Ever wonder what happened to pay phones? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Flying Dutchman · 06-20-2013, 09:32 AM

Tech Graveyards: Where Old Technology Goes to Die

For technology geeks, it's out with the old and in with the new. But every new gadget acquired means that old tech gets trashed. What happens to all those junked cellphones, computer monitors and ancient laptops? Here, some tales of technology that's gone to the graveyard.

Pay phone graveyard Ever wondered where all the old pay phones went? Well, some, at least 100, ended up under the elevated training on West Side Highway at 135th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan. Freelance photographer Dave Bledsoe noted his find on his Flickr page of "at least 100 old, battered pay phones locked behind a chain link fence near the Park's Department building." He told Yahoo News in an email that he thought the phones looked "sad and forlorn," writing, "Our modern tech is very convenient but it tends to be impersonal.” He added, “The day of street side telephones and person to person contact makes us long for something a little more intimate than a text message.”

Frump · 06-20-2013, 01:52 PM

It's a shame really!!

I mean I know most ppl have cell phones, but not everyone does, I don't see any harm in leaving a few just in case. BUT that's the order of the day if something doesn't look like from the year 2075 it gets done away with.

Lets see, other things you don't see anymore.... mannquins in stores... I mean the ones that LOOK like ppl, not just those white headless things.

And colored bathroom tissue, remember it used to come in pink, yellow, blue

I keep saying someday we will live in a world where absolutly NOTHING exists, and we will all have our brains plugged in to a giant mother cellphone, we won't even live in houses.

Mr. Television · 06-20-2013, 01:55 PM

My Town still has pay phones. I know 2 places where they have one and there is also one at the grocery store.

Frump · 06-20-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

My Town still has pay phones. I know 2 places where they have one and there is also one at the grocery store.

I had a HORRIBLE afternoon once, I didn't have my cell and EVERYPLACE I went to that used to have a payphone it was gone.

It infuriates me how ppl think now days. It's like just b/c we have all this new technology we can't have the older stuff too, I mean why can't we have BOTH?

Now I make it a point to USE a payphone when I see one instead of a cell, I like to keep them in business as muchas I can.

EmoJoe · 06-20-2013, 02:26 PM

Why do we need payphones? They're unneccessary and far less convenient than a cell phone. Technology changes, and society evolves. It's been happening since the beginning of time, and it's not going to stop for payphones.

Do you want us to still use phonographs and ride around in horse & buggies, too?

D-Dey · 06-20-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmoJoe

Why do we need payphones? They're unneccessary and far less convenient than a cell phone. Technology changes, and society evolves. It's been happening since the beginning of time, and it's not going to stop for payphones.

True, but the phone booths they originated from at least offer privacy and the elimination of background noise that cell phones don't offer.

In Westbury Manor restaurant, they have a few phone booths. They don't work, unfortunately.

retrofan05 · 06-20-2013, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmoJoe

Why do we need payphones? They're unneccessary and far less convenient than a cell phone. Technology changes, and society evolves. It's been happening since the beginning of time, and it's not going to stop for payphones.

Do you want us to still use phonographs and ride around in horse & buggies, too?

Agreed. Even when I was younger, before we had cell phones, I only recall using a payphone a handful of times. Also with credit cards, I wouldn't be able to use a pay phone even if they did still exist as I don't carry around change anymore. LOL!!

JamesG · 06-20-2013, 06:22 PM

You can still find payphones around NYC. You can find them on the city streets, subway stations, and the lobbies of most major supermarkets.

Flying Dutchman · 06-20-2013, 08:47 PM

I still have a Laptop I bought in 2001 used. A 1999 Dell Latitude. Pentium 3 600Mhz CPU. 128K of RAM 13GB HD. and 14 inch square screen. It also has a floppy drive in it and does plays ONLY CDs and DVDs No writing. It works okay, has a few scratches but doesn't affect it. It also has, believe it or not, AOL 4.0 and Windows 98 1st ED OS. I paid over $500 for this in 01, but it's basically worthless now. Pick em up online for about $25 working. In every sense of the word, my Alienware MX17 is superior to this Dell, and is worth almost 4 times what I originally paid for the Dell. But I had more fun on that Dell than I do on this Alienware, and there are times when I just boot up that dinosaur of a laptop and just play old games on it, like Yahtzee and and Windows 98 compatible Monopoly.

