On Feb. 10, 1933, the Postal Telegraph Company of New York City delivered history’s first “singing” telegram. Telegrams were most popular in the 1920s and ‘30s. Western Union had 14,000 uniformed messenger boys, on foot and on bicycle, and thousands more operators, clerks and copyists. The company offering specially printed multicolored decorative telegrams for various occasions designed by artists such as Norman Rockwell. Customers could buy singing telegrams using booklets with pre-written sentimental messages that could be ordered by number. Number 945, for example, was May each white-capped crest on the ocean’s blue bear out my wish—happy voyage to you. Western Union sent its last telegraph just a few weeks ago.
Source: Pinnacle West’s Newsline for Feb 10, 2006
