Resources
|
Roadside Slogans of the 1950s |
|
| In 1925, Allan Odell started using small,
wooden roadside signs to advertise a new product, Burma-Shave, a
brushless shaving cream. Allan and his brother Leonard put up more than 7,000 Burma-Shave signs across the roads of America. Each sign contained one line of a short little jingle. Children and families would read the first one, then another, and try to guess the last line. The words "Burma-Shave" were listed on sign number six. Some examples of the Burma-Shave signs are shown below. Notice that some signs are about the shaving cream, and others contain driving tips. |
|
|
I'd
heard it praised |
The
monkey took |
Jar so
big |
| Substitutes Can do More harm Than city fellers On a farm Burma-Shave |
These
signs Are not For laughs alone The face they save May be your own Burma-Shave |
Jar
so big Cost so small Coolest Smoothest Shave of all Burma-Shave |
| Don't Try passing On a slope Unless you have A periscope Burma-Shave |
It
has a tingle And a tang That starts The day off With a bang Burma-Shave Lotion |
For
early Morning Pep and bounce A brand new product We announce Burma-Shave Lotion |
| No
matter The price No matter how new The best safety device In your car is you Burma-Shave |
Around The curve Lickety-split It's a beautiful car Wasn't it? Burma-Shave |
Better
try Less speed per mile That car May have to Last a while Burma-Shave |
visitors as of September 10, 2001