Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C500 returned 216 results.
MY FATHER OWNS A GROCERY STORE AND IN IT HE SELLS
(NAME SOMETHING). CLUES MAY BE ASKED FOR BY
EACH PERSON IN TURN. THE PERSON TO GUESS IT
STARTS OFF THE NEXT ROUND.
Submitter comment: COULD BE PLAYED IN CAR OR AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
CONTINUED STORIES: ONE PERSON STARTS A
STORY AND HAS ONE MINUTE TO GET TO A CLIMAX AND
THEN IT GOES ON TO THE NEXT PERSON AND SO ON AROUND
THE CAMP FIRE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
ALPHABET GAME
CHILDREN BEGIN FINDING THE LETTERS ON PASSING SIGNS,
BUILDINGS, POSTERS, ETC., BEGINNING WITH A TO Z.
CONSECUTIVELY ONLY. FIRST ONE DONE WINS.
Submitter comment: GAME TO PLAY IN THE CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
CLAPPING GAME
I AM A PRETTY LITTLE DUTCH GIRL,
AS PRETTY, AS PRETTY CAN BE.
AND ALL THE BOYS UPON MY BLOCK
GO CRAZY OVER ME.
MY BOYFRIEND'S NAME IS HARRY.
HE CAME FROM BERRY - BERRY.
WITH A BUTTON ON HIS NOSE,
AND A CHERRY ON HIS TOES.
AND THAT'S THE WAY MY STORY GOES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
I SPY
PERSON TO START THINKS OF AN OBJECT ALWAYS IN THAT
ROOM OR IT CAN BE PLAYED RIDING IN A CAR. I SPY
WITH MY LITTLE EYE SOMETHING THAT IS (PERSON
SAYING IT GIVES A CLUE.) TURNS ARE TAKEN BY EACH
OF THE OTHER PERSONS IN TRYING TO GUESS THE OBJECT.
PERSONS CAN ASK FOR CLUES AT RANDOM. THE PERSON TO
GUESS WHAT IT WAS GETS THE NEXT TURN.
Submitter comment: VARIANT: I SPY SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
TIPPEE
PART I: CAN BE PLAYED BY ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE. GET
ONE STICK POINTED ON BOTH ENDS. MEASURE OFF A
DISTANCE FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. THROW UP THE
POINTED STICK AND WHEREVER IT LANDS, THE DISTANCE
FROM WHERE IT LANDS TO THE POINT STARTED FROM, IS
THE NUMBER OF KICKS* THAT PERSON GETS.
PART II: SET POINTED STICK FLAT ON THE GROUND AND
FLIP IT UP INTO THE AIR BY DEPRESSING ONE END
QUICKLY. PERSON WHOSE TURN IT IS MUST HIT IT
WHILE THE SHORT STICK IS STILL IN THE AIR WITH A
LARGE STICK. HE HITS IT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. HE
THEN USES UP HIS LICKS AND TRIES TO GET TO THE
GOAL. FIRST ONE TO REACH IT WINS.
Submitter comment: ASTERISK = NUMBER OF TRIES AT PART 2.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
VACATION GAME
I AM GOING ON A TRIP AND WITH ME I MAY TAKE
(AND THE PERSON STARTING OFF NAMES SOMETHING
THAT BEGINS WITH THE LETTER OF THAT PERSON'S
FIRST NAME). PEOPLE THEN TAKE TURNS. BEST
PLAYED WITH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW HOW TO
PLAY IT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
ROTTEN EGGS
(WALKING TO SCHOOL GAME): CAN'T STEP ON A SQUARE
(OF SIDEWALK) WITH ANY WRITING WHATSOEVER AND
IF YOU DO THEN YOU ARE A ROTTEN EGG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- School |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
THIS CHILD'S GAME, PLAYED IN NEW YORK, IS CALLED
"SARDINES." ONE PERSON IS "IT" AND RUNS AND HIDES
HIMSELF SOMEPLACE WHILE ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS
HIDE THEIR EYES. WHEN "IT" HAS FINISHED HIDING
HIMSELF, HE HOLLERS "SARDINES," FROM WHERE HE IS.
