To jog the memories of the old-timers, and inform the younger brethren and sistren and those in other areas not familiar with the subject:
Back in the 40s, when roads were mostly 2 or 3 lanes and cars were rarely driven faster than 45 m.p.h., and when men shaved with straight or single-edge safety razors with a block of soap and a badger-hair brush, Burma Shave created one of the classic advertising campaigns for its new prepared easy-to-use shaving cream.
It consisted of a series of small red signs posted at intervals of about 300 feet along the roadsides. Each sign had a verse of a short poem; the last read, "BURMA SHAVE". As you drove along, you read the poem and the ad. These became classics. My favorite was:
Car in the ditch Driver in the tree The moon was full And so was he BURMA SHAVE
Do any of you remember some of these? (and don't tell me you can do a google and find a site with every one listed)
I don't really remember "Burma Shave's" I remember my parents reading them-- as we drove places-- but either i didn't know how to read-- or didn't know where to look for the signs-- so i never really "saw" or read one in place.
Given that all of these are safety plugs, I wonder if Burma paid a nick-el (ugh) for placing them along the median. -- By the way, if the roads were three-laned, where *was* the median?
3 lanes in each direction-- with a median strip between the opposite directions...
Now that most new interstated are 4 or 5 lanes-- ( even the LIE-- the worlds largest parking lot) is getting a 4th lane , out side of NYC limits, and the NJ turnpike is 12 lanes wide-- (6 in each direction) at least, parts of it are.
(I think inselpeter, like many NY, NYC, NYSer's doesn't drive --or drive much.)
The Station Restaurant in Ithaca has one (real thing, I believe) along side its dining car
He who drives When he's been drinking Counts on you To do his thinking Burma Shave
One I remember from my youth
Free, free A trip to Mars For 900 Empty jars Burma Shave
The first person to collect 900 empty Burma Shave jars and send them in got a free trip to Mars (Marz?), Germany.
There's a book, The Verse by the Side of the Road that not only lists the entire run but relates the story. They used to get local farmers to mount and care for the signs, keeping them clean and painted.
(I think inselpeter, like many NY, NYC, NYSer's doesn't drive --or drive much.)
Think again. At least I drive to park--most recently at the distance of a one hour subway ride from home. And in the rain.
In my personal lexicon, a road with 12 lanes in either direction (and three perpendicular in each) is a 24 (or 30) lane highway. [obnocticon]
And across the North River from us, 9W, a US route of the Burma Shave era, is a two- four- or five-lane--and was just two until they widened it for commuter traffic. 2x [obnocticon]
Route one, The Boston Post Road is more interesting, but I doubt it ever posted a Burma. [Obn]
On a two-lane highway there was no median. You just had to hope the oncoming drivers all stayed on their side. These would sometimes widen to three lanes on a long and/or steep uphill so the big trucks wouldn't hold everybody up behind them. Why I am using the past tense?? They're still here. [I need more sleep emoticon]
On a two-lane highway there was no median. You just had to hope the oncoming drivers all stayed on their side. These would sometimes widen to three lanes on a long and/or steep uphill so the big trucks wouldn't hold everybody up behind them.
This is probably one of the few times when Canadians will admit a smidgeon of envy of the US - for their interstate highways. I've driven from one side of Canada to the other on the Trans-Canada Highway (it's our main highway, it sounds like it should be big, right?), and there are substantial portions of it that are not divided. Just two lanes, that is, one in each direction, no median. In the 600 km (375 miles) from Winnipeg to Regina, 400 of those kilometres are undivided and on that whole stretch there are only two "passing lanes" - the aforementioned extra third lane to go around trucks. In fact, most of the Trans-Canada is not divided, now that I think about it. If you're behind a truck you just have to gun it and hope that you could see far enough away not to hit anyone! And driving through the Rockies is nerve-wracking for a flatlander like myself...
And driving through the Rockies is nerve-wracking for a flatlander like myself...
I agree-- US roads are, for the most part great-- I was afraid of the rockies-- till i got there--The road (I-80) was so well graded-- i hit worse grades in the east! Going through the Delaware water gap was one of the "worst" stretches-- but at least i was familiar with the road (been through it more time than i can count-) and it was early in the trip--the first 4 hours of a 5 day trip. There was some construction, and no medians, but in general, the rode was always 2 lanes in each direction, and 90% a median of 20 or more feet-- (over 6 meters).
