Burma Shave is a child of the parent company Burma Vita company from Minnesota launched in 1925. The shaving company was created due to their original liniment product not having enough sales. The Burma Shave signs were found all over famous Route 66.
Their creative advertising campaign launched their business to be one of the most successful shaving companies for over 25 years. Families taking road trips would see their advertising signs on the side of the road. Sales eventually declined and the company was sold off several times.
Fortunately we have quite the history of Burma along with videos of their signs and catchy jingles. Enjoy Americana at it's finest with the following Burma History
If you don't know
Whose signs these are
You Haven't driven
Very Far!
The One Who Drives When
He's Been Drinking
Depends on you
To Do his Thinking
Commercial by Burma Shave from the 1960's
Within this Vale
Of Toil and Sin
Your Head Grows Bald
But Not Your Chin
As Fast Train Neared
Death Didn't Draft Him
He Volunteered
If Daisies Are Your
Favorite Flower
Keep Pushin' Up
Those Miles-Per-Hour
Cattle Crossing
Means Go Slow
That Old Bull
Is Some Cow's Beau
You Can Drive
A Mile A Minute
But There Is No
Future In It
Listen Birds
These Signs Cost Money
Burma Shave
So Roost Awhile
But Don't Get Funny
Million Dollar Face Sign for Sale (SOLD)
The Poorest Guy
In the Human Race
Can Have A
Million Dollar Face
Antiques Road Show - Guy bought Burma Shave Signs at yard sale for $100
Antiques Roadshow | PBS
Check out Grant Zahajko's ANTIQUES ROADSHOW appraisal of this Burma Shave Roadside Signs, ca. 1950 from Cleveland, Hour 3!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma-Shave
http://burma-shave.org/jingles/
http://fiftiesweb.com/pop/burma-shave/
https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A3152198
http://www.backwoodshome.com/feeling-nostalgic-now-youll-rave-heres-the-story-of-burma-shave/
http://www.signindustry.com/outdoor/articles/2000-02-15-giveusbackourburmashave.php3
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/66-burmashave.html
http://www.printmag.com/design-inspiration/the-morbid-roadside-ad-poetry-of-burma-shave/
http://grantmcl.tripod.com/burmashave.html
http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/signs-of-a-bygone-era-burma-shave.25435/page-4
http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/LookAround/advertspot_burmashave.htm
http://www.my-west.com/hit-the-road/tag/burma-shave
WE'VE MADE GRANDPA
LOOK SO TRIM
THE LOCAL DRAFT BOARD'S
AFTER HIM
PEDRO
WALKED BACK HOME, BY GOLLY
HIS BRISTLY CHIN
WAS HOT-TO-MOLLY
WHEN THE STORK
DELIVERS A BOY
OUR WHOLE DARN FACTORY
JUMPS FOR JOY
OUR FORTUNE
IS YOUR SHAVEN FACE
IT'S OUR BEST
ADVERTISING SPACE
THIRTY DAYS
HATH SEPTEMBER
APRIL, JUNE
AND THE SPEED OFFENDER
SUBSTITUTES
CAN LET YOU DOWN
QUICKER THAN A
STRAPLESS GOWN
THE BIG BLUE TUBE'S
JUST LIKE LOUISE
YOU GET A THRILL
FROM EVERY SQUEEZE
"NO, NO," SHE SAID
TO HER BRISTLY BEAU
"I'D RATHER EAT
THE MISTLETOE"
TRAIN APPROACHING
WHISTLE SQUEALING
PAUSE! AVOID THAT
RUNDOWN FEELING!
UNLESS YOUR FACE
IS STINGER FREE
YOU'D BETTER LET
YOUR HONEY BE
THIS CREAM MAKES THE
GARDENER'S DAUGHTER
PLANT HER TU-LIPS
WHERE SHE OUGHTER
IF YOUR PEACH
KEEPS OUT OF REACH
BETTER PRACTICE
WHAT WE PREACH
TO KISS A MUG
THAT'S LIKE A CACTUS
TAKES MORE NERVE
THAN IT DOES PRACTICE
THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR
THE CARS WAS WHIZZIN'
THE FAULT WAS HERS
THE FUNERAL HIS'N
MANY A FOREST
USED TO STAND
WHERE A LIGHTED MATCH
GOT OUT OF HAND
SHE EYED HIS BEARD
AND SAID, "NO DICE
THE WEDDING'S OFF-
I'LL COOK THE RICE"
FREE OFFER! FREE OFFER!
