What does Dial 1119 mean? Is that an old thing similar to 911?
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No, I think it was just the number to reach the police if you had any information in that case. I don't think it was quite the same as dialing 911 nowadays. I don't think they had a number like 911 back then. I could be wrong though....?
shareThere was a placard posted somewhere near the start of the film that read
"Dial 1119 for: Fire
Police
Ambulance"
When I was a kid (1953)in San Diego, if you wanted the Highway Patrol, you had to dial Zenith 900. You couldn't dial a Z on an old Ma Bell telephone -- O for Operator was the last finger hole in the dial, so it meant having to call the operator to be connected to the CHP.
Seems to me I also recall a British Police TV series called "Dial 999." I don't think the idea of a direct dial emergency number is that recent.
God, I feel old.
"I thought I told you to come alone."
I know this is an old post but wanted to let you all know this :)
the first 911 call made in the USA was in 1968 in Alabama. I work at 911 so I knew that and had to look this movie up to see when it was made when they showed something about it on TCM this morning.
Most other countries use 999 for emergencies and as per everything else the rest of the world is confused and bewildered as to how us yanks "dare" go out on our own and use something so totally different than the rest of the civilized world.
Most other countries did however have an emergency number long before we did :) or at least a few years before we did not like they make it sound as in hundreds of years lol.
Anyhow thought you might find that interesting :)
What I never understood (and now STILL don't) is why emergency numbers seem to always have nines in them. Back in the days of rotary phones, the last thing you want to do during an emergency is take extra time dialing a 9. Why did they ever involve a 9 in the emergency number, then change the number but still keep a 9 in it (and why on earth would any country involve THREE of the things?!)
shareWell, just to add to this discussion, I remember as a child in the 1960's having a day-glow orange sticker on the telephone that listed the phone numbers of the police and the fire department.
The numbers were all seven digits! No short cuts then -- even if the house was on fire!
To a new world of gods and monsters!