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The Legacy Collection:
Recognized worldwide as one of the foremost painters of Americana, Charles Wysocki's endless creativity and skill will continue to delight collectors and admirers. Before his death in July of 2002, Charles made fourteen special paintings, printed and signed each print. Then he sealed each of these fourteen editions and put them in safekeeping to be released after his death.
With the establishment of the Charles and Elizabeth Wysocki Charitable Gift Fund, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Legacy Collection print will be contributed to the Fund to support the American arts and to assist those who aspire to the American dream. Contributions will be made from the Fund in the form of scholarships, gifts and grants.
Burma Road
Way back in 1925, Allan Odell pitched this great sales idea to his father, Clinton who was the owner of Burma-Shave. Use small, wooden roadside signs to pitch their product, Burma-Shave, a brushless shaving cream. The year was 1925 and the automobile has people beginning to take to the roads of America. Allan put up his first signs in a farmer's field along Highway 65 between Albert Lea and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
At first the signs were pure sales pitch, but as the years passed they found their sense of humor extending to safety tips and pure fun. At their height of popularity there were 7,000 Burma-Shave signs stretching across America. The familiar white on red signs, grouped by four, fives and sixes, were as much a part of the family trip as irritating your kid brother in the backseat. You'd read first one, then another, anticipating the punch line on number four and the familiar Burma-Shave on the fifth.
The signs cheered us during the Depression and World War II. But things began to change in the late Fifties. Cars got faster and highways were built to accommodate them. 1963 was the last year for new Burma-Shave signs. No more red and white nuggets of roadside wisdom to ease the journey.
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