Alphanumeric telephone numbering plan
The use of letters alongside numbers on telephone dials, a system once ubiquitous, represented a fascinating intersection of human language and technological progression. It was a method designed not merely for function, but for a degree of memorability and local resonance. The face of a 1939 rotary dial, displaying the number LA-2697, serves as a tangible artifact of this era, where the initial letters 'LA' signified Lakewood, New Jersey, embedding a geographical marker directly into the telephone number itself. Bell's educational films, like one demonstrating the correct use of a dial telephone with the example WOrth 4-9970, further illustrate how this system was integrated into public consciousness, teaching people to translate names into digits.
A telephone exchange name, or central office name, was far more than a simple identifier; it was a distinct and memorable label assigned to a central office. This name served a dual purpose: it identified the specific switching system to which a telephone was connected, and critically, it facilitated the connection of telephone calls between switching systems in different localities. While smaller towns and rural areas might have been content with a single exchange serving their entire community, larger cities, with their burgeoning populations and complex communication needs, required multiple switching systems. These could be distributed across the urban landscape, creating distinct exchange areas, or sometimes consolidated within a single building to cater to densely populated districts. The names chosen for these central offices were often imbued with local significance, reflecting districts, parks, or other well-known landmarks. This local flavor was not merely aesthetic; the leading letters of a central office name formed the initial components of the telephone number, ensuring that each telephone number within that area was unique. These letters were directly mapped to the digits on the telephone dial, a correspondence clearly indicated on the dial's numbering plate.
Various systematic telephone numbering plans emerged and evolved across different communities, adapting to the relentless growth of the subscriber base and the limitations of older numbering schemes. A widely adopted plan involved using one or two letters from the central office name, followed by four or five digits. These were designated as 2L-4N or 2L-5N, respectively, though some major cities initially experimented with three letters, adopting 3L-4N plans. In 1917, W. G. Blauvelt of AT&T proposed a mapping system that associated three letters with each of the digits 2 through 9 on the dial.
Telephone directories, advertisements, and other displays of telephone numbers typically presented the significant letters of the central office name in bold capital letters, followed by the digits identifying the subscriber line. On the physical number card attached to the telephone instrument itself, the name might have been shown in its entirety, but only the crucial letters to be dialed were capitalized, while the remainder of the name appeared in lowercase.
The practice of using telephone exchange names was prevalent in many countries, but it gradually gave way to purely numeric systems beginning in the 1960s. In the United States, the sheer demand for telephone service eventually outstripped the scalability of the alphanumeric system. Following the introduction of area codes for direct-distance dialing, the necessity for all-number calling became apparent. Similar transitions occurred globally, with countries like the United Kingdom moving towards all-figure dialling.
Background
The mid- to late-1950s saw telephone dials displaying exchange names, such as "Kenmore" in the South Side of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The telephone number associated with this exchange, K-9293, highlights how the letter 'K' was emboldened, signifying its mandatory inclusion in dialing, corresponding to the digit 5 as indicated by the red lettering.
In the nascent stages of telephone networks, establishing a connection to another subscriber typically involved requesting the desired party's name from an operator. While this method persisted into the 1920s in smaller communities, the rapid growth of the telecommunications business soon rendered it impractical. Consequently, subscriber stations were assigned telephone numbers. Single exchanges, or central offices, were generally named after the municipality or geographical location they served, making it easier for callers to identify calls destined for other towns. As cities expanded, the need for additional branch offices, situated at some distance from the original "Central" office, became apparent to accommodate the growing subscriber base and the expanding service area. A single central office could typically manage a maximum of ten thousand telephone numbers. To differentiate these new offices, names were often derived from the cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. However, many cities opted for more distinctive naming conventions, drawing inspiration from locally significant districts, parks, or other recognizable features, such as "Market." A caller might, for instance, request a connection to "Market 1234." The selection of these central office names was a meticulous process, aimed at minimizing misunderstandings during verbal requests.
The advent of automatic telephone service necessitated the installation of impulse senders, or dials, on customer telephones. This allowed subscribers to initiate calls independently, without the need for an operator, by simply dialing the directory number. This shift required a method to identify central offices using digits or letters, enabling the caller to dial the recipient's central office code before the line number. Telephone dials were typically enhanced with letters positioned alongside the numerals, as seen in the accompanying photograph, allowing a name to be dialed using its initial letter or a sequence of letters.
