Published: May 10, 2008 08:39 pm         

Wacky Jack’s Singing Telegrams

New business offers variety of characters, packages to satisfy all

One of Keith Berneburg’s first jobs was with Eastern Onion Signing Telegrams in Pittsburgh. He dressed in various costumes and delivered the humorous telegrams in a musical form.

“I had a blast,” he said. “It was a fun job.”

When Berneburg and his wife, Rhonda, relocated to Beckley they began thinking about starting their own singing telegram business.

“There was nothing like this in Beckley,” Keith Berneburg said. “We did some research and surveying and due to the tremendous amount of requests for this type of entertainment, we decide to start Wacky Jack’s Singing Telegrams.”

Rhonda Berneburg says her husband has always been an entertainer.

“I thought it was a wonderful idea,” she said. “Telegrams have been around for a while, but you don’t see them around as much these days.”

Singing telegrams are historically linked to normal telegrams, but tend to be humorous. Sometimes the artist is in costume or formal clothing. Singing telegrams are often given as a gift.

Western Union, the American telegraph company, began offering singing telegram services in 1933. On July 28, 1933, a fan sent Hollywood singing star Rudy Vallee a birthday greeting by telegram.

According to Wikipedia.com, the Western Union public relations director at the time decided this would be a good opportunity to make telegrams, which had been associated with deaths and other tragic news, into something more popular. He asked a Western Union operator, Lucille Lipps, to sing the message over the telephone, and this became the first singing telegram.

Western Union suspended its singing telegram service in 1974, but independent singing telegram companies, like Wacky Jack’s, specializing in often costumed personal delivery of gift messages, have kept up the tradition.

“The memory of an event like this will never die,” Keith said. “And it’s just as fun to send one as it is to get one.”

Wacky Jack’s offers three different packages for its customers — standard, supreme and the works.

The standard package comes with a telegram and a keepsake certificate.

The supreme package adds a frame for the certificate and a half dozen helium filled latex balloons in any colors or combination of colors.

The works adds a dozen balloons and a bottle of champagne.

Customers can also choose from any of the many trademark registered characters.

“We have Ugly Olga, Hobo Harry, Lawman Larry, Cowboy Cody and Mr. Wonderful,” Keith said. “We recently added Grandpa Gilbert and Granny Godiva. Both my wife and I show up in costume to deliver the singing telegram.”

Rhonda says Ugly Olga is so ugly, “... she has to sneak up on a glass of water to get a drink.”

Keith said that Lawman Larry is so convincing, “... they’ll call their attorney.”

Mr. Wonderful comes in a black tux, complete with top hat and cane.

“He is usually seen at a woman’s bachelorette party or birthday party,” Keith said. “He’s a favorite of the ladies.”

The telegrams are delivered from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

“Our office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,” Keith said.

The company offers free delivery to most areas around Beckley, but has a small surcharge for distances over 10 miles.

“Our prices are very reasonable,” Keith Berneburg said. “It starts out about the same as a dozen roses, which will die in a few days after getting them. The memories created by receiving a humorous singing telegram last a lifetime.”

All forms of payment are accepted, but credit card payments can only be accepted online.

“We also have phone-o-grams and e-mail-grams available to anywhere in the world,” Keith said.

The couple says business has been great since starting it in February.

“We want to expand across the country,” Keith said. “We’re on target to have an office located in the capital city of all 50 states by 2009, which would make us one of the fastest growing small businesses in the nation.”

He said the company slogan, “Let us sing what’s on your mind,” says it all.

“When anyone you know or work with has a birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding, baby shower, or any type of special day coming up, remember Wacky Jack’s Singing Telegrams and the unforgettable memories they’ll have from being delivered a singing telegram,” Keith said.

Berneburg said it’s best to reserve your date and time in advance.

“We try to accommodate everyone, but advanced notice is helpful,” he said.

The office is located above Trio Consignments on Heber Street.

For more information, call Wacky Jack’s Singing Telegrams at 255-JACK (5225).