History Main / EarTrumpet

* In ''TheBeano'', Eric Wimp ate an old Banana and became an older version of ComicStrip/{{Bananaman}} who used an ear trumpet to attempt to hear a cry for help.

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* In the 1920's and 1930's, as aircraft grew larger and governments began to panic over the possibility of serious aerial bombing by bomber fleets, some truly heroic ear trumpets were built in fixed turret mountings along the south coast of England. The intention was that these could be angled towards France and listeners would strain their ears for the first magnified signs that a bomber fleet was on the way. (so as to get fighter interceptors up in the air). Whilst the technology worked as well as could be expected, the listener stations diminished in importance as radar was developed and did the job much more efficiently. But in an attempt to keep the radar secret from Germany, the listening stations and their massive ear trumpets were maintained and kept staffed, with the RAF's success in intercepting German raids officially credited to them and to the Royal Observer Corps who manned them.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Jommeke}}'': Both Baron Huppelvoet and the eldest nun of the "Begijntjes" have one.

* An old friend of Benjamin (and Gabriel's future father-in-law) in ''ThePatriot'' has this; he lost his leg and most of his hearing in the French and Indian War. He sometimes uses it to mess with Gabriel by pretending he cannot hear him properly.
* Creator/{{Gilbert|AndSullivan}}'s sickly mother uses one in ''TopsyTurvy''.

* ''Series/HorribleHistories''- During their special edition at the Proms, one sketch has LudwigVanBeethoven being provided a literal trumpet for this purpose by WolfgangAmadeusMozart in order to argue over which of them was the greatest composer.

* ''Series/HorribleHistories''- During their special edition at the Proms, one sketch has LudwigVanBeethoven being provided a literal trumpet for this purpose by WolfgangAmadeusMotzart in order to argue over which of them was the greatest composer.

* In the GrandFinale of ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Q (manifesting as an elderly man) uses one to annoy an elderly Picard by implying he's gone senile.

* ''{{Jommeke}}'': Both Baron Huppelvoet and the eldest nun of the "Begijntjes" have one.

* There's an old character in ''TheQuietMan'' that uses one.

* In ''TheBeano'', Eric Wimp ate an old Banana and became an older version of {{Bananaman}} who used an ear trumpet to attempt to hear a cry for help.

* The Boys of Silence in ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'' have these.

Frequently accompanying an ICantHearYou gag.

** The hero in VideoGame/KingsQuestMaskOfEternity has to find one to hear some whisps whispering in a swamp.

* Abe Simpson has used one in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Simpsons}}''. Abe's age is a frequent point of comedy.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic]]'' used this in the episode "Putting Your Hoof Down" with an elderly pony who cut in front of Fluttershy at the asparagus stand.

* {{Gilbert|AndSullivan}}'s sickly mother uses one in ''TopsyTurvy''.

* Appeared in the ''{{Dragnet}}'' TV series as Joe Friday and his partner attempt to question a hard-of-hearing witness.

* Oin the Dwarf is shown to use one in the film adaptation of ''Film/TheHobbit'', leading to a visual gag where he takes time out from Elven music by stuffing a handkerchief in it.

* Old timers in ''LuckyLuke'' are often seen with these, especially if said geezers are weakened to wheelchair condition. Usually the ear trumpet user still cannot hear and has to rely on someone else to personally deliver "what he says".

* An old friend of Benjamin (and Gabriel's future father-in-law) in ''ThePatriot'' has this; he lost his leg and most of his hearing in the French and Indian War.