Lily Tomlin as Ernestine the Telephone Operator

The 6 tracks in this video are from a 33 1/3 record album. The date of the recording and where is unknown. I found these tracks (in digital form) from my own personal files of sound effects and radio production files that I had from my days in radio. These recordings were misplaced within my disks of sound effects and production audio bites. So, I figured, I would post them for everyone to enjoy.

[@carlozabbia1157]

When these were popular, there was only ONE phone company: Ma Bell! One of her monologues ended something like: "So go ahead and complain. We don't care. We don't have to: WE'RE THE PHONE COMPANY!" Lily Tomlin is one of a kind. There will never be another like her.

[@jerrycallender9927]

I remember being on a 6-party line with a 5 digit number.

[@adriennepittman4278]

Ernestine's great-granddaughter does tech support for a satellite internet/cable company of last resort😅

[@MetFan37]

@@adriennepittman4278 That was a "Telephone Company Ad" from her 1977 Broadway stage show "Appearing Nitely", the soundtrack album (on Arista) was called "On Stage". And the line was "So the next time you complain about your phone service, why don't you try using two Dixie cups with a string? We don't care, we don't have to, we're the Phone Company".

[@murielbarker7435]

Thanks KZbin for bringing Lily Tomlin to a wider audience again she is brilliant now when I ring people up now I say one ringie dingie two ringie dingie xx

[@SuperHartline]

Absolutely State of Art! There will never be another Ernestine. She single handedly divested Ma Bell. All in good fun, but also in deadly earnest...ine.

[@lindaboone2051]

She cracks me up those where the good old days love watching this laughing 😂

[@stevenbaer5999]

Lily Tomlin she's actually a natural to play as Ernestine the Telephone operator. No one can actually do a great job like her?

[@TheShmoo123]

I love Lily Tomlin, used to watched Rowan & Martins Laughin when I was a kid with my Mum & Dad. I'm loving her at the moment in Grace and Frankie too.

[@kelleydeclue4100]

I am a fan as well and Grace and Frankie is my favorite show binge. Lily (actually Frankie) and I have a similar liking to Del Taco a kindred spirit of mine!

[@kelleydeclue4100]

Comedy queen great of all time!!!! Thank you for sharing this, hadn't laughed this hard at comedy in a long, long time!

[@wonderwoman9027]

Listening while getting my chemo treatment. Absolutely fabulous. Thank you for posting.

[@kevinmcguire5696]

By the way, this is still one of the funniest comedy albums ever made. What was great about this character were the one-sided conversations that created a very vivid picture of the people on the other end of the line. The Martha Mitchell sequence is the funniest. I think Tomlin said years later she regretted being mean to Mitchell. Everyone thought she was completely nuts, but she really was right about what was happening that led to Watergate.

[@SuperWolsey]

I think everyone on the show (save for Paul Keyes) regretted it by the time the show ended and the hearings kicked up confirming what was going down

[@jeffharder8706]

I think Ernestine was my first introduction to Lily. I’ve loved her ever since. She is so damn funny!!

[@MJK1965]

When I worked at The Telephone Company, Ernestine was my idol. In fact, I had her picture on my desk. :)

[@wildman0228]

SO AWESOME! This was recorded at the Ice House in Pasadena around 1971. I used to own the LP - but it is available on CD, along with her Edith Ann album. So much fun!

[@dtcrooner1]

Thanks for this little blast from the past. We listened to this album over and over. But I believe it was done at a club called the Ice House.

[@coinpat]

+Daniel C Yes, it was.

[@TheMelwynau]

Drove up with my sis to Sydney to see her live when she was in Oz - we listened to this album all the way there and back again :).

[@kimrit]

OMG!!! SO CLASSIC! I love you Lily!!! You are absolutely halarious!!!! I watched Laugh In all the time and couldn't wait for you to be on, you are SO talented!! THANK YOU so much for uploading these, you made my day and brought back such wonderful memories of you on the show and that character. Please come back to Toronto! Missing seeing you here! Margaret

[@ThePansye]

Sure brings back memories. love it.

[@vinyltapelover]

If my recall is accurate, as a teenager, I remember Miss Tomlin's appearances on different variety shows and talk shows(such as Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin). These appearances before doing laugh-in. What an incredible lady and talent.

[@appealingpit]

I love her comedy very funny and creative.

[@ebonpaladin]

I had the LP as a kid, found it in my grandparents' basement I believe. Hilarious!

[@ovalroom2]

Fabulous fabulous...had this album in the 70's and lost it so great to hear it again thank you BLX

[@casnorse]

Thanks so much for sharing!!!! These are true gems!!!!

[@doffo]

Somehow, I got this record when I was a kid & fell absolutely in love with it! Thanks for the upload! My record player isn't working right now ;)

[@elizabetholiviaclark]

I had this album. She's still a riot!

[@dvlaries]

For boomers, there's the Holy Trio (Carlin, Pryor and Tomlin) of Comedy Genius and ...a bunch of second-rans. All three could foster laughs from any topic, add significant poignance and food for thought, and also Dial-soap their acts to an immaculate G-rating and be just as funny on Sesame Street or the Muppet Show. That's the test of true talent. Lily occupies that upper echelon alone now, and alas, there do not seem to be any real fresh rivals on the horizon.

