Phone numbers in Amerinan films and TV

beale | 16:03 Wed 08th Jun 2005 | Film, Media & TV

8 Answers

Why do they all begin with 555? I guess it's so they don't resemble real numbers but why 555 specifically?

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Catweazle - am I the only person that remembers this show?

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Loosehead

err because there are no real numbers starting 555.

beale

Question Author

What, none at all? How can anyone be sure that there are no phone numbers beginning 555 but there are some beginning say, 333?

Xollob

Have a look at this Wikipedia article. In the USA, numbers in the range 555-0100 through 555-0199 are specifically reserved for fictional use.

Loosehead

I don't know how it came about but no phone company uses 555 to start the number.

Loosehead

Didn't realise that Xollob, well beale it's seems not all the 555 numbers are fictional.

beale

Question Author

Just those special few!

Xollob

There are some genuine numbers that start with 555 (555 1212 for directory services in some areas of the US, for example).

Anoraks only:
Click here for a worryingly comprehensive list of 555 numbers used in film and TV. Wibble.

brachiopod

Unfortunately, 555 is one of the local exchange number here in Stratford, East London. Now prefixed by 0208 of course, but back in the days of 01-for London, you didn't dial the 01 if you were within London.

Every time a number was mentioned in a US TV programme, you'd hope it wasn't yours!

My friend got loads of crank calls the night 'her' 555- number was used in that evening's 'Far Side' cartoon in the Evening Standard newspaper.

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