of the movie is not about Christmas, but the opening scenes occur on Christmas Eve.

1) The first is in scene two.  Jimmy Stewart comes into his apartment to discover Elsa Lanchester behind his desk.  Some banter ensues, after which Jimmy says;"If you'll excuse me, I have some telephoning to do".  This ticks off Ms. Lanchester, & she puts a spell on Mr. Stewart's phone.

2) In the next scene, we see Jimmy knock on Kim Novak's shop door downstairs & ask to use her telephone...his is out of order.  We discover she has a moss green 500 with gray cords.  This shot, with Mr. Stewart standing while holding the handset to his ear, shows the straight handset cord to full effect.

3) This next shot shows Jimmy entering his Manhatten office, & we see his secretary has both an early intercom set and a mahogany 500 on her desk.  
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jester on December 23, 2010, 12:05:41 AM
Two more shots from B,B&C.

1) A shot in the Zodiac Club showing Jack Lemmon in the phone booth while Jimmy Stewart & Ernie Kovacs listen in.

2) This last shot shows Jimmy sitting at the desk in his ex- fiance's apartment(played by Janice Rule).  The phone in front of him is beige--I can't tell from the lighting if it's light or dark.  Edit: after watching this last scene again, I've decided this one is dark beige.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 28, 2010, 03:46:35 AM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on December 20, 2010, 07:59:19 PM
Here's 3 from "Lady in The Lake".

D/P

Here's a few more.  Got a new computer, the Windows 7 Snipping Tool works great!  In order of appearance:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 28, 2010, 03:47:54 AM
One more, the pay phone.  That was a great movie, with an interesting camera angle.  I was in love with all the ladies, especially the leading lady (Audrey Totter) and her secretary, (Lila Leeds) very classy.  I didn't know that the murderess was Jane Meadows, Steve Allens wife.  According to IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0498593/), Lila Leeds was a pot-head:  Arrested with Robert Mitchum on August 31, 1948, for possession of marijuana.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on December 28, 2010, 09:40:57 AM
Stephen, thanks for posting the Bell, Book and Candle phones. I've seen that movie many times and I had always thought Kim Novak's phone was dark gray, but I didn't have a factory DVD to tell the color for sure. The cords looked to be the same color as the phone, but it does look moss green in your shot. That movie is a little grainy and it's hard to tell, and dark gray can look green sometimes, and vice versa. I hadn't seen the brown phone on the secretary's desk, so thanks for pointing that out. I agree that the one in Merle Kittredge's apartment is dark beige.

That's a very kooky movie and Kim Novak is very beautiful and beguiling. It's the second movie Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak made together in 1958, the other one being Hitchcock's Vertigo, and the last movie Jimmy Stewart played the romantic male lead (he turned 50 while making the movie).

What I use for screen caps is Gadwin Print Screen. Someone on the group recommended it just after I started posting. Works just fine, but I have to turn off the Hardware Acceleration in my display.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on December 28, 2010, 11:33:50 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on December 28, 2010, 03:46:35 AM
Here's a few more.  Got a new computer, the Windows 7 Snipping Tool works great!  In order of appearance:

I like the 3rd picture you posted of Lady in the Lake. "Should I use the colored 40 on my left or the colored 34 on my right?"

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: baldopeacock on December 28, 2010, 01:10:53 PM
Quote from: Jester on December 23, 2010, 12:05:41 AM

2) This last shot shows Jimmy sitting at the desk in his ex- fiance's apartment(played by Janice Rule).  The phone in front of him is beige--I can't tell from the lighting if it's light or dark.  Edit: after watching this last scene again, I've decided this one is dark beige.

Sure looks like a beige 5302.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on December 28, 2010, 01:17:55 PM
It does look an awful lot like a 5302 but the mounting cord appears to be coming out of the back at the corner, like a 500.  The 5302's had the "mouse hole" in the center of the back side of the phone.  Unless this is an optical illusion.  But that same illusion may be making it look like the short back side.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Wallphone on December 28, 2010, 01:18:50 PM
Don't forget, if the movie wasn't originally in color, the phones could be any color that Ted Turner wanted them to be.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HarrySmith on December 28, 2010, 01:40:11 PM
At least one of my 5302's has the mousehole on the side like a 500, as does this 5304. I do not have pictures of my others but I will check on them tonight.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on December 28, 2010, 02:11:35 PM
Harry, I don't know about all of them, but that 5304 you're showing here sure looks like the mounting cord is coming out of the center of the housing, not the corner.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 28, 2010, 02:46:11 PM
Quote from: ae_collector on December 28, 2010, 11:33:50 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on December 28, 2010, 03:46:35 AM
Here's a few more.  Got a new computer, the Windows 7 Snipping Tool works great!  In order of appearance:

I like the 3rd picture you posted of Lady in the Lake. "Should I use the colored 40 on the left or the colored 34 on the right?"

Terry

She never uses either one in the office scenes, she only answered the intercom.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on December 28, 2010, 05:39:28 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on December 28, 2010, 02:46:11 PM
Quote from: ae_collector on December 28, 2010, 11:33:50 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on December 28, 2010, 03:46:35 AM
Here's a few more.  Got a new computer, the Windows 7 Snipping Tool works great!  In order of appearance:

I like the 3rd picture you posted of Lady in the Lake. "Should I use the colored 40 on the left or the colored 34 on the right?"

Terry

She never uses either one in the office scenes, she only answered the intercom.

What's that coming out the center of the back of the 34?  Is that where the cord comes out on those?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on December 28, 2010, 06:23:44 PM
Quote from: bingster on December 28, 2010, 05:39:28 PM
What's that coming out the center of the back of the 34?  Is that where the cord comes out on those?

Yes, the AE 34 had one hole in the back that the mounting cord AND the handset cord exited through. With the redesign of the 34 into the 40 they put a seperate hole in each corner, one for handset cord and the other for the mounting cord.

The other "single" item on a 34 that became double on the 40 is the plunger buttons.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Just4Phones on January 01, 2011, 07:50:08 PM
Is anyone watching the Twilight Zone marathon?  I'm hoping for the episode with the guy using the Ericofon to come up soon  8)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on January 01, 2011, 08:50:13 PM
Shame its not on here, but watched an Miss Marple special here Christmas eve, set in WW2 in which Marple's house phone was an ivory Ericofon.

I nearly dropped my drink...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on January 02, 2011, 12:08:15 PM
There's a very odd movie called The World of Henry Orient (1964) with Peter Sellers playing the title character. It's about two teenage girls stalking this man, who later turns out to be the lover of one of the girls' mothers (Angela Lansbury). Henry Orient has an Ericophon next to his bed. It's used several times when the girls make prank calls to him and in one scene he makes more than one call, so he presses the center of the dial to hang up between calls.

This month is Peter Sellers month on TCM, but the movie's not currently scheduled.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Phonesrfun on January 02, 2011, 03:23:50 PM
I've been watching up until last night, but it seems to be over now.  I like the one where the widow whose husband died in a car accident calls her on her phone over and over again.  A storm caused the phone wires to drop across his grave.  My memory is that she had a 202, errr, a D mount  :) next to her bed.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan on January 02, 2011, 07:08:53 PM
http://www.cbs.com/classics/the_twilight_zone/video/?pid=MP7q4ti_BlC3QJE109H7pI_n87bhwiWN&vs=Default&play=true

Here is the twilight zone. Check for the ericophon with the "futuristic" ring @ 18:00.

Here is the other one Phonesrfun is referring to.

Night call. It looks like a 202 with an e-handset with a 500 sounding ring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv1zRTBMUJw&feature=related

I Have all the zones on DVD and am a diehard fan
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 03, 2011, 07:00:47 PM
I just got the big box set, myself, and one thing that really surprised me is the number of episodes I'm not familiar with.  I've always watched the marathons, and it seems like many of the episodes on the DVDs never appear on them.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Just4Phones on January 03, 2011, 09:13:36 PM
That was the episode  :P  Thanks Dan  ;) 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kenny C on January 03, 2011, 10:49:17 PM
I watched the whole episode and noticed this stuff,

Her phone # is KL 5-2368

The E1 handset has a Bullet transmitter and the spit cup is crooked

And can her Ring just be one long if she was on a party line?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 03, 2011, 11:44:20 PM
I never got that she was on a party line, but yes, party lines could have a standard ring.  That's where the subsets and phones with a vacuum tube come in (and frequency ringers from non-Bell companies).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kenny C on January 04, 2011, 12:02:50 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv1zRTBMUJw&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv1zRTBMUJw&feature=related)

go to 0:39
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 05, 2011, 01:57:19 AM
As many times as I've seen that, that's the first time I noticed that!  At any rate, the only time coded ringing was used was when everybody's phones rang on every call.  Frequency ringers, etc., caused only one party's phone to ring (a standard ring) on a call. The others remained silent.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on January 05, 2011, 08:30:23 AM
Quote from: bingster on January 05, 2011, 01:57:19 AM
As many times as I've seen that, that's the first time I noticed that!  At any rate, the only time coded ringing was used was when everybody's phones rang on every call.  Frequency ringers, etc., caused only one party's phone to ring (a standard ring) on a call. The others remained silent.

My grandmother was on a party line like you mentioned above. Her number card said at the bottom "Answer 2 rings" and the 2 was written in. It was Southern Bell and I think only two parties on the line. That double ring was very distinct and we all knew not to answer if it rang once. The phones had standard ringers and later when she went onto a private line, she used the same phones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bill Cahill on January 05, 2011, 11:50:47 AM
Not meanning to steal your thread, but, Turner broadcasting has been showing the Little Rascals. In one, they show a beutiful view of a cathedral radio. Looks like it could be a Peter Pan radio. It's got a grill cut out of a boy holding something up in the air.
Bill Cahill
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HobieSport on January 11, 2011, 06:39:29 PM
For some great old phones, watch the movie "Public Enemies" with Johnny Depp playing John Dillinger. There's a great line when Dillinger goes into the underground "bookie" room, where he is asked "What do you see?" and Dillinger says "I see a room full of phones".

Then, when Dillinger is at his hideout in the woods, just before the big shootout, there is a WE 302 in the room. Unfortunately, the year depicted is 1933 or '34, and as we know the 302 came out in '37. Well, that's what the props dept. get's for not consulting us... ;)

-Matt
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on January 24, 2011, 12:41:12 PM
The Professionals episode "The Purging of C15" has Doyle dismantling an ivory 706 which has a detonator wired to the dial which Bodie has to hold for some considerable time at the 7 notch.

Also I was watching the original 1956 "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers" and Kevin McCarthy has a phone which has "MADison 5 - 0100" in a close up on the dial.

Was this a fake exchange for the film, BTW there's lots involved in the plot that has the phoneco hijacked by the "pods" superb movie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on January 24, 2011, 05:01:31 PM
Quote from: cchaven on November 26, 2010, 01:12:57 PM
Quote from: tjmack99 on November 26, 2010, 11:09:02 AM
How about the SOUND of old phones? I'm thinking of a couple of recordings from the radio series Suspense!. Sorry Wrong Number and The Hitchhiker. Both have plot lines centered around making a phone call, and like the old radio shows themselves, the listener can only "see" the action in his/her mind. I'm sure the experts here could tell the make and model of the phones just by sound :)Funny how so much effort was involved in making and receiving a call, especially long distance, from the operator connections across the country and waiting for the coins to drop into the payphone.

Not sure how to post an audio clip, but if I can I'll try to...

I love both of those Suspense! episodes.  You can often find them on CD at the Cracker Barrel restraunts for sale.  I believe "10 cents a dance" with Lucille Ball also has some telephone sound effects, but I could be wrong.  "The Hitchhiker" has been a favorite story of mine for many years.

Jeff

Jeff, I agree about Suspense. One of the greatest radio programs ever. Most every old-time radio program is available free at:

http://www.archive.org/details/radioprograms (http://www.archive.org/details/radioprograms)

Below is a link to The Hitchhiker with Orson Welles featuring some great payphone sounds and (farther down the list on the right) Sorry, Wrong number with Agnes Moorehead, featuring a whole lot of phone action. It even has the separate east and west coast versions. They repeated Sorry, Wrong Number many times over the life of Suspense, from 1942-1960. The sound quality of these isn't that great because of the compression of the files.

http://www.archive.org/details/OrsonWellesOnSuspense (http://www.archive.org/details/OrsonWellesOnSuspense)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tjmack99 on January 24, 2011, 07:26:18 PM
I love how Agnes Moorhead wanted the operator to "make the same careless mistake again" and get patched back in to the call where the killers were plotting her death....sounds easy enough right?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: cchaven on January 25, 2011, 06:34:19 AM
Thanks for the links!

I think Agnes Moorhead is going to give herself a heart attack from how worked up she is getting long before the murderers arrive!  Definately a lot of good telephone usage in that..since the whole thing centers around her bedroom phone.  As for Orson Wells and "Hitchhiker"...his delivery in that episode is almost beyond compare.  It truly did keep you in Suspense!  The best payphone action is getting towards the end when he calls back to his mother.

Jeff
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on January 26, 2011, 11:15:01 PM
Not exactly an old phone, but an old movie: From 2001: A Space Odessy aboard the space station.  Dr. Floyd calls his daughter on the Bell System "PICTUREPHONE"

(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/03/picturephone-2001.jpg)

Here is a wide shot of the phone booth.  Note the 60s era Bell System logo.

(http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/100721-4-PCWorld-2001spacetrave-hmed-550p.grid-6x2.jpg)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on January 27, 2011, 01:53:30 PM
And 10 button keypad
Robby
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tjmack99 on January 27, 2011, 04:38:44 PM
Can anyone make out what they have Floyd's daughter is talking on?


And regarding "Suspense!", think of how much suspense is generated waiting for the call to finally go through, it's almost like they were intentionlly using the process of making a long distance call as a plot device to heighten the suspense.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on January 27, 2011, 05:11:55 PM
Quote from: tjmack99 on January 27, 2011, 04:38:44 PM
Can anyone make out what they have Floyd's daughter is talking on?

I always assumed that was a future prop that was as fictional as the phone equipment in the phone booth Dr. Floyd is in.  It's their idea of what the control box of a residential picture phone would look like.

But if it resembles anything real that someone recognizes, I'd love to hear it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on January 27, 2011, 05:38:42 PM
By the way, since I had the DVD in the computer to make the above screen grab, I watched closely to document that the phone number Dr. Floyd dials is

153-458-15445

He actually pauses that way (dials 153, pauses, dials 458, pauses again, then dials 15445).

As far as today's international numbering plan, there is no Country Code 153, and Country Code 53 is Cuba, which doesn't make sense to the context of the movie.

According to Wikipedia, Dr. Floyd (and assumedly his family) are American.  I suppose the Space Station could have been part of the North American NANP, but then, despite how he paused, that would make the phone number:

1-534-581-5445

Currently, area code 534 is in Wisconsin, but there is no 581 exchange in area code 534.

For whatever reason if the Space Station was somehow a local call from the UK, 01534 is in Jersey, England.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tjmack99 on January 27, 2011, 06:19:43 PM
Well the movie was filmed in the UK, so maybe......
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on January 29, 2011, 09:37:31 PM
In the Fringe episode "Reciprocity" there is a collection of AE wall phones in the shape-shifters apartment.  If you go to the Fox site to view the episode, it is at minute 37.  In another episode I noticed that the Observer''s apartment features 4-prong jacks.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on January 29, 2011, 10:21:55 PM
Is that the episode where they show a whole bunch of wall phones (mostly wood) on the wall going up a flight of stairs and then they show a few more sitting on a fireplace mantle?

If so it was filmed at a local telephone collectors house here in the Vancouver area. I had lunch with him and some other collectors last Thursday.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on January 29, 2011, 11:05:26 PM
While watching "Fringe" this past Friday, I noticed near the end the scene was shot in an apartment that had several phones on the wall, a collectors wall.

Most of them were colored side hood wall phones, a few trim-lines and some others that are hard to tell what they are being somewhat out of focus.

Thought all the wall phone guys out there would find this interesting. However, I still think that collection of 554's put up a few weeks ago is tops.

It's a digital photo of my TV screen so this is as good as it gets unless you want to go to fox.com and watch the episode aired 1-28-11.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on January 29, 2011, 11:11:06 PM
Nope, these were plastic color sets, all mounted on a wall.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on January 29, 2011, 11:31:40 PM
I guess those to be AE 90's.
Good spotting on old phones .
Welcome to the forum and you get a thumb's up for catching a current old phone referance.
Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on January 30, 2011, 02:19:42 AM
Yeah most are AE 90's but I can't tell what the ones are near the bottow. I think Fringe is still filmed here in Vancouver and AE phones certainly "go" with Vancouver. I'll have to ask around....

PS:
Pilot filmed in Toronto Ontario.
Season 1 filmed in New York.
Season 2 & 3 (current season) filmed in Vancouver.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 31, 2011, 04:08:28 AM
A few shots from an old movie, Gun Crazy (1949).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Russ Kirk on January 31, 2011, 02:09:05 PM
Here is an article about the use of telephones in movies.

It is from the Pacific Telephone Magazine January-February 1949. 

Enjoy,
Russ...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on January 31, 2011, 04:51:44 PM
Really neat article, Russ.  Thanks for posting that.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on February 01, 2011, 09:13:15 AM
The part about Barbara Stanwyck is interesting. The movie version of Sorry, Wrong Number should be subtitled "How to knock the paint off a 202 in ten easy steps."  :)  Despite whatever lessons she learned from Madeline Sullivan, she proceeded to slam the handset down on the phone and throw it around in her bedroom in the movie. It was a white or ivory painted 202 with a painted fingerwheel (this was before the Imperial and Continental were introduced). She uses the phone a lot, because she's an invalid confined to her bedroom. It's an interesting movie, but a bit long, considering the original radio drama was only half an hour.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on February 02, 2011, 02:15:33 AM
I thought about putting that picture in the Movie section but it doesn't include TV in the title so I did an off topic.

A few TV stations up here are running shows from the 50's and 60's and I love watching The Untouchables with their candlesticks, including a white one every now and then, the 2 piece pay phones and all those vintage WE payphones.

Then there is Perry Mason with everything from 302's to every style or year of 500's, even some in white.

Superman had a great variety of old phones.

Those three oldies are chock full of old phones and I keep rewinding the DVR to get a good look at a phone that looks new to me, never seen before.

But that shot from Fringe intrigued me because I don't remember seeing an AE-90's in colors. Everyone I've seen has been plainold black.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on February 03, 2011, 12:55:23 AM
Just watched this episode of Fringe. Had it on the PVR since last Friday.

I've confirmed that the AE 90 collection belongs to my friend Grant here in Vancouver. He rents all things phone related to the movies here. They rented all the 90's for that shot although I can't really tell you what the purpose of them was!

Now to get Grant to join the forum.....

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on March 23, 2011, 02:28:34 PM
Was looking at photos of Elizabeth Taylor who passed away today and came across this.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on March 23, 2011, 03:36:49 PM
Here's a movie poster from her 1960 movie, "BUtterfield 8".  I actually bought a red 500 a few years back with an authentic "BUtterfield 8" dial card.  It's rust-stained from the nut underneath and doesn't display well, though.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on May 01, 2011, 03:52:32 PM
I've been watching reruns of the Perry Mason hour long shows for months now. During that time, I've seen a variety of old phones including the 400 series. Today I watched an episode from 1964, "The Case of the Blonde Bonanza," that had Mary Ann Mobley in a bad blonde wig as the defendant AND in a scene early in the episode, a WE G-type wall mounted space saver with dial and what could be the subset hanging next to it. It was in the cashier area of a restaurant. Seems the space saver with subset takes up more room than a 354 might have needed. While I have one, this is the first time I've seen a space saver in a movie or on TV.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on May 01, 2011, 04:06:24 PM
It looks more like a keyset than a subset from here.If a keyset, where is the subset?
Robby
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on May 01, 2011, 04:36:42 PM
As the 6040 6 button wall key would be wired with a 25 pair cable, the subset could be easily be mounted somewhere else remotely using extra wires in the 25 pair cable (although I've never seen that actually done).

On the other hand, don't forget, unless they were on location, there's a very good chance this is only a movie/tv set, and nothing's wired to anything...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: GG on May 01, 2011, 09:06:11 PM


That's a 6040 keyset. The front surface of the housing has an appearance similar to an AE 90, with both front surfaces slanting rather than parallel to the wall.  In an installation like that, the subset would be further down on the wall, or overhead somewhere such as over a door. 

When I was installing 1A2, we seldom used the 6040 keys, because we seldom had need of wall-mounted sets.  Darn if I can't remember what we used for those wall phones; I'm thinking ITT 830s and 2830s (10-button keystrip: 9 lines + hold) with the wall cradles bolted onto the side.  The 6040 keys took about twice as long to install because you had to mount two things to the wall and then wire the telephone set to the keyset.  Once Panasonic PBXs came along, all the phones had reversible mounting brackets and reversible tabs in the cradles, so they could be mounted on any standard modular wall jack. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on May 02, 2011, 03:10:52 AM
Quote from: TelePlay on May 01, 2011, 03:52:32 PM
I've been watching reruns of the Perry Mason ... early in the episode, a WE G-type wall mounted space saver with dial and what could be the subset hanging next to it.

So THAT'S what a "Perry Mason" phone is!  http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=2386. (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=2386.)0
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 19, 2011, 01:27:27 PM
Turner Classic Movies had the movie "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" on recently. Did any of you catch it? It's from 1957 and it has probably the most different colors of soft plastic 500 sets of any movie I've ever seen. It was released in July, 1957, so all the phones are in the early colors.

The movie stars Tony Randall and Jayne Mansfield, with Betsy Drake, Joan Blondell, John Williams and Henry Jones. It was directed by Frank Tashlin, who also directed Looney Tunes cartoons at Warner Brothers, and there's a distinct cartoonish quality to the movie. It's very fast paced and full of sight gags and double entendre.

I made some screen shots to show the phones. The first picture is Rockwell Hunter's secretary's office, with a green keyset with gray cords. The second picture is the boss' secretary's office with a dark beige keyset. Also note the early model IBM Executive typewriter with carbon film ribbon (sitting vertically on each side). The third picture is the TWA terminal at the airport and a black 500. The fourth picture is the conference room at the office, with a mahogany brown 500! Now it's getting really good. I included front and back views. The fifth picture shows a pay phone. More to follow.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 19, 2011, 01:45:58 PM
More pictures from "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" from 1957. Look at the previous page for the first five pictures. If you think dark brown was nice, then feast your eyes on Oxford Gray! Note the cord and the phone are the same color and Jayne ain't no slouch either. Also look at the right for a side view of the phone. It's hard to tell for sure, but it looks like dark gray to me. The second picture is Rock Hunter's new secretary, who happens to be a young Barbara Eden, with the same dark beige keyset. He's got it made and he's risen to the top. There's a whole sequence on the song "You Got it Made" and the next picture shows the switchboard lights displaying the message. It scrolls across the switchboard. I really like that effect. The next picture shows the dark beige keyset again and an IBM Model 11 electric typewriter (which was typing out YOU GOT IT MADE). In the final picture, Henry Jones has assumed the boss' office and he's talking on a red 500 with straight gray cords and a dark blue 500 with a coil cord, while Joan Blondell brings him some milk for his ulcers.

It's possible that last phone is moss green. It's very hard to tell. They had every color except ivory and yellow!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on July 21, 2011, 12:39:23 PM
Jonathan, thank you for posting those screen shots.  It's fun to see the phones many of us love to collect from the time period when they were being used---even if in Hollywood.  Very nice photos with good color.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: old_phone_man on July 21, 2011, 10:10:26 PM
A while back my wife and I went to the Doc Porter Telephone Museum in Houston (which is excellent http://robert227.bizland.com/phonemuseum/home.htm).  As we were leaving we were told of a place to stop and see in Corsicana on our way back to Dallas.  Apparently a gentleman there has quite a collection.  We found the place with a little trouble and was greeted by a very remarkable man.  He had a large warehouse full of Western Electric equipment along with other stuff (mostly telephone or communication related).  He showed us some switchboard equipment and told us it had been used in the movie "Public Enemies".  Somewhat doubtful, once my wife and I got back home, we rented the movie.  Sure enough there it was.  I checked the credits afterwards and just like the man said, his name was in the credits as a "Technical Advisor".  While watching the movie I was able to spot one GOOF which I confirmed via IMDB.
In the scene where John Dillinger enters his room after checking into the Hotel Congress in Tucson, a Western Electric Model 302 desk telephone appears on the table near the window.  This phone was not introduced (into regular production) by Western Electric until 1937, nearly three years after his death.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: old_stuff_hound on July 22, 2011, 09:32:35 PM
Just finished watching "Crazy on the Outside" (Tim Allen, 2010). Sorry, no screenshots, but about 2/3rds in he's making a phone call from jail on a 554. The interesting part is that he "dials" it by poking at it as if it were touch-tone, but it's clearly rotary. They even dubbed in DTMF sounds!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on July 23, 2011, 12:34:07 AM
Many modern "decorator" telephones have dials that look like they're rotary dials but they're really touch-tone buttons where the finger holes would be.  But, I don't recall seeing one of these modern decorator phones that looks like a 554 set.  However, Crosley does make them with the touch-tone pad that looks like a rotary dial in the older 354 style.

Did the movie show a closeup of the dial?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on July 23, 2011, 12:44:18 AM
Here's a pic of the Crosley wall phone to which I was referring.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on July 23, 2011, 01:16:00 AM
There are many of these quite well done replica phones out there now but why can't they make a decent looking handset cord for any of them???

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: old_stuff_hound on July 23, 2011, 07:39:11 AM
Quote from: Adam on July 23, 2011, 12:34:07 AM
Many modern "decorator" telephones have dials that look like they're rotary dials but they're really touch-tone buttons where the finger holes would be.  But, I don't recall seeing one of these modern decorator phones that looks like a 554 set.  However, Crosley does make them with the touch-tone pad that looks like a rotary dial in the older 354 style.

Did the movie show a closeup of the dial?

When I first saw him dialing the phone it thought it might be a transitional model like this:
(http://www.paul-f.com/wef/wewalt.jpg)
(Thanks to Paul F for the photo)

But that would be an odd choice to have in a modern movie.

I'm familiar with the repro 354s. No, this was definitely a 554, and while there was not a closeup of the dial, it was clear enough to see that it was in fact a dial -- you could see it in profile. It was funny to watch him poke at it in a circular pattern.

