With the proliferation of cellphones, phone numbers have become a bit more elusive. Phone books are on the verge of becoming relics of the past. Memorizing phone numbers is similarly a fading practice. Of course, there are notable prefixes, such as the “800” toll-free numbers. Also, the “555” prefix, which has long been a staple of fictional phone numbers in movies, television, and literature. Unlike standard area codes assigned to geographic regions, 555 was originally designated as a service prefix, with numbers like 555-1212 reserved for directory assistance and the numbers 555-0100 through 555-0199 set aside exclusively for fictional use.
On the more notorious side, we have
the song 867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone, a massive hit in 1981. The song
repeatedly calls out 867-5309 as the number to call for "a good
time." Countless individuals and businesses across the U.S. with that number
were bombarded with prank calls following the song’s rapid ascension.
Some people changed their numbers to
escape the harassment, while others tried to capitalize on the song’s
popularity. A few businesses, such as plumbing and HVAC companies, purposely
acquired the number for easy brand recognition. Even today, 867-5309 is a
sought-after number, with some businesses and individuals willing to pay large
sums to claim it.
Me? I recall my own number, and
that’s about the extent of it.
—Mitchell Hegman
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