Brad’s Cactus Shack Episode 20 – Secrets of the Little Blue Box

This is a story about phone phreaking in the early 1970’s, and it’s taken from the October 1971 issue of Esquire magazine. It tells the stories of a few phone phreaks of the era, including Joe Engressia (Joybubbles), Captain Crunch, Mark Bernay, and lots of other interesting weirdos. I broke up some of the chapters of this story with phone related music. Please let me know if those are too distracting or jarring and I will consider removing them. Also, if I made any mistakes, please point them out and maybe I’ll fix them while I still can.

00:00:00 Gotta Get to the Phone by Al Philipp and The Woo Team

00:00:22 A Quick Intro

00:01:47 The Story Begins

00:24:45 The song is Bell Odyssey by Rob T Firefly

00:38:20 The song is I Phreak Alone by Bonecage

00:52:25 MF Boogie 1 by Joe Engressia, performed via the telephone

01:02:09 Boxing by Redbox and the Chilipeppers

01:17:47 This pretend radio bit is by Joe Engressia from the end of his song MF Boogie 2

01:28:03 More Bell Odyssey by Rob T Firefly

01:29:55 Background music is Deeploop by MicroKORGI

01:38:38 The Phone Trips Song by Evan Doorbell

Below are some related links.

Here is the issue of Esquire from their official site, which wants you to register with them

Here is the issue of Esquire that I read from where you don’t have to register to read

Evan Doorbell’s Phone Trips site

Learn more about Joe Engressia on his wikipedia entry

Listen to Stories and Stuff by Joybubbles (Joe Engressia)

Call the PLA phone line and listen to Stories and Stuff via your phone at 206-424-8422

Learn about Captain Crunch (John Draper) on his website or on his wikipedia entry.

Live out your blue boxing fantasies by calling Project MF’s blue boxable telephone line at 630-485-2995