telephone story time

[mimififi]

Don't know where to put this really, so I thought here in 'general' as it is with regards to a 'memory'.

When I was a little girl, I can remember sunday evenings (I think), after the cold chicken and cucumber sandwiches were cleaned away and we all sat in the sitting room basking in the warm glow from the fire and not really saying much, busy with out own thoughts. Part of the evening, however, was that instead of my regular bed time story, my mum used to telephone a number ( haven't the faintest what) and there would be a short story on the end of it. It was definately prerecorded as if you didn't hang up quick enough you could hear them start it again.

Does anyone remember this servicce? If so, is it still going? Who sponsored it? I'm sure it wasn't a relative duping me.....but then again?

many thanks, once again!

[kempie]

I also vaguely recall a Dial-a-Story service which ran prior to British Telecom taking over the UK telephone services from the Post Office. This would date it as pre-1980. Does that fit your timescale? (Beware, this could reveal your age!).

Many similar services operate in North America but I am unaware of any still operating in the UK,.

[brachiopod]

God ! I remember that too. And Dial-a-Disc !!

[kempie]

Look here.

[kempie]

...and Hull instituted a Christmas StoryLine in 1952 - here.

[gary baldy]

they used to do all sorts of things like weather info and news and such like. I remember dial a story although we couldnt afford to do that sort of thing in our house.
The operators in the early 80's used to like nothing better than kids ringing them up and asking to speak to Busby. They thought it was a right laugh. Probably!