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ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 04:55 PM Jul 2019

When Was The Last Time You Used a Pay Phone?

I got curious, so I looked up how many are in my city. 85 pay phones in Boulder, CO!!!! https://www.payphone-directory.org/payco.html

Who is still using pay phones? How come so many are still available? Think of the last time you had to make a call but didn't have your cell phone on you. What did you do? Did you ask to borrow someone's phone or did you look for a pay phone?

I don't know why this fascinates me, but it does.

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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When Was The Last Time You Used a Pay Phone? (Original Post) ProudLib72 Jul 2019 OP
Outside of a recent trip to London (with the red boxes still visibly out)... Moostache Jul 2019 #1
I know! I was under the impression there were no more pay phones ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #5
You might get a kick out of an episode of the "99% Invisible" podcast called RockRaven Jul 2019 #9
it's been a few years since I used a pay phone Skittles Jul 2019 #2
NYC. Mid 1990's... targetpractice Jul 2019 #3
Used it for what? jberryhill Jul 2019 #4
LMMFAO... ADX Jul 2019 #7
You don't have to tell us ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #18
I knew this thread was a trap! jberryhill Jul 2019 #22
Not really a trap as you already told us what you get up to in your free time ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #23
Coincidentally, it was the last time I used a condom too! jberryhill Jul 2019 #29
So you were the one leaving condoms in all the pay phone booths ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #31
To the best of my recollection, it would have been mid-to-late 1990s RockRaven Jul 2019 #6
I tried to use one this past week. Rorey Jul 2019 #8
What stretch of road is this of which you speak? ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #19
South, through the Gap project. Rorey Jul 2019 #24
Way back when, you had to be on the northern outskirts of CO Springs before you hit traffic ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #25
I never tire of it. Rorey Jul 2019 #26
I am glad to see some still around especially in Denver, but looking at that list there are lots hlthe2b Jul 2019 #10
I think I got my first cell phone in 01. qazplm135 Jul 2019 #11
I stopped about the same time...... Little Star Jul 2019 #12
I think I "may" have used one of those on a single occasion ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #20
I resisted cell phones until I spent an hour finding a pay phone and stood in cold Hoyt Jul 2019 #13
I honestly can't remember. PETRUS Jul 2019 #14
I pay through the nose using the phone I have. Sneederbunk Jul 2019 #15
I have to use one occasionally. CentralMass Jul 2019 #16
You can't fool me Clark Kent ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #21
It was a wilderness place without cell phone service, here in the 21st century. hunter Jul 2019 #17
I actually worked installing/repairing pay phones in 96/97 ... mr_lebowski Jul 2019 #27
I wish I could see the cities under the cities ProudLib72 Jul 2019 #28
They do tours of Seattle's Underground csziggy Jul 2019 #32
I honestly can't recall the last time I used one. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2019 #30
It must be 15 years, at least. mikeargo Jul 2019 #33
heathrow airport, London - maybe 2008 or so IcyPeas Jul 2019 #34
I think it was '89. n/t area51 Jul 2019 #35

Moostache

(9,895 posts)
1. Outside of a recent trip to London (with the red boxes still visibly out)...
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 04:58 PM
Jul 2019

I can't remember the last time i SAW a legitimate pay-phone...

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
5. I know! I was under the impression there were no more pay phones
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 05:04 PM
Jul 2019

And then come to find out there are still 85 of them! They used to be ubiquitous, one on every corner. Now I feel like finding one of these extant pay phones and doing a stake out to see just how many people use it in a day.

Skittles

(152,967 posts)
2. it's been a few years since I used a pay phone
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 04:59 PM
Jul 2019

but I've had people ask to use my cell phone.....last month I was walking on a sidewalk with metroplex rush hour traffic halted due to accident ahead....a guy waved me over to his car and asked could he PLEASE use my phone to call his son to tell him he would be late, he had left his phone at work.......people pretty much assume everyone has a phone now, and they are right.

targetpractice

(4,919 posts)
3. NYC. Mid 1990's...
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 05:00 PM
Jul 2019

I had a cell phone before most of my friends, back when it was still considered rude to answer/make calls in stores, restaurants, etc. If you did get a call back then, you'd excuse yourself and step outside.

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
23. Not really a trap as you already told us what you get up to in your free time
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 07:44 PM
Jul 2019

in another thread of mine: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181236060

The hookers are different every time, but the pay phone is the same. We have still pictures and video of you. If you ever want to run for president you had better watch out!

I can hear it now: "No pay phone, no pay phone! You're the pay phone!"

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
31. So you were the one leaving condoms in all the pay phone booths
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 07:50 PM
Jul 2019

from Albany to San Fran?!?!

Mystery solved and case closed!

RockRaven

(14,784 posts)
6. To the best of my recollection, it would have been mid-to-late 1990s
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 05:08 PM
Jul 2019

but the specific incident/call, I could not identify.

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
8. I tried to use one this past week.
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 05:08 PM
Jul 2019

I was driving home from Denver and about 20 miles into my drive I realized that I had left my phone at my son's house. I stopped at the first opportunity, which happened to be a campground, and asked the person at the counter if there was a pay phone. He said no, so I asked him if he'd call a number for me, and he just handed me his phone, which I think is risky. I wouldn't hand a stranger my cell phone, and mine isn't expensive.

Anyway, I had to go back and get my phone because it was the only option. Bonus: I got to drive through road construction for an extra 40 minutes. Yay. The real bonus was that I got to enjoy seeing that stretch of the Front Range again. I never tire of that. I've been in Colorado for 38 years and I still feel like I need to pinch myself so I know it's real.

