Singing Telegrams
The world’s first singing telegram was delivered on 28 July 1933. Until then, most people used telegrams to send urgent messages about business or sad occasions, like deaths.
George Oslin, public relations director at Western Union, was wondering how to increase sales by making telegrams fun. When a fan of Hollywood singing star Rudy Vallee sent birthday wishes by telegram, George had a flash of inspiration. Instead of delivering the written message, he asked Lucille Lipps, a telephone operator, to sing the birthday message down the line.
For more, see:
- GEORGE OSLIN, 97, CREATOR OF THE SINGING TELEGRAM", Chicago Tribune, October 31, 1996. pg. 11
- Wikipedia: George P. Oslin