THE OTHER PLAYERS MUST ATTEMPT TO FIND HIM THEN,
FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE VOICE. MEANWHILE,
"IT" WILL, ON OCCASION CALL OUT "SARDINES," TO
HELP THEM ALONG A LITTLE. THE FIRST PERSON TO
DISCOVER "IT" MUST JOIN HIM IN HIS HIDING PLACE
UNTIL ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS HAVE ALSO FOUND THEM,
AT WHICH TIME THE GAME IS OVER, AND THE FIRST
PERSON TO HAVE FOUND "IT" CAN NOW BE "IT" HIMSELF.
Submitter comment: I REMEMBER PLAYING THIS GAME AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
ENGINE, ENGINE
ONE OF SEVERAL METHODS OF DETERMINING WHO WOULD BE
"IT" IN GAMES LIKE TAG AND HIDE AND SEEK WAS FOUND
IN THE FOLLOWING RHYME:
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
ROLLING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,
IF THIS TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THIS TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
NOW, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE POINTED TO
AT THE WORD "BACK" AND HE SAYS YES OR NO. THEN
THE FOLLOWING IS RECITED AND THE PERSON WHO COMES
OUT "IT" IS THE ONE WHO IS TOUCHED AT THE LAST
WORD OF THIS:
"Y-E-S SPELLS YES AND YOU ARE NOT "IT."
OR, IF THE PERSON SAYS "NO" THE FOLLOWING IS RECITED
WITH THE SAME RESULT.
"N-O SPELLS NO AND YOU ARE NOT IT."
THIS SAME VERSE CONTINUES UNTIL ALL PARTICIPANTS
BUT ONE ARE ELIMINATED AND "IT" IS THIS LAST
PERSON WHO IS DESIGNATED TO BE "IT."
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-24-1967
Play
ORIGINS OF GAMES: "MANY ARE ROOTED IN FESTIVE PLANTING
AND HARVEST CELEBRATIONS. 'DROP THE HANDKERCHIEF'
AND 'IN AND OUT THE WINDOW' PROBABLY STARTED WITH
CHILDREN MAKING FUN OF THE DATING HABITS OF BIG
BROTHERS AND SISTERS."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCHOOL BULLETIN"
Keyword(s): Copy ; COURTSHIP ; Festive ; GAMES ; HARVEST ; Mimic ; PLANTING ; Play ; RITUAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
FOLLOW THE ARROWS
WE USED TO GET UP A BIG GANG OF TEN OR FIFTEEN KIDS
FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN NASHVILLE. THIS WAS WHEN
I WAS AROUND TEN YEARS OLD. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS
ABOUT THE SIZE OF TWO CITY BLOCKS, BUT WITHOUT
FENCES AND VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC. THERE WERE LOTS OF
STOREHOUSES, GARAGES AND A CREEK RUNNING THROUGH
IT. LITTLE KIDS COULDN'T PLAY WITH US BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T RUN FAST ENOUGH.
YOU LET ONE OR TWO KIDS HIDE THEIR EYES WHILE THE
OTHERS RUN IN A GROUP TOWARD SOME SPECIAL PLACE,
SAY, BEHIND A GARAGE. ONE PERSON IN THE GANG MAKES
CHALK ARROWS POINTING THE DIRECTION TO GO. THEN
THE SEARCHERS WOULD HUNT FOR THE ARROWS. THE GAME
WAS OVER WHEN THE SEARCHERS WOULD SPOT THE BIG
GANG.
WE WOULD USUALLY PLAY THIS ONLY ONCE A DAY BECAUSE
OF THE RUNNING TIRING US OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME AROUND 1942 WHEN SHE
WAS A TEN YEAR OLD IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
CHICKEN
EACH PLAYER MUST HAVE HIS OWN BICYCLE. A NARROW
PATH OR SIDEWALK IS USED AS THE FIELD. A MARK IS
PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THERE ARE ONLY
TWO PLAYERS AT ANY ONE TIME. THE PLAYERS EACH AT
OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE FIELD START RACING TOWARDS THE
MARK IN THE MIDDLE AND THE FIRST ONE TO GET THERE
OF (OR?) THE LAST ONE TO TURN OF (OFF?) IS THE
WINNER. THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD CANNOT BE TOO
LONG OR THE GAME WOULD JUST TURN INTO A RACE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
MY FATHER OWNS
ONE PERSON IS IT. STARTS GAME BY SYING "MY FATHER
OWNS A STORE (HOUSE, CAR, ETC.) IN IT HE HAS
(BLANK.") FIRST LETTER OF OBJECT IS ONLY GIVEN CLUE.
