One of the great bits of American nostalgia is the Burma-Shave sign.  Burma Shave was a brand of shaving cream, and their advertising gimmick from the 1920’s to the early 1960’s was planting small roadside signs just far enough apart that motorists seeing them would recognize a creative rhyme, ending with a sign that said “Burma-Shave.”  A few of the classic Burma-Shave sign series included:

On curves ahead
Remember, sonny
That rabbit’s foot
Didn’t save
The bunny
Burma-Shave

His tenor voice
She thought divine
‘Til whiskers scratched
Sweet Adeline
Burma-Shave

Don’t stick your elbow
Out too far
Or it may go home
In another car!
Burma-Shave

Cattle crossing
Means go slow
That old bull
Is some
Cow’s beau
Burma-Shave

Even if your dad is too young to remember the Burma-Shave signs, it is a piece of Americana that we can replicate now to recognize Dad for his birthday, Father’s Day or any other event.  Just a little creativity and pre-planning can create a great and memorable gift for Dad.

You will need some write-on signs from a local party store or you can make your own with some foam board taped or stapled onto wooden stakes.  The signs should be about 2 feet by 3 feet or so, just large enough to be visible from a passing car.  Then compose your four or five line verse, putting one line on each sign and saving a blank 5th or 6th sign for the “advertisement.”  You might even want to put a photo of dad on the last sign; consider one from his younger days.  

Then, place the signs about a block or so apart along a road leading into or away from your home or dad’s place of business.

 

You might want to check your local sign ordinance to make sure that you are not violating any local law. Also, if you are placing the signs on private property, make sure that the property owner is OK with you placing it there.  Once the owner knows the reason for the sign, he or she will likely be just fine with it.

Place the signs in time for dad to see them on his way to or from work.  Sometimes, it is kind of fun to put the signs near Dad’s work so that his colleagues can see them and share in the fun as well.  He will clearly be the talk of the office or workplace all day long!  

Craft your verse. Consider a couple of these as ideas.

You taught us how to live
And how to see things through
We learned to always give
From our great dad - that’s you!
Happy Birthday John Smith

We’re happy you're our Dad
And so we want to say
We love you, Dad, and wish you
A Happy Father's Day.
For our dad, Jake Jones

There once was a father named Fred
Who had little hair on his head
But he opened tight lids and loved all his kids
And tucked them each night in their beds.
Happy Father’s Day, Fred

You are the man
The best of the best
Your biggest fans
Are back in your nest.
Happy Father’s Day

So, get creative and think of some things you want to tell your dad.  Put four rhyming thoughts on Burma Shave signs and then get to work!  Dad will be surprised with the thought and happy that you put the time and energy into the project.  And you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a great birthday, Father’s Day or other special day memory with your amazing father!