United States and Canada
In the early days of telephone service in the most populous cities of the United States, such as New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago, dial service was initially implemented using telephone numbers composed of three letters and four digits (3L-4N). This system was based on a design proposed by W. G. Blauvelt of AT&T in 1917, which mapped letters of the alphabet to specific digits on the telephone dial. By 1930, New York City transitioned to a 2L-5N telephone numbering plan. Most other major Canadian and U.S. cities, including Toronto and Atlanta, converted from manual exchanges using four digits to the 2L-4N numbering plan. For instance, in Montréal, the number ATwater 1234 was dialed by making six pulls on the dial (AT1234), effectively sending the digit sequence 281234. Eventually, beginning in the late 1940s, all local numbering plans were updated to the 2L-5N system in preparation for nationwide Operator Toll Dialing. A well-known example under this system was the New York City number PEnnsylvania 6-5000.
In smaller towns with a single central office, local calls typically required dialing no more than four digits. Placing a toll call, however, still necessitated operator assistance, who would inquire about the name of the town and the station number. Some independent telephone companies, not affiliated with the Bell System, also chose not to implement central office names.
In 1915, the newly developed panel switching systems underwent testing in the Mulberry and Waverly exchanges in Newark, New Jersey. During the initial implementation in the Mulberry exchange, subscriber telephones were not equipped with dials. Placing a call required no change for subscribers; they continued to request an operator to connect them to their desired party. The operator, in turn, would input the number into the panel equipment rather than making manual cord connections. The panel switch was subsequently installed in large metropolitan areas within the Bell System from the early 1920s through the 1930s. By the 1950s, twenty cities were utilizing this type of central office equipment.
Several conventions were used to represent telephone numbers that incorporated central office names. The leading letters intended for dialing were typically capitalized and emboldened. For example:
- Kenmore 9392 represented a five-pull (1L-4N) telephone number in a smaller city, associated with the Kenmore exchange in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- MArket 7032 was a six-digit (2L-4N) telephone number, a format in use from the 1920s through the 1950s and phased out around 1960.
- BALdwin 6828 exemplified an urban 3L-4N format, employed exclusively in the largest cities before their conversion to two-letter central office names.
- ENglewood 3-1234 illustrated the 2L-5N format, which was gradually implemented across the continent starting in the 1940s to facilitate direct dialing.
- MUrray Hill 5-9975 was another instance of the 2L-5N format, famously used by the Ricardos on I Love Lucy. While the 'H' in "Hill" was capitalized, it was not emboldened as it was not the first letter of the second word to be dialed.
In print, such as on business cards or advertisements, the central office name was often abbreviated to just two letters:
- TEmpleton 1-6400 might appear as TE 1-6400.
If a central office was known by a name but no letters were part of the dialing sequence, it was common practice to capitalize only the first letter of the central office name, without emboldening it. For example, Main 600W or Fairmont 33. Such numbers were typically assigned in manual offices, and the subscriber would state the name when requesting a connection. These names were often geographically significant, sometimes being the name of the town itself.
A telephone number card from around 1948 shows the local number 4-5876 in Atlantic City, NJ, utilizing the central office prefix '4'. This number was later converted to AT4, conforming to the 2L-5N telephone number format.
In large cities where manual and dial telephone areas coexisted, numbering was generally standardized into a single format. For example, when the last manual exchange in San Francisco was converted to dial in 1953, numbers had, for several years prior, been in the JUniper 6-5833 format. JUniper 4 was an automatic switching system, while JUniper 6 remained manual. To call JUniper 6 from JUniper 4, a subscriber would dial the number, which would then be displayed to the B-board operator at JUniper 6, who would complete the connection manually. Conversely, to call JUniper 4 from JUniper 6, the subscriber would lift the receiver and speak to the JUniper 4 operator, who would then dial the JUniper 6 number.
During the 1940s, the Bell System developed the nationwide telephone number plan for Operator Toll Dialing. This system initially comprised eighty-six numbering plan areas (NPAs), each assigned a first set of area codes. These codes were initially used solely by switchboard operators to route trunk calls between numbering plan areas but formed the foundation for the North American Numbering Plan. The 2L-5N system for local directory numbers became the North American standard. Direct long-distance dialing by customers, utilizing the three-digit area code and a seven-digit telephone number, commenced in the 1950s.
Throughout the 1950s, cities still employing five- or six-digit numbers transitioned to the new method of seven-digit dialing. Typically, several six-digit (2L-4N) exchanges were already co-located in a single building, with new ones added as older ones became saturated. Following the conversion, these exchanges might have been consolidated into a new 2L-5N exchange area. For instance, the CHerry, FIllmore, ATwater, and KLondike exchanges could have been converted to OXford 1, 3, 6, and 7, respectively. Customers generally retained their original station numbers.
