My grandma once called up a Santa hotline for my brother and I to hear. Phone quality was complete shit and a waste of time, but still, grandma thought we'd like it.

I don't think she'd have called THIS up though.

Never understood what these talk hotlines were for, except for the extremely gullible.

I like how they switch tone at the end, "Only two dollars a call."

Wow, that's so friendly, I think I'll give the dead a call.

MattK, depends on the type of phone operation.

This thing is clearly designed to get kids to call. The $2 per call limit would appear to be designed to make sure the parent either wouldn't notice, or wouldn't be willing to go the mat to get the money back. Phone psychics & phone sex lines are for the gullible/desperately lonely adults who could be held legally liable for the charges.

The 80's were also super fucking awesome. I remember calling 976-EVIL as a kid, but that's a whole different story.

So, who wants to take one for the team and see what this number leads to nowadays?

I remember seeing a Robert Smith (of the Cure) hotline where he would talk about how sad he was. It was so ridiculous that I swear it was a parody. But this seems to indicate that anything was possible back then, so long at $1.99 a minute was paid.

What the hell happened if you called? Was it a recorded scary story, or some live operator that would snarl at you and claim to be calling from under your bed?

Viral Marketing for the Walking Dead show ALREADY?! Those guys are quick

Just like the girls on the phone sex ads and the reality I bet you'd never speak to a real zombie just a regular human joe.

Maybe it's the Grateful Dead. Jerry, is that you?

Damn... this reminds of an 800 number that you could call and there were recorded stories that you could listen to.

They would put up a different one each week. Some were classic fairy tales and others were sort of weird ones that they made up.

I miss the 80's...

@ "Bill"...you stole my name! I want it back. Call the dead and they will agree that I am the one, true Bill.

I think this ad aired around "Dance Party USA" on USA in October.

Sigh... Dance Party USA. I'm dating myself here, huh?

@ZeroCorpse: Not as if anyone else would date you. (Sorry, but you did set it up for me) ;-)

To answer Mr. Mellon's question, the number is out of service...try a Ouija board instead.

"When I reach you, you'll wish I never called?"

For fuck's sake, did he just threaten me? I wish I never saw the damn number to call. Now I'm callin' it bitch. And when I find you, I'm gonna reach through the phone and choke you!!!!! And YOU WILL reverse the charges when I'm though!!!!

THERE IN THE PHONE LINES AND THEY HAVE YOUR NUMBER!!
That guy is trying too hard to get kids excited enough to call.

Ad that looks more like a pirate then a dead guy.

@DJ Maniak

Now I has a sad.

However, I respect your use of an obvious opening.

@ZeroCorpse

Being clever hasn't worked out all that well for me, despite what Tyler Durden may say. ;-)

"When you reach me, you'll never wish you called!"

Well, at $2 a call, he's right about that.