Pretty lame movie, BTW....
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on July 24, 2011, 08:23:33 PM
Was watching a 1959 episode of Perry Mason I recorded a few days ago and was surprised to see two phones from two generations prior to that period in two scenes. While the 500 was the phone of the day, as seen on PM's office desk, replacing the 302, the first phone below was spotted on a dresser top in a room at the Esquire Motel (in the Valley) and the phone below that was in a private home, both pre-302. After watching many, many episodes of PM and many of them several times, I'd be confident in saying that most PM episode scenes were done on location, the motel for example. Just too many episode scenes to build that many sets to meet production deadlines is my thinking. Anyway, seems interesting that both the motel and the private home were still using very old phones for that date.

The motel phone was taken during a quick pan from a clock on the dresser to a door next to the dresser so never did come into focus. No dial. The private home phone has a dial but was turned sideways so it's not easily seen.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Stephen Furley on July 28, 2011, 07:46:25 AM
I saw an original nitrate print of 'Brighton Rock' ant the National Film Theatre last year.  There were some nice candlesticksin it, I'm not certain but I think they were 150s.

In 1955 the British Railways Modernisation Plan was published.  Over the next few years British Transport Films made a series of 'Report on Modernisation' films.  In either the first or second of these, which would have been made in 1959 or 1961, where is a section on a new hump shunting yard in East London.  Within not many years hump shunting had ceased, and most of the yard was closed, as was the case with much that was done under the Modernisation Plan.  There is a shot inside the newly-built control tower for the yard, in which there is a candlestick telephone.  Surely, this must have been one of the last installations of these.  It's mounted on one of those criss-cross extending arm things, which I suspect is probably the reason why this style of telephone was used.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MAin 0-2368 on August 08, 2011, 05:31:19 PM
Quote from: bingster on November 26, 2010, 11:56:00 AM
There's a fascinating clip from Dragnet (the radio version), in which Joe Friday places a long distance call, and we get to hear the entire process with the operators and real sounds.  I wish I could remember the episode it came from, because it's a real glimpse into the past that most people have forgotten.

The clip may have been shared here, but I just can't remember.

Here's a link to that Dragnet episode at archive.org
http://www.archive.org/download/OTRR_Dragnet_Singles/Dragnet_49-11-24_ep026_Mrs._Rinard_Albert_Barry_-_Mother-In-Law_Murder.mp3

It might take a little while to load. The phone call comes early in the show.
If that doesn't work. Try this.
http://www.archive.org/details/OTRR_Dragnet_Singles

Episode name is "Mrs. Rinard, Albert Barry - Mother-In-Law Murder" and it originally aired on November 24th, 1949.
http://www.archive.org/details/OTRR_Dragnet_Singles



Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on August 09, 2011, 01:36:05 AM
Thanks for finding the episode, MAin!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: old_stuff_hound on August 19, 2011, 07:22:40 AM
How 'bout the BRIGHT YELLOW! 302 in "Buckaroo Banzai"?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MAin 0-2368 on August 22, 2011, 09:49:46 PM
Watched Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid a couple days ago and it inspired me to create this dial card. Based on the quote from the movie, "You know how to dial, don't you? You just put your finger in the hole and make tiny little circles,".
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: GG on August 22, 2011, 11:22:09 PM


That is just downright "A+ and plenty of expletives" brilliant!

Who on Earth ever would have thought of satire dialing instructions made up to look like a real dial card? 

Now to take this to its logical conclusion, it might read "Put finger in holes and make tiny little circles, one after the other." 

There could be versions of that made up for every type of early dial phone on the planet, for example AE Mercedes dials, GPO #10 dials, etc. 

If it looked properly official in all other ways, such as yours does, it would be an absolute screeching hoot if any other fellow phone enthusiast visited and saw one of your phones made up that way.  Or for that matter if you posted pictures somewhere.

"Hey wait a minute---!  What the heck?  Is this real?!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MDK on August 23, 2011, 07:53:41 AM
Nice dial card!


I saw a movie in the theater recently, "The Help". I spotted several WE554's in black, white, beige and green. Also saw a black WE354 and a few 500's.

Also noticed an RJ type connector on one of the phones... was this available in the early 60's?

On TV this past weekend, I saw Tony Randall using a WE302 in the movie "The Mating Game", and Phillip Ober using a handset that didn't appear to have a cord in one scene.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on August 23, 2011, 01:39:08 PM
No rj connectors until the mid 1970s or so
Robby
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: GusHerb on August 23, 2011, 06:15:50 PM
Quote from: MDK on August 23, 2011, 07:53:41 AM
Nice dial card!


I saw a movie in the theater recently, "The Help". I spotted several WE554's in black, white, beige and green. Also saw a black WE354 and a few 500's.

Also noticed an RJ type connector on one of the phones... was this available in the early 60's?

On TV this past weekend, I saw Tony Randall using a WE302 in the movie "The Mating Game", and Phillip Ober using a handset that didn't appear to have a cord in one scene.

I saw The Help last week. It wasn't just ONE phone that had the "mini mod" handset cords it was ALL of the ones I noticed. It seemed like they got them all from the same source... I wonder if they were even Western Electric. Kinda spoiled the scene for me. me and my eagle eye... 

Afterpost thought: then I started to wonder if Bell System phones were even historically accurate to Jackson Mississippi. I have no idea, but I'd assume they are.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 23, 2011, 09:35:31 PM
Quote from: MDK on August 23, 2011, 07:53:41 AM

I saw a movie in the theater recently, "The Help". I spotted several WE554's in black, white, beige and green. Also saw a black WE354 and a few 500's.

Also noticed an RJ type connector on one of the phones... was this available in the early 60's?

In the trailer I saw for this movie the phones shown both had modular handset cords.  It tainted my view of the movie (as far as details are concerned) without having to go see it.  The phones didn't appear time-period correct.  I hate when that happens. :)

There was a movie a while back, I think it had to do with the Space Program....it was depicted in the early 60's.  A close up of a woman using a kitchen 554...she hung up the handset on a 554 with a clear, Lucite hook.  Not.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on August 24, 2011, 12:00:42 PM
Quote from: rdelius on August 23, 2011, 01:39:08 PM
No rj connectors until the mid 1970s or so
Robby

Sounds about right. First I saw was early 1976 but in Canada and GTE area.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: deedubya3800 on August 25, 2011, 03:09:55 AM
Quote from: GusHerb on August 23, 2011, 06:15:50 PM
Afterpost thought: then I started to wonder if Bell System phones were even historically accurate to Jackson Mississippi. I have no idea, but I'd assume they are.
They would be as Jackson lies right in the heart of South Central Bell territory. :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: DavePEI on November 07, 2011, 05:20:39 AM
One we all know, Changeling from 2008.

D.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: bingster on November 07, 2011, 08:53:25 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on August 23, 2011, 09:35:31 PM
There was a movie a while back, I think it had to do with the Space Program....it was depicted in the early 60's.  A close up of a woman using a kitchen 554...she hung up the handset on a 554 with a clear, Lucite hook.  Not.
You may be thinking of Revolutionary Road with Leonardo diCaprio and Kate Winslet (I think).  Not only was the kitchen phone from after the mid-1970s (it was modular, to boot), but there were other numerous phone mistakes in the film.  Like diCaprio banging the plungers of a dial 302 on an automatic system, which somehow magically connected him to the operator.  You have to DIAL"O", Leo, DIAL"O".  Geez.

That closeup is in this thread somewhere.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: GG on November 08, 2011, 05:29:09 AM


We may be able to pre-emptively solve those pesky phone mistakes in movies.

If we can get the attention of the major movie studios and directors, we could volunteer advice for getting it right.  This may entail signing NDAs (nondisclosure agreements) since they would be sharing confidential information ahead of the release of the films. 

---

A request might look like this:

Time: 1950s. 
Place: rural USA. 
Action:  Character is on a phone call, gets cut off, tries to reach Operator. 
Time limit on action: 4 seconds.

Our reply might look like this:

Appropriate phone: 
WE 302 or AE 41.  If film has a "city" setting as well as a rural setting, use WE 302 or 500 with black metal fingerwheel for "city," and AE 41 for "rural" to enhance distinction between settings. 

Action:
If on manual exchange were all calls are handled by operators, character presses switch hook twice in one second, pauses for one second, then says "operator?"
If on dial exchange, character presses switch hook for 1/2 second, then waits 1/2 second and dials 0, then waits one second and says "operator?"
Note, to place long distance calls in that era, dialing 311 instead of Operator will add realism and is faster.

---

We might also be able to provide appropriate sound effects particularly ringing, though dial tones, busy tones, and ringback tones may also be needed in some cases. 

For this to work, rapid turnaround is essential since films are produced on tight schedules.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: liteamorn on November 23, 2011, 10:32:53 AM
A bunch of us were watching "Antenna TV" during lunch break at work and Bachelor Father was on. It was an episode about them trying to get rid of a dog they somehow aquired.

Long story short, Bentley (the bachelor father) pulls a prank on the family by faking a call to the police. I thought the handset looked a little different and when the camera zooms down to his finger on the plunger while he was talking I immediately recognized A KELLOG 1000 RED BAR !

In my excitement I shout out, Holy S#%&! A Kellog Red Bar! and the room looked at me and said "what?"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dennis Markham on November 23, 2011, 10:35:03 AM
Quote from: liteamorn on November 23, 2011, 10:32:53 AM

In my excitement I shout out, Holy S#%&! A Kellog Red Bar! and the room looked at me and said "what?"



That's funny. :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on November 25, 2011, 11:38:37 PM
Ha!  That is funny.  I've had moments sort of like that, where I get suddenly excited about a phone in an old movie and the rest of the krewe looks at me with that, "Yes we all know he's a little touched in the head" look. ::)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: liteamorn on December 24, 2011, 02:17:58 PM
I watched "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" for the umpteenth time this morning . Aside from the amazing cars (which were pretty common for the day, 1963), there were some amazing phones in it.

I saw in no particular order, a candlestick, a D mount 202 with an F1 handset, a payphone with a daisy dialplate and seperate receiver/ mics aka candlestick , a 302 and a few 500's. The funny thing is they all rang like 500's :)

So for me it is now, the funniest movie I ever saw, with the greatest comedic cast, an antique car museum and now a remarkable phone collection
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on December 24, 2011, 08:42:40 PM
That movie could well be the first movie I ever saw in a theatre and I still enjoy reruns on TV. What a cast is right!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on December 30, 2011, 08:08:07 PM
Apropos to nothing, I just spotted this pic on the internets.

Hope you all have a wonderful 2012!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: DavePEI on January 05, 2012, 07:19:47 PM
From The Caller, 2011 - about 14 minutes into the show, a lady picks up her 302 and a nice shot of the dial card:

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on January 06, 2012, 03:09:59 AM
In Star Trek; The Next Generation, they came up with the idea of an Android Smartphone, not quite the same as google's idea, but the Trek one was more amusing... :D

The full scenes can be seen in the TNG Episode "Phantasms"... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on January 07, 2012, 11:27:53 PM
MeTV is running The Deadly Mantis (1957) tonight. 

I haven't seen it since I was a kid and was surprised to see the footage at the beginning of the film commenting on construction of the DEW line.  Shots of the warning system include close-ups of 500C sets and a 565 -- which must have been fairly new when the film was shot.

William Hopper had a leading role, showing deductive reasoning that may have helped him land the role of Paul Drake in the Perry Mason series -- another great source of vintage phone photos.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: GG on January 09, 2012, 09:06:41 AM


In some of those old Japanese monster movies, very often you will see the No.4 Automatic Table Phone that was one of the early products of the new post-WW2 Japanese economy. 

If you read up on the history of that phone, it was a cooperative effort by a bunch of electrical goods manufacturers, and it was a major point of pride for postwar Japan.  Apparently some of them even got used on US military bases, from reports by people here who have them with dial number labels that appear to refer to military base functions such as the MPs.  They were made in a number of colors, including black, white, red, green, ivory, blue, and dark gray, at least up through about 1963 from what I recall.  (I have a couple of black ones and a green one.)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on April 06, 2012, 11:17:41 PM
Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) speaking to General Jack Ripper (Sterling Hayden) on a Call Director (appears to be a model 630) in Dr. Strangelove (1964).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on April 07, 2012, 04:12:16 PM
CIA agent Joe Turner (Robert Redford) uses a butt-in to tap a phone line in this educational PhonePhreakish scene from 3 Days of the Condor (1975).  (It would be interesting to meet the "technical consultant" who worked on this one!)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on April 08, 2012, 10:33:17 PM
Here's a 660A1 Card Dialer dressed up as a futuristic Picturephone in The Duplicate Man, a 1965 episode from the original Outer Limits TV show.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on April 09, 2012, 01:47:29 PM
Professor Irwin Baxter (Harold Gould) takes a call on a 2565-style keyset while lying flat on his back in a parking lot in the 1976 disaster parody film The Big Bus.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on April 09, 2012, 02:20:24 PM
Quite comical as what were the chances that someone had a hundred feet or more of Amphenoled extension cable on hand to move the key set out to the parking lot!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on April 10, 2012, 01:28:26 PM
Alice Gilligan (Jo Ann Pflug) and Albert T Hopfnagel (Peter Sellers) have it out in his office at fictional Vista Vue Hospital in the 1972 comedy Where Does it Hurt?  On the desk is a nice 662A1 keyset Card Dialer.

This movie has never been released in the U.S. on DVD, and the source material for these pictures is unfortunately of a lower quality.

The hospital scenes were actually filmed at Memorial Hospital (now Brotman Medical Center) in Culver City, CA, about one mile from my house.  Where Does it Hurt? is fairly obscure, and has occasionally been referred to as the worst movie that Peter Sellers ever made.  As demented as I seem to be, I thought it was hilarious.  So there!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on April 11, 2012, 06:55:57 PM
Linefinders in action (looped repeatedly in this image) in Pulse, an eerie 1988 movie about the power grid going berserk and becoming homicidal.  Not to be confused with an even eerier 2006 movie of the same title.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: The Soph Gent on June 05, 2012, 05:41:03 AM
Sorry if this has been already posted.

Here are some photos of the British Pyramid Phone:

Lucy Movie - isn't that ironic?
Dial "M" For Murder
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: old_stuff_hound on August 21, 2012, 05:07:17 PM
Hah -- I guess the previous post was a good one to follow up. Here are two shots from 1949's Whisky Galore!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: acolabrese on September 17, 2012, 09:43:14 PM
Hi everyone,
I spotted an old wall mounted model in the last few minutes of "Bones" today. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but it def. put a smile on my face. I'm thinking it was a 40's Kellog Redbar The scene took place in the laundry room. Did anyone else notice it?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on September 17, 2012, 11:13:15 PM
Quote from: acolabrese on September 17, 2012, 09:43:14 PM
I spotted an old wall mounted model in the last few minutes of "Bones" today. ?


Good catch. I was watching but missed it. Got it on my DVR.

Here it is. I need to set up my tripod to get a better picture. Fuzzy due to hand holding the camera.

Oh, yeah, don't know what it is. Others do, I'm sure.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul on September 18, 2012, 02:21:09 PM
I would have to say it looks like this AE model: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271061222309, except the one in the TV seems to have the handset atop the unit, not hanging from the side like the one on ebay seems to be.

I also saw pictures of a SC 1250 and a redbar in my search but I discounted those because those have the dial right near the bottom of the phone, and this definitely is more towards the centre of a rectangular unit.

I'd have to think it might be a frankenphone from the props department, since to me it appears to be longer from dial to top than from dial to bottom, indicating perhaps the handset rest was put on like a hat, as the original side one was gone from their set. Curly cord too instead of the straight fabric.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: wds on September 18, 2012, 02:28:06 PM
Kellogg Red Bar wall phone is my best guess.  One of the phones I'm still missing from my collection.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: acolabrese on September 18, 2012, 02:36:25 PM
I want whatever it happens to be.  ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: LM Ericsson on September 18, 2012, 05:53:18 PM
It could be one of those North Galion wallphones?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: wds on September 18, 2012, 06:50:40 PM
North Galion.  This one I do have in my collection.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on September 20, 2012, 10:21:43 PM
Quote from: wds on September 18, 2012, 06:50:40 PM
North Galion.  This one I do have in my collection.

I think that's it. Vents on the bottom, right?

Here's a better picture of the phone taken in an early in the scene with a tripod.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on September 22, 2012, 01:25:24 AM
Ha, I noticed that as well during that episode of Bones.  My wife informs me that we are "phone geeks" of the highest order.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: wds on September 22, 2012, 08:06:10 AM
Definitely a North Galion.  Here's a couple more pictures of mine.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on September 22, 2012, 10:13:27 AM
So what's the set in this mock-up? LOL
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on September 22, 2012, 12:20:34 PM
I've seen that on here before, maybe in the phones in movies or on TV thread? It's a "Data Phone" isn't it? :)

It looks like an Early AE 1A in brass with the tall cradle and externally mounted dial to me.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on September 22, 2012, 01:18:28 PM
It's from Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Phantasms", where Data is testing out a dreaming program, I showed a similar picture before (along with another)... :)

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=312.msg72312#msg72312
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on September 22, 2012, 02:20:16 PM
Ah as I suspected, the old phones in movies discussion. Fasten your seatbelts, we're taking a short trip to that thread. That is a neat picture for us old phone folks isn't it!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on October 15, 2012, 11:38:22 PM
Don't know what it is, but I want one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gxz0nlRb4k&feature=relmfu (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gxz0nlRb4k&feature=relmfu)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on October 16, 2012, 12:38:15 AM
GPO 332 (give or take)! Our UK members will confirm if I am correct or if it is some other 3xx model? I have a green one and several in black bakelite.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on October 16, 2012, 07:41:30 AM
Yep, it's an Ivory 300 series GPO phone, got to watch out when hunting for one to not mistake an ITI clone for the real thing though, they're rather low quality phones and always claim to be GPO hardware when they aren't... :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on October 16, 2012, 10:30:58 AM
Are the clones the ones made in India?

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on October 16, 2012, 11:37:53 AM
On a side note, if you like 30s-era settings, this one is good, plus it's hilarious!  I usually bypass British sitcoms, but Anita introduced me to this one (her parents are British).  I sometimes have to ask her to translate for me though.  Another good one (but more contemporary) is Doc Martin.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on October 16, 2012, 03:14:48 PM
Quote from: AE_collector on October 16, 2012, 10:30:58 AM
Are the clones the ones made in India?

Terry

Yep, Indian Telephone Industries...

http://www.britishtelephones.com/iti.htm
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on October 16, 2012, 04:36:14 PM
Funny but also kinda strange Batman spoof with a middle-aged Adam West (Batman on the old TV series).  I'll offer $20 for the Batphone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPIcgzB3wk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RPIcgzB3wk)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Michael Dennis on October 20, 2012, 09:34:53 PM
Quote from: HobieSport on November 23, 2008, 01:45:19 AM
I can't watch movies the same way anymore.....I find myself talking to the screen telling Bogart and Bacall to stand the heck more off-frame so I can see the phone better.  I'm telling you folks; it's a disease... ;D

Hi everyone, new to the forum, and rather new to phone collecting. I'm the same way about old radios in movies. In "Hold That Kiss" with Mickey Rooney, I wanted him to get away from that 1938 Zenith 7S261 console radio for a better view.

Mike
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on October 21, 2012, 12:10:13 AM
Hi Mike:

You're not alone......and welcome to the Classic Rotary Telephone Forum!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Michael Dennis on October 21, 2012, 12:21:55 AM
Thanks Terry. Very glad to be here! I know one of the members here from an antique radio forum. I'm fascinated by old technology, some of which was contemporary state-of-the-art when I was growing up, particularly some of the phones that are now collectible. Thanks for the welcome!

Mike
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on October 21, 2012, 12:34:11 AM
I just searched out all (okay, a lot of them at least) of the stray TV and radio discussions on this forum and put them all here for easy reference.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?board=44.0

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Michael Dennis on October 21, 2012, 02:22:37 AM
Outstanding! Thanks, AE_Collector!  ;D

Mike
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on October 29, 2012, 02:08:15 PM
Mad Men season 5, the appearance of a 10-button TT in the Draper residence.  From the time line clue of the Richard Speck murders, it's July of 66.  Don is looking at the phone, wondering if it may become a collector's item some day.  In the SCDP offices, there are still plenty of multi-line rotaries (Peggy has two).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on November 01, 2012, 01:55:19 PM
Does anyone recognize the phone in this photo sent by a web site visitor?  It's a screen shot from "Cabin in the Woods" (2011)

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 03, 2012, 08:58:42 PM
Yes. Not a phone. A Ringmaster intercom. At least that is what we called them here. We installed them as rental intercoms. They were called GustavaRing on the unit themselves and they had a main control box to run them. There were 10 and 20 station models. The one pictured has the handset option which was rare here.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on November 03, 2012, 10:21:57 PM
Thanks Terry.

The film was shot in Vancouver, so it makes sense.

There doesn't seem to be info on the internet.  Ring Communications in NY comes up, but doesn't show a similar product.  Are they from a local supplier?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 07, 2012, 03:25:59 AM
I don't know where we got them from. I assumed that they were made in Europe somewhere. I kept one or two stations but no control units after originally having 3 or 4 controls and at least 20 stations. Screwed up again ....

I recall that movie now that you mention it. I didn't notice the intercom though. Maybe that station used to be one of mine!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on November 12, 2012, 03:13:44 PM
DId anyone catch the old Western Electric 500 featured prominently in this weeks episode of The Walking Dead?

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mddi25i4eH1r4u2opo2_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on November 19, 2012, 01:40:28 AM
I saw this on TV so I looked it up on Youtube and got a capture.  The wall phone in the kitchen looks like an intercom, but I'm not sure if it's patterned after something real, like the D1s they're using.  I do like that ivory receiver.  Plenty of boring ol' D1s with E1 handsets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-qo90NWv2s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-qo90NWv2s)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on November 23, 2012, 05:20:43 PM
Music video for a change:

The Lovely Eggs -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mYyYqhxxHYY

Quite a selection, the first one is a real surprise, here's a wee contest for anyone who wants to list them all?

(Forwarded to me by my long-suffering brother).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on November 24, 2012, 07:03:33 AM
Not listing repeat appearances, I see:

1 - NE/GEC Contempra
2 - GPO 766 Trimphone
3 - GPO 704/TMC 1705
4 - GPO 710 w/No. 12 dial
5 - one sat on the bar - too modern for me, pass
6 - green thing at the hairdressers - Dawn perhaps?  ???
7 - Yellow (faded ivory?) & black GPO 711
8 - British Telecom Sceptre
9 - Hoover Ranger, oh, wait, that's a vacuum...  :D

;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: George Knighton on December 15, 2012, 08:32:33 AM
Quote from: baldopeacock on December 19, 2010, 11:58:15 PM
Watching "Miracle on 34th Street" tonight,  I counted several D-mounts with both E and F handsets as well as two or three 302s.

Since it's the holiday season and all the classic old movies are back around, might be fun to report classic phone spottings in those old films.

Office scenes in "Miracle" showed multiple D-mounts on a single desk - I guess Macy's didn't pop for multi-line phones.

It's that Time of Year again, when they're showing the original Miracle on 34th St.  :-)

I liked seeing all the shots of 302's and what I suppose were 202's.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on December 15, 2012, 01:08:52 PM
In Miracle on 34th Street, Mr. Macy has two 202s on his desk: one with an E-1 handset and one with an F-1. Could have been two lines. In the old films there are often two phones rather than one multi-line set or one set that could be switched between lines.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on December 15, 2012, 02:03:51 PM
Of course you can only really talk to one person at a time and way back then the companies switchboard operator was the one who did all the switching for you. She might even dial your outside calls for you or at minimum she would put through your Long Distance calls and then calling you back when the other party was on the line.

Having multiline phones on your desk is sort of the more modern "Do it Yourself" equivilent of the switchboard operator.

That's how I see it at least.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dialvintage on December 21, 2012, 08:11:27 AM
Quote from: bingster on November 23, 2008, 10:54:54 AM
I do the same thing with phones and radios, too.  Some of the best "phone watching" movies are Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies from the 1930s.  They're filled with great telephones, mainly AE and Kellogg, and they're usually colored. 

I was watching a movie a while back (I think it was The Mad Miss Manton) that showed a Kellogg Masterphone (the oval manual one) that was chrome plated.  Really beautiful.  Miss Manton had an ivory D1/E1 202 in her apartment.


I'm getting like it too! There are some Astaire films on BBC iplayer- must watch them- love his films and old phones are a bonus! It was watching Heartbeat a series set in 1960s Yorkshire that made me buy my 1960s GPO phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dialvintage on December 21, 2012, 08:15:31 AM
QuoteWe watch a fair amount of British TV, especially murder mysteries and such, most of it new production shows, and I'm often seeing old rotary GPO 700s in scenes set in old homes or shops.  Maybe they are still in common enough use to be that obvious, or maybe the set directors are adding them to get atmosphere. 


They are not that common in use that I've seen- besides my friends having one ( but no phone line) I'm the only one that has one. However there are plenty of GPO phones on ebay and they are snapped up right away so they must be getting popular again!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on January 06, 2013, 05:46:29 PM
Thought this thread could do with some additional pictures... :D

Screenshots are from Star Trek; The Original Series, episode "Assignment: Earth", which features Gary Seven, the spinoff that never happened, five phones I could get a good shot of, there's some others in the episode, but they'd probably be more visible in the remastered version of Star Trek... :)

And the red 500 was the "Get me the president!!!" phone... :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WesternElectricBen on January 06, 2013, 06:24:24 PM
Oh gosh, I never go to the movies for the plot, I go for the phones! lol
Ben
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 07, 2013, 03:12:25 PM
Assignment Earth was one of my favorite episodes, since the plot took them back in time to the time that was current when it aired, late 60s.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on January 07, 2013, 03:31:26 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on January 07, 2013, 03:12:25 PM
Assignment Earth was one of my favorite episodes, since the plot took them back in time to the time that was current when it aired, late 60s.

Aired 29th March, 1968, according to IMDB... :)

It's a shame that the TV series of Assignment Earth never materialised, but, Paramount at the time were close to dropping what became quite the franchise for them, as they only commissioned one more series of Star Trek before they canned it, but when it comes to TV execs, they're not exactly the brightest people out there... :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on January 07, 2013, 07:04:34 PM
In the movie in current limited release, Hyde Park on Hudson, about FDR, there are what appear to be a Western Electric black 202 and a RED 302 on his desk in his Hyde Park office.  (The whole movie takes place there, the White House is never shown.)

