Retro Rewind: Five Horror Hotlines You Dared to Dial
Patti Pauley
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Grandpa Munster’s Vampire Hotline
Who else became a junior vampire bestowed honorably by none other than Grandpa Munster? Yes, Al “Grandpa Munster” Lewis of the classic “Munsters” sitcom from the Sixties had his very own fan line urging you to become a junior vampire of America. When you called, Lewis would tell some stories, and they would even send you an official “Junior Vampire” patch if you stayed on long enough. Some people think it’s sad how long Lewis played Vampire Gramps; however, I’m willing to bet he enjoyed every second of it. I mean, shit, if I could make money dressing up as a vampire for as long as he did, I’d be all kinds of okay with that.
1-900-909-CREEP
The Creep hotline was just so much damn fun. The glorious images from Troll (if you so happened to have known that back then) set you up for becoming an international sensation, urging you to share your own horror stories to the hotline, which were then shared for others to heard. At least that is what they advertised anyway. My dad actually let me call this number one time, and while I don’t remember what the hell I said or heard during that call (hell, I can’t even remember what I had for breakfast today), I do recall it being cool as fuck. Maybe it was just because I actually had my parents’ permission this time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzT8xse_FHo
1-900-909-FRED
Of course the most infamous horror hotline of them all is the one that coincided with the primetime “Freddy’s Nightmares” series that aired in the late Eighties. After daring to dial, you would hear a pre-recorded message from Freddy and listen to some strange tale or another involving Springwood. Now, this is one I got my ass kicked for calling a few times, my phone privileges suspended, and sent to the seventh realm of grounded hell. I still have no regrets.
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Were you brave enough to call any of these 900 numbers back in the day? Leave us your stories below in the comments!
