I came across a column from 2001 (with an update in 2006) about telegrams. Turns out that with the death of Western Union have come new telegram services (of all things). Telegrams Canada (over at http://www.telegrams.ca/) send telegrams worldwide, for instance. And Telegram Stop (http://www.telegramstop.com/Home.mvc.aspx) also sends custom telegrams… by mail.
Just thought you might want to make a note.
Reported.
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, Canuck-Errant, glad to have you with us. First point: when you start a thread, it’s helpful to other readers if you provide a link to the Staff Report in question. Saves searching time and keeps us all on the same page. No biggie, you’ll know for next time, and here’s the link: Is it still possible to send a telegram? - The Straight Dope
Second, as per runner pat’s comment, we are a li’l uneasy about posts (or posters) who appear to be just advertising for a company or service… I’m going to assume that you’re an honest and interested poster, rather than a corporate shill, so I’m leaving this alone until/unless further evidence comes to light.
Aw, shucks. I just like the idea of people still sending out telegrams, however outmoded they may be. Probably comes from the fact that I still listen to shortwave, and work with 50-year-old trucks at work.
…'course, the newer trucks are prone to not working or catching on fire, so…
No prob. You’ve proved your bona fides by appearing to respond, so kindly ignore my comments about advertising. And, welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, indeed.
Bring back singing telegrams!
My wife’s singing group delivers singing telegrams at Valentine’s Day and a variation by phone at Christmas. Since it is a fundraiser, I won’t give any more info to avoid being accused of being a shill. 
OK, serious comment to your joke: we got no problem with established posters “shilling” under certain conditions:
(1) advertising their own (or immediate family’s) artisitc endeavors – art, music, literature, whatever – is permitted in Cafe Society.
(2) providing a link to a site that is relevant to a discussion topic. So, if the discussion is about how lava lamps work, a link to the lava lamp company’s own explanation would be fine.
In addition, we have recently set up a special forum called “Marketplace” where subscribers (posters who pay the small annual fee) can directly try to sell their own stuff.
Our only problem are people who are NOT here to post, but are only here to advertise their company. Some of these, of course, are pure spammers or spam-bots whose links do nasty things. Others are (possibly) legitimate advertisers: companies do hire people to go to message boards just to announce their products. So, when we have no history on a person, we get a li’l suspicious if the first (and only) post touts a product. We’re trying to keep out spam. We’re OK with legit advertisers who buy banners and pay for their ads, of course.
That help?
Wahey! As the original poser of the question to Cecil (“John R” is me) it’s nice to see this come up again.
Interestingly enough, SDSAB Ken’s point about telegrams being “the last bastion of concise writing” has been superseded by recent developments. If brevity is the soul of telegraphy, then the true successor to the telegram is the tweet. Even telegrams didn’t have to stick to only 140 characters.