Burma Shave

This says they were from the 30's and 40's, but they continued on longer, as I remember them, probably during the 50's. We all watched for those signs, it was our entertainment on road trips.

These will bring back some memories for those of you who traveled Routes 66 and 99 in the old days before Interstates. And that makes you how old?



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 dirt...

LIKE ME.