In this day and age, it’s easier to find Waldo than it would be to find a working real payphone. It seems technology and the times have made the payphone obsolete.
When you find one, you tend to have a double take and memories flood the mind. There was always one at the local roller rink when you had to call the folks to pick you up. It seemed every 7-11 store had one out front. My band played in one of my favorite bars, Augies, and it had one in the bathroom right next to the sink. I remember folklore of strange stories of some substance on the receiver and the touch tones that would possibly kill you. The cleanliness of the payphone was always in question- wiping it down or holding the receiver with a tissue so you wouldn’t catch anything.
There was always a payphone at school by the front door. Airports had rows and rows at one time. Everyone had that one friend who had one in their home. And not that you ever wondered, there are still payphones in prisons. How many are left?
Check out this website to get an accurate number – well, as close as it can be, anyway – of remaining phone booths in Michigan can check this website. It won’t be long untill pay phones will be but a memory. It seems like yesterday, the effort of finding enough change or the operator interrupting and asking for more money.