# GARFIELD 1-2 3 2 3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2000, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827 "2000-12-16T00:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/1 "2000-12-16T00:31:25Z")
When I was a kid in suburban Cleveland, this line (sung) was repeated quite often on TV and Radio. Noexplanation as to what it was, or anything. just “GARFIELD 1-2 3 2 3, GARFIELD 1-2 3 2 3!” Does ANYONE out there know what this is/was? ---
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/2 "2000-12-16T02:42:16Z")
It was a telephone number. The exchange was represented by the first two letters of the word, remember the song _“Pennsylvania-6-5000”_. You can find a list of the old exchange numbers at [The Telephone EXchange Name Project](http://ourwebhome.com/TENP/TENproject.html). It’s pretty interesting in an obsolete retro kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/3 "2000-12-16T10:06:13Z")
Well, yeah, I kind of knew that… but for what? That stupid number has been stuck in my head since I was five (pretty good advertising, I must admit). ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/4 "2000-12-16T13:11:30Z")
GArfield 1-2323 was the same as 421-2323. Whatever it was, and effective as the ad might have been, the company doesn’t appear to still be in business. I did a reverse phone number search on 216-421-2323 and 440-421-2323. I think it was something like plumbing or aluminum siding installation. I’ve also searched Yahoo’s yellow pages under plumbers, electrical contractors, dry cleaners, etc., to no avail. I think there really was other stuff in the commercial - the singing telephone number was just the end of each ad. Lawoot’s memory may be pardoned, however, since he left the Cleveland area at age 8. His first phone number was ERieview 1-4027, and his next one was CHestnut 7-5927. Alas, all of his subsequent phone numbers were just cold strings of digits. Here’s the Cleveland ad which sticks with me: * * * Roll on, Big O! Get that juice back to Lawson’s in 40 hours! Now one mand sleeps while the other one drives On the Big O Lawson’s run And that cold, cold juice in the tank truck caboose stays as fresh as the Florida sun. ROOLLLLLLL ONNNNNNN, BIG O Get that juice back to Lawson’s in 40 hours! * * * Shit - I need a hobby. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/5 "2000-12-16T17:37:26Z")
Well, I just did something proactive. I actually called both of the numbers listed above by tpayne. Calling 216-421-2323 got this answering machine message: > [@](#): > > Hello and thank you for calling Garfield1-2323. If you are interested in receiving a free appraisal for vinyl siding, replacement windows, or roofing press 1 now. The other number (440 area code) is not active. ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/6 "2000-12-16T19:44:45Z")
On a similar note, in TV shows like The Simpsons and The Critic, you could often see phone numbers listed as KL5-####, or KLondike 5-####. This, of course, is 555. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/7 "2000-12-16T20:38:51Z")
And if you haven’t guessed yet… tpayne and I are related… that’s my big brother… ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/8 "2000-12-16T21:11:00Z")
Nice work, Ob. I had considered calling the number myself, but if the number had been reassigned to a residence I didn’t want to wake them up. ---
**Author:** ![douglips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2000, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/9 "2000-12-16T21:23:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tpayne \* > \*\*Nice work, Ob. I had considered calling the number myself, but if the number had been reassigned to a residence I didn’t want to wake them up. \*\* Aren’t you awake during the day? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/10 "2000-12-17T01:06:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by douglips \* > \*\* > > Aren’t you awake during the day? > > 🙂 \*\* ummm… yes, but at 700AM on a Saturday, if I AM sleeping and my phone rings, I’m ready to rip the caller’s lungs out. This may be unfathomable, but I actually had better things to do most of the rest of day than follow up on this item. God forbid there be any common courtesy left in this world. ---
**Author:** ![sneckup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@sneckup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sneckup)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/11 "2014-06-14T22:15:41Z")
I also recall this commercial and it was driving me crazy as to what they were advertising. At the moment, all I can recall from the commercial is the “Hurry up, andale, get on your horse and sleigh.” Then the “Garfield 1-2323…and in East Liverpool…(another number)” You’re right, though, some great advertising when people can remember the commercial after 40 years! ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/12 "2014-06-14T23:00:45Z")
I, too, recall this growing up in the Cleveland area. At the time it was aluminum siding. Vinyl siding wouldn’t come until later. Here’s one of the ads. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7v0dx-TX8yQ/hqdefault.jpg "GARFIELD 1 2323") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v0dx-TX8yQ) ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/13 "2014-06-15T00:43:20Z")
Wow is that annoying. No wonder it stuck in your head. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/14 "2014-06-15T01:38:47Z")
> [@sneckup](#): > > I also recall this commercial and it was driving me crazy as to what they were advertising. At the moment, all I can recall from the commercial is the “Hurry up, andale, get on your horse and sleigh.” Then the “Garfield 1-2323…and in East Liverpool…(another number)” > > You’re right, though, some great advertising when people can remember the commercial after 40 years! Baltimore dairy commercial, ca. 1964: (I could sing this for ya) Milk and butter and eggs and cheese Fresh from the farm to you So, if you don’t own a cow Call Cloverland now It’s NOrth 9-2222 (Sorry, I can’t provide a link; brand new computer, not broken in) ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/15 "2014-06-15T04:47:17Z")
Another obsolete numbering scheme: Remember Elvis’ “Return To Sender” about a woman rejecting a man by refusing to accept his letter (another obsolete communication). “…No such number, No such zone…” What the Hell was a “zone” - The Post Office’s way of divving up cities before the Zip Code scheme. I was born circa 1950 - I still remember “Dayton 5 Ohio” (and, obviously, the street, but that’s none of your business). Also the CR7- phone number. Mother drilled that into my skull very, very well - kids were expected to be able, sholud they become lost, to find a cop and recite name, addr, phone. Pre- “helicopter parent” ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/16 "2014-06-15T05:33:55Z")
This has to be a zombie record. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/17 "2014-06-15T16:57:41Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > Wow is that annoying. No wonder it stuck in your head. Here’s another ad that mentions the longevity of the jingle: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ydglEMJ7k](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ydglEMJ7k) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/18 "2014-06-15T17:08:53Z")
Found a link to [Cloverland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soCHae6p198) commercial. Knocked me for a loop–an actually-done-by-Jim-Henson muppet-ish cow singing the jingle. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/19 "2014-06-15T17:36:47Z")
> [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](#): > > Here’s the Cleveland ad which sticks with me: > > * * * > > Roll on, Big O! > Get that juice back to Lawson’s in 40 hours! > > Now one mand sleeps > while the other one drives > On the Big O Lawson’s run > And that cold, cold juice > in the tank truck caboose > stays as fresh as the Florida sun. > > ROOLLLLLLL ONNNNNNN, BIG O > Get that juice back to Lawson’s in 40 hours! > > * * * I know this is a zombie, but I have to say that this Lawson’s song still goes through my head once in awhile, and it must be ~40 years since I last heard it. Was refrigerated orange juice straight from Florida really a big deal in the early '70s? ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827/20 "2014-06-15T17:54:55Z")
What I remember about the Florida orange juice commercials of the 70’s is that Anita Bryant was a spokesperson until she got into trouble for gay-bashing. I also seem to remember that most of the commercials did make a big deal out of the Florida connection. Now that I think of it, being on the west coast, you’d think we’d have heard more about California orange juice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garfield-1-2-3-2-3/45827.md?page=2)