Subject: FW: Burma Shave Signs - You deserve a break today, Burma Shave.
Think about it---this tells you the rate of speed that the cars went at that time. You could actually read these signs!
Don't stick your elbow
Out so far
It may go home
In another car.
BURMA SHAVE
Those Grand Old Burma Shave Road Signs
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
Remember these?
For those who never saw any of the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the1930'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.
Here are more of the actual signs:
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 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
> >>> >> Burm a 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
> >>> >>
> >>> >> And my all time favorite:
> >>> >> PASSING SCHOOL ZONE
> >>> >> TAKE IT SLOW
> >>> >> LET OUR LITTLE
> >>> >> SHAVERS GROW
> >>> >> Burma Shave