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Wednesday, July 12, 2017

1930' and 1940's "Golden Agers" will remember this very fondly!

From my Hamilton High Class of 1951 classmate, Bob Shinkle. This treasure from the past when good grooming was a clean shave. As you can see by the column I wrote many years ago, Burma Shave signs were all the rage back when I was a boy

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!

To My Old-As-Dirt Friends and Relatives who qualify as "old as dirt."

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.

Little Bo Peep
  Has lost her Jeep
    It struck a truck
      When she fell asleep
           Burma Shave.
A man, a miss,
  A car a curve.
     He kissed the miss,
        And missed the curve.
                 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

AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE…

SPRING HAS SPRUNG
  THE GRASS HAS RIS'
    WHERE LAST YEARS'
       CARELESS DRIVERS' IS…
          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.


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