I'd like to re-create a burma shave sign for my rec-room but cant find any measurements on size. Anybody have an old one they care to measure for me. I'd also like to ask what was your favorite saying you can remember?
Listen birds These signs cost money Roost a while, But don't get funny. - Burma Shave That set is still up on a road in Eastern Montana, I'd measure it for you but it's a long ways from my place. Gary
Round the curve Lickety Split Beautiful car Wasn't it? Burma Shave Been a long time, but as I recall the signs were about 8x 24 inches...
Not sure if this will help or not but years ago my Dad used to get a mag called Reminisce that usually had 2 or 3 Burma Shave sayings in it each issue. The family and I took ride on most of Rte 66 through AZ last summer (yeah, it was hot) and there are still some floating around out there. I betcha' if you Google burma shave you get a whole bunch of info on these things. Maybe way more than you wanted to know.
A bit more info to maybe help you along: Way back in 1925 young Allan Odell pitched this great sales idea to his father, Clinton. Use small, wooden roadside signs to pitch their product, Burma-Shave, a brushless shaving cream. Dad wasn't wild about the idea but eventually gave Allan $200 to give it a try. Didn't take long for sales to soar. Soon Allan and his brother Leonard were putting up signs all over the dang place. At first the signs were pure sales pitch but as the years passed they found their sense of humor extending to safety tips and pure fun. And some good old-fashioned down home wisdom. At their height of popularity there were 7,000 Burma-Shave signs stretching across America. The familiar white on red signs, grouped by four, fives and sixes, were as much a part of a family trip as irritating your kid brother in the back seat of the car. You'd read first one, then another, anticpating the punch line on number five and the familiar Burma-Shave on the sixth. The signs cheered us during the Depression and the dark days of World War II. But things began to change in the late Fifties. Cars got faster and superhighways got built to accomodate them. The fun little signs were being replaced by huge, unsightly billboards. 1963 was the last year for new Burma Shave signs. No more red and white nuggets of roadside wisdom to ease the journey. Drinking drivers-- Nothing worse They put The quart Before the hearse Burma-Shave Heaven's Latest Neophyte Signalled left Then turned right Burma-Shave If you don't know Whose signs these are You haven't driven Very far! Burma Shave
--My Favorite-- On curves ahead Remember, sonny That rabbit's foot Didn't save The bunny Burma-Shave ------------------ DEADLY THOUGHTS ABOUT LIGHTS THAT SHINE IF HE WON'T DIM HIS I WON'T DIM MINE Burma Shave DON'T STICK YOUR ARM OUT THE WINDOW TOO FAR IT MIGHT GO HOME IN ANOTHER CAR Burma Shave SPEED WAS HIGH WEATHER WAS NOT TIRES WERE THIN X MARKS THE SPOT Burma Shave A GUY WHO DRIVES A CAR WIDE OPEN ISN'T THINKIN' HE'S JUST HOPIN' Burma Shave AT INTERSECTIONS LOOK EACH WAY A HARP SOUNDS NICE BUT ITS HARD TO PLAY Burma Shave DROVE TOO LONG DRIVER SNOOZING WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS NOT AMUSING 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 THE CAR 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 -Mike
I don't know about Burma Shave but I'll bet if you contact Wall drug in Wall So.Dakota, they will send a Wall Drug XXX miles for free, have been doing it for years. Unless there is one on the moon, ( would not surprise me) the one at the South Pole Station is the farthest away.
