1950s Communication
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The Telegram: Description
What exactly was the telegram? The telegram was the most efficient form of communication in the 1950s. According to Collins Dictionary, the telegram is a message that is sent by telegraph and then printed and delivered to someone's home or office. A telegraph is a system for transmitting messages along a wire, especially one creating signals by making and breaking an electrical connection. Western Union is the most famous telegraph agency, and their telegrams are the ones most prominently displayed in pictures.
The Telegram: History
According to open.edu, many of the modern ways that we communicate stem directly from the telegram. Telegraphy goes beyond the transimission of written text to encompass other forms of non-verbal signalling, and it originated with the discovery of fire. Lighting beacons became a way to warn of invaders, and fire could also be used to send more complex messages using pairs of torches. The electrical telegraph came about in the late 18th century, and it's primary use was for the military.
In the early 19th century, according to the same website, inventors started to send messages via insulated electrical wires. By 1902, submarine cables encircled the globe in a worldwide effort to maintain easy communication. In the 20th century, different kinds of communication started to pop up, and the popularity of the telegram was slowly waning. However, it was still used in the 1950s, even when its popularity was waning in the light of the telephone and radio technology.
The Telegram: Modern
So, in a world of digital technology and speedy message delivery, do people still use telegrams? As told by Atlas Obscura, the world's most famous telegraph agency Western Union announced that it "will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services..." So, Western Union has discontinued sending telegrams, but are there other organizations for that purpose? Yes! American Telegram is a company that will send a telegram, and there are many more companies who do this as well. However, as Adrienne LaFrance said on The Atlantic, it may be harder to send a telegram today simply because of its unpopularity.
Other Forms of Communication
Other forms of communication during the 1950s included the postal service, newspapers (you might catch your grandparents reading some!), billboards/posted notices, telephones, radio, television, and movies.
