Burma Shave Rymes

What? You don't know what a Burma Shave sign is? You say it was before your time? Burma

Shave roadside signs captivated highway travelers all over the country from the 1920's till the 1950's. The signs were the brainchild of Allen Odell, son of Burma Shave's founder, Clifford Odell. He got the idea from gas station signs that told travelers there were gas, oil and restrooms ahead. He thought, Why couldn't you sell shaving cream that way?
The white-on-red-highway signs consisted of several lines of rhyme each. Each line was on its own separate sign and the series of four signs were spaced far enough apart so that travelers could read the complete rhyme while driving along at a pretty good speed. The Burma-Shave signs had a fifth line to it's rhymes reading simply "Burma Shave", understandably to advertise the product, which was shaving cream. Burma Shave signs got more attention than newspaper or magazine advertisements could hope to win. The Burma Shave company devoted many signs to the cause of highway safety:

Burma Shave rhymes covered several themes: public service, straight advertising and exaggerated humor. They were fun and made many a long, tiring trip pleasant. The signs practically had the attention of every literate passerby. It was difficult to read only one Burma-Shave sign. With their jingle cadence and folk humor the country grew addicted.

   By the 1950s, when long distance motorists were lucky to average 30 miles per hour, Odell had 7,000 quintets of signs strung along U.S. roadsides. But by the 1960s, times had changed. America was blanketed by superhighways and faster cars. The shaving cream that smelled like soap and its white-on-red highway signs of verse had fallen by the wayside.
   John Flaherty of Pittsburgh, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Airforce, has written a collection of original roadside rhymes modeled after the Burma-Shave rhymes. Flaherty sent the Jeannie-Rhymes to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission with hopes they would be used to promote safe driving on the nation's first superhighway. Mr. Flaherty dedicated the rhymes to the memory of his beloved daughter, Jeannie, who was killed by a runaway automobile.
   In a letter written to the Turnpike Flaherty explained, "The idea for these rhymes came to me when I was recalling those wonderful Burma Shave roadside rhymes. As I reminisced I thought about using the same medium - catchy rhymes on roadside signs spaced far enough apart to promote courtesy and safety on our highways." Flaherty recalls that the rhymes started coming to him on his daily walks. He believes from his daughter, Jeannie. Soon, he began carrying a pen and paper to jot them down. "Some of the Jeannie-Rhymes are patriotic, Flaherty explained, "to remind us of what a great and wonderful country the United States is. Rhymes 1006 through 1013 may be of particular interest as they pertain to the Pennsylvania Turnpike." Certain Jeannie-Rhymes strike a chord for the consumer, and others are humorous to keep traveling less stressful.
   Flaherty, who was a liaison officer for the Airforce Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, before retiring 8 years ago, said, "Even if one driver absorbs the message and it could save lives and cut down on accidents, it would make it worthwhile to me."
   Turnpike Deputy Executive Director of Customer Service James Alexander Jr. thanked Mr. Flaherty for sharing the Jeannie-Rhymes with the Turnpike in a lettter. "I'm certain this has been a labor of love and fulfillment. I personally remember many of the Burma Shave signs and always found them entertaining." Alexander continued, "Although the Pennsylvania Turnpike limits signs along the roadway to minimize driver distraction, we are currently giving increased focus to how we relate to our driving customers. With your kind permission, we may be able to use these in some other form of customer service publication."

THIS WAS ONCE AN ABANDONED RAILROAD BED THAT BECAME PENNSYLVANIA'S TURNPIKE INSTEAD	SING A SONG OF SAFETY, LET'S ALL SING IT UP, "WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING ALWAYS BUCKLE UP."
MAY PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE SEE ALL SAFE DRIVERS MAY ALL ITS TRAVELERS BE SAFE ARRIVERS.	MAY A SAFE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE WE ACHIEVE WE PRAY ALL WHO ENTER WILL SAFELY LEAVE.
WHATEVER THE WEATHER, GOOD OR LOUSY, CONDITIONS ARE BAD FOR DRIVING DROWSY.	PLEASE DON'T DRIVE SAFETY DEFICIENT. OUR STATE TROOPERS ARE VERY EFFICIENT.

Today one of the last Burma Shave signs has been preserved in the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. It reads:

Thanks to our valued Turnpike customer, John Flaherty, for reacquainting us with this fascinating piece of roadway history. We'd love to hear about other such achievements by the super customers of America's first superhighway!