Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F534 returned 113 results.
CUCKOO CLOCKS
IN THE BLACK FOREST OF GERMANY, IT IS A VERY LARGE TRADE TO MAKE
CUCKOO CLOCKS. THE PEOPLE FROM THE PLATT AREA EXPLAIN THIS BY
SAYING THAT WHEN GERMANY BEGAN TO BE POPULATED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
COULD NOT READ OR WRITE AND WERE OF LOW INTELLIGENCE WERE HERDED
INTO THE BLACK FOREST TO SPEND THEIR LIVES. THEY TOOK WITH THEM
ONLY WHAT THEY NORMALLY CARRIED. FOR MOST OF THE MEN, THIS MEANT
KNIVES. BECAUSE THE WOODS WERE SO DENSE AND DARK, THE ONLY THING
THE PEOPLE COULD DO WAS CARVE AND WHITTLE WOOD TO THIN OUT THE
FOREST AND MAKE IT LIGHTER. AS THIS HAPPENED, THE PEOPLE BECAME
MORE TECHNICAL AND THEIR PASTIME OF WHITTLING TURNED INTO THE
ART OF CLOCK-MAKING.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
CASINO WORKERS USE GESTURES: FINGERTIPS TOUCHING
TABLE MEANS "THERE'S A CHISLER HERE;" A FINGER BEHIND
THE EAR IS A DISTRESS CALL FOR THE HEAD MAN; CROSSED
INDEX AND THIRD FINGER MEANS "PLEASE TAKE OVER;"
PALM AND FINGERS EXTENDED DOWNWARD MEANS "THEY ARE
CLEANED OUT."
Where learned: BOOK
Keyword(s): SLANG: CLEANED OUT: OUT OF MONEY.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Underworld SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
IN A RADIO OR TELEVISION STUDIO SITUATION ONE OR TWO
HANDS RAISED IN THE AIR WITH THE PALMS FACING THE
PERSON ON THE AIR INDICATES TO THAT PERSON TO GET
READY OR TO STAND BY FOR ANOTHER SIGNAL TO COME.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS GESTURE AND HAS SEEN OTHERS USE A
GESTURE OF SIMILAR NATURE WHEN SPEAKING DURING AN
"AIR SITUATION" IS PROHIBITED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
THE DRAWING APART OF TWO HANDS AS IF PULLING TAFFY MEANS
TO SLOW DOWN OR TO STRETCH OUT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT USES THIS WHEN HE'S TALKING. HE USES THIS
WHEN HE IS TRYING TO PROLONG A MOMENT WHILE TRYING
TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING?
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-03-1971
IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS WHEN SPEAKING IS NOT
ALLOWED DURING AN "AIR SITUATION" THE INDEX FINGER
WHEN POINTED AT THAT PERSON GOING TO BE ON "THE AIR"
BY USE OF THE WHOLE FOREARM IN BENDING AT THE
ELBOW, MEANS THE PERSON CAN BEGIN, OR START.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IS IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND
HAS USED THIS SIGNAL TO INSTRUCT A PERSON WHO IS ON
THE AIR TO BEGIN.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): COMMUNICATIONS? CLEAR AS MUD.
James Callow Keyword(s): BROADCASTING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-31-1971
IN A CLEVELAND FOUNDRY THE MOTION WITH THE HANDS OF
BREAKING A SMALL STICK AND POINTING UP OR DOWN THE
LINE MEANT A BREAKDOWN UP OR DOWN THE LINE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A CLEVELAND FOUNDRY THE MOTION WITH THE HANDS
OF BREAKING A SMALL STICK AND POINTING TOWARD
YOU MEANT TAKE A BREAK.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN A CLEVELAND FOUNDRY A GESTURE FOR OVERTIME IS GIVEN
AS A RIGHT HAND CURVING "OVER" THE OUTSTRETCHED LEFT
HAND. THIS PART OF THE GESTURE IS ACCOMPANIED BY
THEN RAISING THE NUMBER OF FINGERS CORRESPONDING
TO THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF OVERTIME.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE FACTORY WHERE I WORKED THIS SUMMER, IT WAS
A WELL KNOWN GESTURE TO POINT ONE'S INDEX FINGER
UP IN THE AIR AND ROTATE IT TO INDICATE STARTING
THE MACHINE BACK UP AFTER A JAM-UP OR BREAKDOWN.
Where learned: Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN THE FACTORY WHERE I WORKED THIS SUMMER, ONE WOULD
GESTURE A NEED TO VISIT THE LAVATORY AND FOR THE
HELPER AT THE OTHER END OF THE MACHINE TO WATCH IT
IN HIS ABSENCE BY: (1) IMITATING THE MOVEMENT OF
UNZIPPING HIS PANTS AND (2) POINTING HIS INDEX AND
MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND AT HIS EYES AND THEN BACK
TO THE MACHINE.
Where learned: Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Routine activity SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Custom
Chimney Sweep:
In Belgium, or Europe for that matter, each house usually had two or more chimneys. Since they needed cleaning periodically, chimney sweeps were common. Some of these were employed by the cities for the purpose. But, in each case, it was good practice to give the sweeper a good tip, for if you didn't he would play tricks on you. For instance, he might come back to clean your chimney at a future date, but not tell you. Then you would be unprepared and the soot would come into the house because you didn't close the soot door in time.
Submitter comment:
Recorded on Tape
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [M848] crossed out and replaced with F534
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): BUSINESS ; Chimney Sweep ; CUSTOM ; Gratuity ; OCCUPATIONS: CHIMNEY SWEEPING ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; TIPPING ; WORK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Wheat Harvesting
In Kansas, we grow wheat in our section, and when it was tim eto cut and thrash the wheat, the neighbors would all help each _take turbns, first Mr. J's wheat. Then when finished, go the next day to Mr. H_then Mr. W_ etc._ All men in neighborhood would go and work with the other neighbors_and the wives of all of the men would meet at the home where the men were working, and help that housewife cook dinner for all, then next day to another house_this way everyone helped each other and had no wages to pay and the ladies loved being together.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: FLORIDA ; Plant City
Keyword(s): Agricultural ; Barter ; Community ; CUSTOM ; Domestic ; FARMING ; Harvesting ; LIFE ; Wheat
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
TELEPHONE PRANK
CALLER: DO YOU HAVE SIR WALTER RALEIGH IN A CAN?
ANSWERER: (WHO WORKS IN A STORE) YES.
CALLER: WELL THEN LET HIM OUT!
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS DONE THIS WITH HIS FRIENDS
Data entry tech comment:
SIR WALTER RALEIGH IS A BRAND OF TOBACCO
SOLD IN CANS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK ; COLLECTED AT INFORMANTS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ; SLANG: "CAN" FOR "TOILET"
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 10-26-1971