In 1956, PMT installed its first local direct dial telephone system. These letters were mapped to digits, which was indicated visibly on a dial telephone. Lauren then sings as she holds a rotary dial telephone in her hand. Dial telephone service arrived in Tamaqua on August 6, 1961. An internal dial telephone system connected the apartments and businesses in the complex. A dial telephone system was activated in mid-September 1953 after a year's planning. Direct dial telephone came in 1974, television in 1976 and a skating arena in 1978.