PEnnsylvania 6-5000
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PEnnsylvania 6-5000 is said to be the oldest continuing phone number in New York City, New York. It belongs to the Hotel Pennsylvania and has been in continuous use since 1919.[1] The telephone number is based on the old telephone exchange name system. The first two letters "PE" in PE6-5000 stand for the rotary dial numbers 7 and 3, making the number (with Manhattan's area code) +1 (212) 736-5000.
Many big band names played in the Hotel Pennsylvania's Cafe Rouge Ballroom, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra; the number became the inspiration for the Glenn Miller song of the same name. In turn, this later inspired the pun title Transylvania 6-5000, used separately by a cartoon and a film. The number was requested in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's, and was also referenced in a mix of the Milli Vanilli song "Baby Don't Forget My Number".
In 1969, the PE6 telephone exchange was the first in Manhattan to be transferred from panel switch to 1ESS switch, temporarily making it a significant part of New York Telephone's service crisis.
[edit] References
- ^ New York's Hotel Pennsylvania - History. Retrieved on 2007-12-29.