These two pics are from the trailer, from what I recall, you never see the phones in the actual film really any better than this.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dialvintage on January 08, 2013, 06:41:17 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on January 07, 2013, 03:12:25 PM
Assignment Earth was one of my favorite episodes, since the plot took them back in time to the time that was current when it aired, late 60s.

Yes it's great! Haven't seen it in ages- forgot about all those phones in it! Funny to think some of our late 1990s mobile phones looked a bit like the communicators. But even those looking dated now. Mobile phones are looking more and more like mini computers.
However, rotary dial phones are my fave!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on January 08, 2013, 06:45:59 PM
Quote from: Adam on January 07, 2013, 07:04:34 PM
In the movie in current limited release, Hyde Park on Hudson, about FDR, there are what appear to be a Western Electric black 202 and a RED 302 on his desk in his Hyde Park office.  (The whole movie takes place there, the White House is never shown.)

These two pics are from the trailer, from what I recall, you never see the phones in the actual film really any better than this.


Those aren't WE phones. Maybe the color one is a Stromberg-Carlson 1243?


Not sure what company served Hyde Park, NY.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HowardPgh on January 09, 2013, 09:48:15 AM
Red one looks to be a SC 1243 or the older version (1222?).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on January 09, 2013, 12:37:49 PM
Interesting!  Thanks, guys, from what little you could see of the sets, I couldn't tell...

It's very possible that rural area half way between New York City and Albany wasn't served by New York Telephone, the Bell System company of that part of the country.  Wonder how we could find out for sure?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HowardPgh on January 09, 2013, 03:26:19 PM
The black one looks like an Automatic Electric.1A with a British handset?
Howard

The MBS mike looks like a Western Electric, the CBS and NDC I don't know, and the two unmarked ones look like Turner mikes.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: LarryInMichigan on January 20, 2013, 07:48:30 PM
Here's an ivory AE 1A (I think) at about 10:27: link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8z6Gn8xhgg).

Larry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on January 23, 2013, 06:45:04 AM
More Star Trek pictures, first one is aboard the USS Enterprise (well, they used the USS Ranger for the film, but dressed it up as the Enterprise), an AE type handset from what I can tell, don't get to see the actual phone though... :)

And the 2nd, not technically a phone picture, but, Pacific Bell must have loved the advertising for that shot of Sulu, Scotty and McCoy staring at the yellow pages ad on the wall... :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on February 03, 2013, 01:49:40 AM
One from the first Back to the Future, Doc Brown's 500, acting as Marty's ear defence with all the clocks chiming at once... ;D

They used a Modular model, but the socket on the back of the phone appears to have been drilled out and a thicker, more flexible (and probably longer) line had been fitted, though as everything in Doc's lab had been modified somehow, it's hardly surprising that got modified too.. :D

Still watching at the moment, so may add a couple more pics... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on February 03, 2013, 02:23:59 AM
1955 stuff from BTTF, the Doc's number in the directory, and I can't help but notice the numbers ending with letters, I'm guessing they're country codes? :D

And the payphone, there is a Bell System sign, but the handset appears to be an AE G-type handset (the transmitter cap gives it away), which I guess wouldn't be right being a Bell payphone... ???

And I just thought I'd add the bit where he tears the page out of the phonebook, probably very frowned upon in the day.... :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on February 03, 2013, 03:08:36 AM
One more, Chuck's cousin, Marvin Berry, on a 302 while Marty & the band plays "Johnny B. Goode"... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: cello973 on March 18, 2013, 08:09:18 PM
Quote from: twocvbloke on January 23, 2013, 06:45:04 AM
More Star Trek pictures, first one is aboard the USS Enterprise (well, they used the USS Ranger for the film, but dressed it up as the Enterprise), an AE type handset from what I can tell, don't get to see the actual phone though... :)

And the 2nd, not technically a phone picture, but, Pacific Bell must have loved the advertising for that shot of Sulu, Scotty and McCoy staring at the yellow pages ad on the wall... :D

And to the left of Sulu is a SAC box.... (The big green cabinet)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on March 18, 2013, 11:49:52 PM
Quote from: cello973 on March 18, 2013, 08:09:18 PM
And to the left of Sulu is a SAC box.... (The big green cabinet)

Hey, I am not the only one on earth who calls these SAC boxes!? And for extra credit.....who knows what SAC is an acronym for? I assumed that SAC was a GTE term?

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on March 19, 2013, 02:53:52 AM
Quote from: AE_Collector on March 18, 2013, 11:49:52 PMAnd for extra credit.....who knows what SAC is an acronym for?

I would guess at "Street Access Cabinet", cos it's on a street to give access to the cabinet... :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on March 19, 2013, 11:06:20 AM
Good logical attempt twocv but keep the guesses coming as yours is incorrect! (Que error buzzer sound here)

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Russ Kirk on March 19, 2013, 11:20:50 AM
Service Area Crossconnect, or Service Area Cabinet,  I also remember the term SAI used, Service Area Interface.  A lot of techs called them B-Boxes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serving_area_interface

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: cello973 on March 19, 2013, 01:29:52 PM
Actually it stands for Serving (aka Service) Area Concept (SAC) a system devised by the Bell System as a standard for dividing Wire Centers. The SAC box is equivalent to an IDF in a building where there is a high cap cable that you cross connect from to various other feeders to neighborhoods then to the RAT and ultimately to the drop at the subscribers prem.. I hope this isn't too off topic if so sorry...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on March 20, 2013, 02:26:07 AM
I was going toad Service Area Concept to Russ's list but then noticed that Cello973 chimed in with that one. That is what I have always known SAC to stand for.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on April 01, 2013, 02:06:03 PM
Not strictly in the movies back when the pic was taken, but certainly is now.

No takers eh - its Brad Pitt!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 07, 2013, 02:20:42 PM
An old Daffy Duck cartoon from the 40s, The Commando:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=h0SNoIrm61w&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=h0SNoIrm61w&NR=1)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on April 10, 2013, 09:57:24 PM
Walking Dead finale, what"s Merle doing with the Old 500 set?    Okay he's using the cords to tie up Michonne.  Notice that Rick was going to use CAT-3 before he chickened out.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Mr. Bones on April 10, 2013, 10:28:30 PM
     While watching a new episode of "Bomb Girls tonight, I saw something new (to me).

     While I have seen many scissor-mounts for CS phones, I have never seen one like the one on this show: it held what appeared to be, from a distance, under low light (blackout!), a 302/AE40 desk set.

;)My guess would be an NE 302?, being as the show is set in Canada...

     Sorry I have no vid to screen capture capability.

Best regards!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HowardPgh on April 11, 2013, 09:36:04 AM
That type of scissor mount has a tray on it to set the phone on, rather than the usual clamp tp hold the shaft of a candlestick phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Mr. Bones on April 12, 2013, 12:07:40 AM
Quote from: HowardPgh on April 11, 2013, 09:36:04 AM
That type of scissor mount has a tray on it to set the phone on, rather than the usual clamp tp hold the shaft of a candlestick phone.

     Yes, that's the very type I saw.

      I'll have to hunt around, see if I can find any pictures, etc., of one.

      I can't help but wonder if the desk sets weren't fastened down to the tray, to prevent them from being accidentally pulled off.

Best regards!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BruceP on April 25, 2013, 11:46:03 AM
Haven't read this whole thread though yet.
But here is one of my favorite movie clips of all times, and my only youtube upload:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz28Fk4h2G0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz28Fk4h2G0)
(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/cz28Fk4h2G0/mqdefault.jpg)

"Did you know that the germs can come through the wires?"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on April 25, 2013, 12:09:40 PM
Funny.  In the Daffy Duck picture above, it looks like the pay phone, otherwise very accurately portrayed, does not have a switch hook.

However, when horizontally flipped, the pic makes more sense. What's weird is that the original pic is not flipped, I just confirmed that from the cartoon's original video.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: DavePEI on April 25, 2013, 12:25:57 PM
Quote from: BruceP on April 25, 2013, 11:46:03 AM
"Did you know that the germs can come through the wires?"
Of course - they are called Internet Viruses :) The lady is a bit disturbed, isn't she? They're coming to take her away, Ha, Ha!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 25, 2013, 03:25:16 PM
Quote from: Adam on April 25, 2013, 12:09:40 PM
Funny.  In the Daffy Duck picture above, it looks like the pay phone, otherwise very accurately portrayed, does not have a switch hook.

However, when horizontally flipped, the pic makes more sense. What's weird is that the original pic is not flipped, I just confirmed that from the cartoon's original video.

I guess they had the switch hook on the other side (7:24).  Was there such a thing as a non-dial payphone like that?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on April 25, 2013, 04:03:16 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on April 25, 2013, 03:25:16 PM
Quote from: Adam on April 25, 2013, 12:09:40 PM
Funny.  In the Daffy Duck picture above, it looks like the pay phone, otherwise very accurately portrayed, does not have a switch hook.

However, when horizontally flipped, the pic makes more sense. What's weird is that the original pic is not flipped, I just confirmed that from the cartoon's original video.

I guess they had the switch hook on the other side (7:24).  Was there such a thing as a non-dial payphone like that?

Yes. The 1912 50-A did not even have a hole for a dial. Later models could be equipped with a dial or not, up to and including single slots.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: old_stuff_hound on April 25, 2013, 06:40:17 PM
Slightly different, this was on TV news:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzNcnqJ6qgQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzNcnqJ6qgQ)
100-yar-old time capsule opened in Oklahoma.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on April 25, 2013, 07:00:24 PM
Nice Kellogg
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BruceP on April 25, 2013, 07:39:36 PM
Matt Helm - The Wrecking Crew(1969)
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p756/bruce2200/matthelm_zpsa22a39e5.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVs9e0dUl9E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVs9e0dUl9E)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on April 25, 2013, 08:24:33 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on April 25, 2013, 04:03:16 PM
Yes. The 1912 50-A did not even have a hole for a dial. Later models could be equipped with a dial or not, up to and including single slots.

Which presumably led to the introduction of the instruction card used to cover up unused dial and/or transmitter mounting holes.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Telephonemans Daughter on April 27, 2013, 10:57:14 AM
Quote from: rdelius on April 25, 2013, 07:00:24 PM
Nice Kellogg
I saw that and wonder who is the lucky person to get that phone?  It will probably be donated to some museum or something where it won't be used.  HOOK THAT BABY UP!

And for the subject of this thread ... Since I began collecting phones and giving them as gifts to family members, I notice phones in movies all the time.  My daughter laughs at me.  The worse came just a few weeks ago when I went to the local high school musical of 'Annie' with her.  I found myself checking out the phone they used onstage for Daddy Warbucks.  I noted that they used a black Crosley 302 reproduction (and like someone else stated above, the ring didn't match the model).  So I pointed this out to my daughter that they didn't make those till 1937 and this musical takes place in 1933 and how they should have found a 202 instead.  My daughter just looked at me thoughtfully, then remarked that my father lives on in me and how he'd be proud that I knew that.  That comment made me stop and think .... he does live on in me, and if he'd had been there with us, he'd have made the same comment, too.  LOL
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: DavePEI on April 27, 2013, 01:07:18 PM
Quote from: Telephonemans Daughter on April 27, 2013, 10:57:14 AM
My daughter just looked at me thoughtfully, then remarked that my father lives on in me and how he'd be proud that I knew that.  That comment made me stop and think .... he does live on in me, and if he'd had been there with us, he'd have made the same comment, too.  LOL

That's quite a compliment!

Dave
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: New England Tel. on August 22, 2013, 08:59:20 AM
After seeing some photos of the Rauland Amplicall on this forum, I said to myself, "Wow! That looks awfully familiar!" And I immediately knew where I knew it from...

A modified version of this was used in the Star Trek 1st Pilot episode, The Cage. See if you agree...





Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on August 22, 2013, 05:09:54 PM
I just had a look about on the forum, and yes, that does indeed look like an Amplicall (not heard of that before today though!!), I'll have to watch The Cage again, just to be sure... :D

Link to an Amplicall thread:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=548.0
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on September 28, 2013, 01:15:06 AM
A pretty little line up of three British phones in Foyle's War (episode "Eagle Day").
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on September 28, 2013, 03:26:43 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on September 28, 2013, 01:15:06 AM
A pretty little line up of three British phones in Foyle's War (episode "Eagle Day").

Interesting! I seem to remember those from a more recent episode of Dr. Who, with David Tenant Matt Smith, where he was working with Churchill to defeat Daleks. There was that line up of phones on one end of the large war room table and several black phones on the other end.

I'll see if I can find it this weekend.

Found it: "Victory of the Daleks" Series 5, Episode 3

A lot more phones that I first remembered. Unfortunately, the camera shot for a scene many times does not catch the front of the phone, in any part of the episode. This episode also included old operator headsets. Here are a few screen captures.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on November 07, 2013, 08:44:11 AM
Has anyone mentioned Boardwalk Empire yet?  It's chock full of all sorts of early phones:

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: gpo706 on November 07, 2013, 02:20:39 PM
Quote from: TelePlay on September 28, 2013, 03:26:43 AM
Quote from: Brinybay on September 28, 2013, 01:15:06 AM
A pretty little line up of three British phones in Foyle's War (episode "Eagle Day").

Interesting! I seem to remember those from a more recent episode of Dr. Who, with David Tenant Matt Smith, where he was working with Churchill to defeat Daleks. There was that line up of phones on one end of the large war room table and several black phones on the other end.

I'll see if I can find it this weekend.

Found it: "Victory of the Daleks" Series 5, Episode 3

A lot more phones that I first remembered. Unfortunately, the camera shot for a scene many times does not catch the front of the phone, in any part of the episode. This episode also included old operator headsets. Here are a few screen captures.

Maybe they shot this in the Cabinet War rooms museum in London? It's a great place, chock full of telephony.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on December 01, 2013, 01:06:29 PM
Just watching "There's Always Tomorrow" with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck from 1956.  Every phone in the movie is a 302!  With the 500 already out for 5 or 6 years, makes you wonder why the movie companies didn't update their props in some films.  I guess it's like cars.  Would be weird if everyone in a movie had a new car. 

Here's a screenshot of Barbara on her ivory 302:

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: xhausted110 on December 01, 2013, 02:08:43 PM
Quote from: twocvbloke on February 03, 2013, 02:23:59 AM
1955 stuff from BTTF, the Doc's number in the directory, and I can't help but notice the numbers ending with letters, I'm guessing they're country codes? :D

And the payphone, there is a Bell System sign, but the handset appears to be an AE G-type handset (the transmitter cap gives it away), which I guess wouldn't be right being a Bell payphone... ???

And I just thought I'd add the bit where he tears the page out of the phonebook, probably very frowned upon in the day.... :D

the letters ending in numbers are party line codes.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on December 01, 2013, 02:54:21 PM
Quote from: xhausted110 on December 01, 2013, 02:08:43 PM
Quote from: twocvbloke on February 03, 2013, 02:23:59 AM
1955 stuff from BTTF, the Doc's number in the directory, and I can't help but notice the numbers ending with letters, I'm guessing they're country codes? :D

And the payphone, there is a Bell System sign, but the handset appears to be an AE G-type handset (the transmitter cap gives it away), which I guess wouldn't be right being a Bell payphone... ???

And I just thought I'd add the bit where he tears the page out of the phonebook, probably very frowned upon in the day.... :D

the letters ending in numbers are party line codes.



The pay phone is 100% Automatic Electric, not just the handset: Notice the red name plate on top, the 45-degree angle of the hook, the plastic dial shroud (not daisy), the thin chrome coin return bucket, the style of the keyhole on the vault door.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on December 01, 2013, 02:57:52 PM
There aren't just cool old phones in Boardwalk Empire a recent episode featured the venerable Hawthorne works itself
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on December 01, 2013, 03:45:54 PM
Quote from: JimH on December 01, 2013, 01:06:29 PM
Just watching "There's Always Tomorrow" with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck from 1956.  Every phone in the movie is a 302!  With the 500 already out for 5 or 6 years, makes you wonder why the movie companies didn't update their props in some films.

When staging a movie or play, the first question that comes up in the first production meeting is "in what year will this take place." Everything is based on that number. This movie was first done in the 30s and remade in the 50s. The director and/or producer tell the set and props people what they want to see on camera. So even if this movie took place and was made in the 50s, they may have wanted the rooms and props to be outdated, from 40s, for whatever reason they had to make that decision including not having money left in the budget to go out and get new phones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on December 01, 2013, 06:12:19 PM
Quote from: TelePlay on December 01, 2013, 03:45:54 PM
Quote from: JimH on December 01, 2013, 01:06:29 PM
Just watching "There's Always Tomorrow" with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck from 1956.  Every phone in the movie is a 302!  With the 500 already out for 5 or 6 years, makes you wonder why the movie companies didn't update their props in some films.

When staging a movie or play, the first question that comes up in the first production meeting is "in what year will this take place." Everything is based on that number. This movie was first done in the 30s and remade in the 50s. The director and/or producer tell the set and props people what they want to see on camera. So even if this movie took place and was made in the 50s, they may have wanted the rooms and props to be outdated, from 40s, for whatever reason they had to make that decision including not having money left in the budget to go out and get new phones.

Exactly what I was thinking.  Probably the same  Sheriff Andy Taylor had a candlestick phone in the 1960s Mayberry...to make it a little out of date and behind the times, like it was. (Also the Munsters and Addams Family, too!)

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MDK on December 02, 2013, 10:12:16 PM
Has anyone ever seen the Val Kilmer classic, "Top Secret!"? What kind of phone is this?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on December 02, 2013, 10:21:58 PM
Quote from: MDK on December 02, 2013, 10:12:16 PM
Has anyone ever seen the Val Kilmer classic, "Top Secret!"? What kind of phone is this?

I have that on Betamax somewhere in my mess of a room, haven't watched in a few years... :D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on December 03, 2013, 12:15:23 PM
Another definitely out of date phone with Karl Malden as Mike Stone in "The Streets Of San Francisco"... what a sacrilege to put a styrofoam coffee mug on top ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: xhausted110 on December 03, 2013, 03:32:49 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on December 01, 2013, 02:54:21 PM
Quote from: xhausted110 on December 01, 2013, 02:08:43 PM
Quote from: twocvbloke on February 03, 2013, 02:23:59 AM
1955 stuff from BTTF, the Doc's number in the directory, and I can't help but notice the numbers ending with letters, I'm guessing they're country codes? :D

And the payphone, there is a Bell System sign, but the handset appears to be an AE G-type handset (the transmitter cap gives it away), which I guess wouldn't be right being a Bell payphone... ???

And I just thought I'd add the bit where he tears the page out of the phonebook, probably very frowned upon in the day.... :D

the letters ending in numbers are party line codes.



The pay phone is 100% Automatic Electric, not just the handset: Notice the red name plate on top, the 45-degree angle of the hook, the plastic dial shroud (not daisy), the thin chrome coin return bucket, the style of the keyhole on the vault door.

whoops! I meant the numbers ending in letters, in the phone book
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on December 05, 2013, 03:26:57 AM
Some more "The Streets Of San Francisco" pay phones. Note that there are sometimes no locks :) And please note the phone directory picture with a variety of not existing phone numbers.

Haf
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 05, 2013, 05:28:19 PM
Quote from: Haf on December 05, 2013, 03:26:57 AM
Some more "The Streets Of San Francisco" pay phones. Note that there are sometimes no locks :) And please note the phone directory picture with a variety of not existing phone numbers.

Haf

The first and fifth phones are like the one I just got.  I'm going to take a guess and say he's looking at last names that start with an "E" because that last one looks like "Everett", which is also the name of a city near me.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on December 24, 2013, 10:20:30 PM
Released in 1985, finally got around to watching "Clue," the movie for the first time. There is something very nice about watching a pre-hi-tech movie for the first time today. This full screen shot of what seems to be a metal 302 appeared 52 minutes into the movie.

The number on the card is "YL-7091." YL? The TENproject database has YL (95) as a mobile service.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HarrySmith on December 25, 2013, 12:29:18 PM
Not a phone but I watched "The Little Princess" with Shirley Temple this morning. In the credits I saw the Western Electric name in the Hawthorne font and had to go back to see it. It was for the sound system called "Mirrophonic Recording". A monophonic sound system by WE for early movies. Interesting trivia ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on February 14, 2014, 10:06:54 AM
i was watching 'a shot in the dark' yesterday........the 2nd pink panther movie from 1964.
this white U43 is in the opening frames, after the credits...............

dreyfus is saying something like - "hullo darling, yes i've got the cheese and the beaujolais, i'll be right over........kiss the children for me."
the secretary then buzzes through on the intercom and says "your wife is on the other line..."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 05, 2014, 02:34:26 PM
Here are a few stills from the 1967 movie "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre"

(http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bdm123456/sv8_zps85814561.png)

(http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bdm123456/sv6_zpsf9815e43.png)

(http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bdm123456/sv5_zpseb424383.png)

(http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bdm123456/sv1_zps5754f09f.png)

(http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bdm123456/sv9_zps4d7dc301.png)

(http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr233/bdm123456/sv4_zpsb56cec75.png)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 11, 2014, 12:43:16 AM
From the Godfather II. How many of you have a solid gold AE40? I bet not even Doug Rose ;D 8)

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 15, 2014, 07:18:04 PM
Rosemary's Baby 1968. I see what looks to be a chrome W.E. 3 slot. I've heard of this but never really believed they existed. The pic doesn't show it well and it's better seen in the movie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on March 15, 2014, 08:53:33 PM
Quote from: BDM on March 15, 2014, 07:18:04 PM
The pic doesn't show it well . . .

The reflection of her hand, her fingers, on the phone below and to the right of the "0" is mirror clear which would only be possible with a chrome finish. Shows quite well, IMHO. And that looks like a coiled handset cord as well.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 15, 2014, 09:01:07 PM
That is because I changed the pic I was going to use, but forgot to re-word my post, silly me. Yes it does show well and yes when watching the flick, it is a coiled cord.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on March 15, 2014, 09:47:48 PM
Silly me also, I clicked on the little white arrow to play the clip!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 15, 2014, 10:01:46 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on March 15, 2014, 09:47:48 PM
Silly me also, I clicked on the little white arrow to play the clip!

(http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-laughing013.gif)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on March 24, 2014, 07:49:59 PM
Early episode of My Favorite Martian. What appears to be a 5302 next to Bill Bixby's bed.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on April 06, 2014, 09:47:20 PM
Spotted a couple more phones in Star Trek IV, in the antiques store where Kirk and Spock visit to sell Kirks damaged reading glasses, the phones are behind the counter on the bottom shelf, they appear to mostly be AE phones... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Scotophor on April 07, 2014, 01:59:38 AM
Sorry, no pictures here (maybe someone can help out): I just saw an episode of McCloud entitled "The Return of Butch Cassidy". In a small hotel, there was a cordboard behind the counter. McCloud wanted to use the house phone to make a call, so the manager handed the phone (nothing special there, probably a black 500-style) across the counter, then actually reached back and plugged in an outside line. In other scenes, two women in different locations used dark gray 500-style phones (probably a re-use of the same prop).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 10, 2014, 11:32:32 PM
I saw part of this movie on Canadian television on a recent trip to Vancouver Island and liked it so I bought a copy of it on DVD from Amazon.  "The Racket" was an academy award winner in 1928. More sticks in the movie than you can ... well, shake a stick at!  The stick on the "old man's" (Godfather?) desk had an interesting gizmo attached.  I think it's an accessory designed to make calls more private.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 10, 2014, 11:43:16 PM
The next shot after the "Godfather" talks into the stick phone gizmo is him reaching down to what I think is a Dictograph and pushes one of the toggle switches down.  Also a closer view of Capt. McQuigg's stick.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Scotophor on April 11, 2014, 02:14:22 AM
That Dictograph-like device is interesting. Would it record on wax cylinders, or wire?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 11, 2014, 11:55:13 AM
Quote from: Scotophor on April 11, 2014, 02:14:22 AM
That Dictograph-like device is interesting. Would it record on wax cylinders, or wire?

Not sure what exactly that is.  With all those levers, I don't think it's a recording device.  I went back and looked at the scene again but it doesn't give any indication of what happens after he flipped the switch.  He picked something up in his left hand before he flipped the switch (Capture 9), but can't see what it is.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on April 11, 2014, 12:17:46 PM
Brinybay, I'm pretty sure it's a dictation console.  He's probably picking up a handset-like device that is a transmitter (mike) on a handle.  The handle may include remote control functions like pause, rewind, etc.  The lever switches control which of the recorders for each of the multiple secretaries in the facility that the user wants the dictation to be routed to.

With all those levers, it *could* be the station selector console for an internal office intercom system, but to my eyes, the two larger circular devices (whatever they are, can't tell from the pic) make the intercom possibility look less likely. And besides, an intercom system probably wouldn't be hidden in a drawer like that.

But, that's just my educated guess.

And yes, I believe in those years, dictation devices would have used wax cylinders or wax discs.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 11, 2014, 03:03:05 PM
Quote from: Adam on April 11, 2014, 12:17:46 PM
Brinybay, I'm pretty sure it's a dictation console.  He's probably picking up a handset-like device that is a transmitter (mike) on a handle.  The handle may include remote control functions like pause, rewind, etc.  The lever switches control which of the recorders for each of the multiple secretaries in the facility that the user wants the dictation to be routed to.

With all those levers, it *could* be the station selector console for an internal office intercom system, but to my eyes, the two larger circular devices (whatever they are, can't tell from the pic) make the intercom possibility look less likely. And besides, an intercom system probably wouldn't be hidden in a drawer like that.

But, that's just my educated guess.

And yes, I believe in those years, dictation devices would have used wax cylinders or wax discs.

