Lassie - Episode 81 - "Party Line" - Season 3, #16 (12/23/1956)

The local party line telephone operator for the area, Jenny, becomes upset that everyone she knows seems to have forgotten it is her birthday. Trivia: For those not familiar with party lines, this form of telecommunication was used up until the late 50's in the less populated rural areas where one line would have to suffice for a number of houses. Each residence on the line (houses back then only had one phone each) would have a particular "call identification" so they'd know when they had a call, and (by default) which other residences had a call. The Miller's incoming call "ring" is two buzzes, a pause, and one more buzz. Since party lines were open lines, anyone could pick up their receiver and listen in on another person's call. However, that was considered very rude, and only busybodies eavesdropped. By the middle 1970's party lines were fast becoming a relic of the past as phone lines became private to each residence. NOTE: This recorded episode has been edited to remove commercials and add titles and descriptions. "Lassie" is copyrighted and owned by Classic Media. The first 4 seasons of Lassie were later rebroadcast as "Jeff's Collie". Recorded from COZI TV in 2013 (via over-the-air antenna TV)