- Title: VM-154
- Summary: A MANNER OF SPEAKING: WITH FRED CLARK, DAN TOBIN, RICHARD UDMAN ILLUSTRATES THROUGH A SERIES OF INCIDENTS HOW BAD TELEPHONE HABITS CAN RESULT IN CONFUSION & IN THE CASE OF A BUSINESS OFFICE, LOSS OF CLIENTS. SHOWS HOW THE TELEPHONE COMPANY CAN HELP BUSINESSMEN ANALYZE THEIR TELEPHONE PROBLEMS AND WORK OUT SOLUTIONS. SUGGESTS WAYS OF HANDLING INCOMING AND OUTGOING CALLS AND TRANSFERRING CALLS. COMPARES GOOD AND POOR TELEPHONE UTILIZATION
- Description:00:01:24 - LATE 1950s CAR STALLS DURING THUNDERSTORM, MAN ROLLS DOWN WINDOW, LOOKS OUT. GETS OUT OF CAR, OPENS HOOD TO SEE WHAT'S THE TROUBLE. IMPATIENT TRUCK DRIVER BEEPS HIS HORN, STALLED CAR BLOCKING TRAFFIC SHOUTS "COME ON, GET THAT THING OUTTA THERE". MAN WITH CAR TROUBLE SHOUTS "OH SHUT UP!" ROAD RAGE WALKS UP TO TRUCK, MEN ARGUE DURING DOWNPOUR. 00:02:16 - TRUCK PUSHES CAR TO GAS STATION ACROSS THE STREET. MAN WITH CAR TROUBLE THANKS GOOD SAMARITAN 00:02:50 - GAS STATION ATTENDANT RUNS OVER TO CAR IN POURING RAIN. DRIVER TELLS HIM HE HAS CAR TROUBLE. GETS OUT OF THE CAR, RUNS TO PUBLIC TELEPHONE BOOTH TO MAKE PHONE CALL. 00:03:20 - MAN IN PHONE BOOTH DURING DOWNPOUR. PICKS UP RECEIVER, SNEEZES INTO HANDKERCHIEF. SAYS EXCUSE ME INTO THE PHONE BEFORE HE REALIZES HE HASN'T PLACED THE CALL YET. DIALS ROTARY PHONE. PLACES A CALL. 00:03:42 - LATE 1950s BUSY OFFICE. MAN WALKS OVER TO AND SITS ON CORNER OF OVERWORKED SECRETARY'S DECK. CUTS TO IMPATIENT MAN IN PHONE BOOTH SAYS "COME ON, COME ON!" SECRETARY ANSWERS THE PHONE, TALKS TO MAN IN PHONE BOOTH. SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR CONNECTS CALL. 00:04:22 - CU OFFICE PHONE RINGING. MAN'S SECRETARY IN HIS OFFICE ANSWERS THE PHONE, BOSS ON OTHER END ON THE PHONE TELLS HER HIS CAR BROKE DOWN AND GIVES HER DIRECTIONS WHERE HE IS. BOSS BARKS ORDERS TO SECRETARY 00:05:14 - SECRETARY REDIRECTS PHONE CALL TO ANOTHER OFFICE WHERE ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE IS GIVING A PRESENTATION. INTERRUPTED BY PHONE CALL, LETS PHONE RING. WALKS INTO FRONT OFFICE, SECRETARY NOT AT HER DESK. 00:05:40 - SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR REDIRECTS CALL TO THE ART DEPARTMENT 00:05:49 - ADVERTISING COMPANY ART DEPARTMENT. ARTISTS AT DRAFTING TABLES. WORKER WITH HIS FEET UP SMOKING A CIGARETTE BRAGS TO CO-WORKERS, PICKS UP THE PHONE WHILE STILL TALKING, MAN ON OTHER END LISTENS TO HIS CONVERSATION UNTIL HE SAYS HELLO, THEN BOSS BARKS ORDERS 00:06:25 - CONFUSED SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR TAKES A CALL FROM A CLIENT SAYING HE'LL BE A FEW MINUTES LATE FOR APPOINTMENT. 00:06:40 - BOSS AND OLD SECRETARY IN OFFICE WORKING ON A REPORT. 00:06:49 - ADVERTISING OFFICE ART DEPARTMENT, ARTISTS WORK AT DRAFTING TABLE, MAN TALKS ON THE PHONE. BOSS WALKS IN. MAN HOLDS HAND OVER RECEIVER, TALKS TO BOSS, HANDS OVER THE PHONE. MAN ON OTHER END OF THE PHONE UPSET, CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE POURING RAIN WANTS TO CANCEL MEETING UNTIL LATER. BARKS ORDERS AND SLAMS DOWN THE PHONE 00:07:24 - OFFICE WORKER PLACES A INTER-OFFICE CALL THROUGH SWITCHBOARD 00:07:30 - GUM CHEWING RED HEADED SECRETARY IN HER OFFICE PUTTING ON LIPSTICK USING A COMPACT CASE MIRROR. INTERRUPTED BY PHONE CALL. TACKY CLICHE GUM CHEWING SECRETARY CONNECTS WITH SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR TO PLACE AN OUTSIDE CALL, ALL THE WHILE LOOKING AT HERSELF IN COMPACT MIRROR. 