Before you drop too far into this post, let me say that this has nothing to do with GCSA per se. This post regards something that has caught the collective attention of Flanders and I. We don’t have the answer, but we bet you do. Enjoy the article, and comment with your explanation.
While browsing the tubes I came across this video. It is a very short scene recorded at a circus. You will see one person walk behind the zebra statue, then another. The second person is the subject of interest. Take a good look at him/her…
As you can see, he/she has something in her hand. Is that person talking on a cell phone? It would seem so, but here’s the thing… This scene is taken from the 1928 Charlie Chaplin film, The Circus. You don’t need me to tell you that cell phones didn’t come into existence until decades later, and we all know that there was no mainstream use until the 90’s.
So what’s happening here? There are two camps on this matter.
Fun theory: We can all see it. That person is walking and talking into a device. Furthermore, he/she seems surprised when he/she looks up and sees the camera. Lastly, the attire is almost disguise-like. It is hard to make out the gender, let alone any identifying features due to the clothing choices. One conclusion is that this person must be a time traveler from the future, communicating with other visitors over walkie-talkie. Cell phones would not work as no towers existed then. It could be some sort of quantum phone that can make connections over time… but a walkie-talkie is far more feasible. This theory would also explain the disguise, and the surprise when he/she realize that he/she’s been caught on film.
Walkie-Talkie?
More believable theory: Not to dismiss the possibility of time travel, this is not proof of it. The more believable explanation is that this is simply an elderly person, wearing era-appropriate clothing. The shock when he/she looks up is just the same as we would have today if we realized we were being recorded. As for the device? Yes, there is something in that person’s hand, and it is a communication device! But it’s no radio, cell phone, or walkie-talkie. It is simply an early form of hearing aid called a “resonator hearing aid”. Because they were quite large they had to be held against the ear, similar to how we hold phones today. Conclusion: Nothing to see here.
Ear Trumpet
The latter theory is quite scientific and valid. I just don’t see why you would hold up a large hearing device unless you immediately need to hear something (such as during conversation, watching a show, etc.). Nor do I understand why you would walk around talking into your own hearing aid. What do you think this video shows or doesn’t show?
By Sharp and Flame… from the present,
Carter
Well, while I do hold the notion that it is more than likely just a form of a hearing aid, I do think that it would be pretty freaking amazing if they could in fact be using a cell phone or some form of walkie talkie.
Presuming you could travel back to the late 20’s, cell phones would not be able to place calls, at all, to any number. However, walkie talkies would work flawlessly… probably have better range than they do in the present as there would be less interference back then. 🙂
Well, if you’re going that route then you would also have to consider that if someone had the technology to travel in time they could also have a cell phone that would work whenever the hell they wanted it to, lol.
Well during this time frame, the Walkie talkie was being experimented with to see if it could work, although it wasnt perfected until 1940
I don’t know about your date, but I agree with your premise. In 1928 the average citizen would not have one.
yeah, the year the movie was made would be like the very first years the walkie talkie was even beginning to be in existence
C’mon guys. It is a lady. Men didn’t wear silk stockings and feathers in their hats (in public) until at least the ’70’s. Who knows what she was talking into. I knew a lady named Gladys who held lengthy conversations with doorknobs.