Flying Dutchman · 06-20-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Dey

True, but the phone booths they originated from at least offer privacy and the elimination of background noise that cell phones don't offer.

In Westbury Manor restaurant, they have a few phone booths. They don't work, unfortunately.

Not to mention that there still a secure landline, unlike a Cell phone.

70s show watcher · 06-20-2013, 09:12 PM

my town still has a few payphones left

Frump · 06-20-2013, 09:13 PM

I still dunno why they can't leave a few payphones around, what is it hurting, just b/c it looks so outdated in this space age society.

Not everyone has a cell phone there are actually still SOME ppl without a computer.

I just hate the way everythng is geared toward the masses, I still like to consider the little person too.

And technology has it's drawbacks too, I could go on and on about that.

Like when I'm watching a movie and the picture freezes, I'd much rather put up with a little static.

Or when the the lightening knocks out the lights and it takes the TV 30 minutes to reboot, used to it woudl come back on instantly.

I have VHS tapes and cassett tapes from the early 80s that still play but I have CDs and DVDs that are only a few years old and scratched up.

I really dunno what's so great about a lot of the "technology"

Most things were fine the way they were.

If we are so high tech, it looks like we could find a cure for cancer, something that could actually benefit.

treky · 06-20-2013, 11:41 PM

our public library still has a pay phone in front. Noone ever uses it, but it's still there.

No, wait-I saw someone using it recently.

70s show watcher · 06-21-2013, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frump

I still dunno why they can't leave a few payphones around, what is it hurting, just b/c it looks so outdated in this space age society.

Not everyone has a cell phone there are actually still SOME ppl without a computer.

I just hate the way everythng is geared toward the masses, I still like to consider the little person too.

And technology has it's drawbacks too, I could go on and on about that.

Like when I'm watching a movie and the picture freezes, I'd much rather put up with a little static.

Or when the the lightening knocks out the lights and it takes the TV 30 minutes to reboot, used to it woudl come back on instantly.

I have VHS tapes and cassett tapes from the early 80s that still play but I have CDs and DVDs that are only a few years old and scratched up.

I really dunno what's so great about a lot of the "technology"

Most things were fine the way they were.

If we are so high tech, it looks like we could find a cure for cancer, something that could actually benefit.

i still hove tons of vhs tapes too

jasonbigley · 06-21-2013, 01:16 AM

Where I live, we have a place that recycles old computers, phones, etc. I hope all those old payphones, cellphones and old computers in the pictures above dont end up in a landfill. When I was little, I used to use the VHS tapes and build things with them. Where I live, I dont see payphones anymore. Its getting to be where I dont even see a wall clock. I have not owned a wristwatch in years because I have a clock on my cellphone. When I was younger, I remember a few times when those payphones were a life saver. I also dont own a calculator anymore because I have one on my cellphone.

06-20-2013, 09:32 AM	#1
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	Ever wonder what happened to pay phones? Tech Graveyards: Where Old Technology Goes to Die For technology geeks, it's out with the old and in with the new. But every new gadget acquired means that old tech gets trashed. What happens to all those junked cellphones, computer monitors and ancient laptops? Here, some tales of technology that's gone to the graveyard. Pay phone graveyard Ever wondered where all the old pay phones went? Well, some, at least 100, ended up under the elevated training on West Side Highway at 135th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan. Freelance photographer Dave Bledsoe noted his find on his Flickr page of "at least 100 old, battered pay phones locked behind a chain link fence near the Park's Department building." He told Yahoo News in an email that he thought the phones looked "sad and forlorn," writing, "Our modern tech is very convenient but it tends to be impersonal.” He added, “The day of street side telephones and person to person contact makes us long for something a little more intimate than a text message.” Attached Images