It makes sense to me.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 11, 2014, 03:40:08 PM
Couple of payphones in the same movie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on April 11, 2014, 08:29:29 PM
That transmitter gizmo is a "Hush-a-Phone".  There is are two WE scissor phones, one a drawn perch and the other a  solid perch type with thumbscrew in "Capture4"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Adam on April 16, 2014, 03:03:46 AM
Mystery solved.  Console in drawer with lever switches is a Dictograph office intercom.  Found this out on the net.

http://www.museumoftechnology.org.uk/expand.php?key=243
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on April 29, 2014, 04:00:36 PM
Just an interesting little tid-bit in a movie I saw the other day. Anyone remember the movie thriller "You'll Like My Mother" from 1972 with Patty Duke and Richard Thomas?(in this movie, a cross between John Boy and Michael Meyers :) ). Anyhow she (Patty Duke) finds an old 500 set in the attic of the mansion with a 4 pronger. She finds a jack plugs it in, and then dials. It tickles the ringer on a 354 wall set down in the kitchen. Of course alerting Richard someones using a phone. Kind of a technical tib-bit for a movie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rp2813 on May 13, 2014, 12:17:05 AM
During last night's episode of "Mad Men" I think I spotted the first non-WECO phone since the show began.   It's in Megan's Laurel Canyon home.  An AE in an unappealing shade of mint green.  They even dubbed in the sound of an AE ringer.

It had me wondering if anybody on the "Mad Men" team thought Laurel Canyon was outside Pacific Telephone territory (it's at least fairly close to today's Verizon border, I know that much) and was going for premises equipment correctness, but then I saw the black 554 on the wall in the kitchen and I knew that wasn't the case.

I would have been highly impressed if it had been an AE wall model, even more so if it wasn't a black one.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on May 29, 2014, 04:52:03 PM
1938 - You Can't Take It With You

Watch Jean Arthur answer a D1 with E1 handset with NO HANDS!

If you can't wait to find the whole film, the sequence is in this YouTube clip:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF_BoAPqvTo&list=PL16C180583B19BF51 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF_BoAPqvTo&list=PL16C180583B19BF51)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on May 30, 2014, 02:57:35 PM
"Alibi" (1929) screen captures.  It was a little hard to get, but I managed to get a screen capture at just the right angle to see a clear glass mouthpiece on the stick in the nightclub office.  Also an exchange manned exclusively by police.

Found a short clip from the same scene with the same phone and got a couple of captures from it.  I'm a little miffed that the Youtube clips are much sharper than the DVD I have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXFluStyyas
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on May 30, 2014, 05:32:47 PM
Paul, she could have tried that on any of my phones :D Brinybay, you had me start watching that movie now ;) Twilight Zone 1960 "A Thing About Machines". Notice the cord is about ready to pull out of the receiver. You could plainly see it move as he moved the phone. Real close to popping right out 8)

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 03, 2014, 12:03:06 AM
Twilight Zone episode "Night Call". Hey, a D1/202 with a 685A subset ??? Once you hear it ring, you'll know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKF5YPyvJ-Y

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on June 03, 2014, 10:49:31 AM
It's a C4 ringer--as in a 685A subset or a 500--but I think in the 1963 Twilight Zone episode  it's just a sound track.

It's possible to wire a 202 to a 685A subset using a 5-conductor mounting cord.  However, I doubt that 202s with E-type handsets were typically used with 685A subsets. By the time 685As were available (early 50s?), 202s would have had F1- or F4- handsets.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 03, 2014, 10:59:18 AM
Dave I should have been more clear. I know it's Hollyweed at it's best using a soudtrack to fit the telephone "sound" of the day 8)  I should call that "KL" number and see if she answers :o Heck I have the same first name as her dead fiance :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on June 03, 2014, 03:22:32 PM
Quote from: BDM on June 03, 2014, 10:59:18 AM
I should call that "KL" number and see if she answers :o

Save your time!  They put that number in the movie for a reason.

  http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=5536.msg67326#msg67326 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=5536.msg67326#msg67326)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 03, 2014, 03:37:02 PM
Darn Paul, you take the fun out of it. I wanted to hear her scream my name like in the end scene, over and over :o ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 03, 2014, 03:55:14 PM
BTW around scene 7:40 in the movie, there appears to be a different D1 on her table. She dials it and it very much sounds like a #6 dial as opposed to her other version D1. Just a tid-bit to notice.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Mr. Bones on June 03, 2014, 08:32:17 PM
     The Twilight Zone is certainly rife with telephones, often prominently featured in the story / plot. I have several seasons on DVD, and might have seen the others, a time or two-ish. Still watch every evening at 2000, plus break out the discs, or Netflix them, on a daily basis. 8)

     One of the reasons is to re-enjoy them, while looking at telephone apparatus. Mostly, they still just beat the vast majority of the pablum, and pure fecal matter that the channels seem to be purveying at present.

Best regards!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on June 03, 2014, 10:16:13 PM
Quote from: BDM on June 03, 2014, 03:55:14 PM
BTW around scene 7:40 in the movie, there appears to be a different D1 on her table. She dials it and it very much sounds like a #6 dial as opposed to her other version D1. Just a tid-bit to notice.

Sounds like either a 4H with a stuck pulse pawl or a very early "silent" 5H with phenol pulse pawl.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 03, 2014, 10:17:15 PM
Yeah maybe. I just heard the wind-up as she spun that dial to the stop. Reminded me of some #6 dials I've heard.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 17, 2014, 10:06:07 PM
TELEFON (1977)




Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on June 26, 2014, 09:18:08 PM
The Warriors. Payphone with an F1 missing it's number card.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on July 08, 2014, 11:30:17 AM
Spotted this just now while watching the following video on youtube, what looks like a 1A1/1A2 system phone with a gold (probably one of them metal covers) handset, behind the great bird of the galaxy that is Gene Roddenberry... :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5s-7HN-a1I
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on July 09, 2014, 10:18:26 PM
Anita and I got hooked on Murdoch Mysteries.  Lots of sticks in this series, here's a couple of them.  I believe the phone in the third picture is called a "staircase"?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on July 09, 2014, 10:24:35 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on July 09, 2014, 10:18:26 PM
Anita and I got hooked on Murdoch Mysteries.  Lots of sticks in this series, here's a couple of them.  I believe the phone in the third picture is called a "staircase"?
I just love how the receiver is always put upside-down on candlesticks. It's annoying, but hilarious at the same time!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WesternElectricBen on July 09, 2014, 10:32:16 PM
The telephone companies got themselves into the handset upside down issue, as they never standardized the way the ear pieces would hang.


Ben
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on July 09, 2014, 11:37:45 PM
More from Murdoch Mysteries.  This particular episode is called "Dial M for Murder", so much of the murder mystery is centered around phones.  Tell me if the switchboard technology looks period correct for 1899.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on July 10, 2014, 12:06:18 AM
The episode titled "Night Call" - photo grabbed from the opening minute of this Twilight Zone (Season 5 Episode 19) chiller.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 10:23:03 AM
From the "Twilight Zone" episode, Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room, this phone appears to be a modified WE 653 with a G-type handset.

What say you? Was this actually produced or refurbished in this form, or was it a studio prop?

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 11:11:53 AM
Quote from: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 10:23:03 AM
From the "Twilight Zone" episode, Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room, this phone appears to be a modified WE 653 with a G-type handset.

What say you? Was this actually produced or refurbished in this form, or was it a studio prop?



Conversion at WE repair shop. The dial version is coded 653BA per D-157315. The one pictured here started out as a non-dial 533A: notice the blank where the transmitter was originally in the center. Later, the transmitter was moved lower so that a dial could be added (553A or 653A). Finally, it was converted to a handset model. The B indicates a high impedance ringer.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 08:03:26 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 11:11:53 AM
Quote from: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 10:23:03 AM
From the "Twilight Zone" episode, Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room, this phone appears to be a modified WE 653 with a G-type handset.

What say you? Was this actually produced or refurbished in this form, or was it a studio prop?



Conversion at WE repair shop. The dial version is coded 653BA per D-157315. The one pictured here started out as a non-dial 533A: notice the blank where the transmitter was originally in the center. Later, the transmitter was moved lower so that a dial could be added (553A or 653A). Finally, it was converted to a handset model. The B indicates a high impedance ringer.



As you can see more clearly in this picture, this one has a standard switchhook and a G handset. Is this a "kosher" WE conversion?

Yours is a cool example - btw!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 08:18:04 PM
Quote from: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 08:03:26 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 11:11:53 AM
Quote from: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 10:23:03 AM
From the "Twilight Zone" episode, Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room, this phone appears to be a modified WE 653 with a G-type handset.

What say you? Was this actually produced or refurbished in this form, or was it a studio prop?



Conversion at WE repair shop. The dial version is coded 653BA per D-157315. The one pictured here started out as a non-dial 533A: notice the blank where the transmitter was originally in the center. Later, the transmitter was moved lower so that a dial could be added (553A or 653A). Finally, it was converted to a handset model. The B indicates a high impedance ringer.



As you can see more clearly in this picture, this one has a standard switchhook and a G handset. Is this a "kosher" WE conversion?

Yours is a cool example - btw!

Now that I see this picture, I don't think it's a WE shop conversion. That hook is for a 143/144/706A receiver. 

The cradle on the 653BA per D-157315 resembles others made for F-type handsets---such as on 211s, 354s, or 191G coin phones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 08:20:58 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on July 09, 2014, 10:18:26 PM
Anita and I got hooked on Murdoch Mysteries.  Lots of sticks in this series, here's a couple of them.  I believe the phone in the third picture is called a "staircase"?

Transmitter assembly on the NE was installed backwards. Notice that the receiver cord exits facing the user. True left-handed desk stands would have the cord on the back. Other one is a Kellogg.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 08:26:42 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 08:18:04 PM
Quote from: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 08:03:26 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 11:11:53 AM
Quote from: New England Tel. on July 21, 2014, 10:23:03 AM
From the "Twilight Zone" episode, Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room, this phone appears to be a modified WE 653 with a G-type handset.

What say you? Was this actually produced or refurbished in this form, or was it a studio prop?



Conversion at WE repair shop. The dial version is coded 653BA per D-157315. The one pictured here started out as a non-dial 533A: notice the blank where the transmitter was originally in the center. Later, the transmitter was moved lower so that a dial could be added (553A or 653A). Finally, it was converted to a handset model. The B indicates a high impedance ringer.



As you can see more clearly in this picture, this one has a standard switchhook and a G handset. Is this a "kosher" WE conversion?

Yours is a cool example - btw!

Now that I see this picture, I don't think it's a WE shop conversion. That hook is for a 143/144/706A receiver. 

The cradle on the 653BA per D-157315 resembles others made for F-type handsets---such as on 211s, 354s, or 191G coin phones.

It does make you wonder though. Why would the TZ producers go to the trouble of making an incorrect prop when they certainly had access to the proper phones of the period (which needed no modifications)?

Who knows?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on July 21, 2014, 08:30:20 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on July 09, 2014, 11:37:45 PM
More from Murdoch Mysteries.  This particular episode is called "Dial M for Murder", so much of the murder mystery is centered around phones.  Tell me if the switchboard technology looks period correct for 1899.

These switchboards appear to be 552s with added woodwork to make them look old. The 552 is an attendant console for a dial PBX such as a 701 or 740. It doesn't have lamps for each line jack, only amber lamps for the central office trunks.  Also, operators in picture appears to be talking to several subscribers at once.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on July 26, 2014, 10:58:22 AM
Twilight Zone - A Nice Place to Visit

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on July 26, 2014, 05:47:57 PM
Psycho

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on August 14, 2014, 11:43:33 PM
Lauren Bacall, 1924-2014.  Not sure which movie the first pic is from, but the second one is from Dark Passage.  There didn't seem to be many pics of her talking on a phone.  The second one is an animated gif.


https://sgtr.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dark-passage1.gif (https://sgtr.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/dark-passage1.gif)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tallguy58 on September 20, 2014, 08:45:16 PM
I watched "G-Men" with James Cagney tonight and my eyes bugged out when I saw this.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on September 24, 2014, 03:01:39 PM
The Day After is a 1983 drama about the aftermath of a nuclear exchange between the USSR and the USA.  This made-for-TV movie caused considerable controversy when originally aired.  Some of the more unsettling images of the horrors of being caught in a nuclear blast were excised before the film was permitted to be shown on network television.  While not terribly graphic by today's standards, it still gives the viewer plenty to ponder.

Here is an AUTOVON panel phone in use aboard a SAC EC-135 (Looking Glass) Airborne Command Post aircraft.  The scenes inside the EC-135 were borrowed from a previous Air Force training exercise, and the people shown are real SAC officers.  If you ever wanted to see an AUTOVON phone in use, this is about as real as it gets.  (As a sideline, the scenes of the interior of the missile launch complex are also real, so there is a lot of eye candy for the military enthusiast.)

DF
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on September 25, 2014, 04:33:48 PM
Quote from: tallguy58 on September 20, 2014, 08:45:16 PM
I watched "G-Men" with James Cagney tonight and my eyes bugged out when I saw this.

"Like"!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Mr. Bones on September 25, 2014, 11:49:58 PM
     Much of The Day After was filmed here in Lawrence, and I remember it quite well.

     My car is in it, and I, like countless others here, were offered the chance to be extras... I had to work and feed my family, so abstained. ;) I was perfectly content for my '66 Caprice to get all the glory, and earn a few much-needed bucks for our household.

     To the best of my knowledge, no Caprices were ever harmed in the making of this film. ;D

Best regards!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on September 27, 2014, 01:39:56 AM
That "The day after" sounds a lot like a BBC drama called "Threads" (made in 1984), and it too caused quite a stir in it's depiction of post-nuke life, and if I recall it too featured a lot of interesting telephone equipment, but the last time I watched it, which was the first time, made me not want to watch it again, so if someone else wants to do screengrabs of it, you're welcome to, just take a couple of antidepresants beforehand... :o
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on October 14, 2014, 11:27:25 PM
I've never seen, or don't remember seeing one of these, on TV before tonight. This is from The Rockford Files, Season 4, Episode 1 (1977) titled "Beamer's Last Case." Might have been cool back then but 37 years later, to me, it looks a bit cheap. Yes, it's not old but it's, well it's . . .
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on November 12, 2014, 04:18:33 PM
It looks like one of those reproduction candlestick phones they had in 1976 used to mark the 100th anniversary of the telephone and the 200th birthday of our nation.  They may not seem antique, but they are now.

My friend, Tony, used to call my WE 5300 series phone the "Batman" phone.  What such a phone had to do with Batman, I have no idea.  Bruce Wayne had a designer phone of some sort.  Batman had a red 500D.  I have no idea who had a black 5300 series phone.  His wife seems to think he just called it that because it was black and old.  Maybe she's right.  What do you guys think?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on November 25, 2014, 04:32:40 PM
Here is a nice old payphone getting ready to be destroyed in the 1958 cult classic, Attack of the 50-Foot Woman.  The cheesy huge prop hand belongs to the 50ft Woman herself, Nancy Archer, played by beautiful (and not-at-all-cheesy) Allison Hayes.

Allison Hayes appeared in many movies and TV shows in the 1950s and 60s, Attack of the 50-Foot Woman being her best-known role.  Sadly, Allison died from leukemia in 1977.  She was only 46.

Southern California is the worldwide hub of the movie industry, and it should be no surprise that many in the entertainment business have found their final resting places here.  Allison is buried at Holy Cross cemetery in Culver City, CA under her birth name, Mary Jane Hayes.  Holy Cross is just about two miles from my house.  Yesterday, I took a ride up there to visit her gravesite.  I have included a picture of her grave marker in this post for posterity.  Rest in peace, Allison.

DF
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Russ Kirk on November 25, 2014, 04:53:20 PM
Thanks for sharing that Dave!
I wonder what ever happened to that old payphone....

Find-a-grave is also a good web page.  She is listed.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=4283

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on December 07, 2014, 09:52:49 PM
Was watching Niagara (1953) a few months ago when I spotted this phone. The movie was on again late last night so I taped it to get this picture. I know, it's kind of hard to see the phone but it's that funny looking black thing in the lower center.  ::)

So, what is it. The phone is in a resort on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls (and I don't think they did this on a back lot somewhere), it's where the call originates. It looks like a Gray paystation with a top transmitter and a strange way of mounting it, if that's what those two top "hooks" really are, or is it an optical illusion because of the mirror?

So, what is it? Was that a common phone in the day?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on December 08, 2014, 08:42:37 AM
It looks like a Gray Pay Station attachment fixed to a WE candlestick, but it has a dial. I've seen a few of these, but not many (and none with a dial like that).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 15, 2014, 05:14:20 PM
Catching up with Mad Men.  Lots of phones in the program, spotted this 10-button.  It's 1973 in the episode, there's a mixture of rotary dials and TT.  I haven't spotted a 12-button version yet.  There's a TT in the Draper bedroom, but can't see how many buttons it has.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Argee on December 15, 2014, 05:42:32 PM
Mad Men isn't in the 70's yet, it's still mid 1969.  Oh and the phone in the bedroom is a pink 1500.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 15, 2014, 08:07:11 PM
Quote from: Argee on December 15, 2014, 05:42:32 PM
Mad Men isn't in the 70's yet, it's still mid 1969.  Oh and the phone in the bedroom is a pink 1500.

You're right, I know why I was off a few years.  I saw some clues that referenced Nixon's inauguration, but I was thinking of his reelection in 72, which was memorable to me because it was the first election I was eligible to vote in.  He was first elected in 68, inauguration in 69.  69 would also make sense since his "niece" was definitely still in the late 60s hippie mode. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on December 18, 2014, 06:57:23 PM
I was thinking that the 12 button phones came out in the late 1960s.  When they first came out, the * and # buttons had no known use.  Am I correct in all this?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 18, 2014, 07:37:27 PM
Quote from: andre_janew on December 18, 2014, 06:57:23 PM
I was thinking that the 12 button phones came out in the late 1960s.  When they first came out, the * and # buttons had no known use.  Am I correct in all this?

1968 per Paul F's website (http://www.paul-f.com/we2500typ.html).  But I imagine it was a while before they were in common use and the 10-buttons disappeared.  I was around then but don't recall the transition from 1500s to 2500s.  I only remember when a neighbor down the street got a 10-button and showed it to me when I was over there one time.  I remember being totally impressed, that was really something!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on December 18, 2014, 08:29:19 PM
That would make me about seven years old when the 12 button phones first came out.  I lived in a rural area that had party lines at the time.  As I understand it, touch tone phones and party lines weren't exactly a good match.  I don't think anyone in the area had a touch tone phone until the late 1980s or early 1990s.  That was about the time that an enhanced 911 system made party lines obsolete.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on January 12, 2015, 09:07:03 AM
One old movie that revolves around telephone communication is 1950's  711 Ocean Drive, with Edmond O'Brien.  It's about a electronics expert that sets up a wire service for illegal horse race betting.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Waterland on January 12, 2015, 11:17:29 AM
What kind of phone is this?  It's the from the 1976 Dario Argento horror classic "Profondo Rosso" (known as "Deep Red" in English speaking markets).  Sorry I couldn't get any better shots of it, it's only on screen for a brief time.  I'd like to find one of these for my collection, I think it's a very attractive phone.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on April 05, 2015, 02:47:16 PM
This episode of Father Knows Best - Short Wave. In the beginning the son uses what appears to be a 302 & E handset. Add to the fact he's trying to repair a Zenith H500 Trans Oceanic (missing the flip-top cover and antenna).

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpm8ke_father-knows-best-short-wave_lifestyle


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 05, 2015, 02:56:27 PM
Columbia Pictures, where the series was produced, had a product placement agreement with Zenith. You see a lot of their radios and even TV's in their programs and films.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on April 05, 2015, 03:11:30 PM
Interesting. Wonder why the tape on the front and handle? Plus you'd think someone in the prop department would've taken a rag and dusted her off just a little  ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on April 05, 2015, 03:25:02 PM
Quote from: BDM on April 05, 2015, 03:11:30 PM
Plus you'd think someone in the prop department would've taken a rag and dusted her off just a little  ;)

Having done a few years in live theater, I learned a long time ago not to lend anything I own to a theater for use on stage. They take a perfectly good, clean like new item and make it look old, less shiny, dirty, different color (yes, they painted a moss green an off white to match the set colors. Shiny stuff is sprayed with hair spray to cut the glare/reflection. New stuff is given the dirt treatment. I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't a new TO they wrecked to get the correct shot in the scene.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: BDM on April 05, 2015, 03:37:24 PM
I understand what they were getting at. 'Bud the son was supposedly working on an old SW set he obtained and they made it look the part, like an old curb side toss-out (and a good job at that). That show aired in Jan of 57, the H500 had a run from around 51-53. So by the standards of the day that set really wasn't that old and was quite expensive at the time, even used. As plentiful as the H500 is today, lets imaging twice as many were still around then (maybe a stretch, but you get the idea). The 600 series that replaced it until 62 with few exceptions was the same set with some cosmetic and operational changes made. Now what really has my interest is that supposed early type 302. I want it 8)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 05, 2015, 04:55:11 PM
I would imagine the gaffer's tape on the unit to make it look suitably in need of repair.  The TO also makes appearances in Dead Reckoning and Born Yesterday.  (Not this one, though.)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on April 05, 2015, 05:32:22 PM
Quote from: BDM on April 05, 2015, 03:37:24 PM
Now what really has my interest is that supposed early type 302. I want it 8)

That may have been a non-working prop phone. They needed a phone, had a 302 base which someone cut off the receiver to another use like just a receiver coming out of a hole in the wall, had and E1 from a busted 200 set and put the two together to get what looks like a phone. Smoke and mirrors in front on the camera.

As for the TO, I recently picked up a very nice one and was doing some research on it for several reasons. I came across this history of portable short wave and the creation of Zenith. Quite interesting. They sold about 90,000 "G" sets and about 245,000 "H" sets, going for about $100 each back then, IIRC.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/forum/zenith_trans_oceanics.html
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on April 05, 2015, 07:18:08 PM
This topic is 39 pages long, so I didn't go through it all to see if these had been posted.  If so, my apologies.

A few of Bogey and Bacall in The big Sleep, Bogey again as Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon, plus a couple of Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on April 05, 2015, 07:19:05 PM
...not to mention...

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on April 05, 2015, 07:29:46 PM
It's amazing how many phones had E1 handsets in old movies, but you can't find many E1s today. I wonder what WE did with them all after the F1 was introduced? Did they sell them to Independents? Did they trash them? (not a likely option; disposal was not in WE's character)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on April 06, 2015, 02:31:30 AM
Quote from: Waterland on January 12, 2015, 11:17:29 AM
What kind of phone is this?  It's the from the 1976 Dario Argento horror classic "Profondo Rosso" (known as "Deep Red" in English speaking markets).  Sorry I couldn't get any better shots of it, it's only on screen for a brief time.  I'd like to find one of these for my collection, I think it's a very attractive phone.

Looks like a prop.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Sargeguy on April 06, 2015, 08:05:41 PM
The English Gangster drama "Peaky Blinders" has several sticks, including one on a scissor-arm
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on April 09, 2015, 09:16:25 PM
My friend, Eddie, and I played telephone with a pair of old shoes and some string.  It didn't work out as well as the tin cans and string.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: LM Ericsson on April 16, 2015, 05:34:56 PM
I was watching this French short film for my French course called "Samb et le commissaire" and it takes place in Switzerland and I spotted this telephone. It is blurry but the telephone is definitely Swiss.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 19, 2015, 09:35:16 PM
On Monday, 20 April at 8pm EST, Turner Classic Movies will show the film "Kiss Me Deadly".  A Mike Hammer mystery from 1955 that among other things shows a telephone answering system using a built-in open reel tape deck.  Mike had some really cool stuff back then.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on April 21, 2015, 05:47:53 PM
I think I remember seeing one of those featured in another thread on this forum a while back.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on April 26, 2015, 10:10:30 PM
Just thought of this one.   ;D

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 26, 2015, 10:29:23 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on April 27, 2015, 07:27:07 PM
I find it amazing what they could make on that show out of coconuts!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on April 27, 2015, 07:50:31 PM
How about a couple of my favorite movie/TV ring tones?  In Like Flint and 24.

These are actually MP3 files but the forum won't let me upload them, so I have renamed them to .mpg.  If they won't play, you might have to save them then rename them (change the 'g' in the extension to a '3'), but they opened and played fine in Windows Media Payer for me after posting.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 27, 2015, 08:41:15 PM
This is what I use for my ringtone.  I don't miss calls for not hearing them!

http://www.emergencyfans.com/sounds/1claxon2.mp3
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on May 02, 2015, 08:08:02 PM
Quote from: andre_janew on April 27, 2015, 07:27:07 PM
I find it amazing what they could make on that show out of coconuts!
Gilligan's Island

What's amazing is that though the Professor and the rest could build all kinds of things from coconuts, palm branches etc they couldn't fix the hole in the boat.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on May 02, 2015, 08:21:59 PM
Murdock Mysteries shown on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting) and one of my favorite shows always has lots of phones in their episodes. The show is set in Toronto 1890s - 1900s. Usually the phones are many years newer then they should be.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on May 02, 2015, 08:31:07 PM
Murdock Mysteries even has Alexander Graham Bell in a couple of episodes.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on May 02, 2015, 11:34:20 PM
The film George Washington Slept here was the funniest movie of Jack Benny's.  I can't watch it with my sides aching from the superb writing and perfect comedic delivery by the cast, especially Benny.  He always joked about the dogs his films were, but he never mentioned George Washington Slept here in any of his routines.  It was too good.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tallguy58 on May 17, 2015, 08:37:44 PM
How's this for a nice telephone sign.  From "A Double Life" with Ronald Coleman
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on May 18, 2015, 03:01:22 PM
Most filmed and recorded movies and shows use vehicles sprayed with flattening agents to reduce the shine on their surfaces.  The glare was really bad with videotaped programs.  The Pilot episode of Danny Thomas' program when Andy Taylor was introduced to the public had him in a '58 or '59 ford squad car with the windshields removed to cut the glare.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on May 18, 2015, 04:19:45 PM
Forgive me if the Bat Phone has already been mentioned.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: McHeath on May 18, 2015, 11:40:56 PM
Never need apologize for the Batphone!

It's a weird one eh, tall, looks like it was squeezed.  Wasn't there a phone in the Batcar as well?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on May 19, 2015, 11:14:24 AM
Quote from: McHeath on May 18, 2015, 11:40:56 PM
Wasn't there a phone in the Batcar as well?

Yes

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 14, 2015, 08:05:20 PM
Sometimes the items to be found crosses different areas of collecting.  I mentioned this film on a clock forum as it featured a clock prominently and a member there found the short film online.  It also has some nice images and close ups of period phones. Thought it would be a nice entry in this compilation, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_hbPJ2B5I
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on July 15, 2015, 08:47:25 AM
Quote from: HobieSport on February 28, 2009, 03:01:02 PM
. . . Yes indeed that is Gina Lollobrigida.  You're not out of touch at all Heath.  I just couldn't find a photo of Gina with a telephone, and with Gina I always forget all about telephones.

