Another aspect of the landline was the use of telephone answering services. My father’s cousin, Mary Printz, my “Aunt” Mary, founded the Belles Celebrity Answering Service in 1956 in New York City. She developed a clientele that included virtually all the major stars of film and stage, politicians as well as other members of New York’s elite. Visiting her offices was like going backstage in a theatre, the walls lined with framed autographed photos of the many celebrities whose phones she answered. My youngest sister was the lucky recipient of a personal dedication on an autographed photo from Robert Redford through Aunt Mary.
