Answering Machine Messages

Sony Answering Machine

When Jory was in 5th grade, his Dad brought home a new answering machine and recorded his own official, deep-voiced, "You have reached the Prum residence.  We are not available at this time.  Please leave your name and number and we'll return your call."  

Almost immediately, our home phone began ringing off the hook.  During the day, calls came through, but in the late afternoons and evenings, when we answered the phone, the callers always hung up.  Our new answer machine kept recording lots of calls while we were away, always followed by hang-ups.  We began to think that the machine was defective until someone left a  "That was great!" message.  Then we became alerted and called our own number.  

True to Jory's way of doing things–Ask for Forgiveness Rather than Permission–he had changed the message without telling us.  Now it was Jory’s 11-year-old voice singing:

Jory is in Row 2 from the top & 3 in from the right.

"7-3-8-7-7-8-6 . . .
We can't make it to the phone.

If you just leave 

Your name and number,

We'll give you a call

When we're home. . . "

A classmate of Jory’s, had discovered the singing message and told the entire fifth grade class and all the Cub Scouts.  The news spread throughout Laguna Road School.  The cool new thing to do for kids and their parents was to call our house and listen to Jory singing.  

We liked it, too.  It remained our phone message for many years.

We make bubbles.

Sometime later, older brother Darren with Jory, had created a new way to answer the phone.  They were hooked on bubbles.  When either of them answered the phone, they would say, "This is the Acme Bubble Company.  We make bubbles and bubbles and bubbles and bubbles and . . ."  until the caller gave up and hung up.  They expanded and improved their bubble "business" when Jory discovered how to make our new Mac Plus repeat the word bubble indefinitely.  Darren recorded it on his tape cassette player and recorder.  With their newest technology, they ran to answer the phone, pressed the play button, and choked down their laughter until the caller hung up.

Cassette player & recorder

Mac Plus

Jory had discovered a receptive new audience, but his phone messages remained dormant and unusually sedate until he built studio.jory.org.  When he entered the video game sound design arena, he made work fun and his studio environment reflected it.  Of course, his phone messages also needed to be unique and playful.

His first studio phone message using voice over actors was by David Nowlin, who voiced Sam in the Sam & Max video games.  Sam and Max were two famous private investigators who used their wits to their advantage in order to solve a hypnotism conspiracy.  When calls came into studio.jory.org, the caller was treated to Sam’s British accent and personality announcing, “You have reached studio.jory.org……”  

His voice over actor friends volunteered and Jory began to change his phone messages according to the games being recorded.  There were answering machine messages from Marty McFly when Back to the Future was recording, followed by random characters from various other video games.

Jory’s younger brother Shanon was simultaneously creating video games for MGA Entertainment.  He was familiar with the movie Scream and decided that Roger L. Jackson, who voiced Ghostface in the Scream film series, would be perfect for his $100,000 Pyramid video game.  Shanon hired Roger for voice overs and also hired Jory as the sound recordist and voice editor for the game. 

Later, Jory was auditioning voice over actors for an upcoming Telltale video game.  He contacted Roger and hired him for The Walking Dead video game.  After a recording session, Jory asked Roger if he’d record a message for his studio's answering machine.  Roger jumped in and when someone called studio.jory.org, they heard Roger’s sultry voice whispering something like, “You have reached studio.jory.org.  Do you like scary movies?  What's your favorite scary movie?  Do you like leaving messages on scary answering machines? Then leave your message for Jory . . .”

One May 2nd, Jory called his 8-year-old niece, Amber, on her birthday, but she wasn't home.  When she called back, Jory's answer machine replied with a message from one of the voice actors from Puzzle Agent.  The funny message from Agent Nelson Tethers, the sole member of the Puzzle Research Division of the FBI, voiced by Doug Boyd, asked for a secret code that included the password avocado.  Since that day, Amber gave her Uncle Jory the nickname of Uncle Avocado.  Funny thing, though, Jory, detested avocados, but loved his only niece when she referred to him as Uncle Avocado.

COMMENTS:  

Click on Jorysmother@gmail.com to send comments.

Mark Walsh

This blog post made me smile so big! I knew Jory at CalArts, he mixed my student film, and while I knew we had a lot in common, it’s a delight to hear we were similar kids- Only Jory was much more daring than I was! It’s amazing to know Jory better through these posts. Thank you.

Daniel Ruegemer

That was great. I always look forward to your Jory Stories! I hope you have more coming!  I did not know Jory but it was a strange misunderstanding that led me, a motorcycle rider in Northern California, to somehow come in touch with you. I can tell you the story sometime.

Elaine Socol

You have made and will continue to make my life “richer and more meaningful”, because of your wonderful blogs about Jory. May his memory be a blessing........

Susan Franz

Just another “thank you for sharing”.

Anna Irwin-Schutze

Ah, this reminds me of my Dad. Years ago he would make up the best messages. We used to have random folks call just to hear them, and then all their friends! I wish they could have met, kindrid spirits.

Rita Blumstein

As always, I enjoy reading your accounts, but with a twinge of sadness for such a great loss that you and your family have endured.

Penni Zelinkoff

Great story thanks !!  Nice to keep learning about Jory.   Love it.  Thank you for writing stories about Jory and sharing.

Barbara Talento

I love these stories and the pictures.  Uncle Avocado will stick in my memory for a while.  Thanks.

Barbara Levine

I would have called your house to listen to the message. 

Wonderful stories and memories.

Judy Finkel

Thanks. Enjoyed it.

Edith Colucci

Nos pensées sont toujours avec Jory.

(Our thoughts are always with Jory.)

Dee Nevares

Humor is important.

Judy Sowell

 I enjoyed your Jory’s Answering Machine story.  He was amazing.

Brian Novak

I was at Disneyland yesterday, for my birthday, and my wife and I attended the PIXAR short film festival, which is a somewhat permanent feature in tomorrow land.  They show three short films from the PIXAR studio.  In the end credits of “For The Birds”, Jory Prum appears in the names listed under sound.  Made me smile.

Marilyn Moidel

Thank you for another chapter. At least I read it during the day so my nose can get unstuffed before bedtime. I should try to remember that I cry when I read these!!!  

There should be a section of “the library” marked “Stories to make you feel better about the world we live in” and your “book” about Jory will be in it. I keep a basket by my bed of just such books to read before going to sleep instead of watching the NEWS. (Too bad we can’t confine the “NEWS” to Hall-o-ween where it belongs)

WE are surrounded by GOOD people.  Keep adding good feelings and beauty to the world. We NEED IT!

Knut Rothe
Thanks, Leslye.  All the best.

Rayleen Williams

I so enjoy Jory's stories.  I wish I had met him--an amazing kind, thoughtful man.  We need more of him in the world.

Jimmy Dunne
How can anybody "detest avocados?"

©   Leslye J. Prum   2017   All Rights Reserved