Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C524 returned 166 results.
RED ROVER
I USED TO PLAY THIS GAME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. THERE
WOULD BE TWO TEAMS, EACH LINED UP, HAND IN HAND,
OPPOSITE THE OTHER. ONE TEAM WOULD CHANT "RED ROVER,
RED ROVER, SEND (THE NAME OF SOMEONE ON THE OTHER
TEAM) OVER." THAT PERSON WOULD THEN RUN AND TRY TO
BREAK THROUGH THE OTHER TEAM. IF HE SUCCEEDED HE COULD
BRING ONE PLAYER BACK TO JOIN HIS TEAM. IF HE FAILED,
HE HAD TO STAY WITH THIS TEAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RED ROVER, RED ROVER
IN THIS GAME, TWO LINES ARE FORMED OPPOSITE EACH OTHER.
THE CHILDREN JOIN HANDS OR ARMS TO TRY TO FORM AN
IMPENETRABLE LINE. ONE TEAM CALLS A MEMBER FROM THE
OPPOSING TEAM:
RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (NAME) COME OVER.
FROM HIS OR HER SIDE, THE CHILD STARTS TO RUN,
BUILDING UP SPEED AND FORCE. HE TRIES TO BREAK THROUGH
THE LINE BY BREAKING THE GRIPS OF THE FIRST TEAM.
IF HE IS ABLE TO GO THROUGH, HE TAKES A MEMBER OF THAT
TEAM TO HIS TEAM, THIS PERSON MUST JOIN THAT TEAM AND
ADD ONTO THE LINE. IF HE DOESN'T BREAK THROUGH, HE MUST
REMAIN WITH THAT TEAM AND JOIN THE LINE.
NOW THE OTHER TEAM CALLS SOMEONE FROM THE FIRST TEAM.
THE GAME IS CONTINUED UNTIL THERE IS NO ONE LEFT ON ONE
TEAM. THE WINNING TEAM IS THE ONE WHICH HAS CAPTURED
ALL THE PLAYERS.
Submitter comment: I PLAYED THIS IN GRADE SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-18-1967
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT
ONE PERSON IS IT. THE REST LINE UP ON A CERTAIN CRACK
OF THE SIDEWALK. IT CALLED GREEN LIGHT AND EVERYONE
ELSE COULD RUN AS FAST AS THEY COULD UNTIL IT CALLED
RED LIGHT FOR EVERYONE TO STOP OR YELLOW LIGHT FOR
EVERYONE TO WALK. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE PLAYERS
ARE AROUND THE NEAREST CORNER AND OUT OF SIGHT. THEY
COULD THEN HIDE, ANYWHERE WITHIN THE BOUNDS SET.
DURING THIS TIME, IT MUST COUNT TO 100 AND IS THEN FREE
TO START TO LOOK FOR THE OTHER PLAYERS. WHEN IT DISCOVERS
A PLAYER, HE TRIES TO BEAT THE PLAYER TO THE GOAL
(USUALLY A SPECIFIED TREE). IF IT WINS THEN THE PLAYER
HAS TO BE IT IN THE NEXT GAME. IF IT LOSES THEN IT MUST
CONTINUE TRYING TO FIND PLAYERS UNTIL HE CATCHES ONE
AND BEATS HIM TO THE GOAL. WHEN A PLAYER IS CAUGHT
AND LOSES THE RACE BACK TO THE TREE, HE THEN
BECOMES IT AND A NEW GAME BEGINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
MOTHER MAY I?
CHILD ASKS FOR PERMISSION EACH TIME TO DO SIMPLE
THINGS THAT THE "MOTHER" COMMANDS A CHILD TO DO.
IF HE DOES NOT ASK FOR PERMISSION, HE LOSES HIS
POSITION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 01-23-1971
MOTHER MAY I?
THERE IS ONE PERSON CHOSEN TO BE THE MOTHER. THE REST
OF THE PLAYERS LINE UP TOGETHER SOME DISTANCE FROM
THE MOTHER. IN TURN, THEY SAY "MOTHER MAY I MOVE
(BLANK)>" (THEY ASK TO MOVE ANY DISTANCE). THE
MOTHER CAN EITHER SAY YES OR NO. WHILE THE MOTHER
IS ANSWERING, SOMEONE ELSE THE OTHER CONTESTANTS
ARE FREE TO TRY TO SNEAK UP AS FAR AS THEY WANT, IF
THEY CAN DO IT WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT, BECAUSE IF THE
MOTHER CATCHES THEM, THEY HAVE TO START OVER FROM
THE BEGINNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RED ROVER
RED ROVER IS A GAME WHICH REQUIRES AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE.