RIP A FENDER OFF YOUR CAR
MAIL IT IN FOR
A HALF-POUND JAR
FREE - FREE
A TRIP TO MARS
FOR 900
EMPTY JARS
DON'T TRY PASSING
ON A SLOPE
UNLESS YOU HAVE
A PERISCOPE
HENRY THE EIGHTH
SURE HAD TROUBLE
SHORT TERM WIVES
LONG TERM STUBBLE
BE A MODERN
PAUL REVERE
SPREAD THE NEWS
FROM EAR TO EAR
A CHRISTMAS HUG
A BIRTHDAY KISS
AWAITS THE WOMAN
WHO GIVES THIS
SHE PUT A BULLET
THRU HIS HAT
BUT HE'S HAD CLOSER
SHAVES THAN THAT
BACHELORS QUARTERS
DOG ON THE RUG
WHISKERS TO BLAME
NO ONE TO HUG
A CHIN WHERE
BARBED WIRE BRISTLES STAND
IS BOUND TO BE
A NO MA'AMS LAND
PAST SCHOOLHOUSES
TAKE IT SLOW
LET THE LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
THE BEARDED LADY
TRIED A JAR
SHE'S NOW A FAMOUS
MOVIE STAR
IF YOU THINK
SHE LIKES YOUR BRISTLES
WALK BARE-FOOTED
THROUGH SOME THISTLES
USE THIS CREAM
A DAY OR TWO
THEN DON'T CALL HER
SHE'LL CALL YOU
SUBSTITUTES
ARE LIKE A GIRDLE
THEY FIND SOME JOBS
THEY JUST CAN'T HURDLE
ANGELS WHO GUARD YOU
WHEN YOU DRIVE
USUALLY RETIRE
AT SIXTY-FIVE
DRINKING DRIVERS
NOTHING WORSE
THEY PUT THE QUART
BEFORE THE HEARSE
HE HAD THE RING
HE HAD A FLAT
SHE FELT HIS CHIN
AND THAT WAS THAT
IS HE LONESOME
OR JUST BLIND
THIS GUY WHO DRIVES
SO CLOSE BEHIND?
CANDIDATE SAYS
CAMPAIGN CONFUSING
BABIES KISS ME
SINCE I'VE BEEN USING
BROTHER SPEEDERS
LET'S REHEARSE
ALL TOGETHER
"GOOD MORNING, NURSE!"
HER CHARIOT RACED
AT EIGHTY PER
THEY HAULED AWAY
WHAT HAD BEN HUR
BEN MET ANNA
MADE A HIT
NEGLECTED BEARD
BEN-ANNA SPLIT
DON'T TAKE A CURVE
AT SIXTY PER
WE'D HATE TO LOSE
A CUSTOMER
BURMA SHAVE
IF YOU PASS
ON THE YELLOW LINE
HOPE THE FUNERAL'S
YOURS, NOT MINE
CATTLE CROSSING
MEANS GO SLOW
THAT OLD BULL
IS SOME COW'S BEAU
GRANDPA'S BEARD
WAS STIFF AND COARSE
AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED
HIS FIFTH DIVORCE
DOES YOUR HUSBAND MISBEHAVE
GRUNT AND GRUMBLE
RANT AND RAVE
SHOOT THE BRUTE
DIPLOMACY IS
TO DO AND SAY
THE NASTIEST THINGS
IN THE NICEST WAY
OF ALL THE DRUNKS
WHO DRIVE ON SUNDAY
SOME ARE STILL
ALIVE ON MONDAY
JUST THIS ONCE
AND JUST FOR FUN
WE'LL LET YOU FINISH
WHAT WE'VE BEGUN
? ? ?
IF HUGGING ON HIGHWAYS
IS YOUR SPORT
TRADE IN YOUR CAR
FOR A DAVENPORT
SUBSTITUTES
THAT PROMISE PERFECTION
ARE LIKE SOME CANDIDATES
AFTER ELECTION
DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
MANY A WOLF
IS NEVER LET IN
BECAUSE OF THE HAIR
ON HIS CHINNY-CHIN-CHIN
SAY, BIG BOY
TO GO THRU LIFE
HOW'D YOU LIKE
A WHISKERED WIFE?
THE CHICK HE WED
LET OUT A WHOOP
FELT HIS CHIN AND
FLEW THE COOP
TRAINS DON'T WANDER
ALL OVER THE MAP
FOR NO ONE SITS
ON THE ENGINEER'S LAP
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