What was it with telegrams & wires & letters? LOL - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 06-02-2008, 06:35 PM

When Ricky's mother comes to visit, she sends a wire.

When Lucy's mother was going to visit, she sent telegrams.

What was wrong with Lucy's mother CALLING to say, "I am on my way"?

Was it cheaper to send a wire than to make a long distance call? I mean, Mrs. McGillucuddy put so much words in her telegrams, I can't imagine it would have been.

Jude The Obscure · 06-02-2008, 07:05 PM

If the show were on today--e-mails and Text messages!

Ireneparalegal · 06-02-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

If the show were on today--e-mails and Text messages!

Got that right.

I wondered why Lucy's mother just didn't make a call to Lucy and Mickey and say she was going to visit.

I think with Ricky's mother, since she lived in Cuba, it was probably a matter of cost, the wire was cheaper. But Lucy's mother lived in the states.

Even Dorothy and Sam (whom Lucy played matchmaker for) sent a wire telling Ricky and Lucy they were getting married.

Jude The Obscure · 06-02-2008, 07:20 PM

"Lucy, you need to splain this rageous cell phone bill!"

"Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

Ireneparalegal · 06-02-2008, 07:23 PM

good thing I wasn't drinking something right now!

tdr · 06-02-2008, 07:24 PM

Decades ago, the thing about sending telegrams-- rather than phoning-- was that it was either bad news, and the bearer of such news didn't want to "lose it," or wanted the receiver to have a private moment after the shock-- or else it was that the bearer knew the receiver would not like the message, so sending a telegram 'saved a lot of explaining'-- send the news, and that's the end of it [as in rejecting a bid for a job, or a recruited athlete choosing another school]. A third reason may be similar about 'saving a lot of explaining,' but not necessarily bad news, just that the person is in a tight schedule. We don't know by what means Ricky's mother traveled to NY from Cuba, but she may have sent the wire as she changed modes, or deplaned or disembarked, having to clear customs. But even though an LD call would have been expensive, it would seem she would have talked to Ricky before she even started, and wanted him to know just what her travel schedule was-- but this is a comedy show, and not knowing the details had its confusion elements.

Ireneparalegal · 06-02-2008, 07:39 PM

The only bad news received by the Ricardos via a telegram was Lucy's mother visiting.

The rest were good news. So, the use of the telegram (other than Ricky's mother) makes no sense to me.

Lucy's mother also used a wire when she was telling Lucy what time her flight was coming in at LAX.

Ricky's mother only sent one telegram and that was to mention she was going to visit. She had said in the telegram she would notify Lucy and Ricky exactly when she was due in. She never did or the wire was never sent because Lucy was shocked when Ethel told her that her mother-in-law was downstairs trying to pay the cabbie in pesos.

Lodee · 06-02-2008, 07:42 PM

Irene, I never thought about it being cheaper! That's a thought.

Ireneparalegal · 06-02-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lodee

Irene, I never thought about it being cheaper! That's a thought.

Actually my boyfriend is the one who told me that when I mentioned the whole telegram topic. I told him, that would make sense I guess, but the telegrams had so many words in them and telegrams charge by each word used. In the old movies, you see telegrams like this:

Flight arrives 5:30 p.m. Mom

Short and sweet.

Haunted_Armoire · 06-02-2008, 09:26 PM

Irene I've got one for yah. How about when Dorothy and Sam send Lucy and Ricky that telegram in the wee hours of the morning to say they were giving this marriage business a chance! I thought that was an odd time to get a telegram. If they hadn't already been awake they'd be scared by the buzzer ringing that early!

And I agree that wires and telegrams were probably very much cheaper than phone calls. And they were also viewed I think as keepsakes for big events. Mementos.

Ireneparalegal · 06-02-2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haunted_Armoire

Irene I've got one for yah. How about when Dorothy and Sam send Lucy and Ricky that telegram in the wee hours of the morning to say they were giving this marriage business a chance! I thought that was an odd time to get a telegram. If they hadn't already been awake they'd be scared by the buzzer ringing that early!

And I agree that wires and telegrams were probably very much cheaper than phone calls. And they were also viewed I think as keepsakes for big events. Mementos.

These telegrams were not mementos.

At least not the ones Mother McGillucaddy sent.

When I mentioned Dorothy and Sam I was also thinking abt the hour of that telegram arriving at the door. Which only heightens my curiosity abt why would wires/telegrams be used as oppose to a phone call? The whole Dorothy & Sam telegram was sooooo not necessary, I mean, they could have made a phone call, not send a wire and have it arrive in the middle of the night as you stated, my God, that would frighten me.

I have never sent a wire, do you have control over what time it is sent?

Haunted_Armoire · 06-02-2008, 11:34 PM

I think there a few posts here that say maybe telegrams and wires were more effective and cheaper than phone calls. Dorothy and Sam may have decided on a Swiss Alps elopement and honeymoon. This could also explain the time differences.

