Chimpanzee Plugs in and Gives Wrong Numbers on Zoo Switchboard (Dec, 1929)
Chimpanzee Plugs in and Gives Wrong Numbers on Zoo Switchboard
DICK, one of the chimpanzee residents of the Luna Park Zoo in Los Angeles, California, paid a call to the zoo office the other day and while there he made friends with the telephone operator. When invited to try out the switchboard, Dick pushed and pulled plugs, particularly enjoying using the plugs when a light flashed on the board. He dispensed wrong numbers with carefree abandon and gibbered back at irate phone users who tried to “bawl him out” for his carelessness. He was removed from the chair, however, before he had an opportunity to raise a mob of protesting callers.
I’ed think getting a decent shot going at speed would be impossible...
One example of a switchboard operator who was going literally “ape.”
Comment by Kosher Ham — October 5, 2010 @ 10:35 am
Now that chimp has been replaced with a machine that mis-directs your call.
Comment by Mike — October 5, 2010 @ 3:45 pm
“Mike” perhaps they should rename the machine version to honor the name of this Chimp
Comment by M.S.W. — October 6, 2010 @ 8:10 am
Nowadays the chip works in tech support.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — October 6, 2010 @ 11:28 am
The chimp got fired when “Planet of the apes” was shown on theathers
Comment by The chip's job ended the day "Planet of the apes" were shown on theathers — October 12, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
The chip’s job ended the day “Planet of the apes” were shown on theathers: I think the chimp could spell better than you.
Comment by Firebrand38 — October 12, 2010 @ 1:28 pm
How is this different than every time I call verizon?
Comment by Khordas — October 17, 2010 @ 3:02 pm