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.