Do You Remember Burma Shave?

[DFCarlson]

Do you remember Burma Shave?

For those who never saw any of the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the1930's and '40's in the USA. Before there were interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside along the side of the road.

They were small red signs with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet... and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.

Here are some of the actual signs:

TRAINS DON'T WANDER

ALL OVER THE MAP

'CAUSE NOBODY SITS

IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP

Burma Shave

SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH

BY MISTAKE

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS

HER HUSBAND JAKE

Burma Shave

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD

TO GAIN A MINUTE

YOU NEED YOUR HEAD

YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT

Burma Shave

DROVE TOO LONG

DRIVER SNOOZING

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

IS NOT AMUSING

Burma Shave

BROTHER SPEEDER

LET'S REHEARSE

ALL TOGETHER

GOOD MORNING, NURSE

Burma Shave

CAUTIOUS RIDER

TO HER RECKLESS DEAR

LET'S HAVE LESS BULL

AND MORE STEER

Burma Shave

SPEED WAS HIGH

WEATHER WAS HOT

TIRES WERE THIN

X MARKS THE SPOT

Burma Shave

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE

OF PAUL FOR BEER

LED TO A WARMER

HEMISPHERE

Burma Shave

AROUND THE CURVE

LICKETY-SPLIT

BEAUTIFUL CAR

WASN'T IT?

Burma Shave

NO MATTER THE PRICE

NO MATTER HOW NEW

THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE

IN THE CAR IS YOU

Burma Shave

A GUY WHO DRIVES

A CAR WIDE OPEN

IS NOT THINKIN'

HE'S JUST HOPIN'

Burma Shave

AT INTERSECTIONS

LOOK EACH WAY

A HARP SOUNDS NICE

BUT IT'S HARD TO PLAY

Burma Shave

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL

EYES ON THE ROAD

THAT'S THE SKILLFUL

DRIVER'S CODE

Burma Shave

THE ONE WHO DRIVES

WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING

DEPENDS ON YOU

TO DO HIS THINKING

Burma Shave

CAR IN DITCH

DRIVER IN TREE

THE MOON WAS FULL

AND SO WAS HE.

Burma Shave

DON'T STICK YOUR ELBOW

OUT SO FAR

IT MIGHT GO HOME

IN ANOTHER CAR

Burma Shave

And my all time favorite:

PASSING SCHOOL ZONE

TAKE IT SLOW

LET OUR LITTLE

SHAVERS GROW

Burma Shave

[Phil Conners]

Bernard Trink used to think they were funny or interesting too, he kept referring to them in his Nite Owl column.

Senior citizen nostalgia perhaps...

[cm-happy]

Yes, of course,

Had totally forgotten about Burma shave signs, but still remember them from the late '40s and into the 50's. Yup senior nostalgia. Thanks for jogging the memory.

[toptuan]

Yeah, thanks, too. When I was in primary school (in the 50's), my parents took me on several cross-country trips. Burma Shave signs kept boredom from completely putting everyone to sleep, especially on those straight Kansas highways.

Senior Citizen? I beg your pardon! I haven't hit 70 yet!

[TopChinese]

You mean these?

Edited December 7, 2006 by TopChinese