Twenty Thousand Hertz

The weird, wild world of 1-900 numbers

Sep 21, 2022
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ANECDOTE

The 900 Number Craze

  • In the late 80s and early 90s, 900 numbers were wildly popular for unique paid phone experiences.
  • Kids could hear from celebrities like Hulk Hogan and the Crypt Keeper, pay-per-minute for entertainment.
ANECDOTE

Freddy Kruger 900 Number Experience

  • Dallas and his brother called Freddy Kruger's 900 number to hear scary stories as kids.
  • This resulted in him getting kicked out of Sunday school for sharing and encouraging others to call.
INSIGHT

900 Numbers and Interactive TV

  • 900 numbers initially served public hotlines but gained fame after allowing national polling during political debates.
  • This introduced interactive TV experiences that wowed the public and spurred rapid adoption.
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