BURMA SHAVE SIGNS

 

       In the 1930s and 40s, before there were freeways, when everyone drove the 2 lane highways, 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 one line of a four line couplet, and the obligatory fifth sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream.  Here are some of the actual signs:

 

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD

TO GAIN A MINUTE

YOU NEED YOUR HEAD

YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT

Burma Shave

 

AT INTERSECTIONS

LOOK EACH WAY

A HARP SOUNDS NICE

BUT IT'S HARD TO PLAY

Burma Shave

 

THE ONE WHO DRIVES

WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING

DEPENDS ON YOU

TO DO HIS THINKING

Burma Shave

 

PASSING SCHOOL ZONE

TAKE IT SLOW

LET OUR LITTLE

SHAVERS GROW

Burma Shave