Was that really necessary??? And no phone company would allow anyone to have one in their home!!!!

Bottom line, had the parents been more strict abt the phone use, there would be no problem. When I abused the phone at home back in the dayz, the phone privilege was simply taken away. that's what the parents should have done. Especially when Greg turned over the sand timer over to talk more on the phone.

lol yes i wuld slapped greg up if he turned the timer over lol. AND WHAM! i have the phone lol

lol yes i wuld slapped greg up if he turned the timer over lol. AND WHAM! i have the phone lol
Me too!!! why the kids didn't go running to mom or dad sure beats me...:confused: I would have been screaming, "MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, the whole idea about the pay phone thing was a little out there....

But hey, it made for an intresting episode

Well, interesting maybe...but so unrealistic.

True story: When we were kids, my grandparents noticed that the older kids were abusing the phone, by (as they put it) "Yaking with their friends for hours; and making it impossible for them to receive a call. Keep in mind that this was years before call waiting, and the phone still had a dial; late 60's. They made it very clear. Stop abusing the phone or it'll be disconnected. And that's just what they did. And when my brothers and sisters asked where they were supposed to make a phone call, they were directed to the payphone down the street in the park. The phone was out for a month. Believe me, my brothers and sister got the message. I give my grandparents high marks for that one.

Interesting...

True story: When we were kids, my grandparents noticed that the older kids were abusing the phone, buy (as they put it) "Yaking with their friends for hours; and making it impossible for them to receive a call. Keep in mind that this was years before call waiting, and the phone still had a dial; late 60's. They made it very clear. Stop abusing the phone or it'll be disconnected. And that's just what they did. And when my brothers and sisters asked where they were supposed to make a phone call, they were directed to the payphone down the street in the park. The phone was out for a month. Believe me, my brothers and sister got the message. I give my grandparents high marks for that one.
They sure do. They knew how to handle that situation. Kudos!!!!

In the not-too-distant future, the kids watching this episode will be asking. "what the heck is a payphone ?"
Reminds me of the SImpsons episode when Bart asks "What's a telegram ?"

In the not-too-distant future, the kids watching this episode will be asking. "what the heck is a payphone ?"
Reminds me of the SImpsons episode when Bart asks "What's a telegram ?"
reminds me of when my eldest daughter saw my old 45's (records) and with a motion like a frisbee she said "What is this?":lol: :lol:

Guys,

Barry said in Growing Up Brady, that over the years since this episode aired, he met families who have installed a pay phone in their home. Not sure of the "red tape" involved with the phone company, but I am pretty sure it was extensive.

Jack

they should have just got another phone. i mean, do they really expect 6 kids to share one phone? thats a little harsh.

they should have just got another phone. i mean, do they really expect 6 kids to share one phone? thats a little harsh.
They would have had to install another phone line, meaning another telephone number. They could have had ten phones in the house, but if there is only one number, it doesn't make a bit of a difference.

Mike was complaining abt the phone bill...but what I don't get is why was the bill so high to begin with???? Were they being billed per minute for local calls? Zone or Zum calls? I mean, I could talk for three hours on the phone and it's free. What kind of billing were they being billed?????

Mike was complaining abt the phone bill...but what I don't get is why was the bill so high to begin with???? Were they being billed per minute for local calls? Zone or Zum calls? I mean, I could talk for three hours on the phone and it's free. What kind of billing were they being billed?????

Good question/point!

Were they being billed per minute for local calls? Zone or Zum calls?

Irene, what are Zone and Zum calls?

:confused:

P. S. On a somewhat related note, I noticed the pay phone in the main building of my apartment complex has been removed. :crazy:

Irene, what are Zone and Zum calls?

:confused:

P. S. On a somewhat related note, I noticed the pay phone in the main building of my apartment complex has been removed. :crazy:
ohh i wanna live in a apartment is it cool?

Irene, what are Zone and Zum calls?

:confused:

P. S. On a somewhat related note, I noticed the pay phone in the main building of my apartment complex has been removed. :crazy:

Pay phones are becoming increasingly scarce. I think it's becuase so many people have cell phones and pay phones don't get much business any more. Now they are restricted to really high traffic areas such as airports.

Pay phones are becoming increasingly scarce. I think it's becuase so many people have cell phones and pay phones don't get much business any more. Now they are restricted to really high traffic areas such as airports.

There's no shortage of pay phones around here and they're certainly not limited to high-traffic areas. That might be the case where you live but not necessarily for the entire nation.

There's no shortage of pay phones around here and they're certainly not limited to high-traffic areas. That might be the case where you live but not necessarily for the entire nation.
You are right Charles. Couldn't have said it better. There are still plenty of payphones around here where I live. Not everyone has a cell phone.

My problem with "Sorry, Right Number" isn't the pay phone itself, but Mike mentions on the bill that "the toll charges are five times as many units as we're allowed." Who would the kids know that they would be calling long distance? With Greg and Marcia presumably in Middle School at the time of this episode, and the others in grammar school, none of the kids would be making toll calls. Now, Mike says that every call that Carol made to her friend Martha was a toll call. But in that case, the parents would be responsible for those charges, not the kids.

