1994

Back in the day of 777-7777 and 666-6666 (remember dial7 and Carmel Car Service??), and long long before Uber and Lyft, to summon a car service you dialed an actual telephone (this was even before needing to use an area code!) and spoke to an actual human to arrange a ride. If you were fancy and remembered to order a car to pick you up at the airport ahead of time to book it, you were met with your last name written in marker on a piece of paper held high.

For the costume, Geoff lent me his coat and tie and white button down shirt. I bought the hat, wrote "Happy Holidays" on a piece of paper and off we went to the airport.

This was shot at LaGuardia arrivals, just past baggage claim. In my best chauffeur outfit, I stood next to the other real drivers (who were amused by the whole thing) and stood with my sign held high as we all waited for the next plane to arrive. They were waiting to pick up their actual passengers. We were waiting so we could get some foreground action of passengers walking by with their luggage.

Note the actual pay phones in the background!

I’m not sure how I came up with this specific idea except that I know whenever I arrived at the airport after a long flight, I always envied the passengers I saw who were met by drivers with their names on signs. It cost more to have the drivers park and come inside to wait for you as opposed to calling the car service (from a pay phone) once you arrived and then meeting them outside. I would never spring for them to meet me inside the airport but I certainly enjoyed playing one of the drivers who did!