Per the site, a stock photo from an unknown 1940s movie:

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-lollobrigida-gina-471927-italian-actress-half-length-unknown-movie-33482538.html

Note the padlock on the bottom of the phone. Can anyone name the phone?

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on August 08, 2015, 11:17:04 PM
I just watched the original version of The Taking of Pelham 123 tonight.  Here's a screen grab of a candlestick on a scissor mount from the film.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on August 08, 2015, 11:49:27 PM
Quote from: NorthernElectric on August 08, 2015, 11:17:04 PM
I just watched the original version of The Taking of Pelham 123 tonight.  Here's a screen grab of a candlestick on a scissor mount from the film.


Ahh, great movie! I remember seeing that stick, thinking how long it had been in service there by the time the movie was shot!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on August 10, 2015, 01:32:50 AM
I'm currently watching Season 4 Episode 1 of Columbo; "An Exercise in Fatality". The episode deals a lot in multiline phone systems, such as a recording machine hooked up to a Green WE Call Director, and an Ivory WE 2565 that Columbo gets suspicious about when the later-convicted murderer answers it without pressing any line buttons, none of which were lit up. I'd get screenshots, but my Kindle doesn't take them with Netflix running.
Thanks to Teleplay for adding screenshots from the episode!

It seems a lot of Columbo episodes have Ivory Western Electric phones, mainly 12 buttons, all hardwired (early '70s show taking place in California mansions, what else would there be? ;) ). Funny how you never see hardwired Ivory 2500s these days, but Ivory 500s of the same era are everywhere!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on August 10, 2015, 11:58:30 AM
That's the episode in which Robert Conrad guest stars.  He plays a fitness guru.  Columbo can also be seen on METV every Sunday evening.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on August 11, 2015, 10:18:08 PM
My wife and I visited the set of Murdoch Mysteries last Sunday for fan appreciation days. The first picture is of a Leich Electric being used on the show in Inspector Brackenreid's office . The second picture is of me at the Inspector's desk with the phone and then the third picture is a close up of the phone itself. Notice the phone is brassed out and the hole for the cords is in the front. Notice the ringer box on the wall.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on August 11, 2015, 11:02:28 PM
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is is a big fan of the show, visited the set a few years ago and had a small role as a constable behind the front desk. The second picture shows the desk when we were there. Notice the Northern Electric 551? switchboard and the single box magneto phone. The single box looks to have a fancy custom made crank escutcheon .
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on August 18, 2015, 01:01:40 AM
I finally got some screenshots from Bell System's strange 'Once Upon a Honeymoon' video from 1956. I made a topic before about the beautiful, rare (and in some cases practically nonexistent) phones showcased in it. It was, after all, a video exclusively promoting the premium WE phones at the time; a WE 565 with complete, matching speakerphone set in Mediterranean Blue, two 500Us in Yellow and one in Red, a Red 554 in the kitchen, a Med Blue in the family room, plus a B1 (which I previously thought was a D1) with a #4 dial that served as the 'outdated' phone of the lot. The speakerphone with the blue 565 seems Brown, but it could be just because of the fairly early color film used.

Forget the horrible video, just gimme the phones! ;D

P.S, sorry the pictures are so blurry. I had to screenshot around the pause window in my Youtube player, plus deal with the blurry video quality to start with! :-\

https://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=ZFOfvlPtjlE
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on August 18, 2015, 09:13:33 AM
I watched it a second time around, and this time apparently missed a close up of the Med Blue multiline.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on August 22, 2015, 08:53:36 AM
Season 5 Episode 9 of "The Adventures of Superman" titled "The Phony Alibi" features a spacesaver with subset on the Professor's new invention.

"Professor Pepperwinkle has developed a way to transmit objects and people through telephone lines. A group of criminals are quick to see the advantage of such a device, and Superman has to stop them before the situation gets out of hand."

It's a lousy image but the phone is clearly seen in the middle of this cropped photo.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on August 22, 2015, 12:43:26 PM
I watched The Bourne Legacy last night and spotted this cool interphone that female lead Rachel Weisz used to communicate with CIA operatives at the front gate to her property.  Anybody recognize it?

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: unbeldi on August 22, 2015, 01:31:34 PM
Quote from: NorthernElectric on August 22, 2015, 12:43:26 PM
I watched The Bourne Legacy last night and spotted this cool interphone that female lead Rachel Weisz used to communicate with CIA operatives at the front gate to her property.  Anybody recognize it?

European, probably Siemens&Halske, handset.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: NorthernElectric on August 22, 2015, 03:32:09 PM
Quote from: unbeldi on August 22, 2015, 01:31:34 PM
Quote from: NorthernElectric on August 22, 2015, 12:43:26 PM
I watched The Bourne Legacy last night and spotted this cool interphone that female lead Rachel Weisz used to communicate with CIA operatives at the front gate to her property.  Anybody recognize it?

European, probably Siemens&Halske, handset.

Thanks.  I did a search for Siemens on eBay and came up with some similar ones here (http://www.ebay.com/itm/381350369661).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: unbeldi on August 22, 2015, 04:24:48 PM
Quote from: NorthernElectric on August 22, 2015, 03:32:09 PM
Quote from: unbeldi on August 22, 2015, 01:31:34 PM
Quote from: NorthernElectric on August 22, 2015, 12:43:26 PM
I watched The Bourne Legacy last night and spotted this cool interphone that female lead Rachel Weisz used to communicate with CIA operatives at the front gate to her property.  Anybody recognize it?

European, probably Siemens&Halske, handset.

Thanks.  I did a search for Siemens on eBay and came up with some similar ones here (http://www.ebay.com/itm/381350369661).

Yep. You found them.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on August 22, 2015, 09:42:53 PM
Quote from: Fabius on May 19, 2015, 11:14:24 AM
Quote from: McHeath on May 18, 2015, 11:40:56 PM
Wasn't there a phone in the Batcar as well?

Yes

Yes, yes . . .  and yes, that is the one and only Milwaukee's own Liberace in that episode! You have to be over 50 to know who that is, in most cases.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 02, 2015, 02:13:45 PM
Seeing the linemans' handset just posted,  I remembered one that figured prominently in a television program from my youth...  I did a search for mention of it, but could not find any mention.

http://nukethefridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Green-Acres2.jpg
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on November 03, 2015, 04:59:02 AM
Quote from: 19and41 on November 02, 2015, 02:13:45 PM
Seeing the linemans' handset just posted,  I remembered one that figured prominently in a television program from my youth...  I did a search for mention of it, but could not find any mention.

http://nukethefridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Green-Acres2.jpg

I remember watching that show as well.

https://youtu.be/WfDnW2KlflE (https://youtu.be/WfDnW2KlflE)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 03, 2015, 06:16:26 AM
They used to say television was the box they buried vaudeville in.  Green Acres was the vaudeville they buried in it.   ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on November 03, 2015, 11:01:47 AM
I believe that both Green Acres and Batman are now on METV. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 05, 2015, 02:07:15 PM
Seeing the thread on the busted green phone made me wonder how many drops it would take to knock a chunk out of the phones' housing.  Then I thought of the film Detour and how a phone figured prominently in the main characters' downfall.  The main character not being the one being used as a cord reel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr0iCcpRKoE
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 05, 2015, 06:23:29 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on November 05, 2015, 02:07:15 PM
. . . Then I thought of the film Detour and how a phone figured prominently in the main characters' downfall.  The main character not being the one being used as a cord reel.

Isadora Duncan syndrome (circa 1927).

Hey, what happened to the number card holder?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 05, 2015, 08:40:33 PM
She must've had an unpublished number.  That movie is a good one if you've not seen it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on November 05, 2015, 08:51:48 PM
Tonight at midnight, GetTV is showing In a Lonely Place with Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame and they live in courtyard apartments that have early 302s in them, even though the movie was made in 1950. I found a still of them on the set with one of the phones in plain sight. Odd to say the least that they would use such old phones, but they did. The movie is pretty good if you can catch it. The other man in the picture is the director, Nicholas Ray.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on November 05, 2015, 09:18:15 PM
Quote from: jsowers on November 05, 2015, 08:51:48 PM
Tonight at midnight, GetTV is showing In a Lonely Place with Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame and they live in courtyard apartments that have early 302s in them, even though the movie was made in 1950. I found a still of them on the set with one of the phones in plain sight. Odd to say the least that they would use such old phones, but they did. The movie is pretty good if you can catch it. The other man in the picture is the director, Nicholas Ray.
It almost looks like that 302 may have been painted in a specialty color. Notice the color of black in other places of the picture, but this looks lighter shaded, although it may just a reflection from the camera flash.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: unbeldi on November 05, 2015, 09:48:26 PM
Quote from: jsowers on November 05, 2015, 08:51:48 PM
Tonight at midnight, GetTV is showing In a Lonely Place with Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame and they live in courtyard apartments that have early 302s in them, even though the movie was made in 1950. I found a still of them on the set with one of the phones in plain sight. Odd to say the least that they would use such old phones, but they did. The movie is pretty good if you can catch it. The other man in the picture is the director, Nicholas Ray.

302s were still refurbished routinely at that time, and they could get an E1 handset instead of F1. 500 sets weren't really available in large quantities until 1951.  I think less than 200,000 were made in 1950, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the tens of millions of installed 302s and older sets.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on November 06, 2015, 11:19:56 AM
The movie may have been made in 1950, however, the story may have taken place earlier than that.  That is probably another reason early 302s were used.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on November 06, 2015, 12:07:13 PM
It was set in present-day 1950. Bogey drove a 1949 or 50 Mercury convertible. The apartment complex had a hacienda theme and the phones and decor could have been used to make it look lived-in and pre-war. It's hard to know what they were thinking in 1950. Other places had 202s or Kellogg Redbars. I don't want to give away the ending, but the phone plays a prominent part in how the movie turns out.

Christian, you have a really good eye. Yes, those phones were painted some color. I don't know what color because it was in black and white, but when I looked at some of the movie last night it was plainly obvious that the phones were painted a dark. matte color. The handsets and housings were very dull.

I first thought from the picture that maybe the phones were sprayed with a non-glare coating so they didn't reflect the studio lights, but it was more than that. They were something like dark green or dark red or maybe brown. Like Christian says, they were lighter than the black items like Bogey's suit (in another scene) or Nick Ray's shirt.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: unbeldi on November 06, 2015, 01:16:17 PM
Quote from: andre_janew on November 06, 2015, 11:19:56 AM
The movie may have been made in 1950, however, the story may have taken place earlier than that.  That is probably another reason early 302s were used.

The E1 on the set does not indicate it was an early set. Even if the movie setting were not a movie stage, but reality, 302s were routinely refurbished with E1 handsets, especially after the war.  Even in the 1950s, BSPs were still published that outline the permissible zoning for sets with E1 handsets.  Today we still find many more 302s of the post-war period with E1 handsets than early 302s.  It was only about the first six months of 1937 when E1s were used on new sets, until the F1 was ready for mass production by mid-1937, acc. to articles in BLR. Given the typical slow startup of production, there probably never were more than 100 or 200 thousand new 302s with E1 in circulation.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 06, 2015, 01:34:56 PM
It may have been as simple as the prop man picking up a unconnected base and handset from the phone pile.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 07, 2015, 01:26:34 PM
Directors and Directors of Photography put a lot of thought into what they were capturing on black and white film. Not only the acting but also the film images themselves which had to contain a full grey scale (from white to black) to be acceptable for viewing. Movies were intended to be seen over and over for many years and some directors had dreams of an Academy Award for some movies, as did the DOP. They never used white under camera lights. White shirts were most likely an off white pastel. And black had to be lightened or risk one black item getting lost in another.  I'd think they painted anything and everything to get the grey desired for an item in the full shot and it wouldn't surprise me if that phone was painted red or blue to get that shade of grey. They also put colored gel filters in front of the camera lights as needed and used colored lens filters to play with the grey scale. They were the experts and knew what they were doing so I would venture a guess that most of those decisions were second nature to everyone on set for filming. This chart shows what color looks like in black and white and how that grey scale is affected by primary filters on the lens. Citizen Kane is still regarded as the best black and white movie ever made with the photography being ground breaking inventive and the scenes captured well. With respect to still photography, Ansel Adams is the best, at least in my humble opinion.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 07, 2015, 01:33:51 PM
When I first started collecting I was told the early color sets (pre-war) were mainly used in black and white movies. I always though this was amusing.
Teleplay's explanation helps make it make sense.
Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Tech&Music on November 18, 2015, 07:23:27 AM
Not a TV show, but an Internet show. The Angry Video Game Nerd in his show is seen holding a PTT T65 De Luxe Mocca phone when he mocks teens nowadays looking up the time on their phones rather than on a watch, looking so cool doing that with his phone. It is missing a dial card though.
Why he has a Dutch phone despite being an American, no idea.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 21, 2015, 07:09:50 AM
Quote from: Jim S. on November 07, 2015, 01:33:51 PM
When I first started collecting I was told the early color sets (pre-war) were mainly used in black and white movies. I always though this was amusing. Teleplay's explanation helps make it make sense.

Back in the 80s when scientists were still using black and white Polaroid film to capture images on analytical instrument monitors, and the monitors were moving from black and white to color, software engineers discovered a problem with intensity coding. While intensity scales could be easily defined with color (blue to red for 0 to 100%), black and white Polaroid film made it hard to visually read oe "see" those intensities - lower intensity was brighter than higher intensity and as such, the grey scale did not match the color spectrum. I suggested they change the colors used to result in a black and white grey scale of the of the color that made sense from 0 to 100%. I took the bottom strip of the above chart in order of blue to red and rearranged the patches in grey scale from light to dark. You can see how the colors fall out in black and white, how some colors are brighter in black and white than others but not in order of spectral wavelength. The middle of the color spectrum is brighter than either end.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Mister Mike on November 21, 2015, 10:45:57 AM
The Man in the High Castle is full of prewar and early postwar phones, shown frequently in each hi-def episode. The show takes place in an early 1960s dystopia where the conquered US is split between Nazi German and imperial Japanese victors. Apparently the political situation didn't prevent the development of the Western Electric 500 and 2500.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on November 24, 2015, 06:54:46 PM
I haven't seen the show, but I wouldn't be surprised if  at some point they threw in a few German and Japanese phones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on December 31, 2015, 06:04:33 AM
This is just a telephone related song: http://fastmp3.me/charlie-rackstead-hello-hello-20336357.htm (http://fastmp3.me/charlie-rackstead-hello-hello-20336357.htm)
This is a translated song from a Norwegian song made for children.
I know at least one member; Eric Salter having the phone who made the idea for this song.
The Norwegian rotary from 1967 with a one (and a half) transistor making a warbling sound: http://tinyurl.com/h5tvcpe (http://tinyurl.com/h5tvcpe)

dsk

(This show is made by a Norwegian comedian trying to play a Norwegian/American artist)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on January 05, 2016, 03:41:52 PM
I'd like to post an alert for all the Green Acres fans on the Forum. Tomorrow (Wednesday January 6th) AntennaTV is airing two episodes where Oliver takes over the Hooterville Phone Company. It comes on at 2:00 Eastern time, 11:00 Pacific. AntennaTV is often a sub-channel attached to a digital local TV channel. Check their site for availability. It's on my analog cable and the local Time-Warner digital tier also carries it.

http://antennatv.tv/interactive-affiliate-map/ (http://antennatv.tv/interactive-affiliate-map/)

Today's show was all about Oliver's frustration with the Hooterville Phone Company. Sarah was away from the switchboard a lot, taking a lunch break, getting her hair done and then basting her pot roast. Mr. Kimball played a recording on a Victrola with a morning glory horn while he sat at the switchboard. Oliver was in Drucker's store and Sam's candlestick had a cord so short it didn't reach the counter, so he had to bend over to use the phone. Oliver tried to get Mr. Kimball to put through a call to Hoyt Clagwell in Fargo, ND for a tractor part and Hank said "But Sarah doesn't have a Fargo hole."  :)  Newt Kiley said the record with all the recordings was a present at Chrismas if you didn't make any complaints during the year.

So Oliver vows to complain to the Utilities Commission and starts to collect signatures on a petition. He goes to Mr. Ziffel's house and finds out he has a green candlestick and instead of a receiver they put a hammer to hold down the switchhook so the phone would ring. That was in 1922. They didn't have a matchng green receiver yet. So he has times listed that certain people are supposed to call, but he can't hear them.

Oliver eventually gets home and finds out they've taken out his phone on the pole and given it to Mr. Ziffel and given Mr. Ziffel's cord to Sam Drucker. And that being able to hear someone on the phone for the first time since 1922 brought tears to Mr. Ziffel's eyes.

It's a pretty good shot at the phone company, circa 1967. The two shows that air on Wednesday are also about Oliver and the phone company. Hope you can catch it. I think one of them is the one where they finally hook up the phone in their kitchen. And in the phone company office Oliver finds out when he pulls on the cord that a candlestick at the front desk is wired directly to the switchboard.


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 25, 2016, 10:45:23 PM
A few captures from the beginning of "The Front Page" (1931).  The only stick in the newspaper office with a mouthpiece belongs to Bensinger (Edward Everett Horton) who's a germophobe and apparently removed the mouthpieces from the rest of the phones because of his germ phobia.  Bensinger's stick has a glass mouthpiece.  There also appears to be an ivory stick on the table.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: compubit on January 31, 2016, 09:22:48 AM
I've been watch the British show Endeavour - which is the prequel to the Inspector Morse Mysteries (ITV/WGBH), set in the 1960s in Oxford.

In the series, there have been a number of phones - mostly GPO 706 models, but in a recent episode, the phone on Morse's desk is a 500-style phone, complete with US-style faceplate, including "OPERATORS" by the 0.

Would there have been US 500-style phones during this time? I thought he had a 706 on his desk in Episode 1 (at first I thought it was a AE-80, but went back to checked...).

I'll try to get some screen caps...

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Ktownphoneco on January 31, 2016, 09:50:11 AM
Jim   .....   Yes there were, and probably at a point where they'd be most common, both in the U.S.A., and Canada.     Attached is a page out of Northern Electric's T-9 Catalog - 1962, in "pdf" format, showing what I think is the set your talking about.

Jeff Lamb


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: compubit on January 31, 2016, 11:19:02 AM
So they (500 style) were common in England in the 60s? What doesn't make sense to me is that there are both GPO and 500 style phones in the same office (see the second picture)...

Also, found a discontinuity - earlier in the program, Morse appears to have a GPO phone on his desk (last pic), but later has a 500 (with a Silver Satin Cord!!!)...

Photo 1: Morse's desk later in program
Photo 2: Wide shot of office showing 500 and GPO on different desks
Photo 3: GPO phone in Detective Inspector's office
Photo 4: Morse with a GPO style phone on his desk...

Jim

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on January 31, 2016, 11:27:05 AM
I'd be willing to wager that the prop folks were trying to fill the bill with dial phones regardless of their accuracy.  I think the writing and acting in that series is always going to trump the costuming or art direction.  At least that's the way it has appeared so far.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Ktownphoneco on January 31, 2016, 11:33:59 AM
Jim   ...   No, that's not what I meant.     I guess I misunderstood your question.      I thought you were asking if they were common over here in North America during that time period, and yes they were.    Were they common in the UK ?    I have no idea, but I rather doubt it.     
I agree with 19&41, it was probably the result of the props department inserting any dial set available, assuming people are watching the actors, not what's on the desk.

Jeff Lamb

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on January 31, 2016, 01:05:33 PM
I have noticed a lot of phones on the history channel are "way" wrong. Many times they are design-line type phones. I don't think they have a very large selection of phones in the prop room.  Some movies  make an attempt to used the "proper" phone for the movie. There are several collectors who rent props to movie houses. These are typically the more accurate phones.

  I have also seen an american car insurance ad (State Farm?) that uses an ericcson dial desk phone used as a wall phone.

I try not to let it bug me.
Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Ktownphoneco on January 31, 2016, 01:34:03 PM
Jim   .... Your just like the rest of us, in that we tend to notice telephones in movies and TV ads immediately, and approve or disapprove of the prop, based on whether or not it's correct for that era and location.   The 2 prominent collectors clubs here in North America, and based in the U.S.A., periodically get inquiries from movie companies, asking which telephones are accurate for a particular time period in a specific part of the country.     But not all movie production companies are that thorough, probably because they think the average audience member isn't that observant, or wouldn't know the difference between a telephone which is accurate and one which isn't.

Enjoy the evening.

Jeff Lamb

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on January 31, 2016, 03:33:35 PM
Indeed US telephones were not used in the UK outside of US army bases in the 60s, the dominance of GPO phones was such that there would have been a 706 or similar in Morse's office of that era, so that 500 is most definitely out of place...

I haven't watched much of Endeavour, not really my sort of thing, but there have been the odd instance where I've seen very out-of-place things in the show when I have seen it, usually due to poor directorship and not realising that a satellite dish or modern high-pressure sodium streetlight was in shot that really should not have been there... ;D

Now, Inspector George Gently on the other hand, a nitpickers paradise, also set in the 60s/70s, satellite dishes, TV aerials, modern lights, modern alarm boxes, and in one episode, I even spotted a Technicolor TG582n ADSL modem-router!!! Made me want to slap the director of that show with a wet fish!! ::)

At least they did okay with the telephones, even if a two-tone green 746 had a massive hole in it from being dropped... :o
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on January 31, 2016, 04:47:52 PM
The production companies that generate material for the "History" channel are typically horrible in their selection of props or CGI material.  Sometimes I think that Downton Abbey has sapped the strength of British period program production.  It looks like all the others have suffered.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: compubit on January 31, 2016, 08:47:54 PM
Quote from: Jim S. on January 31, 2016, 01:05:33 PM

  I have also seen an american car insurance ad (State Farm?) that uses an ericcson dial desk phone used as a wall phone.

Yup, it's State Farm, and yes, I cringe every time I see it.

I keep an eye out when I watch, but only look for something totally out of place...

I'm enjoying Endeavour - only 2 episodes in, and haven't noticed much "out of place" (lights, satellite, etc.) - yet...  They seem do do a decent job with the cars, though the first episode had a lot more "wide shots" of vehicles in Cambridge - second episode so far is just a couple tighter shots just of the main cars...

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: APS221 on February 04, 2016, 03:17:31 AM
Quote from: compubit on January 31, 2016, 08:47:54 PM
Quote from: Jim S. on January 31, 2016, 01:05:33 PM
I have also seen an american car insurance ad (State Farm?) that uses an ericcson dial desk phone used as a wall phone.
Yup, it's State Farm, and yes, I cringe every time I see it.
(http://image.cdn.ispot.tv/ad/7LFr/state-farm-grandma-large-8.jpg)
"Six callers ahead of us, Jimmy!"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on February 04, 2016, 07:18:25 PM
I've seen that ad and I've always thought the wall phone looked a bit odd.  Now I know it looks odd on the wall because it isn't supposed to be on the wall!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on February 04, 2016, 07:26:02 PM
Do any of you folks remember that lady in her younger days on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In?  She was the girl who would tap dance in honor of her pres-e-dent, Richard Milhous Nixon.   ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on February 09, 2016, 12:09:19 PM
I was channel surfing the other night and saw a scene from "Breakfast at Tiffany's", where Audrey Hepburn's character is in George Peppard's apartment, and he has what looks like a D1 or 202 that is all decked out in gold.  The only things is, that the handset does not look like a regular F1, possibly another make.

Here's a screenshot:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on February 09, 2016, 12:57:51 PM
Kellogg handset., Western base.Most of the old fancy metal covers I have seen were on kellogg sets
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: JimH on February 09, 2016, 07:17:10 PM
Thanks for identifying the handset as Kellogg.  I didn't realize it was probably a cover.  I just thought the prop department went overboard.

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on February 24, 2016, 10:49:23 PM
I was flipping thru channels and watched part of Highlander (movie). In the detectives office was a black 500 with operator  written in a straight line. It was shortly after the sword scene in the "Madison Square Garden" parking garage. The forensic gal was trying to see the file regarding the fight.
I never tried to see a screen shot to compare with an early dial. It looked a bit off, but that could be because it was straight.
Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 12, 2016, 02:41:50 PM
Maybe this would be classed as "Old Phone Companies In Movies And TV".  I remember these programs when I was little and the networks could still be relied upon to supply a few mental vitamins along with the other dramatic and violent fare.  I'd imagine these set a few kids on a scientific career path.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBwZ6UT0mMI&list=PL_sjhEFSOGfBcUPywiy5l9jze20wxr7HQ
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on April 12, 2016, 04:11:33 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on April 12, 2016, 02:41:50 PM
Maybe this would be classed as "Old Phone Companies In Movies And TV".  I remember these programs when I was little and the networks could still be relied upon to supply a few mental vitamins along with the other dramatic and violent fare.  I'd imagine these set a few kids on a scientific career path.

Those films were also shown often in school. Most kids who went to school in the 1960s and 70s will recall the utter relief seeing the projector being rolled into the room, the blinds closed and the lights turned off for movie time. Normally it was a Bell and Howell projector, although once they used the old green manual thread RCA with the separate speaker and showed a National Geographic film in French class in high school. I'll never forget discovering those old films actually had BASS when they played that theme song with the tympani...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp-ICI-9gXs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp-ICI-9gXs)

Also this particular Bell System film stars Eddie Albert, who ten years later would play a man who could never quite get the phone company to take the phone off the pole and into the house.  :)  Green Acres is one of my favorite TV shows.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 12, 2016, 04:37:15 PM
Yeah, kids growing up now see a projector as a hunk 'o junk, not the transporter as we regarded it .
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on April 12, 2016, 07:52:32 PM
I think they still have projectors, but now they use DVDs instead of actual film!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on April 19, 2016, 09:58:45 PM
This came from Hotel Impossible on Travel Channel.

It appears to be a manual 554 with an early Black hook. It's in a hotel that John Dillinger once stayed at, and the hotel appears to be in mostly all original condition, including doors (without locks), beautiful brickwork all over inside, and a 1950s switchboard in the lobby!

