Even today there is a need for the old ways. These payphones will work and are needed by some who don't have cell phones. Taken at a rest stop north of Sacramento California.
Oh, my parents had a terrible experience in Paris where they could not find any public phones, and the roaming service on the mobile did not work, and they couldn't let us know they had arrived safely there. Eventually i called the hotel to check if they checked in. Oh boy...
I wonder how much analog is left today. I get a little concerned about the EMPs from the sun's solar flares and what will happen to digital communication.
I feel for Superman, or at least the old incarnation of him. It is just nice to know that there is an attempt at being helpful.