North American Numbering Plan usually shown in capital letters, were dialed. Later, the third letter, where implemented, was replaced by a digit, or an extra digit was added. This generally happened after World War II, although New York City converted in 1930. The adoption of seven-digit local numbers (2L-5N) was chosen as the requirement for direct distance dialing and progressively deployed starting the late 1940s. The famous Glenn Miller tune "PEnnsylvania 6-5000" refers to telephone number PE6-5000, a number still in service at the Hotel Pennsylvania (212 736-5000) in New York. Similarly, the classic film "BUtterfield 8" is set in the East Side of
Glenn Miller Orchestra it out on the dances at the Glenn Island Casino, and they loved it. They couldn't figure out how we knew when to come in loud. But, you know, I told them, "Well, we have a sixth sense of that sort of thing." But actually, what happened is the drummer hit the cowbell, and we knew the next time was loud. And this was all Glenn's doing. On February 5, 1940, Miller recorded "Tuxedo Junction", which hit number-one hit and reportedly sold 115,000 copies within the first week of release, and placed 7th overall for the National Hit Parade that