Please, Step to the rear.

I ran across this elevator blog posting and it reminded me of my history with elevators. (Everything reminds me of something these days) I grew up during a time when elevators were manned, or womanned, by real live operators. After pushing the button and waiting a bit, the elevator door would open and the operator could be seen sitting on a short stool next to the controls. You would tell the operator of your destination. ‘7^th floor please.’ The doors would close and off you would go; the operator controlling the speed and direction (up or down) with a wheel like control. Facing the front door of the elevator, you could see the inside of the shaft through the grill-like door and the floor numbers, painted on the wall of the shaft, went rocketing by. It was all very exciting to a 7 year old.(Photo link http://www.airninja.com/)