When mobile radio telephone service was introduced, some telephone companies utilized letters based on various prefixes for unit identifiers (e.g., JL6-1212) or to designate radio channels (e.g., channel JR).
Standardization
In the early 1950s, AT&T established a set of recommended exchange names, derived from studies aimed at minimizing misunderstandings during spoken communication. This recommendation was primarily intended for newly established exchanges and did not mandate the renaming of existing, historically significant names. The number sequences 55, 57x, 95x, and 97x were notably devoid of specified exchange names. This was due to the fact that the mappings for the digits 5, 7, and 9 lacked vowels, making it challenging to find names incorporating those specific consonant combinations. Consequently, these number ranges were seldom assigned to exchanges. However, exceptions existed, such as KLondike being used for 55x in San Francisco and Columbus, Ohio, and WRigley 5 (975) in Chicago, referencing Wrigley Field. On the telephone dial itself, letters were mapped to digits according to the assignments presented in the table below.
| Dialed Digit | Letters |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | A B C |
| 3 | D E F |
| 4 | G H I |
| 5 | J K L |
| 6 | M N O |
| 7 | P R S |
| 8 | T U V |
| 9 | W X Y |
| 0 | Z |
The following table presents AT&T's recommended list of central office names, as published in 1955, sorted by the first two digits of the three-digit central office code.
| Numerical Prefix | Recommended Central Office Names (1955) |
|---|---|
| 22 | ACademy, BAldwin, CAnal, CApital, CAstle |
| 23 | ADams, BElmont, BEverly, CEdar, CEnter, CEntral |
| 24 | CHapel, CHerry, CHestnut, CHurchill, CIrcle |
| 25 | ALpine, BLackburn, CLearbrook, CLearwater, CLifford, CLinton |
| 26 | AMherst, ANdrew, COlfax, COlony, COngress |
| 27 | BRidge, BRoad(way), BRown(ing), CRestview, CRestwood |
| 28 | ATlantic, ATlas, ATwater, ATwood, AVenue, BUtler |
| 29 | AXminster, AXtel, CYpress |
| 32 | DAvenport, DAvis, EAst(gate), FAculty, FAirfax, FAirview |
| 33 | DEerfield, DEwey, EDgewater, EDgewood, EDison, FEderal |
| 34 | DIamond, DIckens, FIeldbrook, FIeldstone, FIllmore, FIrestone |
| 35 | ELgin, ELliot, ELmwood, FLanders, FLeetwood |
| 36 | EMerson, EMpire, ENdicott, FOrest, FOxcroft |
| 37 | DRake, DRexel, ESsex, FRanklin, FRontier |
| 38 | DUdley, DUnkirk, DUpont, EVergreen, FUlton |
| 39 | EXbrook, EXeter, EXport, EXpress |
| 42 | GArden, GArfield, HAmilton, HArrison, HAzel |
| 43 | GEneral, GEneva, HEmlock, HEmpstead, IDlewood |
| 44 | GIbson, GIlbert, HIckman, HIckory, HIllcrest, HIlltop |
| 45 | GLadstone, GLencourt, GLendale, GLenview, GLobe |
| 46 | HObart, HOmestead, HOpkins, HOward, INgersoll |
| 47 | GRanite, GReenfield, GReenleaf, GReenwood, GRidley, GRover |
| 48 | HUbbard, HUdson, HUnter, HUntley, HUxley, IVanhoe |
| 49 | GYpsy, HYacinth, HYatt |
| 52 | JAckson, LAfayette, LAkeside, LAkeview, LAmbert, LAwrence |
| 53 | JEfferson, KEllogg, KEystone, LEhigh, LEnox |
| 54 | KImball, KIngsdale, KIngswood, LIberty, LIncoln, LInden |
| 56 | JOhn, JOrdan, LOcust, LOgan, LOwell |
| 58 | JUniper, JUno, JUstice, LUdlow, LUther |
| 59 | LYceum, LYndhurst, LYnwood, LYric |
| 62 | MAdison, MAin, MArket, MAyfair, NAtional |
| 63 | MEdford, MElrose, MErcury, NEptune, NEwton, NEwtown |
| 64 | MIdway, MIlton, MIssion, MItchell, NIagara |
| 65 | OLdfield, OLive, OLiver, OLympia, OLympic |
| 66 | MOhawk, MOntrose, MOrris, NOrmandy, NOrth(field) |
| 67 | ORange, ORchard, ORiole, ORleans, OSborne |
| 68 | MUrdock, MUrray, MUseum, MUtual, OVerbrook, OVerland |
| 69 | MYrtle, OWen, OXbow, OXford |
| 72 | PAlace, PArk(view), PArk(way), RAndolph, RAymond, SAratoga |
| 73 | PEnnsylvania, PErshing, REd(field), REd(wood), REgent, REpublic |
| 74 | PIlgrim, PIoneer, RIver(side), RIver(view), SHadyside, SHerwood |
| 75 | PLateau, PLaza, PLeasant, PLymouth, SKyline |
| 76 | POplar, POrter, ROckwell, ROger(s), SOuth(field) |
| 77 | PRescott, PResident, PRospect, SPring, SPruce |
| 78 | STate, STerling, STillwell, STory, SUffolk, SUnset, |
| 79 | PYramid, SWarthmore, SWift, SWinburne, SYcamore |
