Is it still possible to send a telegram? No.

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

TO ED ZOTTI C/O CHICAGO READER CHICAGO ILL

IN 2001 STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF RESEARCH MEMBER KEN ANSWERED QUESTION “IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO SEND A TELEGRAM” STOP AT THE TIME WESTERN UNION STILL ALLOWED INDIVIDUALS TO SEND TELEGRAMS ALTHOUGH TELEGRAMS AREN’T REALLY USED AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO BE STOP COLUMN SHOULD BE UPDATED SINCE ON 27 JANUARY 2006 WESTERN UNION STOPPED OFFERING TELEGRAM SERVICES STOP

SINCERELY
R W MEAD ALIAS MOBO85
BLOOMINGDALE NJ

2

Yes, Western Union will soon end telegram service…but you assume that Western Union was the only game in town. It may be the most well known, but there are many many telegram companies. As of ten years ago, even AT&T was sending telegrams and may still do. Unlike what has been shown in the movies, most telegram companies have long since given up on having their own delivery men, they use UPS or FedEX(or any of the other overnight services).

3

I realize that there are other telegram services, but Western Union, being the most well-known, was the only one specifically mentioned in the column. If the column is to be updated, it would have to mention that Western Union stopped sending telegrams, but other companies still do.

4

while in High School in the late '60’s, I found myself visiting our local Western Union office in Downey, CA. There in the back of the office, stacked on top of a desk was more money in one place that I had ever seen before. I still have the picture of that money seered on my cerebellum. The Location of the W.U. Office was close to the Downey P.D. so apparently thr Mgr. was fearless in having so much money in plain view.

5

What’s the point of sending a telegram, anyhow, when you can call someone, send them email of a fax, or send them a message by Federal Express or some other overnight delivery service?

6

Acknowledging that the Staff Report is now outdated, we’re discussing whether to amend it or merely delete it. More news to follow.

7

From a “storehouse of knowledge” viewpoint, I’d want to keep it, in a suitably emended form. A snapshot of the last days of the telegram is worth something.