[@Slothgreedenvy]

2:00 Oh lord, Ernestine tears into that woman to get her friend lunch. ROFL "Listen, you! This is Mrs. Tomlin with a lesson on common manners!""You got one minute, now move!" XD

[@davidburbage3348]

Recorded at the Ice House in Pasadena, CA around 1970-ish; I got the record as a present (birthday or Christmas, don't remember). I still have it, having survived time and some fire damage! Have also had the pleasure of meeting her in person twice. And as tempted as I was to show her how good my Earnestine impersonation was, I resisted lol I was, however a smash one Halloween in Daytona Beach, FL; wish there'd been phone cameras back then!

[@markwhitman9029]

Lily was an absolute laugh riot! Her characterizations were the absolute BEST! We all throw the term GENIUS around but it applies to her completely!

[@DaveBo270]

Thank you! This brought back great memories of Lily.

[@kevinmcguire5696]

First heard this in the 70s, when i was about 10 or 11. Still one of my favorites. The genius of this character is that she created these one sided conversations, but you could easily see in your mind who she's talking too, and exactly what's being said on the other end.

[@briananderson2452]

So true!

[@thebrinx9632]

@ MyGoingsOn Thank you so much for providing this, Miss Tomlin has always been a favorite, and this character of hers is the best of the best, thanks again.

[@imperiallebaron2391]

I had this album. Loved it.

[@05.WebWrangler.LeotaOBrien]

Thx for sharing such a found treasure So much fun! Thx for the laughter in my life was such a need Thx from the bottom of my ❤️

[@jtoevin]

Precious brilliance.

[@mominator822]

My parents had this album and I used to listen to it all the time!

[@dbfeldi]

My first experience with Lily was on Laugh In...then some campy drag queen did an excellent impression/show at Dirty Edna's in Atlantic City, N.J. in 1972...you go girl I own this album.

[@kimballwhittington2463]

I bought this album after Lilly gave it a plug while on laugh-in. She talked about it while in character standing between Rowan and Martin.

[@frankleonard7883]

The name of the album is "This is a recording." It was recorded live at the Ice House in Pasadena, Ca in front of AT&T employees in the very late 60's or 70, 71.

[@MetFan37]

Lily was the first WOMAN to win the Grammy Award for "Best Comedy Album".

[@ellenfyfe2348]

Thank you for sharing - priceless!

[@peterbradshaw8018]

Pure genius.

[@kevinmcguire5696]

It was recorded at the IceHouse in Pasadena. On the full album (yes, it was an album first), the announcer mentions the Icehouse

[@bruceweaver1518]

I remember well when this came out. It was a Polydor recording, and it was recorded LIVE at a stand-up comedy club which I think was called “The Ice House.” There was a small introduction at the start of the hour routine. Miss Tomlin made more records of more characters, but her first (this one) was by far the most popular. We must’ve worn out the record, that is how much we played it. I think 10 years after this record was made, a Chicago judge made a ruling that makers of telephone parts didn’t have to sell exclusively to Ma Bell, but could sell to any manufacturer. This breaking down of the Bell Monopoly created the road for what we all have today with the wireless phones.

[@mynamehappy]

It's the A side of her 1971 album "This is a Recording". According to my copy of the album this was a performance at the Ice House theater in Pasadena, California.

[@grandmalovesmebest]

Thanks, Doll! Saw her in the 70s doing a show at our college. Loved Ernestine but edith ann was my favorite.

[@Psnym]

Dammit Ms. Tomlin you just made me laugh cereal out of my nose

[@warrenholborn]

This is Very funny, and humour how it should be, no Swear words,and simple non offending humour

[@grandmalovesmebest]

Soho Lord This was in the days when you had to work at becoming famous by perfecting your craft, not just by trashing others.

[@bearnurse1]

The album is This Is A Recording by Lily Tomlin its available on audio cd or on youtube

[@jwb083]

I recognise these stories, I used to listen to them on a record at my Grandparents as a teenager.

[@sueburnessradicalselfcare]

Thank you SO much for this! I'm a life coach who does a lot of work on Skype and telephone. Have had a couple of issues lately!

[@alliemullen1137]

Whos watchin in 2019?

[@curtischildress9580]

2021.

[@mal1465]

Recorded in Pasadena, CA. I have this CD

[@kraftpr]

I have this LP too. Not sure of the date but it was recorded at the "Ice House" wherever that was -- a comedy club perhaps? This album is absolutely HYSTERICAL!

[@Victor1930]

Comedy club in Pasadena, CA.

[@bahulagrl68]

thank you for sharing these!! I love these!!:D I miss these shows and shorts!!

[@bobbenize]

I used to have this album. I found it in storage in a monastery where I was a monk

[@sbalogh53]

LOL

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

I freaking love the snort! XD

[@kristopherwilhite]

She won a Grammy for this album.

[@damiansolis5943]

"The number to the Bijou Theater....? You don't want see that film, it's filthy."

[@MetFan37]

"Go look it up yourself, I've got better things to do". PRICELESS!!!

