telegrams no more for western union

Films are the now last refuge for the Telegram. Effective January 27, 2006, Western Union discontinued all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. Does this really mean I can never send a telegram? I will never know the joy of answering my door to the cry of, “Telegram for Mr. Kyle Stashuk”, to which I will undoubtedly inquire, “Is it a singing Telegram?”. Those were the days.

(*note: It seems I can still send a Telegram, as Western Union isn’t the end all and be all of Telegrams. Telegrams.ca would be more than happy to take my money. $26 for 20 words via a phone order, and $30 for 100 words via an internet order. As well yellowpags.ca has a wide variety of singing and dancing options. I suppose I’ve never investigated the Telegram market. It seems to be alive and well. Who needs email anyway?)