New York City removes last of its payphone booths

Many call it 'end of an era' though some phones still remain in subways and other locations

Marking the end of an era, New York City removed the last of its storied payphone booths this week, which have fallen victim to the ubiquity of free Wi-Fi and mobile phones in recent years.

But Superman fans can take comfort in the fact that Manhattan will keep four of the defunct booths, made famous as the impromptu changing rooms for journalist Clark Kent as he transformed into the Man of Steel.

Over the decades, the phone booths have featured widely in pop culture, from comic books to Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows.

That ended Monday morning, when, in front of assembled media, Manhattan borough president Mark Levine had the last booth housing two Bell System payphones at the corner of 7th Avenue and 50th Street dismantled and lifted on to a flatbed.

Mr Levine said on Twitter he was “on hand today to say 'Bye Bye' one last time to the famed (infamous?) NYC payphone”.

“I won't miss all the dead dial tones but go to say I felt a twinge of nostalgia seeing it go,” he added.

Fixed-line payphones began disappearing from the streets of New York in the early 2000s as mobile phone use spread and then vanished even faster in the 2010s with the explosion of smartphones.

The final blow came when, in 2015, Manhattan went ahead with the installation of thousands of LinkNYC hotspots offering Wi-Fi and free local calls.

Those new kiosks are to be gradually connected to the 5G network.

“Truly the end of an era but also, hopefully, the start of a new one with more equity in technology access,” said Mr Levine, referring to neighbourhoods in northern Manhattan, such as Harlem, that are less well covered by telephone and internet networks.

Local media reported that Manhattan will keep four of the old-fashioned phone booths on the Upper West Side on West End Avenue at 66th, 90th, 100th and 101st streets.

Other payphones around the city continue to exist but only in public transit stations, ferry terminals and in some corner stores.

epa03739409 British actor Henry Cavill, (L) with his mother and father, Marianne and Colin attend the 'Man Of Steel' world premiere at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, USA, 10 June 2013. EPA/PETER FOLEY *** Local Caption *** 03739409.jpg

Hawaii Five-0 actor Daniel Dae Kim at the Man Of Steel world premiere. Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images / AFP

Actress Robin Wright and Man of Steel cast member Michael Kelly at the world premiere of the film. Andrew H Walker / Getty Images / AFP

Shea Whigham, from TV's Boardwalk Empire, attends the Man Of Steel premiere at the Lincoln Center. Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images / AFP

Cast member Russell Crowe arrives for the world premiere of Man of Steel in New York. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Russell Crowe, who portrays Superman's father Jor-El, arrives for the world premiere of Man of Steel. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane, arrives for the Man of Steel premiere in New York. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Michael Shannon, who plays General Zod the bad-guy of Man of Steel, pretends to punch a Superman poster as he arrives for the world premiere of the film. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Superman Henry Cavill arrives for the world premiere of Man of Steel. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Lawrence Fishburne, who plays Perry White in Man of Steel, arrives for the film's premiere. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Cooper Timberline, who portrays a nine-year-old Clark Kent in the film, arrives for the world premiere of Man of Steel. Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Lois and Clark, AKA actors Amy Adams, left, and Henry Cavill at the Man Of Steel world premiere after-party. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP

British actor Henry Cavill is the iconic American hero Superman in Man Of Steel. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP

Director Zack Snyder and his wife, producer Deborah Snyder, at the Man Of Steel world premiere in New York. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP

Dylan Sprayberry portrays Clark Kent as 13-year-old in Man of Steel. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP

Producers Christopher Nolan, left, and Emma Thomas attend the Man Of Steel world premiere. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP

Actor Kevin Costner, left, who plays Jonathan Kent, and his wife Christine Baumgartner arrive at the Lincoln Centre for the Man Of Steel world premiere. Evan Agostini / Invision / AP

The Associated Press contributed to this report