Use of KL5 telephone number

I recall in at least one episode where one of the characters is giving out a phone number and they say KL5-???? (isn't it the one where George claims to be close to get a job with Vandelay Industries?) . Didn't the use of letters in place of the first 2 numbers go away in the 50's? It seems odd that they would do that.

On Sun, 1 Jul 2001 13:15:25 -0400, "Mike" wrote:

KL 5 is "555"

Anyway, what kind of a (jerk dope a..hole) gets a telephone number from a TV show or movie and goes home and dials it?

I get my numbers from washroom stalls!!

In article , "Mike" wrote:

In tonight's episode, The Big Salad, Elaine gives out Jerry's number as hers, so as to avoid being called by the stationary guy (why didn't she just use her office number?). KL5-2390. Maybe it's one of those things New Yorkers cling to, like remaining in the 212 area code (from the Koko/Gammy episode).

• Mark "used to live at KLondike 2-8425 in San Francisco" Mellin

Mark Mellin wrote:

Didn't George give Jerry's number as KL5-8383 (Vandelay Industries) to Lenore Sokol when he was trying to get his 13-week extension in "The Boyfriend (Part 1)"?

-B.

Mark Mellin writes:

out a

to

odd

I could see that. I guess the upper East side is good. Say KL5 means upper East side.

So where *was* KL5?

It seems the writers got mixed up on what numbers they were using. In The Alternate Side (#28 from 3rd season) Jerry reveals his car phone number as 555(KL5)- 8383. In The Boyfriend, George give the unemployment lady (Sokol) Jerry's homephone number (given out as KL5 (555)- 2390. Viewers know this is Jerry's home phone number because Mrs Sokol follows up , calls the number, Kramer answers in Jerry's apt. & blows the whole deal for George. In the Big Salad, Elaine gives out Jerry's home phone number to avoid contact with the clerk at stationary store. She gives out the KL5 (555)- 8383 number whick we learned earlier was Jerry's car phone number. Viewers do see Jerry talking to clerk on his phone and getting mad because he keeps callling for Elaine SOOOOOOOO it seems the writers let Elaine give out the wrong number for Jerry's apt phone. She should have given the KL5-2390 number. I'm sure some fans will come up with some other explainations. SO?

In article , "john galt" wrote:

Good point, kind of like the real estate listings one sees for the coveted "pre-war" buildings.

Alas, nowhere. The KL5 prefix is a television industry standard for numbers that don't really exist (save for long distance information at (area code) 555-1212), to prevent people (especially those pesky stationary store types) from calling them out of curiousity.

There never was a KL5. That is why it is used on just about every TV show (except "I Love Lucy" [CIrcle 7-2099]) when a phone # is used.

Mark Mellin wrote in message ...

homerr.. "used to live at MOunt Olympus 1-6420 in San Francisco".

homerr.. Ashbury Heights ain't what it used to be. bachelor#3