Burma Shave

[pumper9x9]

BURMA SHAVE


For those who never saw any of the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930's and '40's.

Before there were interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields. 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 more of the actual signs:


DON'T STICK YOUR ELBOW
OUT SO FAR
IT MAY GO HOME
IN ANOTHER CAR.
Burma Shave

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 A LITTLE MORE STEER
Burma Shave


SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
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


PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
Burma Shave



Do these bring back any old memories? If not, you're merely a child. If they do - then you're old as hell...!

[nctox]

Yeah, I remember Burma Shave signs, however those don't seem to ring a bell. Maybe I'm just too old to remember what I read 60 years ago!

[datrbone8]

I doubt they had drunk driving signs back then. I don't even believe there was a law against it in the 40's

[Trekkers]

I remember this one:

THIS CREAM MAKES
THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER
PLANT HER TULIPS
WHERE SHE OUGHTA
BURMA SHAVE

[Selah]

In this day
Of toil and sin
His head grows bald
But not his chin
Burma Shave

He lit a match
To check his tank
Now they call him
Skinless Frank
Burma Shave

And here is a little poem my dad made me learn when I first started to drive.

Here lies the body of Solomon Ray
Who died maintaining his right of way
Yes he was right as he sped along
But he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong.

[Frank P. Martin]

The set of Burma Shave signs I remember best were never on the roadside. They were in an issue of Mad Magazine. It went like this:

HER GUY"S WHISKERS
JUST DON'T FAZE HER
HE SHAVES WITH
ELECTRIC RAZOR
WHY BOTHER WITH
Burma Shave

[rsw1943]

Yes, I remember all the old Burma-Shave signs, matter of fact, I still use my OLD Burma-Shave Mug & Brush.

[00wabbit]

There is a restaurant called Back 40 Junction in Decatur Indiana that has a lot of Burma Shave signs on the roof inside.

[wa8yxm]

There is a book, as I recall The Verse Beside The Road, is the title:

Don't try passing
. On a slope
. . Unless you have
. . . A periscope.
. . Burma Shave

Cattle Crossing
. Means go slow
. . Cause some old bull
. . . is some cow's beau
.. Burma Shave

Both of those were on the main road not far from where I lived as a child.