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

Remember these? 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 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 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

And my all time favorite:
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!”

“LOL, boy, do I remember them signs. Going cross country with Dad, mom, and my three siblings in a old station wagon and pulling a little camper/trailer and all points of interest in the U.S.: Rushmore, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Tetons, Badlands, New England, well....you get the idea.....some remnants of those old signs might still exist in some parts..........”

“Ive never heard of them before.”

“here we have old man winter and a babe in the woods.”

“hey, whatever works...............”

“In this vale
Of toil and sin
The head grows bald
But not the chin
Burma Shave”

“I'm Having Fun
With Rhyme And Quip
But Only 'Cause
I Like To Lip
Burma Shave”

“I have a video about Burma Shave signs. I may have to dig it out.”

“Geo, I saw it once not long ago..I think it was on TV, a special or somethin.......
last edited: 1/25/06 8:39:29 AM”

“Growing up, we lived in San Diego, El Paso, Houston, Abilene, Ogden, Boulder, Valp. FL, Dayton, and DC suburbs. "Home" was ABQ where all the Grandparents were. Family of five on USAF officers pay, we drove everywhere and saw many, many Burma shave signs. They were a welcome disstraction!”

“yeah, path, us kids really looked for those signs when we were traveling........kinda like looking for a Stuckey's............”

“I didn't realize as a kid just how perilous it was to be one of a gaggle of kids in one of those old(then new) staion wagons.

We certainly packed 'em in to the old Ranch Wagon.”

“...throw some pillows and a few blankets back there and us four kids could sleep, watch the world go by, and make gestures to all who passed or got passed............”

“IF YOUR GIRL'S HAIRY
THEN YOU SHOULD LEAVE 'ER
NOT A BURDEN FOR YOU TO CARRY
HAVE HER SHAVE HER BEAVER
BURMA SHAVE”

“If Nigal's Post
Is Upside Down
Just Turn It Over
And Kiss The Frown
Burma Shave”

“that is like the "See Rock City" signs that were painted on the roofs or sides of barns. Very few of them left anymore.”

“My dad took a piece of plywood, fitted it cargo area of the station wagon, covered it with padding and naugahide.”

“Nuttin' say "pimp" like good naugahide.”

“must be a southern thing...i've never heard of it before...barbasol(sp) was invented and made in Indiana so i think they have our market cornered”

“The only reason I've heard of it is because some old alumni from my college have talked about it on the alumni chatboard.

Bunch of old people... ;)”

“I think it is more of a western thing, but not sure.

Heh, heh. I'll tell my dad you said that Nigal. That'll have his ears steaming. When he gets out of hand we start calling him "The Great Santini". USAF not USMC, but if the shoe fits...”

“Burma shave was all over Minnesota and Wisconsin as well. Good memories.

When in your car
and feelin' crappy
don't feel so bad
you could be Chappy
Burma Shave.

Nimblefoot = 2
Chapster = 0”

“A nimblefoot
Is half the gain
To really rock
You need a brain
Burma Shave

:p”

“I knew I could count on you.”

“and I haven't even had my coffee yet.......”

“This thread is crawlin' with old farts.”

“On curves ahead
Remember, sonny
That rabbit's foot
Didn't save
The bunny
Burma-Shave”