“Dial ‘O’ for your local OPERATOR!”
Everyone knows that when you dial ‘O’ for OPERATOR… you will receive a “voice with a smile” – – and just so you can put that “voice” into a picture as to maybe someone you know… just thought that I would post the photos I have for three other young ladies and myself.
The above PHOTO is of me – – and was taken within the first year of my learning to be a “Telephone Operator” – – and I do look fairly young – – as when I started to work – – was not eighteen years old and did have to secure a worker’s permit and promise to not quit – – when September rolled around to continue with the last couple of months of High School.
The reason for taking this PHOTO – – was that I had found this material with little telephones all over – – and just thought that I had to buy enough material – – just to make a blouse that I could wear to work. Of course lots of my friends at work liked the idea and the blouse – – and when wearing this blouse to places other than work – – I could go into detail about working for the “Telephone Co.,”
Just in case … you caught the PHOTO in the frame above the mirror – – that is me as a baby. My Mother told me that, “One day… I was playing outside and my Father came home in a big hurry… just grabbed me and rushed off in the car – – saying he had to hurry.” Evidently there was a “BABY CONTEST” going on… and he wanted to have me – entered in… by having my PHOTO taken. When we return home, later on – – my Mother told my DAD – “You could have at least let me clean “Mary Ellen” up – – and put nice clothes on her!” So… was my MOTHER – – ever surprised – – when the Photographers Store called – – that my parents … could pick up the “Blue Ribbon” for me.
This PHOTO – – above is of three of the other young ladies that started working for the “Telephone Co.,” with me – – – there were two other girls – – but… they were not around when I was taking photos. If I was to find and check my old note books for the first four weeks of training – – that we were in together – – I might find the names of these girls – – as we did even go to a couple of places to dance in the evening and we did have each others’ phone numbers.
One other memory … the young lady on the right of this PHOTO – – was not able to make dresses from patterns – – but – – as I did like to sew and was able to make some of the clothes that she wanted… she bought materials and patterns for a variety of different out-fits – – and I was happy to do the sewing – – I was able to make use of the lessons I had taken – -and had fun to doing something different. These were the days – – that we did not have “TV” – – and were able to do lots of things – – that people do not have time to do today … with the “TV’ occupying all of our time.
If you think you know any of us “OPERATORS” – – just take the time and leave a message in the comment space. Thanks!
Your friends will LOVE you!
Posted in Childhood, Family, Grand-Children, Grandma, Today and tagged "Mary Ellen McClarren"with no comments yet.
Leave a Reply