While 911 as an emergeny number in the US began in 1968, it wasn’t universal until 1999. Home Alone came out in 1990. It was completely normal in my youth (earlier, yes, but still) to just not know what the number to call the police was.
Could, yes. In 1990, the standard was to call 411 if you needed to find a phone number. And that often cost money, so parents would drum into their kids not to call 411. “We have 411 at home. ::slams phone book on table::”
Which means they’d have had a phone book, and everyone knew where it was. Sometimes local police/fire/hospital emergency numbers were printed on the cover, or on the first page. If not, there’d be a place on the cover where you could write them in yourself. They’d also come with a refrigerator magnet sign that you could write in with marker later on.
I’m not saying any of this to be disagreeable; there are a zillion plot holes in that movie. Just reminiscing with some late 1980s “day in the life” nostalgia.
While 911 as an emergeny number in the US began in 1968, it wasn’t universal until 1999. Home Alone came out in 1990. It was completely normal in my youth (earlier, yes, but still) to just not know what the number to call the police was.
Could dial 0 to call the operator for directory assistance and be connected.
Could, yes. In 1990, the standard was to call 411 if you needed to find a phone number. And that often cost money, so parents would drum into their kids not to call 411. “We have 411 at home. ::slams phone book on table::”
Which means they’d have had a phone book, and everyone knew where it was. Sometimes local police/fire/hospital emergency numbers were printed on the cover, or on the first page. If not, there’d be a place on the cover where you could write them in yourself. They’d also come with a refrigerator magnet sign that you could write in with marker later on.
I’m not saying any of this to be disagreeable; there are a zillion plot holes in that movie. Just reminiscing with some late 1980s “day in the life” nostalgia.
Now get off my lawn.