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
24. South, through the Gap project.
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 05:25 PM
Jul 2019

From Castle Rock to Monument. It's funny, I used to hate driving on that stretch because it seemed like everyone was going 90 mph. Now that I drive it every week, I don't mind it.

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
25. Way back when, you had to be on the northern outskirts of CO Springs before you hit traffic
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 05:31 PM
Jul 2019

Now you get into traffic from Monument (sometimes Castlerock) on down.

But you can see Pike's...

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
26. I never tire of it.
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 05:40 PM
Jul 2019

I mean the view, not the traffic. It'll be nice when the work is done.

I'm in Pueblo, and my destination is near Parker, so it's not a difficult drive, really. I leave myself plenty of time and just kind of settle in to the right lane for the construction part. Between the bottom part of Springs and Pueblo it's all cake. I could practically take a nap. Just kidding, of course.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
10. I am glad to see some still around especially in Denver, but looking at that list there are lots
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 05:19 PM
Jul 2019

of communities with none--Fort Collins stood out for me.

I'm not sure it is only the homeless or working poor who benefit from their continuing to be available.

qazplm135

(7,447 posts)
11. I think I got my first cell phone in 01.
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 05:27 PM
Jul 2019

But I was in law school prior to that and didn't go out much. I MIGHT have used a pay phone sometime during those three years.

I definitely used one while I was in Basic Training in 1992 to call home.

I'd say mid-90s definitely. But for sure not after 2001.

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
20. I think I "may" have used one of those on a single occasion
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 07:36 PM
Jul 2019

And I don't take very many selfies with my phone. Hmmm, I guess I just never fit the selfie demographic.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
13. I resisted cell phones until I spent an hour finding a pay phone and stood in cold
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 06:03 PM
Jul 2019

rain for another hour to participate in a conference call. It was the middle of nowhere 20 years ago. That was it, got a cell the next day.

PETRUS

(3,678 posts)
14. I honestly can't remember.
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 06:42 PM
Jul 2019

But a few years back, my sister-in-law was bemoaning their disappearance, so my brother bought one and installed it in their house!

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
21. You can't fool me Clark Kent
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 07:37 PM
Jul 2019

You may be a mild mannered reporter, but I know your secret!

If the phone booths were all glass, what made him think he was changing where nobody could see him?

hunter

(38,264 posts)
17. It was a wilderness place without cell phone service, here in the 21st century.
Fri Jul 12, 2019, 07:15 PM
Jul 2019

One of my nieces regularly works in such places.

My wife and kids and I once lived in a community that had four phone lines serving several thousand people. Two of these lines were payphones. The other two were used by emergency services and other official business.

There were always people waiting to use the payphones, day and night.

One of the pay phones was awesome, people would answer when it rang, take messages, a real community service for anything that wasn't an emergency. Hanging out there was like a 24 hour 7 day a week party, exchanging gossip, sharing food, celebrating people in their triumphs, commiserating in their tragedies.

The other pay phone, out in the parking lot behind the laundromat, was where people did more private, don't ask, don't tell sorts of business. Nobody would answer that phone when it rang or take a message. It was a lonely place of frequent horrors and sometime suicide.

There was a payphone in Fresno where all the prostitutes used to hang out. I had occasion to use that phone a few times, but I never let it touch my ear and would thoroughly wash my hands afterwards. A few weeks ago I had occasion to stop in that place but the pay phone was long gone.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
27. I actually worked installing/repairing pay phones in 96/97 ...
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:04 PM
Jul 2019

It was JUST before the cell phone explosion, and pay phones were still very popular at that point.

I found myself out of a job one day, and a family friend had a contract with a Bay Area company called Pacific Coin doing installs and repairs out of their San Leandro warehouse, and offered me a cash gig, paid weekly.

For about 1.5 years me and my work partner drove all over the Bay Area every day, anywhere from Redding to the north to Sac to the East to Capitola to the South ... We were both single, early 30's, and most of the job was driving and playing tunes in the van TBH. Usually we'd knock out our 'job' in a few hours, and we'd go and hit local bars after for a bit, then head back ... and always got paid for an 8 hour day no matter how long the job took.

Really fun gig looking back. I went to some really trippy spots over the years ... in particular the SF and Oakland gigs took me to some obscure underground locations in order to find the terminal where the signal was delivered. There's friggin' cities under the Cities, I'm tellin' ya. A lot of these underground places are now run down, and have been used to dump extra shit by the businesses above them for decades ... but you can tell they used to be nice, public places, like they're 'basements' ... but they're all still done up with tiles, it's like you're in old 50's subway station or whatnot ... its kinda surreal, almost time-travel kinda stuff ...

Anyways ... pay phones are still kinda dear to my heart ...

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
28. I wish I could see the cities under the cities
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:10 PM
Jul 2019

I wouldn't know where to look. You know, that could be tourist thing: "Visit the Cities Under the Cities." Just take people on a walking tour of a few places and tell them about the history. See, there's your next comfy gig.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,750 posts)
30. I honestly can't recall the last time I used one.
Sat Jul 13, 2019, 06:37 PM
Jul 2019

I got my first cell phone about 1996, maybe a year later. There are very, very few cell phones anywhere these days. I was somewhere just a day or two ago and noticed someone on a cell phone, but for the life of me I cannot recall where I was. Maybe the library?

When I worked the information desk at the local hospital a while back, there were a couple of pay phones right next to my desk and then one day they disappeared. I frequently lent my phone to someone needing to make a call, and was glad I could do so.

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