00:08:04 - OLD SECRETARY TYPING IS INTERRUPTED BY PHONE CALL, CATCHES BOSS ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR FOR MEETING. DITSY RED HEAD TELLS HIM TO HOLD WHILE SHE TRANSFERS TO MR. BLACKTHORNE BUT HIS LINE IS BUSY, IMPATIENT BUSINESSMAN HANGS UP THE PHONE ANGRY THAT A MAN WOULD PLACE A CALL AND THEN NOT BE AVAILABLE. WALKS OUT OF THE OFFICE TO GO TO MEETING 00:09:10 - BUSINESSMAN IN HIS OFFICE ON THE PHONE WITH HIS WIFE CLICHE RESPONSE "YES DEAR". WIFE SEEKS HUSBAND'S ADVICE WHILE HE'S AT WORK. ASSOCIATE PACES, INTERRUPTS HIS CALL "WILL YOU HURRY UP PLEASE?" HOLDS HAND OVER RECEIVER SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS IN GESTURE ALL MARRIED PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND! MISSES IMPORTANT BUSINESS CALL WHILE TALKING TO HIS WIFE 00:09:36 - CU MAN USES HIS WHOLE BODY TO COMMUNICATE FRUSTRATION 00:09:42 - MAN FINALLY FINISHES HIS CALL. CO-WORKER CALLS SWITCHBOARD, MISSED AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS CALL. MAN WHISTLES SOUND OF DOOM 00:10:08 - OLD SECRETARY TYPING ANSWERS PHONE CALL, TELLS BUSINESSMAN THAT HIS CLIENT IN ON THE WAY. 00:10:39 - OFFICE WORKERS TRY TO CALM CLIENT DOWN AFTER TRAVELING IN RAINSTORM TO A MEETING THAT HAS BEEN CANCELLED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE. LOSE A CLIENT DUE TO LACK OF EFFICIENCY, BAD COMMUNICATION. 00:11:20 - CU MODERN WALL CLOCK READS 11:00 ZOOM BACK TO BUSINESSMAN LOOKING AT HIS WRIST WATCH. OFFICE WORKERS WAITING & WAITING. FINALLY THE BOSS ARRIVES, WORKERS TELL HIM THEY LOST A CLIENT. HE DROPS STUFF IN HIS HANDS. YELL AT EACH OTHER, PASSING THE BUCK, EVERYONE HAS AN EXCUSE. DITSY RED HEAD COVERS HER MOUTH CRYING RUNS OUT OF THE OFFICE UPSET 00:12:33 - BOSS BARKS ORDERS TO SECRETARY, MEN PICK UP STUFF BOSS DROPPED. 00:12:50 - SECRETARIES ON THE PHONE. SECRETARY TELLS HER BOSS MR. BLACKTHORNE IS CALLING. HE SAYS YOU MEAN CRAWLING AND LAUGHS, NOW OVER HIS ANGER HE TAKES THE CALL. 00:13:11 - MAN TAKES OFF HIS GLASSES AND SCREECHES "WHAT!!" CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S TALKING TO SECRETARY AND NOT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CU FACE OF AN ANGRY BUSINESSMAN SCREAMING INTO THE PHONE BUSINESSMAN HEARS THE SCREAMING FROM OTHER ROOM RUNS IN TOO LATE, CLIENT HUNG UP. LOOKS OF DISAPPOINTMENT ON ALL FACES 00:13:44 - BOSS ASKS SECRETARY TO GET HIM SOME COFFEE. SHE ASKS HIM IF HE WANTS CREAM AND SUGAR, HE REPLIES "JUST ARSENIC" 00:13:55 - BUSINESSMAN AND FEMALE TELEPHONE COMPANY CONSULTANT IN OFFICE MEETING. 1950s CAREER WOMEN. SUGGESTS THAT THE RECEPTIONIST IS TOO BUSY PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES BESIDE SWITCHBOARD, WAYS TO IMPROVE TELEPHONE HABITS. BOSS CALLS IN HIS SECRETARY TO SIT IN ON MEETING. TELEPHONE SALESWOMAN USES VISUALS IN HER PRESENTATION. USES COMPANY'S PHONE TO ILLUSTRATE GOOD PHONE UTILIZATION IN BUSINESS. SECRETARY LISTENS AND ASKS QUESTIONS. IDENTIFY YOURSELF. TRANSFER CALLS PROPERLY. 