Regarding 3 lane highways...we had one that went 50 miles or more and of course the amount of head on crashes in the middle lane was terrifically high. And yes there were Burma Shave signs usually along farm land frontage...I have thought that probably the farmers got a pittance for the use of their land???? And I know 50 mph was FAST! When I started driving my Dad would look at the windshield and say...kidding me...that he saw 50mph bugs! on it! All these experiences were in mid Indiana in the 30's and 40's.
Des, those little old highways are so much more interesting than the speedy Interstates, where often all you see is a long stretch of trees, safely fenced off from the occupants of all those moving vehicles. You could see a farm wife tending the garden, while the farmer was operating some interesting machine out in the field, and hear the cows bawling to be milked; in the towns, you had to stop for a traffic light at practically every corner, and you could see people coming out of the stores with all kinds of things, and sometimes you could see right into their houses. Lonely schools out in the middle of nowhere--probably the only one in the county--and maybe a class would be outside playing kickball. All those neon signs! Diners--coffee 10 cents, free refill. Old men in overalls, on benches around the courthouse yard. On the way to Tennessee, we'd always stop at the Wigwam motel, a concrete tepee that delighted my childish eyes. The heavy waitress, Myrtle, knew just how I liked my cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake. Thank you for this trip down memory "lane".
You are right about the Trans-Canada Highway Bean. When my cousin came in from Califorinia he was amazed that the elevated part that runs right through Montréal has no shoulder in case of emergencies and that several of the exits are from the fast lane.
(What!! You went all the way through and you didn`t stop in to see me!)
Jackie wrote >Des, those little old highways are so much more interesting than the speedy Interstates ------------------------------------------------- In summer the Interstate 93 near the N.H. seacoast is clogged with people heading for beach and mountains. Especially on long weekends! If needs be we travel at those times we take the back roads where we may have to go more slowly but at least we are "turning a wheel." Some of my more enjoyable days, travelling several times across the USA, were spent on roads parallel to Interstates. I got to my destination ... perhaps a bit more slowly but certainly with less stress and the added bonus being that I "saw" the country. wow
And, Kiwi from the capital, how many of us US'ns do you and your better half, aka SWMBO, plan to visit
Well, Anna, I'll give you fair warning: if'n they git to Looahvull, Ah just might keep 'em here so long that they won't have time for anybody else...[stocking up on Kentucky bourbon emoticon]
I hope the Zild adventurers will keep a daily journal to record the memories for later revisiting. Memories fade or get mixed up so easily without a written record. It can seem a nuisance while "on the road" but later ...well, I'm so glad I kept a journal on my first visit to Ireland. Thus spake the former reporter.
Oh, CapK ... have you ever tasted a "caught today" NH lobster? wow
Oh, CapK ... have you ever tasted a "caught today" NH lobster?
Oh, no! Nuh UH! "Let's be Ladies", huh? Sure, fine--you and Anna go off and be "Ladies" together, and meantime I'll entertain the Zilders so well they may never want to leave! Nyah, nyah! Psst--Cap. K.--those lobsters may be good, but if you'll come to Louisville, I'll get you some paua patties if I have to have them flown in from NZ!
Hmmm. I've been away for a whole 24 hours, suffering in the sun and being forced to stay in luxurious surroundings in Napier, and here you all are talking about me behind my back!
We've not made any firm plans - except, yes, to see Jackie, who wants to demonstrate why "He needed killin' " is a legitimate legal defence for murder in Ol' Kaintuck, and Wow, who insists that I admire the shortish, but beautiful NH coastline. But don't feed me lobster, please. I'm allergic to it. Worked parts of two seasons on a crayfish (lobster) boat. Never ate any of the product! Jackie's offer of paua patties would be more exceptable, except I wonder where abalones grow in the mid-West, I really do, Jackie ...
And anyone who could supply large numbers of Bluff oysters, well, both of us would move in and you'd never get rid of us until the US Immigration Service bundled us up and deported us!
Our idea is to follow Route 66, kinda, with diversions which may be longer or shorter, depending on where the subject of the diversion is. Elizabeth, any chance of moving Georgia a little further west?
