History Main / TelegraphGagSTOP

TELEGRAM MESSAGES [[NoPunctuationPeriod NEVER CONTAIN PERIODS]] STOP ANY PERIOD IS REPLACED BY A STOP STOP WHEN READ ALOUD THE STOP IS ALSO READ ALOUD STOP ORIGINALLY A JOKE BUT NOT KNOWN AS ONE BY MODERN AUDIENCES WHERE IT IS EXPECTED FOR READING A TELEGRAM STOP

* ''BlackadderGoesForth'', episode "Major Star": Used as a joke by Blackadder to insult CharlieChaplin, and in the same episode Chaplin took revenge in the same format STOP

* This is a RunningGag on ''RedVsBlue''.

* ''PinkyAndTheBrain'' had one in their parody of ''TheThirdMan'':

* Stewie and Brian of FamilyGuy have a similar gag in one episode while speaking on walkie-talkies. Stewie informs Brian that he has to end all of his transmissions with the word "over," which causes a misunderstanding when Brian actually ends a sentence with the word "over."

[[AC:{{Theater}}]]

* ''LooneyTunes'' examples:
** Used in the ''LooneyTunes'' short ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akAEIW3rmvQ&t=6m00s I Wanna Singa]]'' STOP A receptionist receives a telegram from a sleazy deliveryman STOP She reads it and the camera pans away STOP

** LooneyTunes ''The Hardship of Miles Standish'' had a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFMKMUvFxo#t=3m40s singing telegram]].

* ''StarTrekVoyager''. Tuvok and Paris are on the holodeck playing "The Adventures of Captain Proton" (a {{Film/Flash Gordon|Serial}}-{{expy}} character).

* From ''HomestarRunner'':

* ''TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'', chapter 4

* ''ItsAWonderfulLife'': Sam Wainwright sends a telegram from London when he hears George is in trouble STOP Ernie reads it aloud, including the stops STOP

* There's a Polish joke back from the Communist era: Poland was dependant on deliveries of natural gas and oil from the USSR. One day, Polish ice hockey team has defeated the USSR team at the Olympics. The next day, the Polish government receives a telegram from the USSR government:

** LooneyTunes ''The Hardship of Miles Standish'' had a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFMKMUvFxo#t=3m40s singing telegram]].

* ''StarTrekVoyager''. Tuvok and Paris are on the holodeck playing "The Adventures of Captain Proton" (a FlashGordon-{{expy}} character).

Now a DiscreditedTrope; International Morse Code uses .-.-.- for periods.

----

-->''' TUVOK:''' ''These'' are your sensor readings? \\
'''PARIS:''' Telegram. It's a message to Captain Proton from the President of Earth. ''Intercepted communications between Doctor Chaotica and Arachnia. STOP. Chaotica at war with aliens from Fifth Dimension. STOP. Must strike now to disable Death Ray__''\\
'''TUVOK:''' Stop. Please summarise the message.

'''PARIS:''' Telegram. It's a message to Captain Proton from the President of Earth. ''Intercepted communications between Doctor Chaotica and Arachnia. STOP. Chaotica at war with aliens from Fifth Dimension. STOP. Must strike now to disable Death Ray__''

* Lots of it in {{Balto}} during the Nome-Juneau transmission scenes.

-->'''Bobby''': "Dear Fat-head. Stop" Yep. It’s Mom. "Stop this nonsense. Stop. This is your final notice. Stop." Sounds like an electric bill. "Get back here on next train. Stop. Don’t stop. Stop. Will stop allowance if you stop. Stop. Stop. Your loving mother. Stop. P.S. Your uncle stopped by." I wish she’d write letters.

[[AC:Machinima]]
* This is a RunningGag in ''RedVsBlue''.

--> "Sir Strong Bad STOP How do you operate the 'telegramophone' [[AntiquatedLinquistics whilst]] wearing gentlemans' sporting gloves STOP Signed, Sir Elsington Halstindingdingworth STOP"

This trope arose because Morse Code does not have a method to transmit punctuation beyond spelling it out (writing down "comma", or most famously, a full '''stop'''). Additionally it lacks casing, meaning the entire message is in capital letters.