36 inches wide , 9-10 feet high according to http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/waterman37.html book "The Verse by the Side of the Road" by Frank Rowsome, Jr that contains all the 600 of the Roadside Rhymes. published by Stephen Greene Press Battleboro, Vermont. THE BEARDED LADY / TRIED A JAR SHE'S NOW / A FAMOUS MOVIE STAR BURMA SHAVE IF YOU THINK / SHE LIKES YOUR BRISTLES WALK BARE-FOOTED THROUGH SOME THISTLES BURMA SHAVE SHE EYED / HIS BEARD AND SAID NO DICE THE WEDDING'S OFF I'LL COOK THE RICE BURMA SHAVE A CHIN / WHERE BARBED WIRE BRISTLES STAND IS BOUND TO BE A NO MA'AMS LAND BURMA SHAVE USE THIS CREAM / A DAY / OR TWO THEN DON'T CALL HER SHE'LL CALL YOU BURMA SHAVE A CHRISTMAS HUG A BIRTHDAY KISS AWAITS / THE WOMAN WHO GIVES THIS BURMA SHAVE SUBSTITUTES ARE LIKE A GIRDLE THEY FIND SOME JOBS THEY JUST / CAN'T HURDLE BURMA SHAVE WE'VE MADE GRANDPA LOOK SO TRIM / THE LOCAL DRAFT BOARD'S AFTER HIM BURMA SHAVE OUR FORTUNE / IS YOUR SHAVEN FACE / IT'S OUR BEST ADVERTISING SPACE BURMA SHAVE PEDRO / WALKED BACK HOME, BY GOLLY HIS BRISTLY CHIN WAS HOT-TO-MOLLY BURMA SHAVE WHEN THE STORK DELIVERS A BOY OUR WHOLE / DARN FACTORY JUMPS FOR JOY BURMA SHAVE THE POOREST GUY IN THE HUMAN RACE CAN HAVE A MILLION DOLLAR FACE BURMA SHAVE THIRTY DAYS / HATH SEPTEMBER APRIL / JUNE AND THE SPEED OFFENDER BURMA SHAVE IF DAISIES / ARE YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER KEEP PUSHIN' UP THOSE MILES-PER-HOUR BURMA SHAVE SUBSTITUTES CAN LET YOU DOWN QUICKER / THAN A STRAPLESS GOWN BURMA SHAVE THE BIG BLUE TUBE'S JUST LIKE LOUISE YOU GET / A THRILL FROM EVERY SQUEEZE BURMA SHAVE "NO, NO," / SHE SAID TO HER BRISTLY BEAU "I'D RATHER / EAT THE MISTLETOE" BURMA SHAVE TRAIN APPROACHING WHISTLE SQUEALING PAUSE! AVOID THAT / RUNDOWN FEELING! BURMA SHAVE UNLESS / YOUR FACE IS STINGER FREE YOU'D BETTER LET YOUR HONEY BE BURMA SHAVE THIS CREAM / MAKES THE GARDENER'S DAUGHTER PLANT HER TU-LIPS WHERE SHE OUGHTER BURMA SHAVE IF YOUR PEACH KEEPS OUT / OF REACH BETTER PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH BURMA SHAVE TO KISS / A MUG THAT'S LIKE A CACTUS TAKES MORE NERVE THAN IT DOES PRACTICE BURMA SHAVE
It’s amazing how just the other weekend my daughter and I were driving to Raceway Park in Indianapolis and the subject of the Burma Shave signs came up. I don’t remember how or why but sure was entertaining to read some.
Those of you who travelled Hwy 40 in Missouri in the 50's probably remember next to every Burma Shave sign there was a Pete's Cafe Boonville Mo. sign. I always wanted to stop but never did.
We have a set in the gallery (I work atht eh Kansas Museum of History) I could go take some measurements if you want.
someone told me once that there's a website with all the sayings in it. i've never found it. anyone know the web address? pete's cafe building is still there, but it's not a cafe any more. prolly been 25-30 years since it closed down. but at the exit where it was they put a car (about a 51 chevy, as i recall) off of the right-of-way on the right side of the highway, more or less parallel to the highway; ran electricity to it; wired up the rear right blinker to run all the time; and let run for years.
Just when I thought I'd read them all... I see some new ones. I had the saying I wanted picked out but not so sure now. Chaz, 8x24 was about the size I had in mind. Thanks to all.
The signs in our gallery read: Bristles Scratched His Cookie's Map That's What Made Poor Ginger Snap Burma Shave So ther are 6 signs, they measuer 18"x40". I'll take photos tomorrow, I left my camera at home today. Hope that helps Nate
My dad can't remember my name but he remembers the Burma Shave jingles, haha http://burma-shave.org/jingles/
They were great entertainment for family road trips. Burma Shave is also cheaper than the others. Even today I still use it Does your husband misbehave Grunt and grumble Rant and rave Shoot that brute some Burma Shave Cattle Crossing Means go slow That old bull Is some cow's beau Burma Shave
They read off a Burma Shave sign in "The World's Fastest Indian." Something about a girl and a date. Was fitting for the soldier he was taking across the country. Just another excuse to rent that movie again. -Brad
I've got a set of the Burma Shave signs in my garage that I bought a few years ago. I also got a paperback book with them that lists the history of Burma Shave and all of the slogans. Here's mine: Spring is here The grass has riz Where last year's Careless driver is Burma Shave Jim Winter The Hot Rod Grille Garage www.wvpinball.com
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