The Friday File……I’m Sorry, Who Did You Say Is Calling?

Alexander Graham Bell New York to Chicago june 12 1878– photo courtesy of http://www.e-torch.org

How’s this for an auspicious photo?  Today (June 12th) marks the 123rd anniversary of the New York to Chicago telephone line launch.  In 1892, the first phone call on this new phone line was ceremoniously made by none other than Mr. Alexander Graham Bell.  Note all the eavesdroppers!

Hhhhmmm, I wonder if Mr. Bell was calling ahead for deep-dish pizza reservations? Or future Chicago Blackhawks tickets? Or perhaps the call went something like this:  “Hello? Chicago? Yes, this is Mr. Bell calling.  Mr. Bell.  Alexander Bell.  Alexander Graham Bell. What do you mean you don’t know who this is?  No, I shall certainly not be placed on hold! Good day to you, Chicago!”

And with that, I shall wish YOU a good day FROM Chicago! 🙂

  27 comments for “The Friday File……I’m Sorry, Who Did You Say Is Calling?

  1. andy1076's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    He’s prolly still doing jumping Jacks at the sight of cell phones 😄😄

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      I know, right? I am sure he is! *LOL* ;-P

  2. GP Cox's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    That is a monumental picture!!

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 12:32 pm

      It certainly is, isn’t it? I should have also mentioned in my post that Alexander Graham Bell moved from Scotland to Canada at the age of 23. Cher xo

      • GP Cox's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 12:37 pm

        So, you can claim him coming and going!! 😉

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 12:38 pm

        *biggest grin* How right you are, sir! 😉 xo

  3. georgeforfun's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    Reblogged this on georgeforfun.

  4. whichwaynow101's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    Amazing to think how far the phone has come. What would Alex think?

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 1:44 pm

      I completely agree! It is mind blowing, isn’t it? I wonder that, too! Walking around without a cord attached to the phone would most definitely startle him! Did you know both his parents were deaf? Cher xo

      • whichwaynow101's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 2:03 pm

        I didn’t know that!

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 2:42 pm

        Apparently it is what inspired him to pursue telephone communication. I think he realized how lucky he was to be able to hear when growing up with parents who could not. Interesting stuff! Cher xo

  5. A Pondering Mind's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    Hello, hello, can you hear me now? LOL

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 1:42 pm

      *LOL* Don! Yes, perhaps that is the earliest version of what was to become a rolling of the eyes commercial!! *grin* Cher xo

      • A Pondering Mind's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 5:32 pm

        Cher, that is one guy that got stale very fast. It was a real obnoxious commercial(s). Don xo

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 5:54 pm

        That is for sure, Don! Before he could mutter the words, “Can….” channel was switched!! Thank goodness he’s not ‘heard’ any longer! *LOL* Cher xo

      • A Pondering Mind's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 6:25 pm

        Another one I can stand is those damn Target commercials. The music sucks, and it seems they keep showing them, every five minutes or so.
        Grrrrr?

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 7:22 pm

        Oh yes, Grrrrr for sure, Don! I don’t understand how someone thinks this would be a big hit with the tv-watching crowd (same with the “Can you hear me now” knit-wit! 😉 Cher xo

      • A Pondering Mind's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 8:50 pm

        There are many commercials that drive me bonkers, but I won’t bother mentioning them.

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 9:02 pm

        *LOL* You can mention them because they are probably the same ones that drive me crazy, too! 🙂

  6. Erika Kind's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    Have a wonderful day and weekend as well, Cher 💖💕💖

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 1:40 pm

      Thank you, Erika! You too! Cher xo

      • Erika Kind's avatar
        June 12, 2015 at 1:52 pm

        😀

  7. Amy's avatar
    Amy
    June 12, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    Must be a significant historic moment for the beginning of the new telecommunication. Great post, Angel!

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 2:43 pm

      Ah, thank you, Amy! Yes, I think so, too! Can you imagine, sitting in New York and suddenly speaking with someone all the way in Chicago! Fascinating! Cher xo

      • Amy's avatar
        Amy
        June 12, 2015 at 2:47 pm

        🙂

  8. Veronica Haidar's avatar
    June 12, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    Ha, ha – very funny! I’m old fashioned enough to think of a phone as something to make calls with. For my kids, it’s everything – internet, photos, apps the whole nine yards…

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      June 12, 2015 at 2:45 pm

      *LOL* Thank you, Veronica! Yes, no doubt Mr. Bell would be absolutely overwhelmed to see what is now available in less than a split second over wireless means! Mind boggling, really! And your kids; I bet they cannot even fathom life without their ‘everything’ phones!! *LOL* Cher xo

Comments are closed.

Discover more from The Chicago Files

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading