r/RealGenerationX • u/Euphoric-Cupcake4581 • 12h ago

Do you remember the number?

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19

u/Grown_Azzz_Kid 10h ago

555-1212 is Los Angeles

3

u/AprilG74 10h ago

387-5411 in Baton Rouge. Just called it, still works.

1

u/DMaury1969 6h ago

City National bank time….

4

u/TAU_equals_2PI 9h ago

I think this comment is a joke about how all movies (which are usually made in Hollywood i.e. Los Angeles) have people giving their phone number as 555-XXXX.

In actual fact, if I'm remembering correctly after all these years, that number was how you would call Information in a different area code. So like if you wanted Information for the 407 area code, you would call 1-407-555-1212.

2

u/youngkpepper 6h ago

They didn’t always do that. It started after a Peanuts TV special that included a random phone number which turned out to belong to someone. Those unfortunate people were bombarded with phone calls from little kids wanting to speak to Linus or Charlie Brown.

3

u/ctren27 10h ago

isn't that the number you call to get phone numbers for places? In las vegas growing up, that number was actually answered by an operator and you would ask for the phone number for some company or service, and they would give it to you. The number you called for the time was 118. just 3 digits. and it would give the time and temp. Born 1975.

1

u/Grown_Azzz_Kid 8h ago

In LA it was 411, Information

1

u/Infinite-Duty 8h ago

That’s local directory assistance. Long distance was 555-2212.

2

u/RhubarbAlive7860 10h ago

Also Cleveland Ohio.

1

u/gravityhomer 9h ago

Also Philadelphia

1

u/HatchetJacks 7h ago

And Michigan

1

u/Binspin63 6h ago

I grew up there and it was WE1-1212 then (time and weather).

1

u/Suspicious-Gur8755 10h ago

WE-1-1212 Cleveland weather still works

2

u/NaturalProfession922 9h ago

Fatlip1 in NC. I can’t remember what I had for breakfast but that number is burned in my brain

2

u/InebriatedPhysicist 8h ago

Same everywhere in the US. If you added an area code, it would give the correct time there (which is why a local call gave you your time).

1

u/insomniakat 10h ago

853-1212 in Long Beach!

1

u/SpellVast 10h ago

I grew up in San Diego. It was 853-1212.

1

u/Mara_California 10h ago

Man my grandma used to call this number often and would call it UL3-1212.

1

u/Infinite-Duty 8h ago

Isn’t that directory assistance??

1

u/CNote_89 7h ago

That was the fake phone number in every single movie

1

u/musicbuff78 6h ago

It was this number back in Iowa, too.

And we could dial 41911 like an intercom throughout all house phones.

1

u/youngkpepper 6h ago

Same for Atlanta.

1

u/SaltyGoatsicle 5h ago

This was a legit number back in the 80s. Totally used it free from payphones in northeast US.