Sorry for the bad picture. I took it with my smartphone directly from the TV screen! :-[
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 20, 2016, 01:35:52 PM
I'm sure this has been posted before, but I still think it's hilarious.
Robert Stack as Elliot Ness. If not obvious, He is holding a Candlestick phone. At that particular moment, He said Hello. Then he looks up, as if waiting for aCUT, but it doesn't happen and he jusyt finishes the scene.
Here is a link to the clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufK6qWA906o

D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 20, 2016, 01:56:35 PM
That is Nita Talbot he is speaking with in the clip opening.  She appeared in 2 episodes in 1960 and 62.  I guess covering both ears kept stack from being distracted.  :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Victor Laszlo on April 20, 2016, 05:37:23 PM
Eddie Albert held the WE 1011G type test set upside down on the Green Acres TV show.  The dial is behind the receiver, not the transmitter.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 20, 2016, 11:25:11 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on April 20, 2016, 01:56:35 PM
That is Nita Talbot he is speaking with in the clip opening.  She appeared in 2 episodes in 1960 and 62.  I guess covering both ears kept stack from being distracted.  :)
He started by talking first.

D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on April 21, 2016, 01:35:57 AM
During a Telephone Company Strike/Lockout here in the late 1970's the newspaper interviewed the company President out taking care of business while we were on the picket line. They took his picture and put it in the paper supposedly talking on his test set but....you guessed it, upside down. Good of him to do his part to keep our morale up like that!

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 27, 2016, 07:13:51 PM
TCM had Grand Hotel on this week and I thought of this thread when the film opened.  Aren't those AE phones pictured as each star takes a turn on a phone?  MGM must've had a long running relationship with AE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5-LyF_ja4o
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: compubit on May 15, 2016, 12:23:50 AM
Just ran across an "out of place" phone. On the German show ,,Großstadtrevier", based in Hamburg, just saw the police investigators entering a home and there hanging on the wall is a nice Black 2554 series phone.  Not what I would have expected in a German home...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on May 15, 2016, 01:00:24 PM
Are you sure it isn't a Russian copy of a 2554?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: compubit on May 15, 2016, 03:47:54 PM
I don't know. I wasn't aware of a Russian copy of the 2554. Regardless, it seems out of place in Hamburg. It's not a Siemens which would be more appropriate for Hamburg...

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on May 15, 2016, 06:38:55 PM
I was just thinking of a time when they would copy stuff made in the United States, then claim they invented it first.  I don't know if they did that with telephones or not, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Victor Laszlo on May 15, 2016, 08:55:19 PM
Maybe the homeowner is a classic phone collector.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on June 03, 2016, 02:20:22 PM
From The Rockford Files, Season 5, Episode 7. This is the first appearance of a 1500 in this show that I know about!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on June 03, 2016, 02:33:52 PM
Here's another shot, this one of a 2500 on Becker's desk. Anyone know why there's a 2-piece faceplate on this one?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on June 03, 2016, 03:43:28 PM
That looks like gaffers tape on either side of the keypad.  I'd bet it would be to cut the amount of reflection from the faceplate.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on June 03, 2016, 03:49:08 PM
It looks like some kind of black tape was put on the faceplate on either side to cut down glare. Maybe this was one of the shiny faceplates we covered in that thread a while back? I guess if they had painted it, the phone number would have been covered up. It was definitely a cheap and dirty job. Similar to what they do to cars to cut down the reflections.

I saw a 1965 Pontiac Tempest convertible on Gidget the other day that had black tape on the chrome on the door vent window and some of it was coming off. They opened the door and it probably caused a reflection, so someone came out with some "gaffer's tape" to the rescue. That's what they called it back when I had a year of Design and Production, right out of high school in the late 1970s. I see 19and41 called it the same thing.

And speaking of phones in TV, I was totally impressed this afternoon on Green Acres when Hooterville Telephone Company installed a candlestick in Oliver's law office and they actually used a subset on the wall. Since there was only the one phone, Lisa had to throw it across the room if it was for one of the lawyers.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on June 03, 2016, 04:12:53 PM
Gaffer's tape= Duct tape of the lively arts.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tallguy58 on June 03, 2016, 04:51:48 PM
I used to use Krylon Dulling Spray to reduce reflections.  It never dried so you could clean it right off.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on June 03, 2016, 05:56:52 PM
Ah, that makes sense. Somewhere I saw a field trial touch tone set with a faceplate that looked like that (maybe a TT single slot payphone conversion?), and that's what I was reminded of.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on June 03, 2016, 07:36:39 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on June 03, 2016, 04:12:53 PM
Gaffer's tape= Duct tape of the lively arts.

Several times more expensive than duct tape but stronger than duct tape (and tears better). Sticks to almost everything including a dusty surface and the adhesive does not leave any residue when removed, even after a considerable amount of time. Great stuff if you can afford it.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: tallguy58 on June 03, 2016, 09:25:10 PM
Looks like the faceplate was cracked in the lower left corner and they had to patch it up. Once they did they noticed it looked lopsided so they added a piece to the right side to balance it off.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 29, 2016, 02:51:22 PM
MeTV has been showing the 1957 season of Perry Mason on late night.  They had a few scenes of his answering service calling him with an operator over one of these consoles, but with the Bell System medallion on top.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: unbeldi on July 29, 2016, 03:34:53 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on July 29, 2016, 02:51:22 PM
MeTV has been showing the 1957 season of Perry Mason on late night.  They had a few scenes of his answering service calling him with an operator over one of these consoles, but with the Bell System medallion on top.

It is a WECo No. 507B Cordless PBX.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 29, 2016, 03:57:53 PM
That must've been quite a piece of set dressing at that time.  Wonder if product placement had anything to do with it?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on July 29, 2016, 06:11:26 PM
Not likely that an answering service would have a 507B, at least not for answering calls for their customers. Rather, a 557B would be more likely.

The 507B has 5 trunks (central office lines) and 12 p.b.x. lines (extensions on the same premises).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 29, 2016, 07:46:38 PM
19and41, you read my mind. I was thinking about making a post on that same episode. That's a great Perry Mason episode and it's thought to be the pilot show of the series--the very first episode filmed. The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink, filmed in October, 1956. I think you're correct about there being product placement because no other episode I can recall has so many new Western Electric phones.

Besides the Cordless PBX, they have lots of soft plastic phones in that show too. We see color 500s in Perry's and Paul's bedrooms and on Paul's desk there are three different color 500 sets. The one they use is either brown or dark gray. It looks black, but it has a clear fingerwheel. Also on Della's desk is a dark beige 500 with gray cords. In one scene, the secretary in Paul's office uses the PBX to patch through a call on an outside line to Perry Mason at home. That may have been the reason for the PBX.

I finally found my Season 1 DVDs and here are some screen shots...

1. Paul Drake's office. Here is the 507B PBX. Paul's secretary is using it, along with what looks like a red 500 set.
2. A different view of the same setup.
3. Paul Drake at his desk with three soft plastic 500s. Brown (possibly), dark beige and red.
4. Della Street at her desk, on a dark beige 500 with gray cords.
5. Perry at home in bed next to a red 500 set.
6. Paul Drake at home in bed next to a red 500 set. This is a really nice shot of the side of the phone. Also, he and Perry have similar headboards, but Perry's looks to be velvet and Paul's is a plainer fabric.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 29, 2016, 08:22:39 PM
Excellent shots!  I remember seeing those consoles in offices when I was little.  That program had so many things involved in its' production that are of interest of numerous forums that I frequent.  Phones, stereos automobiles and even clocks.  Almost like a time capsule.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on July 29, 2016, 09:06:05 PM
The Wiki I read about that episode mentioned that Perry was taking a taxicab everywhere. He hadn't yet gotten his black 1957 Ford Skyliner that he drove in the first several episodes. He also wore a hat and had a pinkie ring and they both disappeared soon afterward. Here is a link to that if anyone wants to know every single detail about Perry Mason...

http://www.perrymasontvseries.com/wiki/index.php/Main/HomePage (http://www.perrymasontvseries.com/wiki/index.php/Main/HomePage)

Below is another screen shot I made of the Rauland Amplicall on his desk. It was still shiny in this first episode. Later episodes have it dull, like they painted or refinished it to reduce glare. I agree that this show is a great slice of the 1950s and 60s and it had high production values. I love looking at the cars since I'm just as much of an old car nut as I am an old telephone nut. Those are the cars I grew up seeing and they will always be my favorites.

In one of the morning Perry Mason episodes recently, someone got into a 1959 Buick sedan and started it and drove off, and I started thinking about the accelerator pedal start on those cars. My uncle had one. You got to hear the actual starter noise too. Those sounds really take me back.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 29, 2016, 09:19:52 PM
Mason seemed to wear a hat pretty often in that first season.  I always thought it funny that a wealthy attorney had both a Ford retractable and a Cadillac convertible.  I guess the retractable was nudging Cadillac's price range.  There were plenty of older payphones shown in the early episodes.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on August 08, 2016, 02:22:45 PM
I've been watching the old series Danger UXB on YouTube.  The program is peppered with old phones, and some close ups of a payphone at the officers' mess.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andy1702 on November 05, 2016, 04:57:40 PM
Apologies if this has been done somewhere before, but if it has then I haven't found it!

I was watching the BBC's comedy drama 'Love Nina' the other day and noticed that a nice ivory 700 series wall phone is prominent in a lot of the scenes. So this got me to thinking are there any othe famous phones out there? I can immediately think of two more UK ones... The Banker's phone from 'Deal Or No Deal' with Noel Edmonds and the gold plated trimphone used by Bob Monkhouse, but in this photo Charlie Williams, on 'The Golden Shot'.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on November 05, 2016, 05:45:22 PM
It has been done, just a few posts though:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=312.0

;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on November 06, 2016, 11:18:49 PM
My wife and I have been watching Murdoch Mysteries on DVD.  It is set in late 19th-early 20th century Toronto.  In season 9, for the first time I saw a phone with a handset instead of the usual sticks.  It was in the episode "Barenaked Ladies" where the coroner picks up the phone in her office.  Is this phone "period correct"?  At this point in the series, they are in the year 1905.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on November 06, 2016, 11:50:41 PM
I can't really tell from the photo, but it appears to be the Stromberg-Carlson metal handset mounting that Bell Canada used rather than the Western Electric B-1 -- but that would be late 20s. (Northern Electric did not manufacture B1s.) The handset appears to be a Stromberg-Carlson #20 which would be early 40s.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on November 06, 2016, 11:52:57 PM
Telephone is not period correct.might be a 202/d1 set with a SC handset.The set 1930s or so.the handset 1940s
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on November 07, 2016, 12:01:13 AM
I believe it is a Stromberg-Carlson 1177, not a NE or WE 202.
Here is a 1177 with the original handset:
http://www.oldphoneworks.com/1177.html
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on November 07, 2016, 12:09:49 AM
The No. 1177 Hand Set Telephone (manual) and the No. 1178 ("for dial service, but less dial") are shown in the 1930 Catalog, but are not listed in the 1927 Catalog.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on November 07, 2016, 01:31:43 AM
Either way, I was pretty sure they were jumping the gun with a handset phone of any kind in the early 1900s.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 07, 2016, 05:54:40 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 07, 2016, 12:01:13 AM
I believe it is a Stromberg-Carlson 1177, not a NE or WE 202.
Here is a 1177 with the original handset:
http://www.oldphoneworks.com/1177.html



I have one of those. They are a cute little set, Mine was in the biggest collection I ever bought ( 25+ years ago), I have never tried to sell it. I am not sure why I like it so well, it is a simple phone that makes me smile. It has rotated thru my display many times.

Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on November 17, 2016, 08:25:29 AM
From an episode of Frasier: Season 11, Episode 14.

If you really analyze the pictures, you can see many fairly rare phones. I see an early Garnet Red AE80, AE21 stick, several WE multilines in different colors, several 500s, a 5302, a Terryphone, and even some Call Directors!

They definitely raided the old prop bins for this episode! This was in 2004, so I would assume Hollywood was no longer using many of these as props, or at least not as much at this point.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AL_as_needed on November 21, 2016, 09:34:13 PM
I think its fair to say that many of us have desk that look something like that....or wish they did.  ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on November 21, 2016, 10:13:12 PM
That's Phone Porn.....
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on November 21, 2016, 10:13:43 PM
No...that would be someone at my house trying to answer the phone while I'm working on a project... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on November 27, 2016, 10:40:58 PM
Tonight on the television show Mysteries at the Museum they had a piece on Annie Oakley. It showed a man using a 302 with a broken ear. I recorded it with my camera off the TV. I tried to upload the video but it won't upload. I grabbed this shot with my camera off the video from my computer.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 27, 2016, 10:58:25 PM
If they were implying that phone could've been used during Oakleys' lifetime, which ended in 1926, It would be in keeping with the quality of the props they use in that series generally.   :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 27, 2016, 11:11:24 PM
That is the oldest "real" phone I have seen from mysteries at the museum. Most of the phones they show are design-line type phones.
JMO,
Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on November 28, 2016, 06:19:09 AM
Here are some better screen shots of the phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on November 28, 2016, 07:54:58 AM
Why is the finger stop on the left?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 28, 2016, 08:12:14 AM
They probably reverse the images to get several uses from one hoary old prop before they go fish for another.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 28, 2016, 08:28:12 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 28, 2016, 07:54:58 AM
Why is the finger stop on the left?

This is flipped.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on November 28, 2016, 08:29:00 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 28, 2016, 07:54:58 AM
Why is the finger stop on the left?

I never noticed that! Good catch.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on November 28, 2016, 08:35:10 AM
That show is by far the worst as far as props go. I have seen dozens of episodes, and not one had a correct phone. A few times, they even used one of those Pier One Imports type lamps that looks like a candlestick (bulb in the oversized spitcup).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 28, 2016, 11:21:27 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 28, 2016, 07:54:58 AM
Why is the finger stop on the left?

It was dropped even harder than we thought?

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on November 29, 2016, 08:41:09 PM
1969 TV Show UFO.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on December 20, 2016, 10:05:43 PM
Watched an old episode of General Electric True, "Security Risk".   Apparently most phones in Europe in 1963 were made by Automatic Electric.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-MPQTE1fo
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 25, 2016, 02:06:28 AM
We've been watching this old 1979 British series set in WW2. (No subtitles or CC, but since Anita's parents were British, she's able to translate for me.)  Plenty of old phones, but this one stood out.  In the scene, the officer pushes the button and you hear a coin drop.  Apparently you have to push the button at just the right moment to get through because he pushes it very quickly. On the other end of the line is his mistress talking on a stick.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on December 25, 2016, 08:02:42 AM
That's Danger UXB.  I had made reference to it a few posts back.  Excellent series and a shedload of period phones.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on December 25, 2016, 09:35:53 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on December 25, 2016, 08:02:42 AM
That's Danger UXB.  I had made reference to it a few posts back.  Excellent series and a shedload of period phones.

Found it: http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=312.msg171691#msg171691

There were so many phones I didn't bother to try to capture any until I saw the payphone.  We've been watching it via Netflix DVDs.  Yes, good show, I'm SO glad I have Anita to interpret for me!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on December 27, 2016, 09:55:05 PM
It is a topic that unfortunately is acted out to this date...

http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/25/more-than-54000-evacuated-on-christmas-day-after-huge-wwii-bomb-found-in-germany-6344335/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 02, 2017, 02:45:03 AM
Came across this in my online travels.  The DVD in a package is on ebay, but when I googled it I found it available to watch online and/or download it for free (public domain).  I bought one on ebay, Anita and I watched it the other night, surprisingly good.  The plot revolves around the 1938 flood in San Fernando Valley.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131990044840

https://archive.org/details/telephone_operator

Just found it on Best Buy also.  About the same price when you add in shipping:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/telephone-operator-dvd-1938/18559189.p?skuId=18559189
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on January 11, 2017, 05:56:31 AM
Found this on Facebook phone group.

I couldn't stop laughing.

Ernestine the operator and General Motors phone line repair.

https://youtu.be/RT4__Nz5HWY
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on January 11, 2017, 08:36:52 AM
That was always one of my favorite SNL skits. Ernestine the operator, wheeling all the power of Ma Bell!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on January 20, 2017, 09:18:06 AM
The Decades channel recently showed a number of Hawaii Five O episodes from 1977 and one of them was Shake Hands With The Man On The Moon.  It starts out with an investigative journalist getting rubbed out via an AE payphone with an explosive laden coin box.  The description shows the pair before the rub out.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598137/?ref_=ttep_ep19
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on January 28, 2017, 12:01:56 AM
F D Roosevelt on History Channel...

Is that a AE?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on January 28, 2017, 12:14:17 AM

[/quote]
Quote from: Pourme on January 28, 2017, 12:01:56 AM
F D Roosevelt on History Channel...

Is that a AE?

Appears to be a round base Western Electric 102/202 (B1 hand set mounting + E1 handset + dial)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on February 17, 2017, 12:58:33 PM
 :) I'm not sure if I stretch this thread, but yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting Oslo Opera House, and see Carmen in a new way, Everything happened in the 70ies, and then you have to have a phone booth! :-*   https://publisher.qbrick.com/Embed.aspx?mid=5B33AFE6

This gave the story a chine of being much more real   ;)

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on March 11, 2017, 05:47:19 AM
A page about a cold war exchange containing pictures from this video: https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/xl/dommedagssentralen-1.12066516?autoplay=true   

If you can not see it we have to figure out a way around.

http://telenorkulturarv.no/en/the-emergency-exchange-at-asen
and
https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/xl/dommedagssentralen-1.12066516
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on March 11, 2017, 07:51:13 AM
I hope a museum would continue to be it's best use.  Many look at such preparations and see a society resigned to death.  I lived through those times, and they were efforts to try to save what life remained.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on March 11, 2017, 10:10:24 AM
I served in 82-83, cold war, so yes it has, or at least has had a value.
I'm probably not a prepper, no shelter no large food supply, but we will have no problems living relatively comfortable for a week or two with no power supply, have to carry water on my back from a lake 1 mile away. And of course I have telephones.

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on March 16, 2017, 07:41:15 PM
Just started watching The Invaders Season1, episode 2.  Roy Vincent went to a hotel in a border town to make a call.  The lobby had a candlestick paystation.  My eyes aren't sufficiently calibrated to identify it's particulars.  This series is good.  Haven't seen it since I was 11.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on March 24, 2017, 07:37:32 AM
Been watching the X-Files from start to finish on NetFlix and Season 5 Episode 15 does a flash back to something Mulder's father was involved with in 1951 (great looking light blue 1951 Ford 4 door about 20 minutes into the show) in Caledonia, Wisconsin (just west of Racine which to the best of my knowledge, never had anything other than WE phones, IMBW) and while the show is replete with black AE 40s, this beauty popped up front and center ringing 26 minutes and 40 seconds into the show. Of course, it is never answered because the guy standing next to it is being eaten by one of those of many creatures in the series. Nice looking phone, even in shown if the typical darkened room.

KLondike 5-0133
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on March 24, 2017, 09:15:21 PM
A potential reason for the abundance of AE phones is because the first 5 seasons were shot here in the Vancouver area. That is likely one of my late friend Grant Munro's phones.

Season 5 was the last season shot here, it moved to Los Angeles for season six. See if you notice any differences from season six onwards. I never really watched the show.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on March 25, 2017, 04:26:36 AM
Quote from: AE_Collector on March 24, 2017, 09:15:21 PM
A potential reason for the abundance of AE phones is because the first 5 seasons were shot here in Vancouver. That is likely one of my late friend Grant Munro's phones.

Season 5 was the last season shot here, it moved to Los Angeles for season six. See if you notice any differences from season six onwards. I never really watched the show.

Didn't know about the move but knew the first 5, at least, were done in British Columbia under Film Canada credits.

First episode of Season 6 took place at a nuclear power plant in Arizona the next takes place in Nevada. Both could have been in California but the settings are flat, desert and with distant mountains and dusty driving scenes unlike the wet, foggy wooded area of BC. Yes, the change is obvious and I was thinking those were probably Grant's phones. I also remember he gave a ton of phones to "Fringe" for one episode and that was shot in BC. The SyFy channel headquarters is based in BC even though they shot their highly successful 5 year 78 episode NetFlix series "Haven" in Nova Scotia to make it look like Maine on the ocean.

BTW. Lunenberg, Chester and Mahone Bay and other quaint areas of NS are quite beautiful, at least in the summer months. Lot of water, woods and historical architecture.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on April 01, 2017, 04:45:04 PM
Not sure if this film should be here or???
http://tinyurl.com/km3t6he  is a film from the valley where  I live today, the fil is from the 50ies and it is plenty of open wire telephone lines. No sound. The lines are probably from the time where the local telco was more like a COOP than a company.

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on April 08, 2017, 11:47:08 AM
Rosalind Russell, as seen on a Mexican movie lobby card at a "switchboard" in a 1958 film. Name of the film in Spanish is VIVIR ES MI DESEO which translates to LIVING IS MY DESIRE. Seller says it is her AUNTIE MAME film.

The switchboard looks like something the prop department put together.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/352025108284?ul_noapp=true
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on April 08, 2017, 03:42:25 PM
Quote from: Fabius on April 08, 2017, 11:47:08 AM
Rosalind Russell, as seen on a Mexican movie lobby card at a "switchboard" in a 1958 film. Name of the film in Spanish is VIVIR ES MI DESEO which translates to LIVING IS MY DESIRE. Seller says it is her AUNTIE MAME film.

The switchboard looks like something the prop department put together.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/352025108284?ul_noapp=true

Yes, that's from Auntie Mame (1958). It's set in the 1920s and 30s and Mame looks through the want ads and gets a job as a switchboard operator for (I love this name) Widdicombe, Gutterman, Applewhite, Bibberman and Black, Attorneys. She has to say that when she answers the phone and she gets tongue-tied. It's a pretty good and very short scene in the movie. Here's the clip...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXeZYtYabtI
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on April 09, 2017, 10:31:40 PM
There's a character on the Andy Griffith show who didn't have a last name, and we have to assume she was a robot because she worked 24 hours a day. Her name was Sarah and she was the telephone operator on the show. Her last name was never revealed and she appeared to always be on duty. She was also never seen on camera, but her voice was distinctive enough to know it was her at all times.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on April 10, 2017, 01:19:08 PM
Quote from: Fabius on April 09, 2017, 10:31:40 PM
There's a character on the Andy Griffith show who didn't have a last name, and we have to assume she was a robot because she worked 24 hours a day. Her name was Sarah and she was the telephone operator on the show. Her last name was never revealed and she appeared to always be on duty. She was also never seen on camera, but her voice was distinctive enough to know it was her at all times.

It may be that here real name is Sara Frances Seeger Seegar Stone (b 1914; d 1990) who played three credited roles in the Andy Griffith Show. She is credited with playing Mrs. Katherine Palmer / Gossip on Telephone / Mrs. Buntley.

1) Ep. The Merchant of Mayberry (1962) ... Mrs. Katherine Palmer
2) Ep. Those Gossipin' Men (1961) ... Gossip on Telephone
3) Ep. Stranger in Town (1960) ... Mrs. Buntley

Was she Sara (Sarah) on the telephone? Don't know. Seems no one else does either. But, with the operator being Sara(h) and her real name being Sara, it could be. Anyone know Opie? They could ask him. Or, someone could capture the voice audio of the "Gossip on Telephone" and all other times we hear Sara on the phone as an operator and compare them . . .

He big role was that of Mr. Wilson's wife in 36 episodes of  "Dennis the Menace," that and along with a long list of appearances in other shows and movies starting in 1937.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on April 10, 2017, 01:28:21 PM
Different show, same first name, nice photo of a small town operator's life back then . . .  played by Merie Earle.

     https://youtu.be/WfDnW2KlflE
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on April 10, 2017, 06:22:29 PM
Quote from: TelePlay on April 10, 2017, 01:19:08 PMAnyone know Opie? They could ask him.
Even if one of us did, would we want to ask him? I mean, he's accomplished now, but he doesn't look nearly as innocent or sanitary as he used to... ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on April 10, 2017, 10:48:15 PM
John, that picture is of both Mrs. Wilsons on Dennis the Menace. The lady on the right is Sylvia Field. And I know I'm being picky, but it's Sara Seegar, with an "a" near the end. Her last name sort of sounds like the way we pronounce cigar in the South. A cee-gar.  :)

Sara Seegar was also one of the River City ladies in The Music Man. One of my favorite movies. Ronny Howard was also in that movie.

And about the Hooterville Sarah, played by Merie Earle, I loved what she did when she had to leave the switchboard. She had a Victrola with a morning glory horn atop the switchboard and she'd play a recording saying she was home basting her rump roast or some such thing. Hank Kimball said at one time they sold copies of the record as Sarah's Greatest Hits. You gotta love the writing on that show.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on April 10, 2017, 11:16:17 PM
Quote from: jsowers on April 10, 2017, 10:48:15 PM
John, that picture is of both Mrs. Wilsons on Dennis the Menace. The lady on the right is Sylvia Field. And I know I'm being picky, but it's Sara Seegar, with an "a" near the end. Her last name sort of sounds like the way we pronounce cigar in the South. A cee-gar.  :)

Oooops! You got a sharp eye. I did get the file name right though, even double checked to make sure it was an "a" and not an "e" when creating the file and I did not know there were two different actresses who played Mrs. Wilson. So, the left photo is Sara Seegar who was the 3 time player and maybe background voice on The Andy Griffith Show, right?

Will edit my first post to get that correct. Must have been a typo, or a brain thing . . .  ???

Sara Seegar played Mrs. Wilson for only two seasons, 1962 and 1963. I don't remember what happened in the 60s as well as I could have had I not grown up in the 60s . . .  ;)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on June 02, 2017, 07:17:55 PM
"Darrowby 85"  I've been going through another series that had at least 3 old phones per episode, All Creatures Great And Small.  I watched the early episodes on German TV when I was stationed there.  They are a pleasure to go through again.  They are up on YouTube.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on June 28, 2017, 02:05:18 PM
Not sure where to post this, but at Norwegian TV today I got this film of train passing blank open/bare telephone wires on isolators and poles.
https://youtu.be/BwqIxGLocIE (https://youtu.be/BwqIxGLocIE)
Due to Copyright rules, I just took a short sequence.
This link will probably die soon: https://tv.nrk.no/serie/sommertoget-minutt-for-minutt  (https://tv.nrk.no/serie/sommertoget-minutt-for-minutt)
or here: https://tv.nrk.no/serie/sommertoget-minutt-for-minutt/ENRK60000217/28-06-2017 (https://tv.nrk.no/serie/sommertoget-minutt-for-minutt/ENRK60000217/28-06-2017) from time 36:50 (min:sec)
That is the series, filming a train crossing Norway from North to South during the summer.

