8mm Forum: Call 555

This is topic Call 555 in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on June 14, 2010, 09:20 AM:

It's interesting to see, and hear, in American films and TV programmes, the mention of code 555 in telephone numbers.
What happens if you actually dial the numbers which are quoted?
Does the code 555 automatically trigger some negative response?

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 14, 2010, 09:25 AM:

"we are sorry your call cannot be completed as dialled, please check the number ....."

It seems that no any telcom providers in North America use the 555 prefix.

cheers,

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 14, 2010, 10:44 AM:

In the movie "The Last Action Hero" the boy who is accidentally shoved through the screen into the world inside an action movie tries to convince Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character that he and his entire world are fictional.

He says "Haven't you noticed that all of your telephone numbers have '555' in them, how can there be enough phone numbers like that?"

Ahhhnold answers:

"That's why we have area codes!"

There is a Honeymooners episode where Alice says what a phone number is, and originally the phone number turned out to be a real one. After the episode was broadcast the owner of that phone number had a couple of days of unwanted calls and complained. If you see that episode today the phone number is a pretty obvious re-dub.

Incidents like this lead to the "555" phone number convention in TV, radio and motion pictures.

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on June 14, 2010, 11:25 PM:

Because "555" is safer than, let's suppose, "666" [Big Grin]

Posted by Joerg Polzfusz (Member # 602) on June 15, 2010, 02:37 AM:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_telephone_number
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictitious_telephone_number

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 15, 2010, 06:41 AM:

Chip, your number of post is now "GS-1200"...the magic number!

[Big Grin]

cheers,

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 15, 2010, 07:50 AM:

In Chip's case that would be "ST-1200"!

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