Ken, 

I don't know, that's what the elevator guys in the building (150 Nassau
Street) told everyone. Maybe they were lying. I never checked out their
story. However, they may have meant buildings in which the elevators
required a skilled operator. I can imagine a tony hotel having somebody in
a fancy uniform to stand in the car, push the buttons and relieve tourists
of another tip; however, these elevators didn't have buttons. They were
operated by a power lever and stopped at the right place by the operators.
I recall there were 7 elevators and during the day each had its operator. 

Don