THERE ARE TWO TEAMS, WHICH STAND IN LINES FACING
EACH OTHER, HANDS JOINED TIGHTLY. ONE TEAM SHOUTS TO
THE OTHER, "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (STINKY, OR
WHOMEVER) COME OVER." THE PERSON WHOSE NAME WAS
CALLED LEAVES HIS TEAM AND RUNS, TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH
A PAIR OF THE OTHER TEAM'S JOINED HANDS. IF HE FAILS
TO SEPARATE THE HANDS, HE JOINS THE OPPOSING TEAM.
IF HE SUCCEEDS, HE GOES BACK TO HIS OWN TEAM. THIS
CONTINUES UNTIL ONE TEAM HAS ALL THE PLAYERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
RED ROVER, RED ROVER
THERE ARE TWO TEAMS, PLACED IN PARALLEL LINES SOME
DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER. EVERYONE HOLDS HANDS, WHILE
THE TEAMS ALTERNATE IN CALLING AN OPPOSING MEMBER OVER
TO ATTEMPT TO BREAK THROUGH THEIR LINE. THE CALLING
CHIME IS: RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (NAME) CROSS OVER.
IF THE PERSON BREAKS THROUGH, HE CAN TAKE AN OPPOSING
MEMBER OVER TO HIS RANKS. IF HE LOSES, HE MUST STAY
WITH THAT TEAM. THE TEAM THAT WINS ALL THE KIDS, WINS
THE GAME.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
RED ROVER
A GAME FOR MANY PLAYERS; TEAMS ARE PICKED AND THEY LINE UP
HOLDING HANDS WITH A GOOD GRIP. THE TEAM THAT IS FIRST
HOLLERS OUT: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (PLAYER'S NAME
ON OPPOSITE TEAM) COME OVER." THIS PLAYER THEN TRIES TO
BREAK THROUGH THE CHAIN OF PEOPLE OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM.
IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL, HE GETS TO CHOOSE ONE OF THEIR
PLAYERS TO COME BACK WITH HIM TO BE A MEMBER OF HIS
ORIGINAL TEAM. IF HE FAILS, HE MUST THEN BECOME A
MEMBER OF THE OTHER TEAM. THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ALL
PLAYERS ARE ON ONE TEAM. OR UNTIL TIME REQUIRES,
THEN THE TEAM WITH THE MOST PLAYERS IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
RED ROVER
RED ROVER IS A GAME PLAYED BY ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE AS
LONG AS THERE ARE MORE THAN SIX. THE PLAYERS DIVIDE
AND FORM TWO LINES. THE PLAYERS HOLD HANDS AND
PLAYERS FROM THE OTHER SIDE TRY TO BREAK THEIR HOLD.
THEY COME RUNNING ONE AT A TIME AS THEY ARE CALLED.
THE USUAL CALL IS: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, SEND
JOHNNY RIGHT OVER." IF A PLAYER FAILS TO BREAK A HOLD
HE MUST REMAIN ON THAT SIDE. THE SIDES TAKE TURNS
CALLING OVER PLAYERS. THE GAME ENDS WHEN ALL PLAYERS
ARE ON ONE SIDE OR WHEN SOMEONE BREAKS AN ARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 09-15-1969
WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH AT LEAST TWO CHILDREN. ONE
CHILD IS CHOSEN AS THE FOX; AND HE STANDS WITH HIS BACK
FACING THE CHILDREN. THE REST OF THE CHILDREN STAND
AT LEAST THREE FEET AWAY FROM THE FOX. EACH OF THE
CHILDREN TAKE TURNS ASKING MR. FOX WHAT TIME IT IS.
IN REPLY, THE FOX LETS THE CHILD MOVE UP AS MANY STEPS
AS THERE IS IN THE HOUR THAT HE GIVES. AS THE GAME
CONTINUES, THE CHILDREN COME NEARER TO THE FOX.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE FOX SAYS THAT IT IS TWELVE O'CLOCK HE
CHASES AFTER THE CHILDREN UNTIL HE CATHCES ONE OF THEM.