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on June 28, 2017, 02:41:10 PM
Quote from: dsk on June 28, 2017, 02:05:18 PM
I got this film of train passing blank telephone wires on isolators and poles.

dsk

Blank? (tømme?) Or do you mean black? (svart)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on June 28, 2017, 04:20:52 PM
Blank, ore bare metal. Norwegian and English isn't easy to mix :-)

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on June 28, 2017, 08:49:20 PM
Quote from: dsk on June 28, 2017, 04:20:52 PM
Blank, ore bare metal. Norwegian and English isn't easy to mix :-)

dsk

To me "blank" means "nothing there". Example: The page was blank.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AL_as_needed on June 28, 2017, 09:31:54 PM
...and bare would be uncovered/exposed (or in the case of phone lines, no insulation).

English.....Norwegian.....we all speak phone.  :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on June 29, 2017, 06:47:17 AM
Quote from: Fabius on June 28, 2017, 08:49:20 PM
To me "blank" means "nothing there". Example: The page was blank.
Yes, and in Norwegian blank as nothing on it will be used on wire too. eg unisolatad, unpainted etc.
Thank you, I learn this way.

dsk
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on June 29, 2017, 11:00:42 AM
Quote from: dsk on June 29, 2017, 06:47:17 AM
  Yes, and in Norwegian blank as nothing on it will be used on wire too. eg unisolatad, unpainted etc.
Thank you, I learn this way.

dsk

Ahhh. Bare wire. In the telephone
world known as open wire.

Interesting video. Riding on a train from one end of Norway to the other has been added to my list of things to do.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on September 15, 2017, 07:14:15 PM
The Walking Dead, Season 7, Episode 2.

Lemme guess, you noticed the 500 before you noticed the tiger, right? ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AL_as_needed on September 17, 2017, 01:29:43 PM
Few things survive an apocalypse... Cock-roaches, Twinkies, the most wicked tendencies of men, Dietz little wizards, and of course 500s
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on September 17, 2017, 02:18:36 PM
John Wick 2

Looks like an AE40 to me, a hotelroom in Rome, Italy. The ringing sounds original to me.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on September 27, 2017, 10:03:13 PM
On Youtube, on an episode of "Racket Squad"  entitled "Babies For Sale",  the lady at the real adoption agency was using a Kellogg Redbar phone to make the last call of the program.  The things I do to bring these treasures to you.   ;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on October 03, 2017, 06:45:10 PM
Ruth Buzzi in the 1964 production "Conversations". Looks like some type of attendant's console.

Ruth Buzzi is best know as a comedian (Laugh In) but this clip of her signing with Jerry Lee Lewis is great. She out performs Jerry Lee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmDzY4h_e4I
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on October 14, 2017, 08:54:38 AM
Watching a rerun oh "American Pickers" last night, Mike and Frank totally ignored the old phones and switchboard when picking in this building.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on October 14, 2017, 09:33:01 AM
Wow, look at that place. I watched one of their shows where Frank had said that "phones are a hard sell" and in another show he said the same thing about phone booths.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on October 14, 2017, 10:42:39 AM
In the second photo, besides the pay phone, in the upper right there is a railroad switching signal lamp worth money and to the left of it are 3 lanterns with the far left one being all brass, another big dollar item (>$100).

I'd guess that store was asking an arm and two legs for all of the items seen otherwise they would have been gone long ago.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on October 14, 2017, 10:49:50 AM
There were a lot of lanterns in that place as well.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on October 14, 2017, 12:47:50 PM
It's just as well they didn't play up phones nor lanterns.  It's tough when they raise the stakes to buy our collectibles.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on October 15, 2017, 11:40:58 AM
True!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on October 20, 2017, 02:26:21 PM
Quote from: Pourme on October 14, 2017, 08:54:38 AM
Watching a rerun oh "American Pickers" last night, Mike and Frank totally ignored the old phones and switchboard when picking in this building.

The single slot payphone being a rotary version is a lot harder to find than touch call versions.

I saw an episode where they did buy a cord board and if I recall correctly it may have even been just an answering service board. Think they paid something like $500 for it so they probably still own it and now avoid most telephone stuff.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on October 20, 2017, 08:17:25 PM
Found an old movie on YouTube, X Marks The Spot.  In it the old system of juke boxes fed by telephone from a central record library figures prominently.  In the first few minutes a principal character operates the unit, much larger than a self contained juke box.  Some systems even had small signaling stations that called and made selections.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 09, 2017, 07:08:06 PM
Working (binge watching) my way through "Supernatural," I got to Season 5 Episode 16 titled "The Dark Side of the Moon" but not one Pink Floyd song in the episode. Hard to explain the episode so I'll just say this scene took place in Heaven, Ash's Heaven, and as the two leading characters were about to leave Ash's Heaven to go to Joshua's Heaven, they passed this beige WE 3 slot rotary pay phone hanging on the wall by the door (Ash's Heaven is the road side bar in which he worked before finding his new residence in Heaven - you have to know the show or watch it from the beginning to under stand the plot in this episode).

Seems to be a complete, as built, payphone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Pourme on November 09, 2017, 07:23:09 PM
OK...I haven't watched the series....Is the program speculating that there are pay phones in heaven, or just in the lobby?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 09, 2017, 08:16:00 PM
This is a science fiction show that like Haven has a continuing ongoing plot under or behind the subject of each episode, which are different but related to the big, underlying plot. This was the 88th episode of the series so you have to watch it on Netflix to catch up. It's a show based on the two guys who fight demons with the help of a book they got from their father and a few angels. It gets more interesting with each new episode.

I'll just say this is the first episode that takes place in heaven. Up until now, everything has taken place on earth, all over the states. It starts off with the two leading characters being killed and ending up in heaven. The writers portray heaven as not one place but a unique place for each person in heaven. These places are the place on earth which each person liked best.

In this scene, Ash was a character who lived in a roadhouse bar so when he died, his heaven turned out to be that bar with all of his high tech toys but now heaven level toys, tracking angels for example.

That roundhouse bar must have had that phone. The other episodes all used cell phones. That's why that phone caught my eye. Such a large item right between two characters. Couldn't miss it.

And at the end, the two leading characters get sent back to earth to continue the fight.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 09, 2017, 11:09:00 PM
Quote from: TelePlay on November 09, 2017, 07:08:06 PM
Working (binge watching) my way through "Supernatural,"

How are you enjoying the scenery in and around Vancouver?

Almost for certain that is a phone from my friend Grants collection.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on November 10, 2017, 01:17:28 AM
Scenery is great. Most of the stuff Netflix makes is done in Canada and the creative people are based in Vancouver. Lost Girl was shot up there also, I think.

That very well could be Grant's in that it was filmed in 2009, that episode.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 10, 2017, 10:32:44 AM
Whenever I was visiting Grant there always seemed to be a truck from supernatural coming to pickup or return phone stuff. His family is carrying on running his business "Grants Telephone Classics" renting to the movie industry.

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on November 15, 2017, 11:16:53 AM
Came across this capture of Burt Mustin.  Not sure what movie or show this was, but he appeared in a lot of them.  The phone looks like a WE Hotel phone.  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615993/
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on November 15, 2017, 11:54:05 AM
That's from Leave it to Beaver, where Burt Mustin played Gus the Fireman.

The manual version of that phone was probably used in some hotels, but the rotary version would be found more in homes, businesses and apartments in cities where rotary dial service came fairly early, like in the 1930s and 40s. Hotels mostly had switchboards and manual phones installed until the late 1950s and early 60s.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 15, 2017, 12:54:19 PM
Did you know that Mustin was one of Americas' first radio personalities, hosting a program on KDKA in 1921?

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615993/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on November 17, 2017, 01:53:56 PM
Quote from: jsowers on November 15, 2017, 11:54:05 AM
That's from Leave it to Beaver, where Burt Mustin played Gus the Fireman.

The manual version of that phone was probably used in some hotels, but the rotary version would be found more in homes, businesses and apartments in cities where rotary dial service came fairly early, like in the 1930s and 40s. Hotels mostly had switchboards and manual phones installed until the late 1950s and early 60s.

I learn something every time I come here!  I guess then I don't have any "hotel" phones in my collection, they both have dials, albeit one has an AE dial I've been meaning to replace.  I'll call them 553A's then.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HarrySmith on November 17, 2017, 01:57:26 PM
Most people selling on ebay tend to call all maual phones either hotel phones or operator phones. Thay have no idea there was a time in our telephone history when nobody had a dial on thier phone!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AE_Collector on November 24, 2017, 12:53:04 AM
This weeks version of "the Goldbergs" shows Murray beside a 1980's (something!) Electronic Key Phone but...it appears to be a CORDLESS! Oops.....

Terry
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on November 27, 2017, 05:21:30 PM
I don't think it is even hooked up, but I suppose through the magic of Hollywood, it works anyway!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on December 17, 2017, 01:36:56 PM
This is an oldie contemporary addition to this topic. White Christmas was filmed in 1954 and set or the action takes place in 1954, or maybe a few years before that but not until at least a couple of years after VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). This part of the movie takes place or is set at a country hotel in Vermont. All telephones seen in the movie are D1/E1 but what caught my eye at about 1 hour and 17  minutes into the movie was the Hotel switchboard (out of focus to the left of Bing Crosby and two different angles taken from other parts of the movie. This hotel was said to have been used in 1942's Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby. As such, I'd this this was a functioning hotel used for the movie and the switchboard was real and fully functional, not a gutted prop.

Still one of the best, if not the best, Christmas movies ever made, in the top 3 in my book.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on December 18, 2017, 01:07:04 PM
From the Internet Movie Database website on White Christmas:

The Vermont inn is the remodeled Connecticut inn set from Bing Crosby's earlier movie Holiday Inn (1942). In White Christmas, the recycled hotel set is very gray, and appears not to have been repainted in new colors. Since Holiday Inn was a black & white film, the sets were probably originally painted in grayscale, as color palette schemes would have been a waste of resources in 1942.

Notice it refers to the Inn as a set.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047673/trivia

Notice to the bottom of the web page it states:The snow used at the end of the film is actually asbestos.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on December 18, 2017, 01:40:44 PM
Quote from: Fabius on December 18, 2017, 01:07:04 PM
Notice it refers to the Inn as a set.

Yep, it as a set. The studios spent a lot of time and money building these large sets. Guess the switchboard was just a prop.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on December 18, 2017, 02:37:33 PM
Paramount was one of the best for sets.  Consider the ones for Rear Window and The Ladies' Man.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: AL_as_needed on December 23, 2017, 06:45:24 AM
Quote from: Fabius on December 18, 2017, 01:07:04 PM
Notice to the bottom of the web page it states:The snow used at the end of the film is actually asbestos.

...Simpler times.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Butch Harlow on December 23, 2017, 08:15:51 PM
I hadn't seen it mentioned, but the Netflix series "The Crown" is absolutely filled with beautiful phones. Lots of scenes with GPO 332's in red, ivory and some black ones with green receivers. I watch it solely to spot cool phones
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Greg G. on January 02, 2018, 01:59:08 AM
We spent NYE staying home with snacks and movies.  We found a local channel that was running a string of old movies, they called it "Noir Years Eve".  They were surprisingly good.  One of them I happened to find on Youtube and got a capture of the leading lady looking longingly at a nice stick.  The movie was called "My Name is Julia Ross".  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26RC_gJ80s

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on January 02, 2018, 05:54:13 AM
Something for the sign guys- Streets of San Francisco with phone sign.

Haf
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on January 02, 2018, 09:13:05 AM
From the TV series SUPERBOY (1988 – 1992)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on January 02, 2018, 09:21:49 AM
Judy Holliday and Dean Martin in a publicity photo for the 1960 movie Bells Are Ringing.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on January 02, 2018, 09:37:25 AM
From the 1937 movie Telephone Operator. You can watch the complete movie at this web site. Great switchboard and other telephone stuff shown.

https://free-classic-movies.com/movies-03a/03a-1937-Telephone-Operator/index.php
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Fabius on January 02, 2018, 11:25:36 PM
Quote from: Fabius on January 02, 2018, 09:37:25 AM
From the 1937 movie Telephone Operator. You can watch the complete movie at this web site. Great switchboard and other telephone stuff shown.

https://free-classic-movies.com/movies-03a/03a-1937-Telephone-Operator/index.php

I just watched this movie, Telephone Operator. B movie but entertaining due to the 1937 telephone equipment.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on January 28, 2018, 02:08:15 PM
Some shots from The Twilight Zone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on January 28, 2018, 02:10:15 PM
And something for the Keyset fans among us...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on January 28, 2018, 05:42:45 PM
The first guy in Christian's post, with the speakerphone, is James Daly, father of actors Tyne and Tim Daly. The last two pictures are Howard Duff, husband of Ida Lupino.

Here are three screen shots I did of Burns and Allen yesterday. The show looked to be circa 1956 with those straight handset cords, but I looked it up and it's The Starmaker from November 4, 1957. The phone Gracie Allen is using, in the third picture, looks like one that has a matching color straight cord. Maybe it was red?

The show is on YouTube if anyone wants to see it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxvJkfPgAI8

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on January 28, 2018, 07:56:36 PM
The first picture in the thread appears to have Roddy McDowall in the flight coveralls, and Gorge Grizzard in the second, at the pay phone.  The Twilight Zone had no shortage of quality talent both before and behind the camera.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on February 02, 2018, 12:36:00 PM
I was watching, "Million Dollar Baby", last night. I caught a glimpse of what I'm sure is a 5302. I felt very unusual for a movie prop.

D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on February 02, 2018, 03:59:54 PM
I suppose this was posted before and it's not a very special phone but a 302 but...

forget about the Bat Phone when there is a Dingbat Phone ;) Edith Bunker
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on February 02, 2018, 04:27:20 PM
I don't know how to extract a pic from it, But I was watching Inspector Morse: Promised Land on YouTube, and they showed an Australian phone booth at 1.24 .54 into the program.  It looked more spacious than our booths.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on February 02, 2018, 04:36:44 PM
Here you are :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on February 02, 2018, 04:55:07 PM
Thanks!   That was one of my favorite episodes.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on April 02, 2018, 10:10:02 PM
While surfing channels recently, I happened to see a monkey using a card dialer. 

After the jaw drop and double take, I checked out the movie title: Monkey Shines (1988).

So, here's a different card dialer variation to add to our wish lists -- one modified to be operated by a monkey for the benefit of his disabled "friend."

The START button doesn't move the card, but the phone dials anyway. There's a red light on the lower right to indicate "in use" and end the call. The cards look strange -- don't need sprocket holes. The set ties into an audio system (no speakerphone components noted).

The entire movie is on YouTube.
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2CzXEqb_I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2CzXEqb_I)

Here's a sample...

In the fourth photo, the monkey chews through the dialer's mounting cord to disable the set.

In the last two, a 2554's modular handset cord tangled in a motorized wheelchair is strong enough to stall the chair! Don't try that with your desk phone.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 03, 2018, 01:05:26 PM
Quote from: paul-f on April 02, 2018, 10:10:02 PM
While surfing channels recently, I happened to see a monkey using a card dialer. 

After the jaw drop and double take, I checked out the movie title: Monkey Shines (1988).

So, here's a different card dialer variation to add to our wish lists -- one modified to be operated by a monkey for the benefit of his disabled "friend."

The START button doesn't move the card, but the phone dials anyway. There's a red light on the lower right to indicate "in use" and end the call. The cards look strange -- don't need sprocket holes. The set ties into an audio system (no speakerphone components noted).

The entire movie is on YouTube.
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2CzXEqb_I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-2CzXEqb_I)

Here's a sample...

In the fourth photo, the monkey chews through the dialer's mounting cord to disable the set.

In the last two, a 2554's modular handset cord tangled in a motorized wheelchair is strong enough to stall the chair! Don't try that with your desk phone.

So simple a Caveman could use it.

D/P
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ayaeau on November 27, 2018, 01:05:48 PM
Hi,

I'm looking for moments in movies or TV shows which feature people dialing rotary phones, or talking about dialing their phones. If you know of any, please let me know. Thanks!

--Danny
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: jsowers on November 27, 2018, 01:14:44 PM
We have 54 pages of posts about that subject with lots and lots of pictures. Please use that thread to post about phones in TV and movies in the future. And welcome to the Forum!

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=312.0
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 27, 2018, 01:23:14 PM
Hello Danny,

Here is a video about dialing telephones.
When an exchange went from manual to dial, they would do public lectures on how to dial your  telephone.
This  is a dial demonstrator video from youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zjlLb0tqGs

Jim S.
welcome to the forum
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: oldguy on November 27, 2018, 02:29:54 PM
Thanks Jim, that was fun to watch.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 27, 2018, 03:27:35 PM
Quote from: oldguy on November 27, 2018, 02:29:54 PM
Thanks Jim, that was fun to watch.
There were several types of dial demonstrators. Some deluxe models had a working switch and intercom, others were just a dial mock-up. I do have one of these, mine uses a 211 (spacesaver style) as the phone. Sorry no photos at this time, it would take over 2  hours to dig out the unit.
Mine needs some work but it has a switch and intercom.The big dial should connect to a small dial and dial a station. You can connect it to another phone and dial (on the big dial) to connect the sets. Mine is marked as a lecture aid and is number 17.
I found this video when I was researching the dial demonstrator.
Jim S.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ayaeau on November 27, 2018, 06:55:49 PM
Hi,

I've seen many of those "instructional" videos on dialing and they are certainly wonderful. I'm looking for scenes in movies and on TV where people are dialing phones. I'm working through that lohohohohong thread, learning a lot, but many of those posts are about phones simply pictured on screen, so if anyone happens to read this thread and knows of such scenes, I'd love to know about them directly. Thanks for the welcome.

--Danny
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on December 10, 2018, 10:50:51 AM
Last evening I watched Agatha Christie's Poirot: Death In The Clouds from season 4.  At around 1hr. 06min. into the program, Japp takes a call on a Belgian copper phone that he holds by it's handle.  It's seen again around 1:11.  It's supposed to be taking place in Paris.  The first time I've seen one outside of a photograph.  If I could, I'd make a screen shot of it.  The program is offered on Britbox.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Russ Kirk on April 11, 2019, 11:59:49 PM
Odd looking phone in the Netflix movie, The Highwaymen, starring Kevin Costner. What is it?

Looks like it had a magneto on the top
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on April 12, 2019, 08:49:49 AM
The transmitter assy with the hook for the receiver appears to be SC. It looks like a 3 box set with the battery box removed and a shelf added
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HarrySmith on April 12, 2019, 11:52:42 AM
Probably cobbled together by the prop department from whatever they could find.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Haf on April 12, 2019, 04:42:26 PM
Same movie another incorrect phone. Automatic electric disguised as an 1930's Western Electric. Wrong modern type coin gauge, AE 21 Wall phone transmiter unit, looks like a repro coin return escutcheon and hard to see, but the vault door doesnt seem to have a lock at all.

Haf
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on April 13, 2019, 08:14:05 AM
'Incorrect phones in movies' that is a whole new thread. Liking it.  :)

Poirot's policeman buddy must have also time travelled to the future to bring back that Belgian RTT, stripped down to copper after the break up as well. Well done program researchers.  ::)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Russ Kirk on April 13, 2019, 09:43:47 PM
Quote from: Russ Kirk on April 11, 2019, 11:59:49 PM
Odd looking phone in the Netflix movie, The Highwaymen, starring Kevin Costner. What is it?

Looks like it had a magneto on the top

Many Thanks to the moderator for uploading a better photo... Insert happy face here....
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on April 16, 2019, 07:02:10 PM
Watching some comedy clips on youtube today, spotted this green GPO 746 on the counter.
Screenshot from comedian Harry Enfield's  'I Saw You Coming' shop. Artisan Bakery sketch.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: phonium on June 14, 2019, 08:24:19 PM
I watched Mary Poppins Returns, and saw a few old phones. One of them is one I could not identify. I attached a photo of the back, as i could only find pictures of the back. In case you cant tell, it seems to be a multi-line set, but no dial. Any info would be nice.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on June 14, 2019, 10:02:57 PM
It reminds me of a couch intercom
https://www.ebay.com/itm/S-H-Couch-Company-20-Line-Extension-Intercom-Desk-Telephone-Patent-1906-1910/153525158198

https://tinyurl.com/y5dv9r5f

later sets were metal

Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Nick in Manitou on June 15, 2019, 04:04:50 PM
I was watching a program called, "The Rise and Fall of Penn Station" on TV and noticed an interesting device for holding a candlestick phone. 

I thought the picture of the setup of an office at that time was interesting overall.

Nick
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on June 19, 2019, 05:52:19 AM
Came across this today, snippets of phone clips put together from movie/tv:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2_N9-MUI02A

Quite a few nice phones shown (better with sound muted).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Western Bell on July 06, 2019, 12:41:20 PM
Stranger Things, Season 3, Episode 1, At 37 minutes in

Modified, line light did not flash on ring, hold light did not change on answer, missing number card and line card. Smoke and mirrors but a nice color.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on July 06, 2019, 01:48:00 PM
Quote from: Western Bell on July 06, 2019, 12:41:20 PM
Stranger Things, Season 3, Episode 1, At 37 minutes in

Modified, line light did not flash on ring, hold light did not change on answer, missing number card and line card. Smoke and mirrors but a nice color.

And the phone was supplied by Oldphoneworks.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on July 06, 2019, 04:37:40 PM
As far as phones having the wrong ringtone is concerned, there is this thing called dubbing.  They dub in the ringing of a WE 500 for a lot of phones because that is what they have on hand.  Most people wouldn't notice the difference because most aren't phone experts like some of the member of this forum.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: twocvbloke on August 11, 2019, 10:32:56 AM
Randomly spotted this, a clip from Thames Television, apparently first broadcast 15th May 1986 (I wasn't even a year old yet!!!), showcasing what was on offer at the now defunct (swallowed up by Currys-PC World) electronics chain store Dixons, which at about 0:21 has a brief shot of a display of the then new telephones you could actually buy outright for use on BT lines...  :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmy4RscESUg

And just incase it's been geo-blocked, this is a screenshot of the telephones:
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on August 11, 2019, 12:29:06 PM
It shows fine.  I remember around the same time, I bought my leased phone from AT&T, after it's first breakup.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on October 09, 2019, 03:17:14 AM
Quote from: david@london on February 14, 2014, 10:06:54 AM
pink panther movie

Has this scene from "Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982) with Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau been dignified yet? It's hilarious, although the poor wall phone has to take some attacks. The cordage of the french material seems to be made to last.

Youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DyUupkQwuo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DyUupkQwuo)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on October 24, 2019, 07:43:52 PM
The creators of Toy Story 4 must have had a Mickey Mouse phone!

At about 51 minutes in, Woody needs to hide in plain sight in an antique store...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ma_xyz on October 27, 2019, 11:55:54 AM
Found this by coincidence hinted by an old post on a German telephone forum:

https://youtu.be/hKLaTTmmzJM?t=258

a) a continuity error only spotted by phone nerds, do you see it? :-)
b) embedded in the film a guide on how to disassemble the ZBSA19 :-) (disassembly part only starts here: https://youtu.be/hKLaTTmmzJM?t=330)

Wikipedia page regarding this movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_in_the_Moon
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MaximRecoil on November 25, 2019, 03:07:52 PM
This phone was in the movie Cube Zero (2004). Does anyone know what it is exactly?

(https://i.imgur.com/jNVGqhn.jpg)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on November 25, 2019, 03:33:35 PM
http://www.matilo.eu/3-the-phones/1945-1960-late-bakelietperiode/heemaf-1955/?lang=en (http://www.matilo.eu/3-the-phones/1945-1960-late-bakelietperiode/heemaf-1955/?lang=en)
It has a special variety of push button dialling not compatible with touch tone systems.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 25, 2019, 03:43:22 PM
That's an easily recognizable insignia in the center of the touch pad.  Philips, isn't it?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on November 25, 2019, 04:21:11 PM
Having just seen a thread on the late James Garner,  It made me think of another private eye that used an answering machine.  Jim's stacked with the phone on the desk.  For Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker), call the builders!  Big difference between 1956 and 1974!



Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MaximRecoil on November 25, 2019, 05:33:48 PM
Quote from: countryman on November 25, 2019, 03:33:35 PM
http://www.matilo.eu/3-the-phones/1945-1960-late-bakelietperiode/heemaf-1955/?lang=en (http://www.matilo.eu/3-the-phones/1945-1960-late-bakelietperiode/heemaf-1955/?lang=en)
It has a special variety of push button dialling not compatible with touch tone systems.

That's interesting. Thanks for the link.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on December 30, 2019, 08:08:42 PM
Bell, Book and Candle (1958), with James Stewart, Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon features some nice 500 sets, including a moss green set with straight grey handset cord, and what looks like a rose beige:

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Bob S on January 25, 2020, 07:08:22 AM
( This followed from a topic started in 2012 about a rotary phone on "Bones" S06E03 at this link:
     http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=312.msg84400#msg84400
The phone gift is shown at 43:40 into the episode has been attached below. )

Seen this on the TV show Bones went like this
Fromm Bones "The Maggots in the Meathead
Hannah: I was thinking I wanted to get him something when I moved in; a present, and since you know him so well —
Brennan: A telephone! Get him a telephone!
Hannah: I was thinking something a little more personal.
Brennan: A vintage rotary phone. Booth loves them and hasn't been able to find the right one.
Hannah: Really?
Brennan: Yes! He's been looking. Booth says that's what a phone is supposed to be: indestructible and heavy enough to knock someone out.
Hannah: [laughs] Yeah, that sounds like Seeley.
Brennan: His grandfather kept his rotary phone until it fell apart. Booth loved the feel of the bakelite, the tick-tick-tick of the dial as it turned. He says the mechanics make it human.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on March 15, 2020, 03:25:18 PM
Spotted this on Columbo 'How to Dial a Murder':
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on March 18, 2020, 07:18:43 AM
FabPhones,

I remember that episode. Columbo is a great show for phones.

Land Of The Giants in the 60s was a favourite of mine as a wee boy, though I don't remember seeing that many.
I definitely remember its giant telephones though......

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: andre_janew on March 18, 2020, 05:38:46 PM
I do believe that many, if not all, phones on Columbo were Design Line models.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on May 10, 2020, 06:25:20 AM
I have no information on this picture. I came across it when surfing the net.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on May 10, 2020, 11:24:12 AM
Yikes, early CGI.
1970's TV show/advert? Does anyone recognize it?