!!Examples
* ''LooneyTunes'' examples:
** Used in the ''LooneyTunes'' short ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akAEIW3rmvQ&t=6m00s I Wanna Singa]]'' STOP A receptionist receives a telegram from a sleazy deliveryman STOP She reads it and the camera pans away STOP
-->We just received another telegram, Station GOMG. Stop. Your program coming in great. Stop. Think it's fine. Stop. Glad to hear your amateurs. Stop. They're all very funny. ''[camera pans back to show her continually pushing away the deliveryman as he keeps trying to hold her]'' Stop! Keep up the good work. Stop! Good luck. STOP! The gang. ''STOP!'' ''[she pushes him offscreen and he crashes]''
** LooneyTunes ''The Hardship of Miles Standish'' had a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFMKMUvFxo#t=3m40s singing telegram]].

* ''AdrianMole'' receives a confusing telegram from his mother stating "Adrian stop coming home stop" and disregards it since it makes no sense as he can't stop coming home STOP This leads to later problems when his estranged mother turns up without warning STOP
* ''TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'', chapter 4
-->"Son - Terrible crisis for the clan [=McDuck=] stop need cash stop come home at once stop don't stop stop"
* ''BlackadderGoesForth'', episode "Major Star": Used as a joke by Blackadder to insult CharlieChaplin, and in the same episode Chaplin took revenge in the same format STOP
-->'''Captain Blackadder:''' Yes... take down a telegram, Bob. To Mr. Charlie Chaplin, Sennett Studios, Hollywood, California. Congrats STOP Have found only person in world less funny than you STOP Name Baldrick STOP Signed E. Blackadder STOP Oh, and put a P.S.: please, please, please STOP
-->'''Captain Darling:''' We received a telegram from Mr Chaplin himself at Sennett Studios: Twice nightly filming of my films in trenches: excellent idea STOP But must insist that E. Blackadder be projectionist STOP P.S. Don't let him ever... STOP.
* Used in the episode "The Late Captain Pierce" of ''Series/{{MASH}}'' when Hawkeye sends a telegram to his father to let them know he is alive and safe. He even recites his intended message to Klinger, using TELEGRAM SPEAK STOP He also integrates the STOP directions into his message.
-->'''Hawkeye:''' Dear Dad. Stop. I am not dead. Stop. Thinking of selling my clubs? Stop. Spending the insurance money? Stop.

-->Mr. Gower cabled you need cash, stop. My office instructed to advance you up to twenty-five thousand dollars, stop. Hee Haw and Merry Christmas! Sam Wainwright.
* ''PinkyAndTheBrain'' had one in their parody of ''TheThirdMan'':
-->PINKY START PACKING STOP COME TO VIENNA STOP GO TO 123B RUEGGERSTRASSE STOP
** Pinky, as narrator, comments that it took him a long time due to all the stopping.

* From ''HomestarRunner'':
--> "Sir Strong Bad STOP How do you operate the 'telegramophone' [[AntiquatedLinquistics whilst]] wearing gentlemans' sporting gloves STOP Signed, Sir Elsington Halstindingdingworth STOP"

* Used in an episode of ''Series/{{MASH}}'' when Hawkeye sends a telegram to his family to let them know he is alive and safe. He even recites his intended message to Klinger, using TELEGRAM SPEAK STOP He also integrates the STOP directions into his message, "Thinking of selling my clubs STOP!"

* Used in an episode of ''{{MASH}}'' when Hawkeye sends a telegram to his family to let them know he is alive and safe. He even recites his intended message to Klinger, using TELEGRAM SPEAK STOP He also integrates the STOP directions into his message, "Thinking of selling my clubs STOP!"

* [[HomestarRunner "Sir Strong Bad STOP How do you operate the 'telegramophone' whilst wearing gentlemans' sporting gloves STOP Signed, Sir Elsington Halstindingdingworth STOP"]]