00:17:05 - CU FINGERS PRESSING PHONE SWITCH HOOK 00:17:27 - 1950s CAREER WOMAN GIVING PRESENTATION. LESSON ON WAYS TO IMPROVE OFFICE TELEPHONE HABITS. KEEP PAD AND PENCIL READY. LEAVE A MESSAGE WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR TELEPHONE. CU SECRETARY LISTENING. PLACE AND RECEIVE YOUR OWN CALLS. LIST FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS. DON'T SAY WHO'S CALLING? INSTEAD SAY MAY I TELL HIM WHO'S CALLING PLEASE?". IF YOU LEAVE THE LINE EXPLAIN WHY. 00:20:10 - FLASHBACK, BUSINESSMAN RE-LIVES THE DAY HIS CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE POURING RAIN AND HE MISSED AN IMPORTANT MEETING WITH A CLIENT ONLY THIS TIME EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY & EVERYONE EXECUTES GOOD TELEPHONE UTILIZATION. CLIENT IS REACHED & MEETING CANCELLED. 00:20:16 - BUSINESSMAN RUNS THROUGH POURING RAIN TO PHONE BOOTH. PLACES A CALL TO HIS OFFICE. MAN SNEEZES INTO HANDKERCHIEF 00:20:31 - EFFICIENT SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR CONNECTS CALLS. CALENDAR PAGE APRIL 20, WEDNESDAY 00:20:40 - BOSS CALLS IN SECRETARY TAKES NOTES FROM BOSS OVER THE PHONE 00:21:10 - SECRETARY CALLS SWITCHBOARD, OPERATOR FORWARDS CALL TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. INTER-OFFICE COMMUNICATION 00:21:18 - ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE GIVING A PRESENTATION TO CLIENTS IS INTERRUPTED BY A PHONE CALL FROM A MAN IN PHONE BOOTH IN THE POURING RAIN 00:21:55 - PHONE CALL IS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. 00:22:05 - ADVERTISING AGENCY'S ART DEPARTMENT CIRCA LATE 1950s. 00:22:16 - MAN COMES OUT OF FLASHBACK, BACK IN THE PRESENT IN MEETING WITH TELEPHONE COMPANY CONSULTANT. 1950s CAREER WOMAN MOVES ON TO GOOD TELEPHONE UTILIZATION FOR OUTGOING CALLS. THE CARDINAL RULE FOR OUTGOING CALLS "PLACE THE CALL YOURSELF" 00:22:43 - FLASHBACK. BUSINESSMAN IN HIS OFFICE PLACES A CALL. 00:22:51 - CU FINGERS DIALING ROTARY PHONE CORRECTLY, BRINGING THE DIAL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FINGER STOP, REMOVING THE FINGER COMPLETELY EACH TIME. 00:23:06 - BUSINESSMAN CALLS CLIENT JUST AS HE'S WALKING OUT OF THE OFFICE TO CANCEL MEETING. BIG MAN WITH A HEARTY LAUGH RESCHEDULE MEETING. 00:23:54 - BUSINESSMAN TAKES OFF HIS OVERCOAT AND HAT SITS BACK DOWN "I WON'T BE GOING TO A MEETING TODAY, CAN'T SAY I MIND, LOOK AT IT COME DOWN RAISES HIS HAND TOWARD WINDOW WITH RAIN POURING DOWN. 00:24:09 - FLASHBACK ENDS, BACK TO THE PRESENT. PHONE COMPANY CONSULTANT EXPLAINS GOOD TELEPHONE COURTESY 00:25:00 - TELEPHONE REP WRAPS UP HER PRESENTATION, IS SEEN OUT 00:25:24 - BOSS TELLS SECRETARY TO SET UP AN OFFICE STAFF MEETING, GOES TO WORK WRITING A SPEECH. CU LEFT HANDED MAN WRITING IN PENCIL. CU CALENDER DAY APRIL 27, TUESDAY 00:25:42 - CU CALENDER DAY APRIL 24, FRIDAY PASSAGE OF TIME 00:25:45 - SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR TAKES A CALL 00:25:58 - ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE IN MEETING WITH EX-CLIENT TRYING TO WIN HIM BACK. "IF YOU EVER HAVE OCCASION TO CALL ME AGAIN, I THINK YOU'LL NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE". EX-CLIENT STILL NOT CONVINCED, MAKES A DEAL WITH HIM, TESTS HIS OFFICE BY PLACING A CALL TO HIS OFFICE. THIS TIME HE GETS THROUGH. SAYS "THIS IS JUST A TEST CALL TO SETTLE A BET I MADE WITH YOUR BOSS, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO BUY HIM A LUNCH" WINS CLIENT BACK 00:27:44 - ADVERTISING ART DEPARTMENT. MEN HANG POSTER "TELEPHONE COURTESY PAYS OFF!"
- Collection: Historic Films
- Producer:Historic Films
- Transmission Date:01/01/1959
- Rights:On request
- Decade: 1950s
- File Name: VM-154