Pluggers by Rick McKee for April 10, 2011

That takes me back longer than I would like to admit!

A miss, a kiss A sudden swerve Watch out That you Don’t miss the curve! Burma Shave

Or, my two personal favorites:

He thought “Proper Distance” Bunk. They pulled him out Of some guy’s trunk. Burma Shave

To pass On hills It takes a dope, Unless you have A periscope. Burma Shave

In this vale of toil and sin your head grows bald but not your chin. Burma Shave.

I believe that one is in the Smithsonian.

Oh, good one today! I remember traveling Route 66, mid 1940’s with my parents reading those signs aloud and just laughing! Everything was funny until ol’ Bessie threw a water pump. But not to worry, Dad always carried an extra!

His face Was smooth And cool as ice And oh! Louise! He smelled so nice

Burma-Shave

Thanks Gary, for some great memories, of course, I was just a little girl, but I remember those signs! I also have a book of the sayings.

Angels who guard you When you drive All retire At 65

Burma Shave

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, one and all, from a child of the Forties.

Salesmen, travelers Camper-outers All you other Whisker sprouters Don’t forget your Burma Shave

Men with whiskers ‘Neath their noses should be kissin’ Eskimoses Burma Shave

Thank you all for your own Burma Shave favorites! I remember the signs well when, as a youngster, we would be traveling through Northwest Florida (my old stomping grounds), Alabama and Georgia. My ol’ dad would get so excited when he saw the Burma Shave signs ahead, and would read them aloud as we passed them by. Years after they disappeared, he got a book, “Verse By the Side of the Road” ( I think it was called ). I always got a chuckle reading those very, very clever verses.

That’s it Gary, that’s the book I have! I’ll bet it’s not in print anymore, sadly!

Don’t know if it can still be found. And I’m not sure where my dad got it. But he loved quoting those old sayings. One of his favorites (I can still hear him quoting it) was: “Grandpa knows … it’s not too late … he’s gone to get … some widow bait … Burma Shave … My biggest regret is that he didn’t live to see “Pluggers” … he died in 1994 of Parkinson’s Disease, three years before I started working on Pluggers. But he would have loved them! My dad was a radio and TV personality in Florida back in the 40s, 50s and 60s. I sure do miss him!

Some of you may want a sneak-preview of my blog featuring my paintings, as well as an occasional Plugger ‘toon:’

rustybumpers.blogspot.com

A link will be appearing soon in the Pluggers panel.

For early Morning Pep and bounce A brand new product We announce Burma-Shave

Thanks Gary for a lovely strip today, and all the comments of everyone!

AND GARY, I THINK YOUR DAD KNOWS! :-)

Burma-Shave signs also exist, I believe, in the Henry Ford museum over in Detroit.

I grew up on all things Americana like that, and these comics, and those signs and the like, sure make me nostalgiac, even as a young pup.

Being a child of a family that was brought up in and around Howard City, MI, I’m also reminded of the tales spun of the Olson Knife Company’s similar campaign to the burma shave signs.

Gary Brookins and all other interested parties:

“The Verse By The Side Of The Road: The Story Of The Burma-Shave Signs And Jingles” by Frank Rowsome is currently available in p/b form at Amazon.com for $11.25 (there are also several used copies available on eBay too).