Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C500 returned 216 results.
A VARIATION OF THE GAME OF "HIDE AND GO SEEK" IS A GAME
CALLED "NO WITCHES ARE OUT TONIGHT." IN THIS GAME
ONLY ONE PERSON IS SENT OUT TO HIDE. AFTER A FEW
MINUTES THE REST OF THE PLAYERS HAVE TO WALK AROUND
THE PLAYING AREA SHOUTING "NO WITCHES ARE OUT
TONIGHT." THE ONE WHO HAS HIDDEN PICKS THE BEST
OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP OUT AND GRAB THIS PERSON AND AT
THIS TIME THE GRABBED PLAYER IS OUT. WHEN ALL ARE
OUT THE GAME IS ENDED AND A NEW "WITCH" IS CHOSEN.
Submitter comment:
I NEVER PLAYED THE GAME BUT I OFTEN WATCHED MY
SMALL COUSINS PLAY IT IN RECENT YEARS. IT IS THERE
THAT I LEARNED IT.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
Date learned: 11-24-1967
BASE STICKING
PLAYERS WHO HUNG AROUND THE BASE TOO MUCH IN ORDER
NOT TO BE CAUGHT WERE TOLD, "ONE TWO THREE,
GET OFF MY FATHER'S APPLE TREE." IF HE WAS STILL
ON THE BASE AT THE END OF THIS TIRADE, HE WAS
AUTOMATICALLY CAUGHT.
Submitter comment:
QUITE A COMMON SAYING IN WASHINGTON, D. C. DURING
THE YEARS OF THE MIDDLE 1950S.
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-24-1967 ; 00001950S
AN OLD RHYME USED TO DETERMINE WHO WAS TO BE "IT" IN
A GAME WHERE THERE IS TO BE ONE PERSON WHO WILL BE
DESIGNATED AS IT, GOES LIKE THIS:
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO, THREE POTATO, FOUR,
FIVE POTATO, SIX POTATO, SEVEN POTATO, MORE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS COUNTED OFF ON FISTS IN A CIRCLE. THE ONE
WHO HAPPENED TO COME UP "MORE" LAST, WAS "IT."
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 11-24-1967 ; 00001950S
BLIND MAN'S BLUFF
A CHILD'S GAME THAT I REMEMBER PLAYING QUITE A FEW
YEARS AGO, WAS ONE CALLED "BLIND MAN'S BLUFF."
ONE OF THE PLAYERS WOULD VOLUNTEER TO BE "IT" FIRST.
HE WOULD SUBMIT TO BEING BLINDFOLDED AND THEN SPUN
AROUND IN A CIRCLE A NUMBER OF TIMES. HE WAS NOT
ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE BLINDFOLD. HE THEN HAD TO WALK
AROUND ATTEMPTING TO CATCH ONE OF THE OTHER PARTICI-
PANTS AND THEREBY MAKE THE ONE CAUGHT BECOME "IT."
SOUNDS EXCITING, DON'T IT?
Submitter comment:
I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE WE GOT THE GAME FROM AND AFTER
A WHILE WE STOPPED PLAYING. TOO MANY FELL DOWN AND
GOT HURT WHILE BEING "BLIND."
Where learned: WASHINGTON DC
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Structure for dance, game, pastime, sport, drama, etc. SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
PICK(ING) "IT."
BUBBLE, BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH
HOW MANY PIECES DO YOU WISH?
(PERSON STOP AND SAYS THE NUMBER).
1-5. THEN THE FIRST PERSON SPELLS OR COUNTS OUT
THE NUMBER AND THE PERSON HE ENDS WITH IS IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
PICK(ING) "IT."
INK, BINK, A BOTTLE OF INK,
CORK FELL OUT AND YOU STINK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
PICK(ING) "IT."
ENGINE, ENGINE NO. 9
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACKS
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
Y-E-S OR N-O.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
PICK(ING) "IT."
MY MOTHER HIT YOUR MOTHER
RIGHT IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR OF BLOOD DID SHE HAVE?
SAY A COLOR
Submitter comment: WHEREVER IT ENDS IS IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
THREE GUESSES TO GUESS OBJECT IN ROOM, AFTER EACH
GUESS A HINT IS GIVEN. AFTER THE CORRECT OBJECT
IS GUESSED THE OTHER PERSON THEN PROCEEDS AND
BEGINS THE GAME.
Submitter comment: FROM FRIENDS.