| 82 | TAlbot, TAlmadge, TAylor, VAlley, VAndyke |
| 83 | TEmple(ton), TEnnyson, TErminal, TErrace, VErnon |
| 84 | THornwall, TIlden, VIctor(ia), VIking, VInewood |
| 85 | ULrick, ULster, ULysses |
| 86 | TOwnsend, UNderhill, UNion, UNiversity, VOlunteer |
| 87 | TREmont, TRiangle, TRinity, TRojan, UPtown |
| 88 | TUcker, TUlip, TUrner, TUxedo |
| 89 | TWilight, TWinbrook, TWining, TWinoaks |
| 92 | WAbash, WAlker, WAlnut, WArwick, WAverly |
| 93 | WEbster, WEllington, WElls, WEst(more), YEllowstone |
| 94 | WHitehall, WHitney, WIlliam(s), WIlson, WIndsor |
| 96 | WOodland, WOodlawn, WOodward, WOrth, YOrktown |
| 98 | YUkon |
| 99 | WYandotte, WYman, WYndown |
The letters 'Q' and 'Z' were notably absent from the exchange naming system, although 'Z' was frequently mapped to the digit '0' (zero) on the telephone dial. The prefix 55 was specifically reserved for fictitious telephone numbers of the format 555-XXXX, often used in conjunction with the fictional exchange name KLondike (55).
All-number calling
As the demand for telephone service surged in the post–World War II era, it became increasingly evident that the existing system, which relied on memorable telephone central office names as prefixes, would soon reach its capacity. Several letter combinations proved difficult or impossible to assign pronounceable or memorable names to, thereby limiting the availability of central office codes. In response, several North American numbering plan areas (NPAs) were divided, creating more office codes for smaller regions. However, as growth accelerated, the Bell System made the strategic decision to implement all-number calling (ANC) and phase out the use of central office names. This expansion of the usable numbering plan significantly reduced the need for area code splits, with only two such splits occurring between 1962 and 1981. All-number calling was gradually introduced starting in 1958, with most areas fully adopting it by the mid-1960s. In some regions, the transition wasn't completed until the 1980s. The Bell System diligently published and distributed annual area code handbooks, which listed the towns accessible via each area code.
Facing considerable public resistance to all-number calling in many areas, the Bell System adopted a strategy of gradual changes to facilitate customer transition. They also employed media productions to educate the public about the necessity and process of this change. Initially, telephone directories listed central office names in full. In the first phase of the conversion, only the letters that were actually dialed were displayed, as exemplified below:
| Subscriber | Original Listing | Abbreviated Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Jones John 123 Anystreet | BU tterfield 5-1212 | BU 5-1212 |
| Jones Paul 5 Revolution Rd | AN drew 3-2368 | AN 3-2368 |
At this juncture, telephone companies gained the capability to assign letter combinations for central office prefixes that were previously unavailable. This allowed for the expansion of any five-digit or shorter number to a seven-digit number without encountering naming conflicts. Ultimately, all central office codes were converted to a numerical format, as demonstrated in the final column of this table:
| Subscriber | Alphanumeric Coding | All-number calling |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsay Betty 12 Connecticut Rd | LT 1-5225 | 581-5225 |
The Bell System proceeded with converting named exchanges to all-number calling, beginning with smaller communities. Significant opposition did not arise until the conversion process reached major cities. In some cities, such as San Francisco, organized opposition emerged, with the Anti Digit Dialing League, counting S. I. Hayakawa among its notable members, spearheading the resistance. This opposition prompted AT&T to decelerate the conversion process. Consequently, exchange names continued to be used in cities like New York, which did not fully transition to ANC until 1978. Even as late as 1983, Philadelphia still featured named exchanges in the Bell of Pennsylvania telephone directory, long after AT&T had anticipated completing the conversion.
