Verse by the Side of the Road: The Story of the Burma-Shave Signs and Jingles

by Frank Rowsome Jr.

Book Overview

"In the fall of 1925, young Allan Odell conceived the idea of using consecutive signs along the roadside. . . . In 1963 the last signs were taken down, ending the most famous outdoor advertising venture ever."--1977 Minnesota Almanac

The whole story is in this book, plus all the jingles used. The signs are gone now, except for one set on permanent display at The Smithsonian. You can have them all, always, in your own library with this...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452267625
• ISBN13: 9780452267626
• Release Date: September 1979
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

A fun book for us old-timers

We've had this book for a few years and I recently ordered another as a gift for a friend in our age group (seniors). I think this book includes ALL the Burma-Shave messages, including many which were rejected by the company, some of which are funny. Anyone over 60 will remember these ubiquitous signs all over the country; we always looked forward to reading them while riding with our folks! Younger readers with an interest in America's less-serious ("folk") culture will probably enjoy it, too.

Wonderful book

This book brings back wonderful memories of my childhood travelling to Missouri to see my grandparents. Great to know these sayings have been preserved!

Captivating story of one of advertising's greatest triumphs

With the low-brow humor of "whazzzzzup" and high-speed editing of MTV-style ads dominating the landscape, it's almost hard to imagine how memorable the quaint multi-sign Burma-Shave ads were. The combination of clever verse and brilliant exposition -- stretching along the wide-open road until the punch line could be delivered -- is unlike any other ad delivery in history.Author Frank Rowsome, Jr. tells the story of the campaign's creation and life, and provides a listing of all signs from the first in1927 ("Shave the modern way / No Brush / No Lather / No Rub-in / Big Tube 35-c Drug Stores / Burma Shave") through their last in 1963 ("Our Fortune / Is Your / Shaven Face / It's Our Best / Advertising Space / Burma-Shave"). In between is an amazingly clever collection of poems, including contest winners, shorter signs for smaller displays, spin-off tooth powder and lotion jingles, and regional ads.Great reading for those remembering the signs as well as those who just want to get a smile from some great advertising - one of the USA's most underappreciated art forms.

Best of nostalgia

I read this book twenty odd years ago, and I loved it. It brought back such fond childhood memories of my days on the farm in Belsano, PA, where a set of the signs stood soldier-like in the lower field of my grandad's farm. I heard from the grown-ups that someone paid him to put them there, and money was scarce in those days.I was always intrigued by those signs, so when I saw the book advertised for the first time, it was a must-have for me. I cherished owning a complete set of the verses, most of which I'd never seen. The book is well-written in that it has a lot of historical fact, loads of humor, and the story-telling holds your interest to the last page. One of those "can't put it down" types.Somewhere in my travels, I've lost my copy and have mourned it's loss. Thanks to Internet, I will once again have my own cherished copy of "Verse by the Side of the Road."

A must for old car buffs!

If you currently own a car built before 1965, there's a pretty good chance you remember driving past those wonderful Burma Shave signs.How delightful those signs were as we went on Sunday drives with Mom and Dad. Here is not only the complete history of the company but also ALL of the rhymes.