There have been a number of videos and still pics posted with the claim that someone in scenes from the '20s or '30s was using a cell phone.

The devices pictured have been fairly conclusively identified as specific kinds of "compact ear trumpets" that were in fairly common use at the appropriate time - and long before. These were the "high tech" pre-transistor hearing aids.

A few sites have had some illustrative pictures of likely actual devices.

Although it's difficult to simulate the actual performance of the devices that previously existed without actually constructing one, the pre-pre-generations deserve significant respect for how effectively they coped with their handicaps with what now seems exceedingly crude (but sometimes quite elegant) assisting devices.

Failure to recognize what these devices were most likely reflects a profound ignorance on the part of those who assume that cell phones are the only explanation. But sometimes it's fun to be (or pretend to be) "stupid" anyway.

John