OTHERS MUST GUESS WHAT OBJECT IS. THEN HE IS "IT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
WHEN DRIVING IN A CAR, EVERY TIME YOU SPOT A
VOLKSWAGON, SAY "BEAVER" AND YOU GET 50 POINTS.
IF YOU SPOT A CARMEN GHIA, SAY "BEAVER" FIRST AND
YOU GET 100 POINTS. SEE WHO HAS MOST POINTS AT
THE END OF TRIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
WHEN TWO BOYS ARE CHOSEN AS CAPTAINS, THEY CHOOSE
TO SEE WHO HAS FIRST PICK IN THE FOLLOWING WAY:
ONE BOY TOSSES THE BAT TO THE OTHER, WHO GRABS
IT ABOUT 1/2 THE WAY UP. THE HANDLE IS POINTING
UP. THEN THEY TAKE TURNS PLACING THEIR HANDS, ONE ON
TOP OF THE OTHER'S, IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ONE
BOY'S HAND WILL BE AT THE VERY END. THIS BOY GETS
FIRST PICK OF PLAYERS. THE GRIP ON THE BAT MAY BE
FULL FIST, TWO FINGERS SPLIT AROUND BAT (SCISSORS).
LAST GRIP POSSIBLE IS EAGLE-CLAWS.
IN CASE OF EAGLE CLAWS, BOY MUST THROW BAT OVER HIS
SHOULDER AT LEAST TEN BAT-LENGTHS AWAY OR HE LOSES.
EAGLE-CLAWS IS GRIPPING VERY END OF BAT BY THE
FINGER TIPS. IF EAGLE-CLAWS ARE NOT USED, PERSON
WHO HAS HIGHEST GRIP MUST BANG END OF BAT (NEAREST
HAND) AGAINST A TREE. IF HE DOESN'T DROP THE BAT
FROM BRUISED HAND, HE GETS FIRST CHOICE OF PLAYER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
WHO HIT ME?
PERSON WHO IS IT TURNS HIS BACK. ONE OF THE OTHER
PLAYERS HITS HIS BACKSIDE WITH A PADDLE, ETC.
THEN THE PERSON WHO IS IT MUST GUESS WHO HIT HIM.
IF HE GUESSES WRONG, HE TURNS AROUND TO GET HIT
AGAIN UNTIL HE CORRECTLY GUESSES WHO HIT HIM.
THEN THE PERSON WHO HIT HIM TAKES HIS PLACE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LAKE ORION ; FRANKLIN CAMP
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
PART OF BOYSCOUT INITIATION CONSISTS OF CERTAIN
RITUALS. PART OF WHICH, THE YOUNG SCOUT ANSWERS
ALL QUESTIONS WITH THE MAGIC WORD "WODANOSSIAM."
FREELY TRANSLATED MEANS: WHAT AN ASS I AM.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
BASE STICKERS
IN GAMES OF TAG AND OTHER GAMES WHERE THERE IS AN
ESTABLISHED FREE BASE, THOSE PLAYERS WHO REFUSED
TO VENTURE FAR FROM THE BASE WERE USUALLY
YELLED AT A LOT AND LABELED "BASE STICKERS,"
SOCIAL OUTCASTS. THEY WERE USUALLY THE FAT,
SLOW KIDS.
Submitter comment:
AS IN THE CASE IN MANY OF THESE EXAMPLES, THE
SOURCE OF THIS COLLECTION IS NOT REMEMBERED.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 11-24-1967
PROVOCATION
WHILE PLAYING GAMES SUCH AS TAG OR HIDE AND GO
SEEK, ONE PLAYER WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
CHASED WOULD ANTAGONIZE HIS PERSUER WITH CRIES
OF, "YOU CAN'T CATCH A NANNY GOAT."
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS SO COMMON BACK HOME THAT I AM UNABLE
TO FIX ANY CERTAIN DATE OR SOURCE TO THE SAYING
BUT I MYSELF HEARD IT AND SAID IT IN THE MIDDLE
1950S.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 11-24-1967 ; 00001950S