THE CHILD WHO IS CAUGHT BECOMES THE NEXT MR. FOX. ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-01-1969
STOOP TAG
PHILLIPENE CHILDREN'S GAME
NO. OF PLAYERS: 5 OR MORE
FORMATION: PLAYERS SCATTER OVER THE PLAYING AREA.
WITH ONE PERSON BEING "IT."; HE CHASES THE OTHERS,
TRYING TO TAG ONE OF THEM. A PLAYER MAY ESCAPE
BEING TAGGED BY STOOPING OR SQUATTING. HOWEVER,
EACH PLAYER MAY STOOP ONLY THREE TIMES. AFTER THAT
HE MAY ESCAPE BEING TAGGED ONLY BY RUNNING. ANY
PLAYER TAGGED BECOMES "IT."
IN A LARGE GROUP THERE SHOULD BE SEVERAL TAGGERS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-11-1972
HEN AND WILDCAT
AFRICAN CHILDREN'S GAME. NO. OF PLAYERS: 5 OR MORE.
FORMATION AND ACTION: ONE PLAYER IS CHOSEN AS THE HEN
AND ANOTHER AS THE WILDCAT. THE REST OF THEM ARE
CHICKENS. THE HEN LEADS THE CHICKENS AROUND AND
WARNS THEM OF ANY APPROACHING DANGER. THE WILDCAT HIDES
HIMSELF. AT UNEXPECTED TIMES AND PLACES, HE SPRINGS
OUT AND TRIES TO CATCH ANY FOOLISH CHICKEN WHO FAILS
TO DROP TO THE GROUND AT THE MOTHER HEN'S WARNING. THIS
MAY CONTINUE UNTIL ALL CHICKENS ARE CAUGHT, OR A NEW
HEN AND A NEW WILDCAT MAY BE CHOSEN WHENEVER A CHICKEN
IS CAUGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 10-11-1972
TEFLON-OFF-THE-WALL
TWO TEAMS ARE CHOSEN. ONE TEAM STANDS AT ONE SIDE OF
A LARGE DRAWN CIRCLE AND THE OTHER TEAM STANDS AT THE
OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CIRCLE. AT THE START OF THE
GAME, ONE MEMBER OF EACH TEAM STARTS RUNNING AROUND
THE CIRCLE, TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE MEMBER FROM THE
OPPOSITE TEAM. WHEN A MEMBER CATCHES SOMEONE FROM
ANOTHER, THE TEAM IS AWARDED ONE POINT. THE TEAM
WITH THE MOST POINTS WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
FROZEN TAG
THIS IS MERELY A VARIATION OF 'TAG' OR 'CATCH.'
NO GOAL WAS USED, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO TAG A
PERSON TO CATCH THEM. IF THE PERSON WHO IS 'IT'
TAGS SOMEONE, THEN THAT PERSON IS FROZEN AND HAS TO
REMAIN AT THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS TAGGED. THE CATCHER
THEN HAS TO TAG EVERYONE ELSE IN THE GAME, WHILE
PROTECTING THOSE WHOM HE HAS ALREADY TAGGED, BECAUSE
ONE OF THE FREE MEMBERS OF THE GAME CAN UNFREEZE THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN TAGGED IF HE CAN, IN TURN, TAG THEM.
THE GAME IS NOT OVER UNTIL EVERYONE IS FROZEN OR
WHEN THE CATCHER GIVES UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-07-1967
DUCK DUCK
THE PLAYERS FORM A CIRCLE FACING INEWARDS AND ONE
PLAYER GOES AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE.
AS HE PASSES EACH PLAYER HE SAYS 'DUCK,' THEN
SUDDENLY 'GOOSE.' THE PERSON HE SAYS 'GOOSE'
AT THEN CHASES HIM AROUND THE CIRCLE. IF HE REACHES
THE GAP IN THE CIRCLE WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT, HE IS
SAFE. IF HE IS CAUGHT BEFORE THEN, HE BECOMES A
'ROTTEN EGG' AND GOES TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CIRCLE.
THE GAME THEN CONTINUES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 12-03-1967
V.B.B.
