Thursday, May 29, 2014

Lessons From Burma Shave


For those who never saw any of the Burma Shave Signs (a popular Shaving Cream years back ), here is a Quick Lesson in our history of the 1930's,'40's & 50's.
 
Before there were Interstate Highways, when everyone drove the old 2 Lane Roads, Burma Shave Signs would be posted all over the country, along side these old roads. They were small Red signs with White letters.  5 signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet & the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave.
 
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!