Bell Canada, Alberta Government Telephones, and BC Tel largely completed the conversion of existing numbers during the first half of the 1960s. In Toronto, which historically used a 2L+4N format before numbers were lengthened to accommodate the 1957 introduction of direct distance dialling, the March 1966 directory no longer listed exchange names. Typically, in larger urban areas, conversions were synchronized with the issuance of new telephone directories.
For example, in London, Ontario, three conversion phases occurred between February 1962 and September 1963. GEneral 2, 3, and 9 were converted first; later, GLadstone 1 and 5 followed, and finally, GEneral 4 and 8 were converted. An illustrative case from Montreal, Quebec, involved an extension from 2L+4N to 2L+5N on August 4, 1957: WIlbank was converted to WEllington 2, WEllington itself became WEllington 3 (a rare instance of retaining the exchange name), FItzroy was changed to WEllington, GLenview became WEllington 7, VEndome transformed into DUpont 7, HEmlock was reassigned to POntiac 7, TRenmore became POntiac 8, HArbour was updated to VIctor 5, and MArquette was converted to VIctor 9.
The integration of letters within exchange names led to their placement on the telephone dial, even in areas not directly using these alphanumeric combinations. Some Canadian regions initially adopted unique letter schemes, most notably Calgary, Alberta, before eventual standardization across North America. Exchange names in Québec differed from those on standard Bell System lists due to the necessity of using names in the French language. For instance, Hull, Quebec's 77x (PR, standing for PRovince), needed to be comprehensible in both languages by 1957.
In smaller communities with four- or five-digit numbers and a single city exchange, central office names began appearing in the late 1950s. Their sole purpose was to align with the North American direct distance dial standard of a three-digit area code and a seven-digit local number. These names, usually selected from standard Bell System lists, lacked local significance and were short-lived, with their phase-out commencing soon after 1960.
United Kingdom and France
In the United Kingdom, virtually every telephone exchange was named after a specific village, town, or city. In some instances, particularly for rural areas, geographical features (e.g., The Lizard) or regions (e.g., Scillonia for the Isles of Scilly) were used. However, in the largest cities, it became apparent as early as the 1880s that multiple exchanges would be required. These were typically named after specific districts within the city, such as Holborn in London or Docks in Manchester. In Edinburgh, Leith served a similar purpose. Some cities adopted seemingly unrelated names, like Acorn or Advance in London, Pyramid in Manchester, and Midland in Birmingham. The exchange name "ACTon" (Oak Town) could have conflicted with "BATtersea," leading to its renaming as "ACOrn" due to the acorns depicted on its Coat of Arms. "ADVance" was initially "BEThnal Green" but was discreetly renamed (using the same dial holes) because many tailors were located there, seeking to reduce their overheads. However, menswear retailers in the West End reportedly found the name unfashionable, preferring not to have their expensive suits associated with an East End area they considered less desirable.
With the introduction of automated systems starting in the late 1920s, the first three letters of these exchange names were incorporated into the numbering plans for those exchanges. The 3L-4N system was notably employed in the capital cities of Paris and London, both prime examples of the challenges presented by large urban centers. Large cities served by numerous manual exchanges could only transition to automatic operation gradually, necessitating a logistical framework to operate both systems concurrently for several years.
Telephone directories for these cities displayed the first three letters of the exchange name in bold capital letters when the full seven digits were to be dialed. For example, a subscriber number for Scotland Yard, located within London's Whitehall exchange, was listed as "WHI tehall 1212."
If the first three letters were capitalized but not bolded, as in HAYes 1295, the caller was instructed to dial only the first three letters. Upon connection to Hayes, the caller would then request the local number from the operator. Later, Coded Call Indicator working equipment was installed at some manual exchanges, allowing the caller to dial all seven digits, with the required number being displayed to the operator.
In the United Kingdom, the first Director exchange in London, Holborn Tandem, was activated in 1927. This was preceded by necessary adjustments in the London area, such as renaming some exchanges and standardizing all local numbers to 4N (four-digit). As each digit corresponded to three letters, the same network could not normally accommodate exchanges named BRIxton and CRIcklewood, as both map to 274. However, London did feature a few exceptions (e.g., DRE adnought/FRE mantle, DUK e/FUL ham, LEY tonstone/KEY stone). These typically occurred when an exchange served a district geographically distant from its name's origin, or when numbers were utilized in exhibition centers.
