Burma Shave

[iiipopes]

Yes, with this being the centenary of Route 66, one item that was always out there were the series of Burma Shave advertising signs. For those who don't know what these were, here is a decent summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma-Shave and here is the website where all known series of signs are collected together: https://burma-shave.org/

Having lived on old 66 (my house was the third house from a filling station junction with a row of cabins on the highway), we had the Burma Shave signs up and down the road. So, read the Wiki article, and make up and post your own. For example:

When you drive
Along this route
Don't forget
What you're all about
Keep your face smooth
Without a doubt

Burma Shave.jpg (37.85 KiB) Viewed 243 times

[the elephant]

I read your post here…

[the elephant]

At an hour past eight…

[the elephant]

It made me aware that…

[the elephant]

It's getting a bit late.

[the elephant]

Burma Shave

[iiipopes]

If your tone
Honks, not toots
Maybe you need
A better smooch

Burma Shave.jpg (37.85 KiB) Viewed 243 times

[Jperry1466]

In June of 1961 I was 10 years old, and my family drove to California to visit relatives and see the sights, Disneyland, Marineland, etc. We drove to El Paso then hit Route 66 somewhere in New Mexico and followed it most of the rest of the trip. The interstates were just beginning construction, so all the old sights, stations, motels, etc. were still there. My dad was too cheap to buy a car with air conditioning, so we drove all the way, including through the Mojave Desert, with a tiny swamp cooler that plugged into the cigarette lighter. The long drive was miserable, but the trip was memorable. Fast forward to 2011 - my wife and I flew to Las Vegas, then rented a car and made the 5 hour drive to the Grand Canyon. On the way back, I saw a sign that pointed to an 80 mile stretch of highway that was the longest remaining segment of Route 66, so I took it. Still lots of interesting sights and a miserable long drive, but at least we were cool. There were still a few Burma Shave signs remaining.

[bort2.0]

My brother and I drove cross country in 2004. We went quickly through the eastern part, because it would be easy to get back there. Went more slowly through the western part, since it was more interesting.

Drove along some stretches of old 66. It was the week after Christmas,.so it wasn't too hot.

It was interesting. And on the AZ/NM border, I had one of the most disgusting lunches I've ever had. Food wasn't spoiled or anything, it was just... horrible. We were the only people there, and the guy working there barely spoke English, just "yip" to acknowledge what we said. It was so bad, after our food was brought out, we waited until he went around the corner, left $20 on the table and ran out the door to the car so we would be outta there before he came back to our table.

It was hilarious and gross and we were pretty road weary by that point. One we were in the car for about 30 seconds, my brother said with a straight face, "hey, let's get some lunch."

Good times.

Oh, and I think I remember seeing some Burma Shave signs, probably not original, but good enough.

Hard to believe it's been 20+ years. I don't think I've been to Arizona, Las Vegas, or the entire state of California* since then.

*Correction -- I forgot I went to San Diego a few years ago.

[MikeS]

On your quest to better play
Stop by this site every day
Folk will help show you the way
While you’re here enjoy your stay

[Rick Denney]

In June of 1961 I was 10 years old, and my family drove to California to visit relatives and see the sights, Disneyland, Marineland, etc. We drove to El Paso then hit Route 66 somewhere in New Mexico and followed it most of the rest of the trip. The interstates were just beginning construction, so all the old sights, stations, motels, etc. were still there. My dad was too cheap to buy a car with air conditioning, so we drove all the way, including through the Mojave Desert, with a tiny swamp cooler that plugged into the cigarette lighter. The long drive was miserable, but the trip was memorable. Fast forward to 2011 - my wife and I flew to Las Vegas, then rented a car and made the 5 hour drive to the Grand Canyon. On the way back, I saw a sign that pointed to an 80 mile stretch of highway that was the longest remaining segment of Route 66, so I took it. Still lots of interesting sights and a miserable long drive, but at least we were cool. There were still a few Burma Shave signs remaining.

I've driven a lot of the old U.S. 66 in the Southwest. When I worked for TxDOT, it was my responsibility to inventory what would need to be done to remove the concurrent U.S. numbered routes on Interstate highways that followed the same routes. Most of U.S. 66 west of the Mississippi followed what is now IH40, at least in general. But there were many places where the old highway alignment did not end up under the Interstate freeway pavement and still existed. So, I drove on old U.S. 66 across the Texas Panhandle, from Glen Rio, NM to the Oklahoma border. Glen Rio had one occupied house at that time--now it just a dusty ruin, at least on the Texas side. U.S. 66 is now Business Interstate 40 in Amarillo--you can see all the mid-century motels that in the day provided truckers with "relaxation." The old U.S. 66 crossed what is now Amarillo International Airport. You can still see the old right of way, but it's just different-colored grass these days. East of there, Farm Road 2161 picks up the old alignment and follows it a few miles until IH40 buries it again. East of Alanreed, the old alignment was 20 feet of concrete pavement (probably laid in the late 20's) for my inventory, but all that has been dug up and it's just different-colored grass in satellite photos. That's true all the way to Texola. New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma all removed the redundant U.S. 66 signing from IH-40 at the same time in the early 80's. I still have one of the signs.

And I have driven the old 66 roadway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, which has been abandoned and is not maintained. I was in my old Jeep Cherokee (which saw seen a lot of desert action) and we drove up the famous (and now quite remote) La Bajada Hill. Most of that route isn't even a line on a satellite photo any more. And I've driven the old alignment that still exists from Ash Fork, Arizona, to Kingman.

But in that extended inventory of 175 miles of ancient U.S. 66, and throughout the West, I did not see one single Burma Shave sign on old U.S. 66 alignments. :)

Rick "used to see them in East Texas, however" Denney

[bloke]

I remember the signs, I'm old enough to have riden on 66 when it was still a highway, and other advertisers used the same tack.

That said, I'm wondering if "Burma-Shave" might be a great brand name (or at the very least, a model name) for the next Jinbao tuba importer.

[hrender]

[hrender]

[1 Ton Tommy]

This may be the greatest thread
That for me I've ever read
I've driven there in my Chevrolet
and hope to do it another day

Burma Shave

[humBell]

I too approve of this thread.

Although i'm too lazy to frame it appropriately.

My childhood signage game (apart from finding the alphabet in order on signage ahead of others on the long drive, was counting all the Wall Drug signs.

[iiipopes]

I screwed up
Cracked my solo
Whiskers fouled
My playing down low

Burma Shave.jpg (37.85 KiB) Viewed 49 times

[iiipopes]

If Musical
Harmony
Is what
You crave
Then buy
a Tuba

Burma Shave.jpg