Comments on: How Burma Shave sent Frenchie to Mars http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 09:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Patrick Dodds http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839936 Patrick Dodds Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839936 Lovely story - ta for that. Lovely story – ta for that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840450 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840450 "which they insisted was pronounced, "Mars"" I got the impression this was known; otherwise it would simply read "which is pronounced, 'Mars'" However thanks for the explanation of how to pronounce an Umlaut, I've always wondered! “which they insisted was pronounced, “Mars”"

I got the impression this was known; otherwise it would simply read “which is pronounced, ‘Mars’”

However thanks for the explanation of how to pronounce an Umlaut, I’ve always wondered!

]]> By: GuyInMilwaukee http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839939 GuyInMilwaukee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839939 There's also a Red Owl still operating in Green Bay. Time for a road trip. http://bit.ly/bH0Wte There’s also a Red Owl still operating in Green Bay.
Time for a road trip. http://bit.ly/bH0Wte

]]> By: spicker http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839942 spicker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839942 Um... Moers is not a small village. Its population is slightly more than 100k actually. I should know, its about 10km from where I live. Even in 1958 it had around 50k Um… Moers is not a small village. Its population is slightly more than 100k actually. I should know, its about 10km from where I live. Even in 1958 it had around 50k

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839960 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839960 So sometimes Moers is less. So sometimes Moers is less.

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839961 Brainspore Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839961 This is a great precedent for men's toiletry product advertising, because it suggests the possibility that Old Spice will begin honoring the many promises made by their latest spokesmanlyman. This is a great precedent for men’s toiletry product advertising, because it suggests the possibility that Old Spice will begin honoring the many promises made by their latest spokesmanlyman.

]]> By: ttrentham http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839964 ttrentham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839964 900 jars at $0.15 each, that's $135. Assuming that he had to pay for most of them, that's still a good deal for a trip for two from Wisconsin to Germany in 1958. My first google result for airfare in 1958 yielded $453 to fly from NY to London. 900 jars at $0.15 each, that’s $135. Assuming that he had to pay for most of them, that’s still a good deal for a trip for two from Wisconsin to Germany in 1958. My first google result for airfare in 1958 yielded $453 to fly from NY to London.

]]> By: cinemajay http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839965 cinemajay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839965 YES! There was one in western WI, Hudson I believe, that used to call them selves the "Price Rebels" and they had minutemen painted the big glass windows. Ah, those were the days... YES! There was one in western WI, Hudson I believe, that used to call them selves the “Price Rebels” and they had minutemen painted the big glass windows.

Ah, those were the days…

]]> By: Forbes http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839968 Forbes Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839968 A longer account of the "Send Frenchie to Mars" story, including the telegrams exchanged between French and the Burma-Shave company, can be found at http://www.snopes.com/business/market/mars.asp. Burma-Shave initially tried to discourage Frenchie by pointing out that they'd only promised a trip *to* Mars, and wired him this reply: If A Trip To Mars You Earn Remember, Friend There's No Return A longer account of the “Send Frenchie to Mars” story, including the telegrams exchanged between French and the Burma-Shave company, can be found at http://www.snopes.com/business/market/mars.asp. Burma-Shave initially tried to discourage Frenchie by pointing out that they’d only promised a trip *to* Mars, and wired him this reply:

If A Trip
To Mars You Earn
Remember, Friend
There’s No Return

]]> By: Cochituate http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-841771 Cochituate Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-841771 Red Owl was a Minnesota based chain when I moved to St. Paul in 1979. We had a Red Owl a few blocks from our house when Marge and I moved in, in 1990, and the sign came down within the year. It's now the flagship Kowalskis Market. There used to be another Red Owl on West 7th Street that was turned into one of the world's weirdest Post Office around the same time. A Red Owl store sign showed up in the Coen Brothers movie A SERIOUS MAN I am told, but that's one movie I haven't seen yet. Here's a nice jpeg of their logo character: http://www.ibtimes.com/data/blogs_editor/cluewagon/logo.jpg Red Owl was a Minnesota based chain when I moved to St. Paul in 1979. We had a Red Owl a few blocks from our house when Marge and I moved in, in 1990, and the sign came down within the year. It’s now the flagship Kowalskis Market. There used to be another Red Owl on West 7th Street that was turned into one of the world’s weirdest Post Office around the same time.

A Red Owl store sign showed up in the Coen Brothers movie A SERIOUS MAN I am told, but that’s one movie I haven’t seen yet.

Here’s a nice jpeg of their logo character:
http://www.ibtimes.com/data/blogs_editor/cluewagon/logo.jpg

]]> By: Rich Keller http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839990 Rich Keller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839990 Odd Wisconsin? My sentiments, exactly. Since I've moved back to Wisconsin, I've been using the portmanteaux of Oddsconsin and Weirdsconsin once in a while. There's enough kookiness here for our own Travel Channel series. I remember the Red Owl at 84th and Greenfield in West Allis. Odd Wisconsin? My sentiments, exactly. Since I’ve moved back to Wisconsin, I’ve been using the portmanteaux of Oddsconsin and Weirdsconsin once in a while. There’s enough kookiness here for our own Travel Channel series.

