A mysterious pay phone has popped up in a residential area of Chevy Chase, DC. This pay phone, which surprisingly worked without requiring any coins, had a sign on top that read "Jokes." By dialing specific numbers, people could access knock-knock jokes, jokes for children, and more. The phone quickly became popular, especially among neighborhood residents and children, but the identity of the person behind it was unknown.
Through some detective work, it was discovered that the jokes phone was the creation of Don Rutledge, a substitute teacher at Lafayette Elementary School, located nearby. Rutledge enjoys working on quirky projects and decided to transform an old pay phone he purchased online into a homemade humor dispenser. He spent six months gutting the phone and converting it into a device that delivers jokes, random facts, affirmations, and even connects callers to a "random guy who thinks he has all the answers."
The jokes on the phone are carefully selected by Rutledge, who describes them as "quality dad jokes." While the number of calls initially dipped over the summer, the usage of the phone has increased again with the start of the school year. Many of the callers are young, and they sometimes express surprise that someone actually answers the phone. Rutledge enjoys interacting with callers, and while most conversations are lighthearted, some parents have inquired about their children's conversations on the phone.
Rutledge estimates that he spent approximately $700 on the project, and he finds joy in providing humor and entertainment to his neighborhood through this unique pay phone.
Source: Washingtonian
Photo: Getty Images