MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Party Lines

Party Lines

posted 7 years ago by R_Kane (15828)
29 replies | jump to latest

This is probably not about what most of you think. It’s not about a bunch of MC posters getting blotto and chatting up a storm. It’s not about politics. It’s not about how to get laid at a party. In the Dark Ages, people had party telephone lines. You shared a line with another household, and got your phone service at a lower rate; but you did not have unlimited access to your phone service. I can imagine the growing looks of disbelief, consternation and horror that are spreading over the faces of most of you who are reading this. I hope there are others here who will back me up on the truth of this. Today, everyone has his own personal phone. With a party line, you had to wait for the other party to get off the line before you could make or receive a call. You COULD pick up your phone and hear the other party’s conversation, and participate in it, as in, “Hey, asshole, you’ve been on the line for five hours, talking about I Love fucking Lucy! Get the fuck off the phone!!!”

What do you think the murder rate would be if the party cellphone line was mandatorily reintroduced in today’s society? What would the suicide rate be? Is there a horror film in this idea?

[–] Culburn (3638) 7 years ago

I remember it, R_K,,,just barely as a 5-year-old, late '50's.

I remember the [water man] even later than that thru most of the '60's. You'd be sitting there eating dinner, the side door would blast open "water man!" he'd never break stride, just tromp down the basement stairs, 10 seconds later he'd charge back up and out the door. No prior notice, no permission. For some reason the gauge was down there and not outside. There was no complaints, we'd just keep eating, nobody would even look up.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I don't remember this. Must have been gone by the 70s.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

I remember that, now that you mention it. It reminds me of a line from the Danny Trejos vehicle, Machete: “Have you ever noticed that, if a Mexican shows up at your front door with gardening tools, you just let him in?”

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I remember telephone party lines. Went out in the 1970s I believe.

[–] thewaitress (1616) 7 years ago

I do not remember this nor have I ever heard of it. Interesting as hell though! I might google this later.
I work in retail and based on how many times a day a person will get ANNOYED that they have to put down their precious cellphone to pay, I think the murder/suicide rate would skyrocket. You could probably work this idea into a horror film, something like it anyway.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

A film akin to When A Stranger Calls would work with this premise. You may have to set it back in time.

We should think of a plot based around this. Anyone got any ideas??

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Stratego (30582) 7 years ago

I was just about to mention Pillow Talk! I think it's a cute movie, but I never totally got the concept!😁

[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

I’ve never seen Pillow Talk, but I can see that a party line could make for a good meet cute device; but Rock Hudson and Doris Day . . . ! The BEST American Romantic Couple thus far in history. Forget Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Forget You’ve Got Mail. Hudson had twice the macho of Hanks, and Day was a megastar up there with Marilyn. Thanks for reminding me of this.

[–] Stratego (30582) 7 years ago

You should definitely watch it. It's my favourite Doris and Rock movie!

[–] GlenEllyn (21577) 7 years ago

It's one of my favorite Doris Day movies, too. Thelma Ritter, one of my favorite character actresses, was in it. I also like "The Thrill of It All" with James Garner.

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

Wow dude, you are old! I remember those. There were three families on our line. One family was two short rings, one was three short rings, and ours was one long ring. That seems like another universe now.

Today the murder rate would triple with mandatory party cell phone lines.

😎

[–] Bubbathegut (18105) 7 years ago

i am not that old

[–] MovieManCin2 (26342) 7 years ago

Good for you, ya young whippersnapper! Now get off my lawn!

😎

[–] slimone (7996) 7 years ago

Yes, I remember party lines! Lots of fun, especially when you'd get a dozen people on the line shouting.

[–] GlenEllyn (21577) 7 years ago

I remember party lines, although we never had one - at least not that I remember. But along those lines, when I was a very young kid, if we wanted to make a call we'd pick up the receiver and the operator would say, "number please." And we'd say something like, "Hopkins 9, 2598 please."