[@deborahklinlger8565]

LOVE LILY AS ERNESTINE & THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE HUGE ROCKING CHAIR & LOVED HER ON LAUGH IN TOO!!!

[@bnhamilton]

And that's the truth!

[@richardhutchison3123]

This A Recording was the name of the album. My sister gave it to me for my 13th birthday (1970).

[@jeffjeffjeff808]

The introductory track tells you where it was recorded. The ice house takes greet pride in presenting miss lily tomlin.

[@Grasmage]

The album's title is called, "This is a Recording", from 1971. Recorded Live At The Ice House, Pasadena (California, I presume...).

[@Victor1930]

Yes, it's California. The Ice House was and still is one of the great comedy clubs in the greater Los Angeles area. Lots of people got started there.

[@HioImMario]

This lady is hilarious

[@clauderenaud229]

We had this album when I was a kid. It was entitled This is a Recording. I'd paste a photo but there isn't a way here.

[@Bartcmh]

I borrowed this album from my sister in law. She never got it back. 😂

[@patricialytle8578]

I remember and my first job was a job at a switchboard just like that. I hated it.

[@grandmalovesmebest]

Patricia Lytle Everybody hated this job, in fact, all the "girl"jobs. I think thats why we all relate to this bit. Also, I think those awful jobs are what triggered the women's movement!🙊😝

[@l.j.goldstein8143]

I had the album in 72 it was recorded at the Ice house in Pasadena CA

[@paullamoureux274]

I have this album!! Love it Love it Love it!!!!!!

[@gojoe2833]

I had this LP vinyl album in the 70s. Produced I believe in 1971 on Polydor Records. It's called, "This Is A Recording."

[@cantrip7]

Thank you so much for sharing.

[@gregjurek919]

Love this lp own it since 1971 awesome lp

[@theophilos0910]

The Light House Comedy Club in Pasadena CA (c. 25 August 1971)

[@theophilos0910]

The Ice House Comedy Club (Pasadena CA) August 1970.

[@ScottWFieldsVO]

The Lily Tomlin Album is Called "This is a Recording" (1971) I have the Album on Vinyl

[@bettymahoney8371]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@wettex60]

I have this album. Funny stuff!

[@dbfeldi]

Love this album...have it...

[@leslieawest5062]

I loved these by Lily. Ernestine; These are so Priceless,. Funny, Funny, 50 years later they are still totally Hysterical. 😅🤣🤣

[@mannfan12]

I have this album. Love Ernestine.

[@mcbrion1951]

No, this is from "This is a Recording." The laugh track is exactly the same, as well as the tonal quality.

[@damiansolis5943]

1972 at the Icehouse in Pasadena, California. The title was "This Is A Recording".

[@brdwyguy]

These are from the LP - 'This is a Recording' taped from 'The Ice House' comedy club.

[@drinkyourdrink]

The album This Is A Recording is on CD now. You can find it on laugh.com or Lily Tomlin's website.

[@kristopherwilhite]

The album was called LLY TOMLIN: THIS I$ A RECORDING

[@eaglecowboy2577]

This is so good. Would love to have a way of adding to my phone ring tones. Anyone have a idea?

[@elsenored562]

0:32 Vito 3:18 Mr. Hoover 6:26 Margaret Mitchell 10:11 Nuisance Calls 11:11 Peeved

[@damiansolis5943]

Recorded live in Pasadena 1971.

[@davidstevens7602]

lol I have this Album! on vinyl!

[@kraftpr]

There's one cut on this album where she thinks she's speaking with the Pope and it's really a Mafioso. Very funny.

[@briananderson2452]

Pure genius!

[@MetFan37]

"Up yours, twice on Sundays"!!! when the mafioso insults her.

[@mperhaps]

Hey My goings on, You rule. Thank you for this post you made my day.

[@tjb516]

I had this album. Got it for my birthday.

[@ralphfoster6254]

I love miss Tomlin, great hair too!

[@PaigeRiemer1995]

Lily Tomlin is funny. Reba McEntire and liliy Tomlin crack me up on Malibu Country.

[@adamantman3200]

The LP is 'This Is A Recording', released by POLYDOR in 1971.

[@cherylharrott]

Awesome a great actress

[@texjones8540]

How can you say 'unknown'? I had this album. You keep showing the cover. That's where it comes from. I so loved Lily and her character...

[@elmeranitathames4611]

SIMPLE BUT HIGHLY EFFECTIVE COMEDY

[@DrDespicable]

Jedgar Hoover - BAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

[@maryfink1182]

Mrs Mitchell too funny

[@beakittelscherz5419]

just ordered a ONE RINGYDINGY T-shirt!

[@zmznzbzvzmznzb]

You are Beautiful!!! You break my Heart!!!

[@shannonlee4614]

Channeling... Phone rings... Hello. . It's Aunt shifre... Makes a face 😝 ... Then says hiiiii aunty shefre.... Then makes another face 😝... Hilarious...

[@shannonlee4614]

That was great.... Lol 😝 Thanks 😝

[@Modguy61]

Love Love Love this!!! 🤣🤣🤣