(Sorry I accidently published the blog I was working on for next week and reverted it back to a draft. I do hope you return for the next Revelation.)
Burma-Shave sign series first appeared in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1925, and remained a major advertising component until 1963 in most of the contiguous United States. Typically, six consecutive small signs would be posted along the edge of highways, spaced for sequential reading by passing motorists. The last sign was almost always the name of the product.
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I remember in the 1940's and 50's always looking forward to Daddy reading the signs to us as he drove past them because they always tickled him and us too the way he read them. They were posted, sometimes on fence posts, on major roads as well as rural ones. I wonder how many other drivers ran off the road paying more attention to the signs than driving.
Violets are blue
Roses are pink
On graves
Of those
Who drive and drink
Burma-Shave
Roses are pink
On graves
Of those
Who drive and drink
Burma-Shave
Doesn't
Kiss you
Like she useter?
Perhaps she's seen
A smoother rooster!!
Burma-Shave
Kiss you
Like she useter?
Perhaps she's seen
A smoother rooster!!
Burma-Shave
Train wrecks few
Reason clear
Fireman
Never hugs
Engineer
Burma-Shave
Reason clear
Fireman
Never hugs
Engineer
Burma-Shave
The whale
Put Jonah
Down the hatch
But coughed him up
Because he scratched
Burma-Shave
Put Jonah
Down the hatch
But coughed him up
Because he scratched
Burma-Shave
To kiss
A mug
That's like a cactus
Takes more nerve
Than it does practice
Burma-Shave
A mug
That's like a cactus
Takes more nerve
Than it does practice
Burma-Shave
If your peach
Keeps out
Of reach
Better practice
What we preach
Burma-Shave
Keeps out
Of reach
Better practice
What we preach
Burma-Shave
A whiskery kiss
For the one
You adore
May not make her mad
But her face will be sore
Burma-Shave
For the one
You adore
May not make her mad
But her face will be sore
Burma-Shave
These signs
We gladly
Dedicate
To men who've had
No date of late
Burma-Shave
We gladly
Dedicate
To men who've had
No date of late
Burma-Shave
On curves ahead
Remember, sonny
That rabbit's foot
Didn't save
The bunny
Burma-Shave
Remember, sonny
That rabbit's foot
Didn't save
The bunny
Burma-Shave
His cheek
Was rough
His chick vamoosed
And now she won't
Come home to roost
Burma-Shave
Was rough
His chick vamoosed
And now she won't
Come home to roost
Burma-Shave
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Ah...the good old days when everything was much simpler...including roadside commercials!
8 comments:
Fun down the memory lane! I remember from my visit all over!
Thanks for visiting Kelly! Yes, these are a fun trip down nostalgic lane.
I can see why your family looked forward to passing these signs. They are definitely interesting. I don't remember ever seeing these- but I have seen signs that used this style (a sign every so often that was part of the same message). I think it is a good technique for places that are out in the middle of nowhere- probably keeps people paying attention. :)
Thanks for sharing!
~Jess
YW Jess! Yes, they were fun. We used to make a trip every few months to visit my Grandmother in East Texas and we passed quite a few of these...and a lot of bluebonnets at Easter time. Great memories.
We've never had such amusing signs where I live, Anna. Great post!
Thanks Jill. These really were a lot of fun and Dad made them more so with his funny interpretations.
I love these signs. I don't remember Burma-Shave ads but you still see "See Rock City" painted on barns in this part of the U.S. It always takes me back to road trips as a child. Rock City is awesome, by the way--the signs are right!
Stephanie...I'll have to look up Rock City signs and hope they are as delightful as some of the Burma Shave signs were. They did make car trips a lot more fun....especially since we didn't have air conditioned cars back then. :)
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