Remember These?

[Karl S]

A man, a miss,

A car, a curve.

He kissed the miss,

And missed the curve.

Burma Shave

 

I'm sure that Burma Shave actually saved some lives. People laughed and they were more careful!  It was a REAL "service" to America, even though it was an advertisement and it was one of the RARE "really useful" ones!

 

To My Old-As-Dirt Friends and Relatives who qualify as "old as dirt."  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.

 

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 HOPING

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 dirt LIKE ME!

 

 

 

 

[Scrappile]

I remember them well.  There use to be a  AROUND THE CURVE LICKETY-SPLIT BEAUTIFUL CAR WASN'T IT?

one on the way from Portland, Ore to Estacada, Ore,  My brothers and I always watched for it on the trip to our Grandparents. 

[meflick]

Guess I am merely a child.  None of this sounds vaguely familiar. 

[jerry1939]

They had an excellent advertising method.  Always made you read them.

jerry

[Rockytime]

I remember them well. Certainly brings back old memories.

[RabidAlien]

Heard of em, but never seen em.

[bandaideman]

I do remember them so I will just pick myself up and dust me off and remember the trips they were seen on. 

[amazingkevin]

I've seen a rare few!

[Chiloquinruss]

For our local train park we always have had some Burma signs along the right of way.  Ours are railroad oriented though.  We just had our biggest meet and I made some special ones just for the event.  Russ

 

Edited August 8, 2018 by Chiloquinruss

[Scrappile]

Well, I'll be darned.... I just searched for images of Burma Shave signs. Most pictures, they were red and white.  I do not remember every seeing one in red and white.  I remember they were yellow background with green lettering....