Show Notes: Episode 323: $2.00 for the First Minute .99 Cents Each Additional MinuteThis week Host Dave Bledsoe INSISTS he NEVER made ANY calls to Chubby Girls With Big Butts back in the 1990’s, despite what the phone records say (Over $800 in charges) On the show this week we dial up all the details on 900 Numbers and how they helped America cry when nothing else could. (From the size of the phone bills)

Along the way we learn WHO WAS PHONE! as we take back to the days before the Internet helped Americans pretend celebrities wanted to talk to them. (Think Instagram without the bikini clad models) Then we dive right into the sad fate of Larry the Lobster and how lucrative his short sad life was. From there we learn the myriad ways 900 number owners ripped you off, including Santa Clause. Finally, we see what happens when you take advantage of the dumbest Americans so blatantly that Congress actually has to get off it’s ass to DO something. (Don’t worry, they screwed it up and had to go back and try again.)

Our Sponsor this week is 1-900-HI GAVIN, chat with a recording of America’s favorite podcast producer, Gavin St Games, for a fee! We open the show with an actual 900 number you called and cried on, and close with Michael Simmons who just wants you to pick up the phone!

Show Theme: https://www.jamendo.com/track/421668/prelude-to-common-senseThe Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHell_PodcastThe Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/www.whatthehellpodcast.comGive us your money on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/WhatthehellpodcastThe Show Line: 347 687 9601Closing Music https://youtu.be/rsRL2zZrlw4We are a proud member of the Seltzer Kings Podcast Network! http://seltzerkings.com/

Citations Needed:

The Rise and Fall of the 1-900 Numberhttps://priceonomics.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-1-900-number/

12 (Non-Sexual) Uses for 900 Numbers in Decades Pasthttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/24272/12-non-sexual-uses-900-numbers

Uncited Additional Reading:

https://www.fastcompany.com/3053732/how-dialing-1-900-in-the-90s-foreshadowed-the-internet

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/the-30-weirdest-1-900-numbers-from-the-80s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premium-rate_telephone_number

https://www.decades.com/lists/back-in-the-80s-people-called-1-900-numbers-to-meet-celebs-eavesdrop-on-nasa-and-cry

https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/weird-1-900-numbers

https://jezebel.com/lets-revisit-the-glory-days-of-the-1-900-number-1787497986

https://www.marketplace.org/2021/03/25/why-dont-we-use-900-numbers-anymore/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/03/03/900-lines-are-ringing-up-a-number-of-complaints/4f561788-3a20-4ee3-99ff-f04378c027ee/

Real 900 Number Ads

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-12-op-2413-story.htmlLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices