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James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
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DIALECT PHRASE

SUCH A DEAL
SUCH A DEAL

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; NORTH QUAD 201

James Callow Keyword(s): EXCLAMATION

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-27-1971

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An Unpleasant Surprise

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

There was a young engaged couple from a small town who had come home from a date one night. Nobody was home and the house was dark. On the table there was a note for the girl which said to close the basement windows. Seeing that noone was around, the young couple stripped down naked. The girl got on the boy's shoulders piggy-back and they started down the stairs. As they reached the last step all the lights went on - it was surprise bridal shower for the girl!

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original Boggs number [B600] has been crossed out and replaced with B646

Where learned: DURING A VISIT ; Decaussin, Terrence

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; Engagement ; HUMOR ; JOKES ; MARRIAGE ; Modesty ; Moral ; PARTY ; Prank ; SEX ; SURPRISE ; YOUTH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic
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In some small towns of Greece, it is believed that if an owl
appears at a house at night and "sings" someone in that house will
die.

Submitter comment: My informant holds this superstition above all other
superstitions she believes in because when she was twelve she saw an
owl in her yard at some point in the evening and some weeks later her
mother became deathly ill. One year after that it is said that an owl
was seen on their rooftop and some months later her father passed
away.

Where learned: GREECE

Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS ; unexplained

Subject headings: Observation
Favorites
BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Bird
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00001946CA

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Ethnic Joke: French

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

There was this couple engaged to be married. He was a Frenchman, while she was American. Her father gives her advice about her fiance: "Daughter, don't marry a frenchman!" But father, I love this man very much, I'm sure he will be fine. Her father repeats his warning: "Don't marry a Frenchman, because in six months, he'll ask you to "Change ends!" Don't worry father, everything will be ok. So, they got married.

What do you know, but six months later, while they are in bed, the Frenchman says "Honey, would you mind changing ends, just for tonight?" The girl gets a little angry and says "I should have listened to my father, he was right about you Frenchmen!" The frenchman replied, "But honey, Don't you want to have any children?"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: RENO HALL ; DORM ROOM ; Fournier, Rock

Keyword(s): ETHNIC JOKE ; FRENCH ; HOMOSEXUALITY ; Innuendo ; MARRIAGE ; REFERENCE TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; SEXUAL EUPHEMISM ; Stereotype

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C566

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

A good birth control device is a dime. You keep it between your legs, especially on a date and if you lose your virginity you can call your roomate.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P500] crossed out. Nothing written to replace it. Was located in a pile marked "To Be Classified."

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; Courtney, MaryAnne

Keyword(s): DATING ; Modesty ; Sexuality

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship
BELIEF -- Use of Object

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Play on Words

Play on Words:

Paradox: Casey and Kildare...

(Pair of doc's)

Submitter comment:

Val Zelnick. Heard long ago in grade-school. It is a way of remembering the word and its meaning, besides being a play on words.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [S300] crossed out. Nothing is written to replace it.

Submission card located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ; Zelnick, Valentine

Keyword(s): Doctors ; MNEMONIC ; Mnemonic Device ; PARADOX ; SATIRE OF DOCTORS ; Wit ; WORDPLAY

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech

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Confucius Says:

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

He who lives in glass house makes love in closet.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission Card located in pile marked To Be Classified

Where learned: Singer, Mary

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; Confucius ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; JOKE ; WISDOM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase
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Maxim

A lot of girls would have hourglass figures if time hadn't shifted the sands.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B660] is crossed out. Nothing replaces it.

Submission card was located in a pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: HOME ; Trompeter, Daniel

Keyword(s): ANTIFEMINISM ; BEAUTY ; Feminism ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; JOKE ; Physical ; PUN ; SEXISM

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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Some Women wait so long for their dreamboat to come along that their piers collapse.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [B660] crossed out. Nothing replaces it.

Submission card located in pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: HOME ; Trompeter, Daniel

Keyword(s): ANTIFEMINISM ; Feminism ; Jest, Anecdote, Pun, Joke, Irony ; JOKE ; PUN ; Relationships ; SEXISM ; SEXIST

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

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Fun

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Fun, Fun, Fun.

Fun, Fun, Fun.

Fun, Fun, Fun

Worry, Worry, Worry

(The absence of period after final "fun" is the crux of the joke.)

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN [S682] submitted by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [W200] crossed out. V300? written at bottom of card.

Submission card located in pile marked To Be Classified.

Where learned: Myself

Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ; JOKE ; PREGNANCY ; WORDPLAY

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Games Riddles Jokes
PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim
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Superstition: Baseball

Never mention a shutout or a perspective no-hitter to a pitcher or anyone in a Major-League dugout during the feat or it will be lost to fate.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

The original BN [P880] is crossed out and replaced with P536.

The words Bad Luck are also crossed out from the top left-hand corner of the card.

Where learned: NBC TELEVISION ; RADIO PROGRAM ; Garagiola, Joe

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

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Superstition: Baseball

WHEN THE PITCHER HAS A NO-HITTER GOING IN A BASEBALL GAME IT IS BAD
LUCK TO MENTION THIS FACT UNTIL THE GAME IS OVER. IF YOU DO MENTION
IT THE PITCHER WILL LOSE HIS NO-HITTER. DURING THE 1979 DETROIT
TIGERS BASEBALL SEASON DAVE ROZEMA HAD A NO-HITTER GOING IN THE
SEVENTH INNING AND THE UN-BASEBALL-WISE CHANNEL FOUR TV ANNOUNCER
MIKE BARRY ANNOUNCED THIS AND SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT BATTER GOT A
HOMERUN. THE OTHER TV ANNOUNCERS, FORMER BASEBALL PLAYERS AL KALINE
AND GEORGE SWELL, ALMOST THREW BARRY OUT OF THEIR THIRD-DECK BOOTH.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL KNOWS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE
TO MENTION A NO-HITTER AND BARRY SAID IT IN FRONT OF A QUARTER
MILLION PERSON TV AUDIENCE.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): SPEAKING TABU

Subject headings: Favorites
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 11-23-1979

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Superstition: Baseball

IF YOU'RE PLAYING BASEBALL AND YOUR PITCHER IS PITCHING
A NO-HITTER, IT'S BAD LUCK TO TALK ABOUT IT AND SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO HIM. JUST PRETEND LIKE YOU
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.

Submitter comment:

THIS IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN BASEBALL THAT I LEARNED FROM
PLAYING IT VERY EARLY IN LIFE.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Superstition: Baseball

NO ONE SHOULD MENTION TO A PITCHER BETWEEN INNINGS THAT
HE HAS A SHUTOUT OR NO-HITTER GOING.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 09-24-1969

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Superstition: Baseball

NEVER MENTION A NO-HITTER TO A PITCHER DURING THE GAME.

Submitter comment:

HEARD IT ON T.V.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD 12.2.2010

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ASSUMED

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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Superstition: Baseball

BASEBALL PITCHER IS PITCHING A NO-HITTER, NO ONE SPEAKS
OF IT.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

Date learned: 10-16-1967

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Superstition: Baseball

I LEARNED THE FOLLOWING WHILE PLAYING BABE RUTH BASEBALL IN PORT
HURON. "DURING A GAME WHEN A PITCHER IS PITCHING A NO HITTER, IT
IS BAD LUCK TO TELL HIM HOW MANY STRIKE-OUTS HE HAS OR HOW MANY
INNINGS HE HAS YET TO PITCH."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.6

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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Superstition: Baseball

IT IS BAD LUCK TO MENTION THAT A PITCHER HAS A NO-
HITTER GOING WHILE THE GAME IS IN PROGRESS.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports

Date learned: 10-22-1969

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Superstition: Baseball

THERE HAS BEEN A PREVAILING BELIEF AMONG THE VARIOUS
BASEBALL BROADCASTERS THAT I HAVE HEARD OVER THE
YEARS, IN THE BAD LUCK OF MENTIONING THE FACT THAT A
PITCHER IS WORKING ON A NO HIT GAME. IF ONE MENTIONS
THE IMPENDING NO-HITTER, THE SUPERSTITION GOES, THE
NO-HITTER WILL NOT CONTINUE FOR THE PITCHER WILL HAVE
BEEN JINXED BY THE MENTIONING OF HIS NEARLY COMPLETE
ACHIEVEMENT.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.522

Date learned: 11-23-1970

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Superstition

Don't say it, it might happen:

It is a superstition not to mention a possibility of a bad event to occur for fear that to say so would thus cause the feared event to occur. [sic]

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P477

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Myself ; BATTLE CREEK

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BELIEF ; jinx ; LUCK ; SPEAKING TABU ; SUPERSTITION ; TABU

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance

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