06-20-2013, 01:52 PM	#2
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	It's a shame really!! I mean I know most ppl have cell phones, but not everyone does, I don't see any harm in leaving a few just in case. BUT that's the order of the day if something doesn't look like from the year 2075 it gets done away with. Lets see, other things you don't see anymore.... mannquins in stores... I mean the ones that LOOK like ppl, not just those white headless things. And colored bathroom tissue, remember it used to come in pink, yellow, blue I keep saying someday we will live in a world where absolutly NOTHING exists, and we will all have our brains plugged in to a giant mother cellphone, we won't even live in houses.
	__________________ Frump

06-20-2013, 01:55 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	My Town still has pay phones. I know 2 places where they have one and there is also one at the grocery store.
	__________________ Sonny

06-20-2013, 02:26 PM	#5
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	Why do we need payphones? They're unneccessary and far less convenient than a cell phone. Technology changes, and society evolves. It's been happening since the beginning of time, and it's not going to stop for payphones. Do you want us to still use phonographs and ride around in horse & buggies, too?
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

06-20-2013, 11:41 PM	#13
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	our public library still has a pay phone in front. Noone ever uses it, but it's still there. No, wait-I saw someone using it recently.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

06-20-2013, 06:22 PM	#8
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,070	You can still find payphones around NYC. You can find them on the city streets, subway stations, and the lobbies of most major supermarkets.

06-20-2013, 08:47 PM	#9
Flying Dutchman Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 1,266	I still have a Laptop I bought in 2001 used. A 1999 Dell Latitude. Pentium 3 600Mhz CPU. 128K of RAM 13GB HD. and 14 inch square screen. It also has a floppy drive in it and does plays ONLY CDs and DVDs No writing. It works okay, has a few scratches but doesn't affect it. It also has, believe it or not, AOL 4.0 and Windows 98 1st ED OS. I paid over $500 for this in 01, but it's basically worthless now. Pick em up online for about $25 working. In every sense of the word, my Alienware MX17 is superior to this Dell, and is worth almost 4 times what I originally paid for the Dell. But I had more fun on that Dell than I do on this Alienware, and there are times when I just boot up that dinosaur of a laptop and just play old games on it, like Yahtzee and and Windows 98 compatible Monopoly.

06-20-2013, 09:12 PM	#11
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	my town still has a few payphones left

06-20-2013, 09:13 PM	#12
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	I still dunno why they can't leave a few payphones around, what is it hurting, just b/c it looks so outdated in this space age society. Not everyone has a cell phone there are actually still SOME ppl without a computer. I just hate the way everythng is geared toward the masses, I still like to consider the little person too. And technology has it's drawbacks too, I could go on and on about that. Like when I'm watching a movie and the picture freezes, I'd much rather put up with a little static. Or when the the lightening knocks out the lights and it takes the TV 30 minutes to reboot, used to it woudl come back on instantly. I have VHS tapes and cassett tapes from the early 80s that still play but I have CDs and DVDs that are only a few years old and scratched up. I really dunno what's so great about a lot of the "technology" Most things were fine the way they were. If we are so high tech, it looks like we could find a cure for cancer, something that could actually benefit.

06-21-2013, 01:16 AM	#15
jasonbigley Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2008 Location: California Posts: 501	Where I live, we have a place that recycles old computers, phones, etc. I hope all those old payphones, cellphones and old computers in the pictures above dont end up in a landfill. When I was little, I used to use the VHS tapes and build things with them. Where I live, I dont see payphones anymore. Its getting to be where I dont even see a wall clock. I have not owned a wristwatch in years because I have a clock on my cellphone. When I was younger, I remember a few times when those payphones were a life saver. I also dont own a calculator anymore because I have one on my cellphone.