HISTORY OF PHONE SEX

1980-1987

LINK TO PDF OF PHONE SEX ADS FROM 1980-1987

The typical Phone Sex operation in this era was more or less a very small operation. Small offices were used where an operator would collect billing information and then transfer the call to a Phone Sex operator within the office space. In some instances, a phone sex operator would arrange to call you back at a specific time. All lines being advertised were being advertised to a local telephone.

If you searched through Hustler magazine or an independent newspaper available in most of the larger cities of the United States back in 1980, you might locate near the back a simple one-line classified advertisement promoting “Phone Sex! You can’t beat it!” or “San Francisco Why Be Alone? Pick up a phone! Call a girl!” These classified ads were mixed in with other personal ads and would provide a local telephone number for the reader to call. Callers to these numbers were often connected to a pre-recorded message with a sexy voice that used the type of telephone answering machines that were being marketed to businesses and homes of this era. Readers might even find services for which they could be connected by telephone to a live “agent” who would take down the caller’s Visa or Mastercharge credit card information at the beginning of the call before being connected to another party who was the “talent”. Many of the early phone sex lines were advertised as a particular woman like Tina, Lisa or Bambi. Other advertisements might list several different women who the caller could be able to choose from when they made the call.

The Birth of 900 Phone Lines:

1980 Reagan Carter debate-ABC Nightline poll using 900 numbers. The first time most of the public heard about 900 Numbers was after ABC’s Nightline program offered a poll to determine who the public thought won the 1980 presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Callers could dial a 900 number for either candidate and the caller would receive a charge of $.50 on their phone bill for each call they made. AT&T recorded over 10 million calls following the presidential debate.

1982 Eddie Murphy threatens to kill a lobster on SNL and asks people to call two (2) 900 numbers to determine whether to either kill or save lobster.

Adult Publishers getting into the Phone Sex business

1983 Sable Communications begins operating phone sex telephone numbers in conjunction with their affiliate High Society magazine. In the mid 80s, High Society magazine’s front and back covers were advertising “phone sex” in every issue to its readers who could reach out and converse with the magazine’s hot models. Ads promised that services were available 24 hours 7 days a week and referenced “No waiting”, “No callbacks” or, alternatively “Free Long Distance Callbacks” and “Pre-pay” arrangements. One thing most phone sex offerings had in common was that all major credit cards were accepted.

Marketing Expansion

Hustler and other Adult Men’s Magazines were seeing an increase in the number of ad pages for Phone Sex.

From 1983 to 1987 there was little if any advancement in the Phone Sex business model. The only advancement was that more money was being spent in advertising for Phone Sex.

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