On September 1, 1878, Emma Nutt became the first female telephone operator when she was recruited by Alexander Graham Bell to the Boston Telephone Dispatch Company. Since most telegraph operators were young men, they were the first hired as phone operators. However their lack of patience, swearing, and pranks made them unsuitable for live contact.

So at 27, Emma was hired, starting a career that lasted 35 years. The customer response to her soothing, cultured voice and patience was overwhelmingly positive, so boys were soon replaced by women.

This skit stars Lilly Tomlin and was first featured on Laugh In and published on YouTube by TimeLife.