Lodee · 06-03-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

These telegrams were not mementos.

At least not the ones Mother McGillucaddy sent.

When I mentioned Dorothy and Sam I was also thinking abt the hour of that telegram arriving at the door. Which only heightens my curiosity abt why would wires/telegrams be used as oppose to a phone call? The whole Dorothy & Sam telegram was sooooo not necessary, I mean, they could have made a phone call, not send a wire and have it arrive in the middle of the night as you stated, my God, that would frighten me.

Yeah, that was stupid. And I don't think many were kept as mementos. How lame would that be. "oh look honey, here's the telegram announcing when Mother's flight arrives".

Haunted_Armoire · 06-03-2008, 06:30 PM

Telegrams and wires were often sent to people in lieu of cards. So keeping a telegram congratulating people on their new baby wouldn't really be "lame" it would be something kept in the baby's scrapbook.

Ireneparalegal · 06-03-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haunted_Armoire

Telegrams and wires were often sent to people in lieu of cards. So keeping a telegram congratulating people on their new baby wouldn't really be "lame" it would be something kept in the baby's scrapbook.

But these telegrams were not baby announcements, that is why I am shocked at the use of them for what they announced.

Lodee...

That's what I say.

I must correct myself and say when Mrs. McG was arriving for the Hollywood trip, she actually wrote a letter to Lucy, not sent a wire.

Still, she could have made a phone call. Geez.

I don't know.

06-02-2008, 06:35 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	What was it with telegrams & wires & letters? LOL When Ricky's mother comes to visit, she sends a wire. When Lucy's mother was going to visit, she sent telegrams. What was wrong with Lucy's mother CALLING to say, "I am on my way"? Was it cheaper to send a wire than to make a long distance call? I mean, Mrs. McGillucuddy put so much words in her telegrams, I can't imagine it would have been.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!! Last edited by Ireneparalegal; 06-05-2008 at 11:05 PM.

06-02-2008, 07:05 PM	#2
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	If the show were on today--e-mails and Text messages!

06-02-2008, 07:20 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	"Lucy, you need to splain this rageous cell phone bill!" "Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!"

06-02-2008, 07:23 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	good thing I wasn't drinking something right now!

06-02-2008, 07:24 PM	#6
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	Decades ago, the thing about sending telegrams-- rather than phoning-- was that it was either bad news, and the bearer of such news didn't want to "lose it," or wanted the receiver to have a private moment after the shock-- or else it was that the bearer knew the receiver would not like the message, so sending a telegram 'saved a lot of explaining'-- send the news, and that's the end of it [as in rejecting a bid for a job, or a recruited athlete choosing another school]. A third reason may be similar about 'saving a lot of explaining,' but not necessarily bad news, just that the person is in a tight schedule. We don't know by what means Ricky's mother traveled to NY from Cuba, but she may have sent the wire as she changed modes, or deplaned or disembarked, having to clear customs. But even though an LD call would have been expensive, it would seem she would have talked to Ricky before she even started, and wanted him to know just what her travel schedule was-- but this is a comedy show, and not knowing the details had its confusion elements.

06-02-2008, 07:39 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	The only bad news received by the Ricardos via a telegram was Lucy's mother visiting. The rest were good news. So, the use of the telegram (other than Ricky's mother) makes no sense to me. Lucy's mother also used a wire when she was telling Lucy what time her flight was coming in at LAX. Ricky's mother only sent one telegram and that was to mention she was going to visit. She had said in the telegram she would notify Lucy and Ricky exactly when she was due in. She never did or the wire was never sent because Lucy was shocked when Ethel told her that her mother-in-law was downstairs trying to pay the cabbie in pesos.

06-02-2008, 07:42 PM	#8
Lodee Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 12, 2003 Posts: 1,562	Irene, I never thought about it being cheaper! That's a thought.

06-02-2008, 09:26 PM	#10
Haunted_Armoire Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 293	Irene I've got one for yah. How about when Dorothy and Sam send Lucy and Ricky that telegram in the wee hours of the morning to say they were giving this marriage business a chance! I thought that was an odd time to get a telegram. If they hadn't already been awake they'd be scared by the buzzer ringing that early! And I agree that wires and telegrams were probably very much cheaper than phone calls. And they were also viewed I think as keepsakes for big events. Mementos.

06-02-2008, 11:34 PM	#12
Haunted_Armoire Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 293	I think there a few posts here that say maybe telegrams and wires were more effective and cheaper than phone calls. Dorothy and Sam may have decided on a Swiss Alps elopement and honeymoon. This could also explain the time differences.

06-03-2008, 06:30 PM	#14
Haunted_Armoire Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 293	Telegrams and wires were often sent to people in lieu of cards. So keeping a telegram congratulating people on their new baby wouldn't really be "lame" it would be something kept in the baby's scrapbook.