In those days however, you could sign up for limited service to save money, you could make so many without going over your quota or "unit." After that, the calls that you made would count as service charges added onto your phone bill. If Mike said, we are 5x as many units over, it just seems amazing that kids at that age would be calling that many people. (No wonder the Brady's bill was so high!) However, it fails to explain how the kids would know so many people outside of their calling area to such an extreme that Mike and Carol would be charged so much for toll calls.

Jack

Another odd thing about that episode is the total lack of control the parents had over the kids. When we were told not to do something, we didn't do it; and if we ever pushed the envelope and did, they're were always consequences for our behavior. Also, since they obviously couldn't control their kids, I wonder why they just didn't resort to placing the phone in a locked cabinet. But, that's the nature of sitcoms; they rarely have anything to do with logic or real situations.

My problem with "Sorry, Right Number" isn't the pay phone itself, but Mike mentions on the bill that "the toll charges are five times as many units as we're allowed." Who would the kids know that they would be calling long distance? With Greg and Marcia presumably in Middle School at the time of this episode, and the others in grammar school, none of the kids would be making toll calls. Now, Mike says that every call that Carol made to her friend Martha was a toll call. But in that case, the parents would be responsible for those charges, not the kids.

In those days however, you could sign up for limited service to save money, you could make so many without going over your quota or "unit." After that, the calls that you made would count as service charges added onto your phone bill. If Mike said, we are 5x as many units over, it just seems amazing that kids at that age would be calling that many people. (No wonder the Brady's bill was so high!) However, it fails to explain how the kids would know so many people outside of their calling area to such an extreme that Mike and Carol would be charged so much for toll calls.

Jack
I mentioned on the previous page the same thing, except I referred to it as zum or zone calls. Those are calls where they are not long-distance, but outside of a certain perimeter in your city.

It's so funny to watch this episode now and think about how much times have changed. The kids would each have their own cell phones now and be on a Brady family plan. :lol:

It's so funny to watch this episode now and think about how much times have changed. The kids would each have their own cell phones now and be on a Brady family plan. :lol:
:rofl: You said it!!!!!

It's so funny to watch this episode now and think about how much times have changed. The kids would each have their own cell phones now and be on a Brady family plan. :lol:

The Brady Family plan, now thats funny!:lol: :crazy:

The Brady Family plan, now thats funny!:lol: :crazy:
Yeah, like I'm wrong. :lol:

Back then you still had to dial "1" before you dialed a toll call. I've never forgiven the phone company for removing that piece of consumer protection!

That causes another difficulty in the plot because it means the kids had to have known that the toll calls were toll calls.

Pay phones are becoming increasingly scarce. I think it's becuase so many people have cell phones and pay phones don't get much business any more. Now they are restricted to really high traffic areas such as airports.
my father takes the train to work, and he said once that there's a pay phone at the station, but someone only uses it about once a month!:lol:

Mike could have easily asked the phone company to put a block on the phone so no toll calls could be made. It may have been difficult for the adults in the household to make toll calls, but since Mike and Carol were not getting through to the kids and they refused to do the obvious- punish them- by refusing them to use the phone, they had no alternative. They made this situation harder than it was.

Look at what I found peeps...it is regarding Sherwood and how much of a stickler Robert Reed was and how he worked around the payphone script:

Sherwood Schwartz soon learned to do his homework before handing Reed a script. He contacted the Federal Communications Commission over an episode in which the Bradys install a pay phone in their house for the kids, knowing that Reed would declare such an act was illegal. Schwartz found his loophole - they were legal in Santa Monica - and toyed with Reed when the actor demanded to know where the Bradys lived.

Schwartz recalls, ``I told him, 'California.' He said, ``I know that - where in California?'' 'Oh, Southern California.' He said, ``I know that, too, given that we see all these palm trees. But where in Southern California?'' Schwartz hemmed and hawed for a while longer before telling Reed the Bradys lived in Santa Monica. ``I heard him yell, 'S---!' and slam the phone down. That was one of the best phone calls of my life. It wasn't very nice of me, but since he had caused me enough sleepless nights and caused Paramount enough money, I thought he deserved that.''

Look at what I found peeps...it is regarding Sherwood and how much of a stickler Robert Reed was and how he worked around the payphone script:

Sherwood Schwartz soon learned to do his homework before handing Reed a script. He contacted the Federal Communications Commission over an episode in which the Bradys install a pay phone in their house for the kids, knowing that Reed would declare such an act was illegal. Schwartz found his loophole - they were legal in Santa Monica - and toyed with Reed when the actor demanded to know where the Bradys lived.