I remember the Red Owl at 84th and Greenfield in West Allis.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840009 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840009 I wonder if this helped inspire Heinlein's "Have Space-Suit, Will Travel opening. I wonder if this helped inspire Heinlein’s “Have Space-Suit, Will Travel opening.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840012 Donald Petersen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840012 Though Frenchie's a Hero of mine, His head resembles Frankenstein. Though Frenchie’s a
Hero of mine,
His head resembles
Frankenstein.

]]> By: Znaps http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840030 Znaps Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840030 Looks more like Herman Munster to me... Who was also attributed to Frankenstein. Looks more like Herman Munster to me… Who was also attributed to Frankenstein.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840034 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840034 Where's Rene? Where's Frenchie? (I can't believe Boing Boing didn't catch this connection!) Where’s Rene? Where’s Frenchie?

(I can’t believe Boing Boing didn’t catch this connection!)

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840045 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840045 Maybe there's moer than one village with that name. Maybe there’s moer than one village with that name.

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840057 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840057 This is the best transportation I ever got out of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXMyBW7p9ao">Burma Shave</a>... This is the best transportation I ever got out of Burma Shave…

]]> By: Lars Haeh http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840059 Lars Haeh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840059 I'm not exactly Mr. Safety, but this is ridiculous. IIRC, rocket with a C sized motor will get up to 30mph before leaving the end of the launch pad guide rod, and 200mph in about 2 seconds after that. Getting hit with a sparkly rocket is not exactly anyone's idea of a good time. They are pretty safe if you use proper, well aligned stabilization fins. Much better to just buy a kit, the kits are cheap and safe if you follow the instructions. I’m not exactly Mr. Safety, but this is ridiculous. IIRC, rocket with a C sized motor will get up to 30mph before leaving the end of the launch pad guide rod, and 200mph in about 2 seconds after that. Getting hit with a sparkly rocket is not exactly anyone’s idea of a good time. They are pretty safe if you use proper, well aligned stabilization fins. Much better to just buy a kit, the kits are cheap and safe if you follow the instructions.

]]> By: EeyoreX http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840110 EeyoreX Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840110 <quote>I got referred to this site, and this article makes no sense to me. I think I'm in the wrong demographic?</quote> This comment totally wins all the series of tubes, forever. It's like the most verbose "Meh" ever! I got referred to this site, and this article makes no sense to me. I think I’m in the wrong demographic?

This comment totally wins all the series of tubes, forever.

It’s like the most verbose “Meh” ever!

]]> By: Annika http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840397 Annika Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840397 Also, the pronunciation isn't really similar to "Mars". It's hard to explain to people who don't speak German, but the "oe" in "Moers" is pronounced like the Umlaut "ö" which is a bit similar to how the English word "nerd" is pronounced ;-) not quite the same but best I can do. Also, the pronunciation isn’t really similar to “Mars”. It’s hard to explain to people who don’t speak German, but the “oe” in “Moers” is pronounced like the Umlaut “ö” which is a bit similar to how the English word “nerd” is pronounced ;-) not quite the same but best I can do.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839913 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839913 I got referred to this site, and this article makes no sense to me. I think I'm in the wrong demographic? I got referred to this site, and this article makes no sense to me. I think I’m in the wrong demographic?

]]> By: Steaming Pile http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839915 Steaming Pile Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839915 The Burma-Shave people were probably pleased as punch about that. They moved a lot of product, and they got a lot of (almost) free publicity. All it cost them was a trip to Germany. Brilliant! The Burma-Shave people were probably pleased as punch about that. They moved a lot of product, and they got a lot of (almost) free publicity. All it cost them was a trip to Germany. Brilliant!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839918 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839918 Red Owl groceries! That brings back memories of growing up in WI :) Red Owl groceries! That brings back memories of growing up in WI :)

]]> By: dole http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839919 dole Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839919 This story made the day merrier but I'm still waiting on that harrier This story
made the day merrier
but I’m still waiting
on that harrier

]]> By: GuyInMilwaukee http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839927 GuyInMilwaukee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839927 Wow.. you just sent me back. I remember the Red Owl stores as a kid. Good times, man.... Wow.. you just sent me back. I remember the Red Owl stores as a kid. Good times, man….

]]> By: GuyInMilwaukee http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839930 GuyInMilwaukee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839930 Holy crap. One still exists! http://www.brownlowsredowl.com/ Holy crap. One still exists!
http://www.brownlowsredowl.com/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-840445 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-840445 I believe you mean Frankenstein's Monster ... Frankenstein was the 'doctor'. I believe you mean Frankenstein’s Monster … Frankenstein was the ‘doctor’.

]]> By: snowraver1 http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839934 snowraver1 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839934 This reminds me of the Pepsi//Harrier Aircraft thing from the late 90's. This reminds me of the Pepsi//Harrier Aircraft thing from the late 90′s.

]]> By: slugabed http://boingboing.net/2010/07/21/how-burma-shave-sent.html#comment-839935 slugabed Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-839935 I still want a harrier jet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_v._Pepsico,_Inc. I still want a harrier jet:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_v._Pepsico,_Inc.

]]>