The History and Culture of Telephone Communication at Kiscelli Museum

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The show explores not only the technical evolution of telephones but also how these devices have influenced society, communication habits, and cultural norms. The exhibition occupies nine rooms in the museum's atmospheric rock cellar and includes more interactive elements than any previous display at Kiscelli. Visitors have the opportunity not only to see and touch historic phones, but also to make calls using vintage devices connected through functioning lines provided for this purpose. 

Curated soundscapes featuring classic ringtones, recorded conversations, and film clips enhance the ambience of the exhibition. A highlight of the collection is footage of the first transatlantic phone call between Washington and Budapest. 

This collection is drawn from the museum's own technical archive and is further enriched with rare items on loan from private collectors and public institutions, including the Postamuseum, Budapest City Archives, and the Szabó Ervin Library. Among the artefacts displayed are antique switchboards, wall-mounted phones, and iconic public payphones. 

The thematic layout of the rooms enables visitors to explore different facets of telephone culture. This includes the growth of both domestic and industrial telephone manufacturing, the societal impacts of public telephony, and issues related to vandalism. Additionally, there are displays of specialized work-related phones, such as servant-call systems and fire alarm units. 

Contemporary art installations and projects are integrated into the show, utilizing the telephone as a motif to explore modern communication. "Hello? Hello!" invites audiences of all ages to engage with the fascinating narrative of how a single invention transformed the way we connect with one another.