Schwartz recalls, ``I told him, 'California.' He said, ``I know that - where in California?'' 'Oh, Southern California.' He said, ``I know that, too, given that we see all these palm trees. But where in Southern California?'' Schwartz hemmed and hawed for a while longer before telling Reed the Bradys lived in Santa Monica. ``I heard him yell, 'S---!' and slam the phone down. That was one of the best phone calls of my life. It wasn't very nice of me, but since he had caused me enough sleepless nights and caused Paramount enough money, I thought he deserved that.''

Wow, Irene, where did you find that? Talk about interesting! I'm surprised Barry didn't cover it in his book!

Thanks for sharing!

Wow, Irene, where did you find that? Talk about interesting! I'm surprised Barry didn't cover it in his book!

Thanks for sharing!
;) Thanx Sweetie.

I was googling "payphone in private residence". I came up with some weird links that had nothing to do with what I was searching for. :lol: Then, I came across a link that said something abt this BB episode, so when I clicked the link and read it, I was like, "Whoa!" I wasn't sure if this had been mentioned before here on the BB board, so I actually made a separate thread here on the BB board titled, "According to Sherwood Schwartz this is the city where the Bradys lived." Check it out. ;)

I wasn't sure if this had been mentioned before here on the BB board, so I actually made a separate thread here on the BB board titled, "According to Sherwood Schwartz this is the city where the Bradys lived." Check it out. ;)

I did!

Back then you still had to dial "1" before you dialed a toll call. I've never forgiven the phone company for removing that piece of consumer protection!

That causes another difficulty in the plot because it means the kids had to have known that the toll calls were toll calls.
No that is not true. There is a difference between a toll call and a long-distance call, which would require dialing "1" first. Don't you think Robert Reed would have made that known to Schwartz when Reed contacted him abt where the Bradys lived?

Here is the definition to help clarify this:

Local toll calls - also known as in-state long distance, regional toll, local long distance, or shorter distances calls - are typically the itemized calls that appear on your local phone bill. These calls span greater distances than local calls, but are not long distance calls. It does not require dialing "1" to make a local toll call. They may be within your area code or a different one - across town, or in the next county. The mileage on these is typically 12-40 or 50 miles. Everything beyond that is considered long distance.

Well, interesting maybe...but so unrealistic.

Yes, because The Brady Bunch is known for realistic episodes...I know when I went to Hawaii with my family I also had to return an idol to its burial ground and was taken hostage by Vincent Price.:crazy:

No that is not true. There is a difference between a toll call and a long-distance call, which would require dialing "1" first. Don't you think Robert Reed would have made that known to Schwartz when Reed contacted him abt where the Bradys lived?

Here is the definition to help clarify this:

Local toll calls - also known as in-state long distance, regional toll, local long distance, or shorter distances calls - are typically the itemized calls that appear on your local phone bill. These calls span greater distances than local calls, but are not long distance calls. It does not require dialing "1" to make a local toll call. They may be within your area code or a different one - across town, or in the next county. The mileage on these is typically 12-40 or 50 miles. Everything beyond that is considered long distance.

stop reading a 21st century phone book and claiming that it has anything to do with the way things were in 1969!!!!

Find a 1969 Santa Monica phone book and then quote what it says, your claims about how the phone system worked in 1969 make as much sense as talking about what zip code Leave it to Beaver took place in!

Yes, because The Brady Bunch is known for realistic episodes...I know when I went to Hawaii with my family I also had to return an idol to its burial ground and was taken hostage by Vincent Price.:crazy:
:rofl:

if I remember the story line everybody was useing his special line in the Den

if I remember the story line everybody was useing his special line in the Den
I think it was.

Yeah, Greg was trying to unload some rabbits, said if he didn't get rid of them they'd have "a mess of them", do you suppose that Romeo and Juliet were thier great great great grandchildren?

Yes, because The Brady Bunch is known for realistic episodes...I know when I went to Hawaii with my family I also had to return an idol to its burial ground and was taken hostage by Vincent Price.:crazy:

And when I was on vacation with my family, we visited a ghost town and was locked up in an old style jail by a strange looking old guy who reminded me of Mr. Howell :D :lol:

Was that really necessary??? And no phone company would allow anyone to have one in their home!!!!

Bottom line, had the parents been more strict abt the phone use, there would be no problem. When I abused the phone at home back in the dayz, the phone privilege was simply taken away. that's what the parents should have done. Especially when Greg turned over the sand timer over to talk more on the phone.

Agree all the way. This is one of my least favorite episodes, just a dumb premise i/m/o.

According to member jehobden in a post earlier this year (another thread), some companies did allow private residences to own a payphone:


"Actually, according to Sherwood Schwartz in his new book about the show that he wrote with his son, Lloyd, the Bradys lived in Santa Monica, CA, or at least that's what Sherwood told Robert Reed when Reed complained that no city would allow a private residence to own a pay phone as the Bradys did for a Season 1 episode. Sherwood had done research and found that Santa Monica allowed private residences to have pay phones, so he told Reed that the Bradys lived in Santa Monica to stop Reed from complaining about the implausibility of anyone having a pay phone at home.

Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=279705#ixzz1Sxn0a7Lr "