PLAYED IN SCHOOL GYM. ONE PERSON HITS THE BALL, LIKE
A VOLLEY-BALL SERVE. THEN HE STARTS RUNNING AROUND
THE GYM. THE REST OF THE CLASS MUST FIELD THE
BALL AND THROW IT THREE TIMES TO TRY TO GET IT TO A
PERSON CLOSE TO A BASKET, WHO MUST RECEIVE THE BALL
AND SHOOT A BASKET BEFORE THE RUNNER COMPLETES ONE
FULL TRIP AROUND THE GYM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
SCATTERBALL
PLAYED IN SCHOOL GYM. EVERYBODY IS OUT ON THE GYM
FLOOR WHEN THE GAME STARTS. THE TEACHER THROWS
A BALL OUT ONTO THE FLOOR AND THE GAME STARTS.
THE PERSON THAT GETS THE BALL MAY HIT WHOEVER HE
WANTS. BUT, HE MAY NOT MOVE FROM THE SPOT FROM
WHERE HE GOT THE BALL. GAME GOES UNTIL EVERYBODY IS
OUT. ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HIT ARE OUT. IF SOMEONE
THROWS THE BALL AT YOU AND YOU CATCH THE BALL, HE IS
OUT AND YOU ARE SAFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
KICK THE CAN
PLAYED LIKE HIDE AND GO SEEK. THE BASE IS AN EMPTY
CAN. WHEN THE PERSON WHO IS IT SEES SOMEONE, HE
RUNS TO THE CAN AND SAYS "1-2-3 ON JOHNNY." ALL
THOSE CAUGHT MUST STAY BY THE CAN. IF SOMEONE WHO
IS NOT CAUGHT RUNS OUT FROM HIDING AND KICKS THE CAN
EVERYONE IS FREE AGAIN. GAME GOES UNTIL ALL ARE
CAUGHT, OR IT GIVES UP. WHEN IT WANTS TO GIVE UP,
HE SHOUTS "OLLE OLLE OXEN--ALL IN FREE."
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; JACKSONVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1954
A RELAY GAME
AT MY MOTHER'S SCHOOL IN TIFFIN, OHIO, THE GIRLS WOULD
DIVIDE INTO LARGE TEAMS AND PLAY A RELAY GAME.
IT WAS SET UP AS FOLLOWS:
THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 14 GIRLS ON EACH TEAM; THE
REFEREE WOULD LAY A STICK IN THE CENTER GOAL WITH
THE TWO TEAMS FACING EACH OTHER. THE REFEREE WOULD
THEN SAY "READY-SET-GO!" AND ONE GIRL FROM EACH TEAM
WOULD RUN TO THE CENTER GOAL AND FIGHT OVER THE
STICK. THE QUICKER GIRL WOULD THEN RUN BACK TO HER
TEAM AND GET BACK TO THE SECOND GIRL ON HER OWN
TEAM WITH THE STICK AND NOT BE TAGGED BY THE
OPPONENT. IF THE GIRL WAS TAGGED BEFORE SHE REACHED
THE GOAL THEN SHE WOULD HAVE TO JOIN THE OPPOSITE
SIDE. SO THE TEAM WITH THE MOST GIRLS ON IT AT
THE END OF THE GAME WAS DECLARED THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; TIFFIN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: VARIOUS
RED LIGHT
THE PLAYER SELECTED TO BE IT STANDS ON A GOAL LINE
MARKED ACROSS ONE END OF THE PLAY AREA. THE OTHER
PLAYERS ARE ON A STARTING LINE AT THE OPPOSITE END.
THE CHILD WHO IS IT CALLS, "GREEN LIGHT!" HE TURNS
HIS BACK TO PLAYERS AND COUNTS ALOUD, "1-2-3----10,
RED LIGHT!" THE PLAYERS START ON THE SIGNAL "GREEN
LIGHT!" AND RUN TOWARD THE GOAL LINE, BUT THEY MUST
STOP ON THE WORDS, "RED LIGHT." ON THIS SIGNAL
IT TURNS TO FACE THE PLAYERS. IF HE SEES A PLAYER
MOVING HIS FEET, HE SENDS HIM BACK TO THE STARTING
LINE. EACH PLAYER TRIES TO BE THE FIRST TO THE GOAL
LINE.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED AS A CHILD IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-01-1967