Where have all the phone booths gone? The booths, or "phone boxes" as they are called in England, are disappearing fast and AT&T says they are not coming back. But their legends will live a long time.
Pay phones first appeared at the beginning of the 20th Century. By 1998 there were nearly 2.6 million of them in the United States alone.
The first phone booths were made of wood. The last ones were made of aluminum and glass to provide comfort and protection. They featured hanging phone directories, fans, bright lighting and handy little shelves where a lady could put her purse while calling. The latest phones were even able to accept credit cards.