As new exchanges were established, it often became challenging to find suitable geographic names. This led to the adoption of names referencing locally relevant features and notable individuals. These included flora (BLU bell, JUN iper, LAB urnham, MUL berry, POL lards), artists, writers, military figures, and other historical personalities (BYR on, MAC aulay, TOW nley), structures (CLO cktower, FOU ntain), industries (LIB erty, ANV il), and topography (BYW ood, HIL lside, MOU ntview, RIV erside, UND erhill).
In smaller director areas, such as Edinburgh, certain A-digit levels were combined. This reduced the number of director groups required for local director exchanges from eight to four or fewer. However, if, for instance, A-digit levels 7 and 8 were combined, it would preclude the existence of exchanges named PERivale and TERminus within the same network.
Other major UK conurbations followed suit: Manchester in 1930 (e.g., DEA nsgate 3414, the number for Kendals department store), Birmingham in 1931, Glasgow in 1937, and later Liverpool and Edinburgh around 1950.
The standards for assigning exchange name letters to digits varied across Europe, particularly concerning the placement of the letters O, Q, and Z.
When national automatic Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1958, the first two letters of main exchange names were frequently incorporated into the STD codes. For example, Aylesbury was allocated the STD code 0AY6. Where this was not feasible, river or county names were often employed, such as Brecon 0US4 (Usk Valley) and Braintree 0ES6 (Essex).
A transition to all-figure dialling commenced in 1966, although it wasn't until the early 1970s that all alphanumeric exchange names were converted. Despite the move to all-figure STD codes, and even though the former Director areas were consolidated into single dialling codes presented as all-figure numbers, it remained standard practice throughout the rest of the United Kingdom until the 1990s to state telephone numbers as exchange name + number, or to include the exchange name before the national STD code. This was done to assist callers in identifying the correct dialling code, as calls to nearby exchanges often required a local dialling code rather than the STD code. Furthermore, with the exception of All Figure Numbers and the major conurbations, most automatic exchanges beyond approximately 100 miles could not be directly dialed using their STD codes. For this reason, subscribers were not informed of their own STD codes; they were neither printed on their bills nor displayed alongside their directory listings.
In Paris and its surrounding suburbs, the conversion from 3L-4N to all-number calling occurred in October 1963. For instance, ÉLYsées became 379, LOUvre 508, PIGalle 744, and POMpadour 706. However, until October 1985, when an eighth digit was added, it remained possible to utilize almost all the previous combinations.
In popular culture
Telephone exchange names often provide a historical, memorable, and even nostalgic context, imbuing communities with a sense of identity and personal connection. Consequently, they frequently appear in popular culture, finding their way into music, art, and literature.
An old 2L-5N format is referenced in the song title "PEnnsylvania 6-5000" (the telephone number PE 6-5000), recorded by Glenn Miller. The inspiration for the song, the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City, retained this phone number until its closure in April 2020. PEnnsylvania 6-5000 was later parodied in the Bugs Bunny cartoon Transylvania 6-5000 and the horror/comedy film Transylvania 6-5000.
Other popular songs have featured 2L-5N telephone exchanges in their titles, including: "BEechwood 4-5789" by The Marvelettes; "LOnesome 7-7203" by Hawkshaw Hawkins; and "ECho Valley 2-6809" by The Partridge Family.
The title of BUtterfield 8, a 1935 John O'Hara novel whose film adaptation earned Elizabeth Taylor an Academy Award for Best Actress, refers to the exchange associated with the characters' telephone numbers on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The radio show Candy Matson, YUkon 2-8209 first aired on NBC West Coast radio in March 1949. Another film title drawing from these types of phone exchanges is director Henry Hathaway's "Call Northside 777" (1948), starring Jimmy Stewart.
Artie Shaw named his band the Gramercy Five after his home telephone exchange in Greenwich Village. In 1940, the original Gramercy Five recorded eight records before the band dissolved in early 1941.
The 1952 stage play and screenplay by Frederick Knott, "Dial M for Murder," references the MAIda Vale number used to summon the intended victim to the telephone.
On his 1966 album, Freberg Underground, Stan Freberg expressed his opposition to all-digit dialing in song, including the lyrics:
"They took away our Murray Hills, They took away our Sycamores, They took away Tuxedo and State, They took away our Plaza, our Yukon, our Michigan, And left us with 47329768…"