When Phones Were In Booths, Not Pockets: Part 1

So here's the big deal now. We used to walk to make our phone call. Now we walk with our phone call.

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Fun Time, Quiz Time

As the world progresses technologically, I don't know if it does in an emotionally matured way, many things around us become obsolete. Here's my take:

Not too long ago when telephone booths were in vogue and when people had no phones in their pockets, let alone video clips, photographs or the latest news items, these special structures usually found at street corners, were the only way you could get or relay an urgent message, if you were on the go.

In London, England and surrounding counties, these booths were red in colour. When I first saw them in London in the 70's I thought they look like big *ang pows or red packets.

But there were other ones of different colours, shapes and sizes. And these booths were very popular some years ago.

In later years, when phones became portable, they had other uses for the telephone booths e.g. as mini-libraries, tiny street bars, etc. and props as shown in these pictures. Here are some booths with their music superstars. 

Can you guess who the stars are?

Here are some great songs where telephones are mentioned in the lyrics.The artistes in the images have no connection with the song titles:

Chantilly Lace - Big Bopper (1958)

Beachwood 45789 - The Marvellettes (1962)

634-5789 Soulsville USA - Wilson Pickett (1964)

Party Line - The Kinks (1966)
Happy Together - Turtles (1967)

Syvia's Mother - Dr Hook and The Medicine Show (1972)

That's Not The Way It Feels - Jim Croce (1972)

Long Distance Operator - Bob Dylan (1975)

Telephone Line - ELO (1976)

Hanging On The Telephone - The Nerves (1976)

Love On The Telephone - Foreigner (1979)

Call Me - Blondie (1980)

I Just Called To Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder (1981)

Here's an American version of phone booths from Bob Dylan's perspective.

There are thousands in the phone booth
Thousands at the gate
There are thousands in the phone booth
Thousands at the gate
Everybody wants to make a long distance call
But you know, they're just gonna have to wait

Just a phone call to a girl-friend but tone stems anger, unhappiness. Dylan's songs spell other meanings. But the venue was a phone booth.

You Tube Video: Off The Hook  from Rolling Stones

Video by creekmorebanks' channel 

This picture above with five gentlemen in phone booths can only be answered  by Singaporean readers. Name this group and where these booths were?

This last image by American comic book artist, Michael Allred is a little tougher. So clues coming right out. They are British Rock music stars of the 60's and 70's. You can find JH, The W., BJ, MJ, MF in her Girl on a Motorcycle leathers. Then comes DB (Ziggy Stardust). Anyone else?

All celebrating on Carnaby Street, with an obtrusive, larger than life, telephone booth. It's 2017 now so these artistes look younger in the picture.

Good luck and have fun.

NB
Singapore Phone Booths:

Having booths in Singapore will be useless. The weather's too hot. Singapore coin phones long ago were open-air ones.

*An ang pow is a red packet with money inside given away during Chinese New Year.

Images: Google (telephone booths).