Burma Shave

[thedrifter]

BURMA SHAVE Before various governmental agencies started their
> safe-driving
> > programs, the Burma Shave Company had a very effective safe-driving
> program
> > that did not cost the taxpayers a penny! For those of you who never
saw
> the
> > Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the
1930s
and
> > 1940s. Before the 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 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 LOTS 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 HIM TO
> > A WARMER HEMISPHERE
> > ***Burma Shave***
> >
> > AROUND THE CURVE
> > LICKETY-SPLIT
> > IT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEW 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 ITS 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 the all time favorite:
> >
> > PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
> > TAKE IT SLOW
> > LET OUR LITTLE
> > SHAVERS GROW
> > ***Burma Shave***


Sempers,

Roger

[firstsgtmike]

Correction:

I drove cross-country several times in the '50s and enjoyed the Burma Shave signs, along with Clabber Girl Baking Soda, Dixie Peach Hair Pomade, and Harolds Club or Bust.

I never could figure out why anyone would put a sign for Reno, Nevada (Harold's Club) on a North-South Highway on the East Coast so I could read it on my way down to Florida from New England.