555-4639 and Other Phone Numbers

Hey, all you puzzle masters!

Last week a little group chat was created with our small but mighty marketing department. We figured it was high time since many of us work different hours we do not always cross paths at the same time. I am pretty bad about saving numbers so of course, when the text chain started I was getting texts from a number I knew, and one I didn’t. I had to ask them to confirm their name/number so I knew I was saving it correctly. This made me reminiscent of the phone numbers found in some of my favorite games, because who else still remembers Ned’s number but can’t remember their own childhood home phone number? And let me tell you, some early games had the best-hidden meanings in each character’s phone number.

If you are unfamiliar with this, let me set the stage. The year, 2007. The place, LaPorte, Indiana. 12-year-old Indy was surfing the message boards having just played White Wolf of Icicle Creek Lodge for the first time, she was riding on a high. THEN she read the most beautiful thing in the world. Someone pointed out that Tino Balducci’s phone number  (312-555-5375) spelled out JERK.

Honestly, I almost spit out my Gatorade because little kid me thought this was the ultimate burn. On that thread, I learned the Hardy Boy’s spells out HUNK, (I thought this title was saved for Dave Gregory, but okay I guess). Bess, George, and Ned all spell things like HINT, CLUE, and HELP. Now, I always knew you could call most phone numbers found in the games and hear funny messages. This happens in Secrets Can Kill with the Save the Manatees Club at 1-800-432-5646 and possibly the most popular bonus number is in White Wolf of Icicle Creek Lodge. Calling 1-800-Mystico is such a must-do that we even have merchandise dedicated to this fun extra. However, this was the first time I realized the phone numbers can spell out silly messages or serious clues. Below are some of my favorites!

• Bess: 555-4468 –HINT 
• George: 555-2583 –CLUE
• Ned: 555-4357 –HELP
• Hardy Boy’s: 555-4865 –HUNK

I personally think White Wolf of Icicle Creek Lodge has the most clever phone numbers.

• Tino Balducci: 312-555-5375 –JERK
• Lou Talbot: 213-555-2063 –BONE
• William “Bill” Kessler: 905-555-3689 –LIAR
• Guadalupe Comillo: 213-555-3264 –FANG
• Avalanche Patrol: 403-555-2006 –BOOM
• Sheriff Mahihkan: 403-555-7827 –STAR – think classic sheriff badge
• Pinevale Hospital: 403-555-4878 –HURT
• The Farmingdale’s: 551-555-7425 –SICK –  remember the potato salad?
• Carl Jenkins: 312-555-7547 –SLIP – think icy stairs
• Elsa Sibblehoth: 403-555-2483 –BITE – did the Wolf bite her tires?
• Derek and Brenda Southwaite: 418-555-7387 –PEUR – the French word for fear, scared, or afraid

What are some of your favorite phone numbers from the games? They could be silly, helpful clues, just plain clever references, or funny extra numbers you just HAVE to call like the Save the Manatees Club!

-Indy

P.S. There might be a silly reference in the title phone number