The signs were double-sided, with the same message on the “back side.” If you were approaching a set of signs from the “other way,” you would read the jingle this way: (1947) “BURMA SHAVE / THOSE COUGHDROP BROTHERS / WE STILL CAN’T SELL / SIX MILLION OTHERS / WE’VE SOLD / ALTHO.”Īs mentioned, a frequent theme on Burma Shave signs was traffic safety. Some examples: (1940) “SAID JULIET / TO ROMEO / IF YOU / WON’T SHAVE / GO HOMEO / BURMA SHAVE.” Or how about: (1930) “DOES YOUR HUSBAND / MISBEHAVE / GRUNT AND GRUMBLE / RANT AND RAVE / SHOOT THE BRUTE SOME / BURMA SHAVE.”īurma Shave signs consisted of a series of six separate red signs mounted on posts. People became amused with the rhymes and reason of the jingles they read, which was a novel way of selling the stuff. The standard theme of course, was the promotion of shaving cream. There were over 7,000 sets of signs erected in a total of 43 states. Burma Shave signs eventually became a part of nostalgic Americana. As time evolved, the messages began to rhyme, and catchy jingles greeted the passing motorists nationwide.
The concept caught on, and signs were subsequently erected along highways across the country as shaving cream sales increased. Known as Burma Shave signs, they were first erected along two highways near Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1925 to promote a new brushless shaving cream produced by the Burma-Vita Company. During the mid-20th century, drivers across the country were reminded about traffic safety through a unique series of signs that were posted along two-lane roads. We must not only make sure that we are obeying the laws and following Census procedures, but also that we are driving defensively to watch out for what the other driver is doing. Census is a major task for any Census Field Representative.
Maintaining traffic safety while driving for the U.S. Very enjoyable reading.BURMA SHAVE SIGNS PROMOTED TRAFFIC SAFETYĪny photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
The book's best feature is a complete listing of 600 Burma-Shave jingles that lined America's highways. Brattleboro, Vt.: Stephen Greene Press, 1965.Ībout the book: The history of an American tradition-the Burma-Shave roadside ad campaign, which began in 1927. By Frank Rowsome, Jr., drawings by Carl Rose. THE VERSE BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD: THE STORY OF THE BURMA-SHAVE SIGNS AND JINGLES. with examples of these classic advertisements. An excerpt from the book Verse By the Side of the Road: The Story of Burma-Shave Signs by Frank Rowsome, Jr.
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