Burma Shave....For All You Old Timers....

SOME of you may remember these...also See Rock City and Ruby Falls painted on barn roofs along the highways!

A message from “years gone by.”

A man, a miss,
A car, a curve.
He kissed the miss,
And missed the curve.
I'm sure that Burma Shave actually saved some lives. People laughed and then 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!

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 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! I loved reading them.



Have a great day!

I remember seeing them
when I was a kid,
but can't remember
what they said.

Yep.....i remember them.....they were still around thru the 50s

Thanks for posting Bruce. I don't remember them because my Dad was not a person to travel. I think I was in my teens before I ever left Houma and that was to go to Grand Isle. It was in the '60's that we started going on short trips and only when someone else was driving. My Dad was always afraid that he would not be able to find his way home.
"gene"

Never heard of them but did enjoy reading them here! Thanks Bruce!

I remember too. Had to read fast cause Dad drove fast.

We traveled all over the country for my father's pipeline job and it was sort of a game for us to look for them (the Ruby Falls and Rock City ads, as well). Saw some out west a few years ago but don't recall where.

Well, I guess I am just a youngster because I can't remember ever seeing them. Thanks Mr. Bruce for the post. It helped me to realize that I am not as old as I sometimes feel. LOL. More good history.

Thanks for posting them. They were before my time ,but i enjoyed reading them.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

I have read these a few times and am always reminded of my first used Car ==== 57 chevy,, the first time I went to put gas in I was on fumes,,,, there were several helpers that also could not find where the Nozzel went !!!!! Behind the tail light on the drivers side