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From: jeh@simpact.com
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Thurbing (was: 800 Wrong Numbers)
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Date: 3 Jan 90 18:47:21 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 4, message 3 of 8

In article <2534@accuvax.nwu.edu>, cowan@marob.masa.com (John Cowan) writes:

> James Thurber, in one of his short stories, discusses a similar type
> of wrong-number strategy...

Here's another tale in a somewhat similar vein.  (On second thought,
it's not similar at all.  But John's story reminded me of this one!)

Opening night of a particularly dreadful play -- intended to be a
comedy -- in NYC was attended by, among others, the well-known
humorist Robert Benchley.  Benchley was sitting near the front row and
was fast asleep by the end of the first act.

The second act opened on a set devoid of actors; the sole "performer"
visible was a ringing telephone.  Benchley stirred and said, loud
enough for much of the audience to hear, "Will somebody please get
that?  I think it's for me."

A review the next morning commented that "The funniest line of the
evening was spoken by Robert Benchley, who unfortunately was not in
the cast."

(I'm not sure, but I think I got this from a little book called "The
What To Do While You're Holding The Phone Book", by Gary Owens -- yes,
the LA-area DJ and tv personality.  Those old enough to remember
60s-era tv, and those fond of watching Nik at Nite reruns, will
remember him as the hand-on-the-ear announcer on Laugh-In.)

	--- Jamie Hanrahan, Simpact Associates, San Diego CA

Internet:  jeh@simpact.com,	     | Future shock:  A sense of bewilderment
 or if that fails, jeh@crash.cts.com | felt by those who were not paying
Uucp:  ...{crash,decwrl}!simpact!jeh | attention. -- Analog (Jan 90)