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Key2871 on May 10, 2020, 11:34:39 AM
Reminds me of the recent giant Princes models on eBay.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Nick in Manitou on May 10, 2020, 11:57:50 AM
The image is from a TV show with the Carpenters singing an old Marvelettes song, Beechwood 4-5789.

You can find the video (if you really want to) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7nXagbBkuw

As soon as I saw the number at the top of the photo, the Marvelettes' version started playing in my head!

Nick
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on May 10, 2020, 12:18:40 PM
Quote from: Nick in Manitou on May 10, 2020, 11:57:50 AM
The image is from a TV show with the Carpenters singing an old Marvelettes song, Beechwood 4-5789.

You can find the video (if you really want to) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7nXagbBkuw

As soon as I saw the number at the top of the photo, the Marvelettes' version started playing in my head!

Nick

Thanks for posting that, mystery is solved!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Key2871 on May 10, 2020, 12:54:55 PM
I don't know if anyone has noticed, But that phone is modular. Take a close look,at the front behind Karen and you'll see a modular jack.
Now I wasn't aware modular was around when that video was shot. It must have been done in the mid 70s or so..
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on May 10, 2020, 01:27:07 PM
Quote from: Key2871 on May 10, 2020, 12:54:55 PM
I don't know if anyone has noticed, But that phone is modular. Take a close look,at the front behind Karen and you'll see a modular jack.
Now I wasn't aware modular was around when that video was shot. It must have been done in the mid 70s or so..

If you look even closer you will notice the it is only a special effects picture that was likely displayed on a green screen behind her.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_key (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_key)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Key2871 on May 10, 2020, 01:50:07 PM
Well yea I knew that had to be blown up special effects because there are no phones that size, especially modular.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ..... on May 10, 2020, 01:57:22 PM
Had it been done in this era, I'm sure it would like the real deal.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on June 15, 2020, 03:23:15 PM
Something I read today made me think about this bit from The Beverly Hillbillies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2OzORTen_k
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Key2871 on June 15, 2020, 03:36:01 PM
Lol, I remember that now.. Oh how funny.
Edit, I remember back when I saw that episode, and not knowing a lot about phones still knew that was a bad idea being way up on the pole... Ahh the memories.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on July 12, 2020, 01:05:15 AM
The Birds:  Nine minutes into the movie, Tippi Hedren calls out on a WE Moss Green 500 with a gray coiled handset cord.

"The Birds is a 1963 American horror - thriller film produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Loosely based on the 1952 story of the same name by Daphne du Maurier, it focuses on a series of sudden and unexplained violent bird attacks on the people of Bodega Bay, California, over the course of a few days."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on July 12, 2020, 03:08:26 AM
At least she seems to use the rubber side of the pencil to turn the dial. Other users were notorious to scratch the number ring with sharp objects  >:(
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 12, 2020, 07:47:14 AM
I had guessed a while ago that the difference in hue of the cords on the phone was incident to age.  Those pictures prove the guess wrong.  It must've been how the materials accepted the coloring agent.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on July 12, 2020, 01:22:31 PM
About 5 minutes latter, the Moss Green shows up in another home - prop switch. But, after another 10 minutes, Tippi Hedren is seen talking on a WE Light Grey 500. The photo does not show the light gray color as well as seen on the TV screen.

The whole movie has a basic color scheme or palette of earthy pastels, green brown and gray. The light, neutral earth colors made it easy for Hitch to accent the important stuff in the dramatic scenes. The phones in those colors are just part of the background.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on July 12, 2020, 02:28:26 PM
I couldn't help but notice the lighter next to the lady's smokes.  I always thought that design so cool.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on January 10, 2021, 08:21:45 AM
A screenshot from tv sleuth programme 'Father Brown' showing this sedated police sergeant at his counter in the village police station after a visit from a naughty bounder. Notice the U43 on his desk, as commonly found in every British police station. Ermmm...  :o
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on February 04, 2021, 04:35:45 PM
Just was watching an episode of the Science Channel's series, Mysteries Of The Abandoned and it had a segment on a hardened bunker in Florida that was a part of the AUTOVON system.  If any of you should subscribe to Discovery+, it is there.  search the series title and it's season 6, episode 5.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on February 05, 2021, 03:57:29 AM
Quote from: Key2871 on May 10, 2020, 01:50:07 PM
Well yea I knew that had to be blown up special effects because there are no phones that size, especially modular.

What you never watched land of the giants?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on April 05, 2021, 03:53:00 PM
Fawlty Towers, episode 3 - The Wedding Party....
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on April 30, 2021, 02:40:57 PM
In the high tech science fiction movie "Them" made in 1954 and nominated for one Oscar for "Best Effects, Special Effects" in 1955, at 1 hour and 9 minutes into the movie there seems to be a B1/E1 phone sitting on the desk. A bit old for 1954 especially when a minute or two later, several 302's can be seen sitting on another desk (second image). Nice looking B1/E1.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 30, 2021, 03:43:45 PM
Sci-fi was pretty good when the studios and their best talent got behind it. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on April 30, 2021, 03:49:38 PM
That mad me think about another good one, The Thing From Another World

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Key2871 on April 30, 2021, 07:55:04 PM
Those are both great catches, and just another point that the prop master didn't pay attention to details.
And it's still happens in today's movies and shows.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: SUnset2 on May 04, 2021, 11:30:15 PM
There is currently an Expedia commercial running somewhat frequently that, though set in the present day, features a yellow AE 80 prominently.  I'm guessing that she is calling on it to complain about how small her hotel room is. 
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on May 06, 2021, 08:19:21 AM
This movie is not old (was made in 1968 or 54 years ago and won 1 Oscar for best special affects) but about 28 minutes into the movie this appeared. The sign on the wall says "Bell System."
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: 19and41 on May 06, 2021, 09:12:53 AM
They tried to incorporate as many corporate names and logos into that film as possible.  Wonder how much the businesses paid for that product placement.   It didn't insure their viability in the next century either.  Pan Am croaked and the Bell System broke up.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on May 09, 2021, 08:21:34 PM
The one and only phone seen in the 1951 Alfred Hitchcock's "Strangers on a Train" shows up just a minute or two before the movie ends. Looks like another B1/E1 rotary phone, might even be the same one seen in "Them" made in 1954. Hard to miss this one.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on May 10, 2021, 02:23:22 AM
Where's the beef?

(Wendy Burger tv ad, 1980's)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on May 15, 2021, 08:46:11 PM
This phone is seen in many of the multiple scenes shot in the hair salon in the 1975 movie "Shampoo" and the image below was captured about an hour into the film. There is a mirror on the wall to the left of the phone.

It's an interesting multiple line phone where the lit hold and line selectors are on the top of a box mounted below the what seems to be a standard beige 554 wall phone. The cable to the box seems to be a grey 25 pair. The phone and box are mounted on the same back board.

I couldn't find it on paul_f's site but that doesn't mean it's not there, just means I couldn't find it. Phone could be real or it could be a prop.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: poplar1 on May 15, 2021, 09:12:54 PM
4, 6, or 8 conductors needed fron the 6050/6051 selector to the 554:
Tip, Ring, A, A1 minimum.
Optional pair for  buzzer
Optional pair for common audible ringer.

851 set superceded this arrangement for wall phones unless customer wanted to use a Trimline or 212.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on May 18, 2021, 05:29:24 PM
These two phones appear in an episode of 'Randell & Hopkirk (Deceased)'.

Excellent British tv show, with an excellent theme tune, filmed at Elstree Studios in the 1960's.  :D

Does any one recognise either phone? I'm guessing both are perhaps German model Intercoms, but have never seen either before.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 18, 2021, 05:52:00 PM
Quote from: TelePlay on May 15, 2021, 08:46:11 PM


It's an interesting multiple line phone where the lit hold and line selectors are on the top of a box mounted below the what seems to be a standard beige 554 wall phone. The cable to the box seems to be a grey 25 pair. The phone and box are mounted on the same back board.




I have a similar set-up.
It is a black 554 and black selector box..
The box is above the 554.
They are mounted on a factory looking backboard. I think it is Northern Telecom parts.
I bought it at a show because it was unusual and seemed to be real.
I haven't seen it for awhile but I think I still have it around.
Jim
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on May 19, 2021, 06:43:40 AM
Quote from: FABphones on May 18, 2021, 05:29:24 PM
These two phones appear in an episode of 'Randell & Hopkirk (Deceased)'.
Excellent British tv show, with an excellent theme tune, filmed at Elstree Studios in the 1960's.  :D

My absolute favourite TV prog back then, here's an episode on u-tube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnZiH7zTVcs&ab_channel=LegolasGreenleaf

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on May 19, 2021, 02:23:39 PM
Quote from: david@london on May 19, 2021, 06:43:40 AM
...here's an episode on u-tube...

That was fun! Thanks for the link.  :)

Screenshots of some of the 706 phones featured in that episode (end credits date it to 1968), the red one looks a bit odd.

Can anyone name the (Dictaphone/Dictograph?) model in the last image below?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on May 21, 2021, 08:10:27 AM
That red 706 lookalike could be the same phone which featured in another
R&H episode ...'Could You Recognise the Man Again?' [dailymotion (https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6fmqja)]

An Ericsson Dialog perhaps....?


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HarrySmith on May 21, 2021, 08:23:51 AM
I noticed the gray handset cord on that red phone. Did they do the same as WE did with "neutral" gray cords before they made matching color cords or is that a prop thing?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on May 22, 2021, 08:55:56 AM
Not sure, Harry but it does look good on there and matches the neutral cord colour.
Perhaps some of the Scandinavian members might have more info.
There are some Ericsson Dialog details at wikipedia  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ericsson_Dialog)and also here...

https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/history/products/the-telephones/dialog--the-popular-choice
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on May 25, 2021, 04:13:51 AM
 Ibhave seen a lot of gray cords on colored Ericssons in Mexico
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on May 25, 2021, 11:13:30 AM
Hart to Hart. TV series.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on May 28, 2021, 08:20:41 PM
Here's one for out UK members to view. This image was taken about 2 minutes into the 1960 horror movie filmed in the UK titled "Village of the Damned"

When I first watched this movie as a teen, it was quite scary for 1960 but it has lost much of that factor over the decades. Was a Twilight Zone level thriller back then, no so much today.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on June 05, 2021, 09:15:06 PM
About 10 minutes into the 1938 thriller "Mystery House" with Ann Sheridan on the phone
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on June 07, 2021, 03:51:58 PM
In the 1950 movie "Gun Crazy" (a thin plot loosely based on Bonnie and Clyde) the wall phone appears 9 minutes into the movie and the news room desk, with 2 scissors phones, appears 10 minutes in.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on June 25, 2021, 02:25:41 PM
From about 5 minutes into MGM's 1942 Mystery/Horror movie "The Hidden Hand" and from other angles, there was a subset hanging on the wall under the table, right below the phone. Hard to tell if its a D1 or B1 base.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on July 10, 2021, 06:46:14 AM
From Columbo - Ransom for a Dead Man

https://archive.org/details/0PrescriptionMurderAndRansomForADeadMan

A discussion of the Fidelipac Cartridge component here:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=25368.msg249660#msg249660
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on July 13, 2021, 09:32:32 PM
And we are still struggling with finding the right key for a payphone vault.

This from Season 2 Episode 3 of NCIS, about 14 minutes into the episode, where Gibbs relies on his universal official Marine tool to open the vault in about 5 seconds to get the coins inside to check them for fingerprints.

(the AVI video of the short scene is attached in the attached zipped file)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Russ Kirk on July 28, 2021, 07:26:12 PM
Don't know if this was already posted.
If so, I can delete if requested.

This is from Grren Acres S2 E24, March 8, 1967
The wood phone painted blue caught my eye.

Snapshot from a paused recording. 

Russ...
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: compubit on August 08, 2021, 10:44:11 PM
Quote from: Russ Kirk on July 28, 2021, 07:26:12 PM
This is from Green Acres S2 E24, March 8, 1967
The wood phone painted blue caught my eye.

Ah, the joys of early color TV broadcasting - make it as colorful as you can!!! (Even if it's not such way in real life - though painting old wooden phones wouldn't have surprised me...)

J
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Jim Stettler on August 10, 2021, 12:53:37 AM
Quote from: compubit on August 08, 2021, 10:44:11 PM
Ah, the joys of early color TV broadcasting - make it as colorful as you can!!! (Even if it's not such way in real life - though painting old wooden phones wouldn't have surprised me...)

J

I was told early color phones were created for the film industry. They were shooting in black & white , which seemed silly to me.

Since then I have learned some stuff about early black and white film making.
The main point is it is actually shades of Gray vs B&W.
I studied printing into high school and I learned gray scale . this helped me comprehend the difference.
Shooting B&W as shades of gray is a visual artform. Shooting color is easy.
Sorry I can't be clearer on my explanation.
They say Alfred Hitchcock was very good with shades of gray.
Jim

BTW early color tended to be oversaturated . Shades of gray require much more thought.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on August 10, 2021, 08:07:52 AM
That is correct, two totally different colors may reflect the same amount of light in grey scale making them merge together, disappear into each other, when captured on B&W film. Actual color didn't matter when shooting in B&W, the amount of reflected light did. I bet the "color" schemes used for B&W movies and TV, including gels used to light the scene/set, looked quite strange to those on the set/scene.

Then there are shows like Green Acres that I think used intentionally whacky colors.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: ReneRondeau on August 10, 2021, 01:05:58 PM
Rendering colors on black & white film was much more complicated in the early days, when film was orthochromatic (sensitive to the blue spectrum). Panchromatic films for movies began to come into use in the 'teens, but were still pretty rare until the '30s. Most still camera film was orthochromatic up to the mid-50s, when Kodak released the "Pan" version of Verichrome. With orthrochromatic films some colors are very skewed, e.g. blue renders as white, red as black, and yellow as very dark gray. Other colors are less dramatically off-tone but they can still register in ways that seem odd to modern eyes used to panchromatic film stocks.

Here's an example -- the license plate on my 1954 VW. I took the digital color shot a couple of years ago. I took the B&W a couple of days ago, using Ilford Ortho+, which is one of the very few vintage-formula orthochromatic films still on the market. Compare the red date tag at the lower right, the yellow numbers, and the color of the car.

Vintage photography is a lot of fun.


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Nick in Manitou on August 11, 2021, 03:26:01 PM
I find that demonstration of the difference between the digital color photo and the Ilford Ortho+ just amazing. It makes me realize how much we must be missing when we look at the details of black and white photographs from long ago.

Nick
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on September 07, 2021, 03:39:19 PM
Did a double take on this scene. It looked like Eddie Haskell was holding a handset that was not attached to the beat up plastic WE 302. Turned out, the handset cord was a thin, possible cloth, cord running down the edge of his jacket and long enough to go below the bottom of the image before coming back up to the wrong side of the 302, the handset mouse hole is empty.

This is from the very first season of LITB (1957/58) and while the Haskell family was using a WE 302, the Cleaver family had a very nice Ivory or Beige WE 500.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on October 13, 2021, 07:28:31 AM
Image 1:
'Carry On Abroad'.   The hotel switchboard (just before it blows up :o).

Image 2:
'Pipkins'.   Hartley Hare holding an upside down AEI Centenary Neophone handset...
...attached to a GPO 332 body.

(Looks like they had to pop the handset cord around the back of his ear to get it to stay in place).
;D
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on December 13, 2021, 10:09:45 AM
Joan Crawford. 1939.

Adore that Ivory phone, would love to have one in the collection.

AE 1A ?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Etienne on December 13, 2021, 04:50:43 PM
A very nice ivory PTT 1924 behind Edwige Feuillère in Robert Siodmak's Mister Flow (1936).
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Etienne on December 13, 2021, 05:51:17 PM
Dr Mabuse, der Spieler- 1922
Das Testament des Dr Mabuse, 1933
Both by Fritz Lang
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Etienne on December 13, 2021, 06:01:42 PM
Les diaboliques, Henri-Georges Clouzot- 1955
The mother-in-law earpiece is missing
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on December 30, 2021, 04:51:16 AM
Quote from: Jim Stettler on August 10, 2021, 12:53:37 AM
I was told early color phones were created for the film industry. They were shooting in black & white , which seemed silly to me.

Since then I have learned some stuff about early black and white film making.
The main point is it is actually shades of Gray vs B&W.
I studied printing into high school and I learned gray scale . this helped me comprehend the difference.
Shooting B&W as shades of gray is a visual artform. Shooting color is easy.
Sorry I can't be clearer on my explanation.
They say Alfred Hitchcock was very good with shades of gray.
Jim

BTW early color tended to be oversaturated . Shades of gray require much more thought.

I studied Television Production and Engineering at a very early age and I agree with this statement although it may seem vague to some.

Shooting shades of gray , especially with old equipment was far more challenging than more modern color.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Budavox on January 08, 2022, 11:09:32 AM
I watched an old Indonesian movie from 1954, there is a phone in pyramid shape, but strangely the base is not square.
It has no dial since we still needed to contact the operator to call someone in the 50's here

Does anyone know what phone is this?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: rdelius on January 08, 2022, 12:52:40 PM
Looks very "north like"
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on January 08, 2022, 01:40:37 PM
Yes, it's a North Electric Galion - (manual version with dial blank)

...more info: http://www.telephonearchive.com/phones/north/north-h6.html
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Etienne on January 08, 2022, 02:47:17 PM
North Electric Galion, but with a german handset - Siemens Modell 36/ W38 style, if I am correct. Strange.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on January 08, 2022, 05:46:36 PM
It seems to be a bad habit of those North Galions to appear unexpectedly with wrong dials, handsets, what else?
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=24815.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=24815.0)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on January 11, 2022, 01:36:01 PM
Anyone noticed the phone in the Vicks commercial?

AT first I thought this was just a prop made from a WE 500 but then upon closer inspection the hookswitch plungers appear to be chrome and the hookswich hangers (where the handset rests)  are not squared more like semi hexagonal. No "handle" to carry it like a 500.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on May 11, 2022, 09:10:52 PM
We have all seen gouged porcelain dial number plates with damage due to subscribers dialing with tools like pens, sticks, screwdrivers, etc.

The film Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947) shows one of the more unusual ways they could be damaged.

https://youtu.be/Jn_l-Ja0cWg?t=1846   (https://youtu.be/Jn_l-Ja0cWg?t=1846)

Hit Play.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: paul-f on July 21, 2022, 03:41:21 PM
1938 - The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse

Bogart tracing a phone call using a homemade device implanted in a D-mounting.

Amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEFt1u4dQOo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEFt1u4dQOo)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on September 26, 2022, 06:09:09 PM
Perry Mason, the original TV series.

32:31 into Season 2, Episode 8, The Case of the Jilted Jockey (1958).

A very nice 354 with black painted hook.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on October 02, 2022, 11:49:21 AM
Our European members can identify this phone, spotted 33:35 into the 1962 movie "Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace" with Christopher Lee as Sherlock Holmes. Filmed in 1962 but obviously set in an earlier time period. That's one large receiver.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on October 02, 2022, 01:09:43 PM
It's a German Model 03 or 04 - may also have been used in other countries?
See my latest find ;-)
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=26677.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=26677.0)

I think it is a M.03, which has has all components built into the desk (see the lock under the writing board). The 04 has the components mounted to the back board and the entire desk would flip down with hinges at the underside.

I'll add more pictures to the other thread soon. Unfortunately mine is missing most innards because the dial and a modern PCB have been cobbled in.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on October 02, 2022, 04:26:54 PM
I need to correct myself, it is more a Model 1900. The boards on the side of the desk/box are straight, not curved.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Erin Tyres on October 07, 2022, 11:24:07 PM
The old TV series "Land of the Giants" was about a spaceship that ends up on a planet where everything is 18 times its normal size.  Despite that, the giant aliens spoke English and had model 500 phones much like ours.  The phone is on display at "Prop Plaza" for anyone who wants to see it firsthand.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: RDPipes on October 08, 2022, 04:48:33 AM
Quote from: paul-f on May 11, 2022, 09:10:52 PMWe have all seen gouged porcelain dial number plates with damage due to subscribers dialing with tools like pens, sticks, screwdrivers, etc.

The film Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947) shows one of the more unusual ways they could be damaged.

Must be dialing long distance, he keeps dialing 1-2-1-2.......LOL!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on October 26, 2022, 03:22:44 PM
Not sure the Blues Brothers have been mentioned yet?
I'm afraid the booth and some other now collectible items were destroyed or seriously damaged in the making of the movie.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on November 11, 2022, 03:41:26 AM
Quote from: countryman on October 26, 2022, 03:22:44 PMNot sure the Blues Brothers have been mentioned yet?..
...I'm afraid the booth and some other now collectible items were destroyed or seriously damaged in the making of the movie.

The wiight of the phone would have killed em.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on November 27, 2022, 04:59:16 AM
Here is an Interesting one and a 1978 movie set in the Futuristic year 2022 (watch it again before the year is gone). It is the "1984" of 2022 in many ways


twice in the movie "Soylent Green" Charelton Heston dials on what appears to be a (cordless) TouchTone trimline handset (in a call box) but then has to enter a code on a separate keypad on the phone base. Was Tone over-dialing thought of later? Makes no sense to dial on one keypad then enter a code on another.

This "Cordless trimline" handset concept (although rotary as I recall) is also seen in "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" 1972.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on December 04, 2022, 12:41:27 AM
Star Trek - The Original Series,

Episode 55 (1968) "Assignment Earth"

The Enterprise goes back in time to 1968 where Kirk and his crew manage to save the world yet again.  Special guest stars Robert Lansing and Teri Garr are seen in an office with two vintage phones: a 1500 set, and a 1662 Card Dialer.  Not something you would normally expect to find in a Star Trek episode!
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: david@london on December 04, 2022, 07:19:06 AM
That looks great, don't remember that one...will have to dig out my 1960s Star Trek dvd box set.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on December 28, 2022, 03:54:25 AM
The wonderful Mr Patrick McGoohan in:

Danger Man
'I'm Afraid You Have The Wrong Number'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwPqF2H74o8

An episode filled with several models of vintage phones, including ring tones and the sound of a number being dialled.

Warning: one scene not for the faint hearted - a number is dialled using a pen.

(Well worth investing in the box set, great series).
 :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on January 02, 2023, 06:09:46 PM
The Fugitive - Original TV Series,

Episode 36 (1964) "Tiger Left, Tiger Right"

Guest star Leslie Nielson is tapping a phone line with a Western Electric 1011C Test Set (Buttinski).

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

As all you eagle-eyed phone collectors can plainly see, he is talking into the receiver end of the phone!!  A fine actor, to be sure, but obviously not well versed in telephone technology.

The second picture is a page from BSP 100-120-101 showing which end of this test set is the receiver and which is the transmitter.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on January 02, 2023, 07:35:41 PM
Thanks for that.

Now, this has been posted before, at least the image on the left, and it seems someone in the crew told him how to use it the next time (older in the right side image) he climbed the pole.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Dave F on January 02, 2023, 07:52:44 PM
Do you know anything about the dates of these pics?

My wife noticed that he has parted his hair on opposite sides in the two pictures.  Either he had changed his hairstyle, or one of the photos is flipped.  Of course, that is unrelated to his education regarding proper Buttinski use!

DF
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: TelePlay on January 02, 2023, 08:33:14 PM
Don't know the dates but here is the original topic:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19458.0
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: markosjal on March 26, 2023, 08:51:25 PM
 I watched the Movie MK Ultra that is set in 1961 which is based on the CIA doing experiments with drugs on people unknowingly

I thing what they used were bright Orange Chinese reproduction rotary phones. ALL phones in the movie seem to be this bright orange but in the very first telephone scene looks like a Chinese shell over a Black WE dial because this one they show from the front. Even the sounds of the dial are usually not right.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on April 08, 2023, 02:56:01 AM
Yellow WE 2500.
The Benny Hill Show.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kellogg Kitt on April 08, 2023, 01:25:09 PM
Quote from: FABphones on April 08, 2023, 02:56:01 AMYellow WE 2500.
The Benny Hill Show.


A yellow 2500 is one of my favorite phones.  Not seen in these pictures, the pale yellow faceplate makes a nice contrast with the richer yellow shell.

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: KnowMoreTax on April 12, 2023, 10:07:38 AM
Watch some of the Poirot series with David Suchet. He has a rare white GPO 232 on his desk but the bell set is nowhere to be seen.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on June 06, 2023, 02:33:46 AM
TV documentary recently aired about 1980s British music. This still shows Rick Astley in the recording studio with an ivory 746 on the mixing desk.

I guess the sound engineer just wouldn't give it up.  ;D

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: HarrySmith on June 16, 2023, 10:44:03 AM
I just checked out the new movie "Asteroid City" on IMDB and first clip was 2 of the stars on a phone call, 1 from a payphone and 1 from what appears to be a painted white 302.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Robert Gift on June 22, 2023, 09:19:40 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdP0s6xykG8

Telephones begin at 5:33.
Is that a pink Trimline® telephone?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on June 23, 2023, 03:59:38 AM
Quote from: Robert Gift on June 22, 2023, 09:19:40 PMTelephones begin at 5:33...

The clip is only 1:58:23 in length.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kellogg Kitt on June 25, 2023, 02:07:28 PM
Quote from: FABphones on June 23, 2023, 03:59:38 AMThe clip is only ...

Here is a link to that timepoint:
https://youtu.be/IdP0s6xykG8?t=333

Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: Kellogg Kitt on June 25, 2023, 02:12:34 PM
Quote from: Robert Gift on June 22, 2023, 09:19:40 PMIs that a pink Trimline® telephone?

It is hard to tell from that video.  It might be a Trimline copycat rather than a real Trimline®.


Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: FABphones on June 25, 2023, 03:04:36 PM
Thanks Wade.  :)

—-

Here's a screenshot.
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: dsk on January 24, 2024, 01:42:29 PM
Poirot in France 1936 
Looks like a white W48?
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: countryman on January 24, 2024, 04:43:42 PM
Handset, cradle and dial are 100% a W48. The shell looks a bit more pyramidal, not rounded. But that will be an effect of the lighting.
Not a very good choice for a pre-war setting in France, but highly decorative  :)
Title: Re: The CRPF "Old Phones in Movies & TV" Compilation
Post by: MMikeJBenN27 on January 26, 2024, 02:07:44 AM
That, providing modular phones for movies taking place in the 50s or 60s, and using cars that didn't exist in the era the movie was supposed to take place in.

Mike