We'll be typical rubberneckers. Anything that looks interesting or we've seen in some medium, or I've seen before and want to show Sandra, we'll go and see - or at least as much of it as we can do in the time we have available.
Your invitations are all very kind, and we'll try to visit as many of you as we can. It'd be really great to meet all you US'ns and maybe a Canuck or two.
I hope to have a good quality digital camera with me and when I can I'd like to put up a page on a web site with piccies of everyone (who's prepared to be photographed and exposed to public pillor... I mean, scrutiny. Plus some words, of course, how could I do it without words? That, at the end of the day, is what the Board is all about, isn't it?
I hope not! But you may have a good time seeing it *from* your rental!
If a bluff oyster's an oyster, you'll have to stop by New Orleans, you can still shuck 'em there for the price of corn. Give a holler if you need digs in Manhattan; if I get lucky, so might you and you can have the place to yourselves.
But, but, route 66 is sooooo far away. How can you possibly swing over to Montréal from all the way over there?
See now, if you start off here around June 24th, you will be just in time to celebrate Québec provincial party - St Jean Baptist (but you must be prepared to have a nip or twelve). Then, you can drive on down to Manhattan (only about 6 hours) for the 4th of July - BIG U.S. party.
For the youngsters among us "See the USA in your Chevrolet" was sung by Dinah Shore as opening of her TV variety show in days long ago.... sponsors of the show being Chevrolet cars. It was also a promotion for US tourism. ------------------------------------------------------- belM suggests Then, you can drive on down to Manhattan (only about 6 hours) for the 4th of July - BIG U.S. party.Six hours bel? In a Maserati maybe if you don't care how many traffic tickets you amass!
However from Montreal you can make a stop in God's Country -New Hampshire. From Montreal, Canada Rt 10 west to Rt 55 South, crossing border at Derby Line and picking up US Interstate 91 down to St Johnsbury Vermont where you switch to US Interstate 93 through the magnificent White Mountains to Manchester,NH -- where you swing on to Rte 101 east to the seacoast which ends about three quarters of a mile from my front door! THAT's about six hours with a stop for lunch.
We are just an hour north of Boston (and Logan International Airport - planes to everywhere) where they throw a pretty good July 4th party, being one of the original instigators of that Revolution aka The War of American Independence!
And no lobster, CapK, promise. How about a lovely tenderloin of beef roast? My son is a magnificent cook, and I'm no mean shakes in the kitchen myself! Given the beef problems in UK you might want to get all the meat you can while here as chicken is probably safest in UK these days for someone allergic to fish! See ya' wow
"six hours from Quebec to New York" Quebecs *fly* on the interstate. "Crossing at Derby Line" If you cross at Derby Line, be sure to use the main duane on the interstate. If you cut through town, the delay can be lengthy as they search your car. Believe me; I know.
Yes, CK, i do hope to see you in NY, but 6 hours is a bit optomistic (from Montreal) Vermont (I 91), is a good route-- but when i used to travel to a point north of St Johnsburry-- it was a good eight hours door to door--(and I was going to North queens, Manhattan would be another 10 to 15 miles!) and in most of Vermont I was speeding (Vermont got its hand slapped by US Highways, it was not enforcing speed limit--) so i regularly went 70 to 85 miles an hour-- as fast as my little car could go (back in the days when US cars had only 3 forward gears-- not 4 + overdrive.) But NY does put on a nice little show of fireworks for the 4th, and afterwards, you (and others) could come back to my 'county estate" for the classic cook out, eat blueberries right of the bushes -- and catch fireflies! (of course you can do all the same things, in Boston area, with Wow,--except for the fireworks-- NY show is bigger.)
Aren't you sorry you mentioned you where coming? we are fighting over getting you and your spouse to come visit like dogs over a bone!
Have a great tip, I hope to see you, but my feeling won't be hurt if you pass on coming to NY's outer boros!
i won't even bother asking if you're going to make it all the way out to the Sunshine State, but if you do i'll buy ya both a beer if you'll bring some NZ coins for my daughter's collection
All right you slowpokes....it has NEVER taken me more than six hours to drive down to Manhattan; and I've been several times. Mind you, inselpeter is right, Québecers do tend to drive a teensy bit fast .
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