# Phone geeks: When was the first vanity number?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 19, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307 "2006-04-19T15:24:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/1 "2006-04-19T15:24:02Z")
I’m currently assembling a CD and liner notes on [Richard Himber](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Himber), popular bandleader and magic artist of the mid-20th century.
In 1932, Himber, a born promoter, acquired the vanity phone number **R HIMBER** for his New York booking office. I can’t find any history relating to vanity numbers on the web, and I’m wondering whether he might have had the first, or one of the first. Any background would be appreciated.
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### Author:  [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/2 "2006-04-19T16:02:01Z")
There was an account I read in American Heritage Magazine, oh, ten or more years ago that described what the author or letterwriter claimed was the first use of a vanity-type phone number. Two qualifiers: it was not for an individual, but for a public awareness campaign, and it may have been for an “800” number, not a regular toll number. In any case, the claim did _not_ predate your Himber number.
According to the magazine story, in the 1950s or early 1960s some NYC executive who was part of the effort to spread the word about measles prevention or vaccination – I think there was a measles scare or outbreak in the city at the time – hit upon the idea of spelling out m-e-a-s-l-e-s for the hotline number. It was a huge success, btw, and has been copied ever since.
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### Author:  [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/3 "2006-04-19T16:09:35Z")
I thought phone numbers had six digits in the thirties.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/4 "2006-04-19T23:45:06Z")
> [@saoirse](#):
>
> I thought phone numbers had six digits in the thirties.
Depends on the city/state, etc.
My Grandmother had 6089J in 1950 in Danville VA.
In Doylestown PA in 1932, there were businesses that had numbers such as “Bell Phone 1” “Bell phone 600”
There was quite often more than one phone company.
Absolutely no standardization
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/5 "2006-04-19T23:46:23Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#):
>
> In 1932, Himber, a born promoter, acquired the vanity phone number **R HIMBER** for his New York booking office.
I totally believe you. JUst wondering where you got your info?
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/6 "2006-04-20T04:20:08Z")
A friend sent me a scanned ad out of _The New Yorker_ magazine from November 5, 1932. Himber advertised the services of 6 different orchestras for private functions and gave the number with the note “Try It - It Really Works.” He even promised “24 hour service,” which seems somewhat pointless unless he saw potential customers in club-crawling socialites.
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### Author:  [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/7 "2006-04-20T07:25:42Z")
Some Australian phone numbers are a digit shorter than others, even today. Perhaps an Australian doper can post more about this, it’s been a while since I’ve been down under.
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/8 "2006-04-20T15:24:25Z")
I do know NYC went from 6 digits to 7 in 1930, and phased in dial service at about that same time.
This, BTW, was where John O’Hara got the title for _BUtterfield 8._, as he sort-of-explained in a box on the cover page:
> [@](#):
>
> Starting on December 16, a distinguishing numeral will be added to, and become part of each central office name in New York City.
>
> For example:
> HAnover will become HAnover 2.
>
> (From an advertisment of the New York Telephone Company, December 8, 1930.)
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### Author:  [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/9 "2006-04-20T15:35:58Z")
**Papa Doug** ’s family number, Strawberry Point, IA, 1940s: **Blue 109**
**Mama Doug** ’s family number, Bridgeport, CT, 1940s: **3-7093**
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/10 "2006-04-20T15:40:17Z")
> [@samclem](#):
>
> Depends on the city/state, etc.
>
> My Grandmother had 6089J in 1950 in Danville VA.
>
> In Doylestown PA in 1932, there were businesses that had numbers such as “Bell Phone 1” “Bell phone 600”
>
> There was quite often more than one phone company.
>
> Absolutely no standardization
I’ll second that. I’ve got a copy of my hometown’s phone directory from 1940. The coal company was 82, the Studebaker dealership was 900 and the mayor’s office was something like 852-H
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### Author:  [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)
#### Post date: [April 20, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-geeks-when-was-the-first-vanity-number/353307/11 "2006-04-20T16:31:40Z")
It was in the 1960’s that Pescadero (California) went from “Pescadero 1234” to “879-1234”.
Calling in from outside Pescadero’s exchange, you had to ask an operator to connect you.