The Singing Telegram
Yes, telegrams are older than Roscoe Bartlett, but singing telegrams, now that's a different story. The singing telegram had its origins in 1933 when a fan sent singing star Rudy Vallee a birthday telegram. Western Union's public relations director, one George Oslin, decided he was on to something. Until then, telegrams were associated with death notices, and he wanted something more upbeat. So, he asked an operator named Lucy Lipps, seriously, Lucy Lipps, to sing a message over the telephone, and the singing telegram was born. Now, Western Union stopped delivering singing telegrams 34 years ago, but you can still find small businesses that will deliver a singing telegram, often in person by someone dressed up in a weird costume.
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