Burma Shave signs

My dad was a long haul trucker and with many boring miles having a little
Diversion like billboards broke up the monotony.
I an not sure how many different sets of signs that Burma Shave had, but my dad
Memorized them all. When we were on vacation my dad would see one or two of
The signs and he would tell us what the remaining signs would say. Not very exciting
By todays standards, but we sure enjoyed it.
This is one set of signs that we have in the Hershey AACA museum.

 

There was a thread on this.
Lots of discussion.
It was beyond yesterday

 

LOTS of great signs from Burma Shave- I learned about them (when I was little) in my dad's early Model Railroading magazines

Here's a great set!

 

Those were a highlight of a trip when I was kid. You'd see the damned things in the absolute middle of nowhere! They must have had a competition to see who could find the most obscure locations to plant them.

 

Were those the ones that featured in the world’s fastest Indian ?

 

Yes.

 

Used to see a bunch going to Florida down the old Route 301 before I 95 came into being.

 

When and where were these around. If I ever saw one I don’t remember.

 

Cool pop culture item, I've never seen them.

Being on the road, and the sights we see along the way is as much of car experience as the cars themselves. Some of my most memorable road trips were in plain old cars. The ones in hot rods are even better.

 

They used rural roads. The signs were innocuous. Their forte was a little catchy phrase spread along the road. It was cheap and easier than billboards.
A little paint, and whatever kept the farmer happy to have a jingle along his fence line.
You didn't see one they were series four or six in row, a couple of car lengths apart. They were just like six or eight feet tall.
Always ended with the exclaimated "BURMA SHAVE!"
These were the days before the interstate highway system.

 

In Alabama in the 50's, they were everywhere. Reading Burma Shave signs and counting VW bugs kept us kids busy during the 100 mile ride to the grandparents house. OH !!!! forgot, counting cows

 

Mid 50’s in California. Very common when driving to the San Francisco are from Los Angeles.

 

Also out of state license plates and how many cars in a train when caught at a RR crossing.

 

Done both of those, now I try to decipher the graffiti on the side of the train cars.

 

Kinda like the Walls Drug store signs.

 

Years ago there was a comedy movie in which Carol Burnett said "I feel sorry for anyone who is too young to remember Burma Shave signs." That has stuck with me for years for some reason.
And up here in the PNW there used to be Tiny's Fruit Stand signs from Cashmere, WA that were placed all over the state.

 

Anyone remember the Stuckey's signs in the Southwest? Billboards telling you how far to the next Stuckey's and pushing their Pecan Rolls. Popular in the '6-'s and 70's.

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/burma-shave-signs.658462/

 

Don't try passing
On a slope
Unless you have
A periscope
BURMA SHAVE

The only one I remember

 

I remember seeing them on back roads in Kentucky in the mid 50s.

She kissed the hairbrush by mistake,
She thought it was her husband, Jake.
Burma Shave

 

Try watching the driving sequence in the film 'The World's Fastest Indian' where Anthony Hopkins and the airman are reading the signs

 

I’d like to see the Pontiac sign too.

 

So y'all know the standard for shaving was a round cake in cup. Watered and rub with a small brush to make lather. Burma shave changed that. The cream came in a tube and ready to use with no brush.

 

There is a book on them. It’s called, I believe, “Signs on the Side of the Road”. It contains all of their rhymes. I had a copy once and I’m sure it’s in storage in my garage.

 

I have never used Berma shave .

but about 10 or so years ago I found an old Gillette shaving kit at a flea market , safety razor handle , badger hair brush and a few other things in a kit with a shaving mug .

bought a circle of shaving soap at the local pharmacy .

I don’t care 5 blade , ceramic blade , swivel ball multi angle chin protector bull crap these new razors try and pull the wool over your eyes .

that single razor and brush shave is the Smooooothest shave you’ll ever have .

 

Here is the one I came up with for our wedding. I think it went well as we are still married-even after my craziness about cars takes over occasionally.

mike