The 30 Weirdest 1-900 Numbers From The '80s

Ah, a time when shoulderpads were big, ties were skinny, and it was $2 for the first minute, $1.95 for the following.

By

by Katie Notopoulos

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Posted on February 6, 2013, 3:49 pm

1-900 numbers weren't just for sex lines and psychics (thought they were probably mostly used for that). They were a way of transmitting information for money in a pre-Internet world for things like jokes, music, games, and fan club information.

Sadly, after testing them out, these numbers are no longer in service.

Can't get enough Coreys in your life? Ready to pay for more hot Corey action? Here's the number for you.

Can't get enough Coreys in your life? Ready to pay for more hot Corey action? Here's the number for you.

A lot of these fan lines were aimed at kids. They'd always have a warning telling kids to ask their parents' permission before calling, but their profits must've all come from furtive dialing from kids who didn't realize it would show up on their phone bill.

A lot of these fan lines were aimed at kids. They'd always have a warning telling kids to ask their parents' permission before calling, but their profits must've all come from furtive dialing from kids who didn't realize it would show up on their phone bill.

Straight up now tell me, do you really want to pay $0.99/minute?

Straight up now tell me, do you really want to pay $0.99/minute?

Back before you could listen to him complain about having sex on a full stomach in his sex tape, you could pay to listen to him tell you cool Hulk things. According to a factoid flagged "citation needed" on Wikipedia, the Hulkster's line was the most profitable 900 number from 1991-1993 on AT&T. Oh, brother.

Back before you could listen to him complain about having sex on a full stomach in his sex tape, you could pay to listen to him tell you cool Hulk things. According to a factoid flagged "citation needed" on Wikipedia, the Hulkster's line was the most profitable 900 number from 1991-1993 on AT&T. Oh, brother.

Jessica Hahn was involved in a sex scandal with televangelist Reverend Jim Bakker that was one of the biggest tabloid stories in 1987. She claimed it was non-consensual, he admitted to cheating on his wife, Tammy Faye, but that it was consensual. Her ad promises to tell you the "real story" of her encounter.

Jessica Hahn was involved in a sex scandal with televangelist Reverend Jim Bakker that was one of the biggest tabloid stories in 1987. She claimed it was non-consensual, he admitted to cheating on his wife, Tammy Faye, but that it was consensual. Her ad promises to tell you the "real story" of her encounter.

This isn't just your standard phone sex line, it's one that's angled specifically at the fantasy of two bored female roommates who want to talk dirty to you. Like if the characters on Girls ran a phone sex line. — This isn't just your standard phone sex line, it's one that's angled specifically at the fantasy of two bored female roommates who want to talk dirty to you. Like if the characters on Girls ran a phone sex line.

This isn't just your standard phone sex line, it's one that's angled specifically at the fantasy of two bored female roommates who want to talk dirty to you. Like if the characters on Girls ran a phone sex line.

For Warrant fans. Yes, at one point, there were so many Warrant fans that they had a pay phone line. Now the singer is dead :(

For Warrant fans. Yes, at one point, there were so many Warrant fans that they had a pay phone line. Now the singer is dead :(

The premise of this 900 number was that if you were the lucky caller, you could win prize money. Basically like a phone lottery ticket.

The premise of this 900 number was that if you were the lucky caller, you could win prize money. Basically like a phone lottery ticket.

This number would give marks insider info on Wrestlemania. It's been replaced by something called a blog.

This number would give marks insider info on Wrestlemania. It's been replaced by something called a blog.

The actor who played the grandfather on the classic sitcom The Munsters had a strange career where he made money on doing that same character for decades. — The actor who played the grandfather on the classic sitcom The Munsters had a strange career where he made money on doing that same character for decades.

The actor who played the grandfather on the classic sitcom The Munsters had a strange career where he made money on doing that same character for decades.

Probably the greatest fan hotline of all time. The best part of this ad is when Joey McIntyre pretends to be talking on the phone in an over-the-top pantomime.

Probably the greatest fan hotline of all time. The best part of this ad is when Joey McIntyre pretends to be talking on the phone in an over-the-top pantomime.

Do you like to laugh? These chuckles ain't free, friend.

Do you like to laugh? These chuckles ain't free, friend.

Tiffany's fan hotline. Best line in the ad is when Tiffany manipulatively says, "you're my friend, so call me."

Tiffany's fan hotline. Best line in the ad is when Tiffany manipulatively says, "you're my friend, so call me."

Best part is that they recorded a whole rap for this. Will Smith rapped for a 1-900 number.

Best part is that they recorded a whole rap for this. Will Smith rapped for a 1-900 number.

The biggest insult is that you have to pay for this. — Via esquire.com

The biggest insult is that you have to pay for this.

Via esquire.com

The biggest insult is that you have to pay for this.

Video game hints were a huge market for 1-900 numbers. Nintendo, Konami, Sega, and all the popular video game makers of the '80s had paid tip lines.

Video game hints were a huge market for 1-900 numbers. Nintendo, Konami, Sega, and all the popular video game makers of the '80s had paid tip lines.

This one isn't surprising, since we all know Kiss will do anything for money.

This one isn't surprising, since we all know Kiss will do anything for money.

The weirdest of them all. A number you can call that will make you cry? "What makes people all over America break down and cry like this?" For $2/minute you can find out. Probably you look at your phone bill after calling this.

The weirdest of them all. A number you can call that will make you cry? "What makes people all over America break down and cry like this?" For $2/minute you can find out. Probably you look at your phone bill after calling this.

The Call Freddy! line advertises "Freddy's favorite bedtime stories... [laughter]....deadtime stories."

The Call Freddy! line advertises "Freddy's favorite bedtime stories... [laughter]....deadtime stories."

With the creep phone, you can even leave your own scary message recording that will be played for others. Crowdsourcing your creeps.

With the creep phone, you can even leave your own scary message recording that will be played for others. Crowdsourcing your creeps.

Like the He-Man hotline, this was very clearly targeted at small children. They called it "Santa's special phone," where kids could tell Santa their toy wishlist and get a special message from Santa.

Like the He-Man hotline, this was very clearly targeted at small children. They called it "Santa's special phone," where kids could tell Santa their toy wishlist and get a special message from Santa.

This time Santa's rapping.

This time Santa's rapping.

Keep up with your favorite female wrestlers.

Keep up with your favorite female wrestlers.

This was a sweepstakes hotlines to promote the Fred Savage movie Little Monsters (which is awesome). The rap in the ad is absolute '80s perfection. — This was a sweepstakes hotlines to promote the Fred Savage movie Little Monsters (which is awesome). The rap in the ad is absolute '80s perfection.

This was a sweepstakes hotlines to promote the Fred Savage movie Little Monsters (which is awesome). The rap in the ad is absolute '80s perfection.

If only he got more calls, he might have not gone broke.

If only he got more calls, he might have not gone broke.

The "party tracker" line would recommend nightclubs in the Los Angeles area for you based on what kind of club you were looking for. Why they used such a nerdy pitchman for this proto-Yelp, I have no idea.

The "party tracker" line would recommend nightclubs in the Los Angeles area for you based on what kind of club you were looking for. Why they used such a nerdy pitchman for this proto-Yelp, I have no idea.

For information about U.F.O.s, "we warn you – this may be the most shocking phone call you'll ever make!"

For information about U.F.O.s, "we warn you – this may be the most shocking phone call you'll ever make!"

Katie Notopoulos
BuzzFeed News Reporter
Katie Notopoulos is a senior technology reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York. Contact this reporter at katie@buzzfeed.com.
Contact Katie Notopoulos at katie@buzzfeed.com.
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