Where learned: LIVING ROOM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 10-23-1967
HUCKLE, BUCKLE, BEAN STALK
CIRCLE ARE IN A CIRCLE. SEVERAL CHILDREN ARE ASKED
TO LEAVE THE ROOM OR ALL THE CHILDREN MAY BE ASKED TO
CLOSE THEIR EYES. ONE CHILD PUTS A BALL OR SOME
OTHER OBJECT PREVIOUSLY SELECTED BY THE GROUP IN A
FAIRLY CONSPICUOUS SPOT. WHEN ALL IS READY THE
LEADER GIVES THE SIGNAL AND THE SELECTED CHILDREN
SEARCH FOR THE OBJECT. WHEN THEY FIND IT, THEY WALK
TO THEIR PLACES WITHOUT TOUCHING IT, MERELY TOUCHING
IT, MERELY CALLING OUT "HUCKLE, BUCKLE, BEAN STALK."
A TIME LIMIT IS SOMETIMES PLACED ON THE SEARCH.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM CHILDREN IN (ILLEGIBLE WORD)
KINDERGARDEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
TO BE PLAYED AT A PARTY. A SHEET IS PLACED OVER ONE
PERSON (MALE OR FEMALE) AND IS TOLD THAT HE IS IN
A HOT DESERT. HE IS THEN INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE
WHAT IS MAKING HIM HOT. UNWITTINGLY, HE BEGINS
TO REMOVE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING, WHEN ALL HE NEED
DO IS REMOVE THE SHEET.
Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS PLAYED AT A PARTY HE ATTENDED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-03-1967
YOU COUNT UP TO TEN AND THEN YOU YELL, ALL AROUND
THE GOAL IS IT, AND IF YOU NOT READY HOLLER.
THEN YOU PROCEED TO LOOK FOR THEM, AND THE FIRST ONE
CAUGHT IS IT.
Submitter comment: FROM RELATIVES.
Where learned: HOSPITAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 10-24-1967
SIMPLE DODGE BALL
THE PLAYERS ARE ARRANGED WITH ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF
THE PLAYERS IN A CIRCLE AND THE REMAINING ONE THIRD
INSIDE THE CIRCLE. THOSE IN THE CIRCLE HAVE A SOFT
BALL WITH WHICH THEY TRY AND HIT THOSE INSIDE
THE CIRCLE. A HIT MUST BE BELOW THE WAIST. WHEN
HE IS HIT, A PLAYER JOINS THE CIRCLE. THE LAST ONE
IN THE CIRCLE WINS THE GAME.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED IN GYM CLASS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
SIMON SAYS
ONE PLAYER IS SELECTED AS THE LEADER. HE STANDS IN
THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AND THE OTHER PLAYERS STAND IN
THE AISLES FACING THE LEADER. THE LEADER GIVES
COMMANDS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PREFACED BY "SIMON SAYS."
AND SOME OF WHICH ARE NOT. THE PLAYERS MUST DO
EVERYTHING THAT BEGINS WITH "SIMON SAYS," BUT HAVE
AN OPTION ON THE OTHERS. ANY PLAYER WHO MAKES A
MISTAKE, IF CAUGHT BY THE LEADER, MUST BE SEATED.
AFTER THE LEADER HAS CAUGHT THREE ERRORS BY PLAYERS
ANOTHER LEADER IS SELECTED AND GAME CONTINUES WITH
THOSE SEATED REJOINING.
Submitter comment:
KATHY DOES NOT REMEMBER SOURCE. PROBABLY IN HER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
LEAP FROG
CHILDREN LINE UP IN DOUBLED UP POSITION. THE ONE
AT THE REAR OF THE LINE LEAPS OVER THOSE IN FRONT
OF HIM. THE LAST ONE IN LINE IS THEREFORE
CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING AND THE LINE MOVES FORWARD.
Submitter comment: I PROBABLY LEARNED THIS IN KINDERGARTEN.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
POLISH SOCCER
THIS DEVIATES FROM NORMAL SOCCER IN THAT IT IS
CONTINUOUS PLAY AND ALL ROUGHHOUSE TACTICS ARE
LEGAL. IT IS USUALLY PLAYED WITH A GREAT MANY
PEOPLE IN A SMALL AREA. THREE MEN ARE ALLOWED TO
PROTECT YOUR GOAL WHILE EVERYONE ELSE REPRESENTS
THE OFFENSE. THEY FORM A WALL AND LITERALLY PUSH
THE BALL THROUGH THE OPPOSING TEAM'S GOAL RESTRIC-
TIONS. THE MORE KICKS, ELBOWS AND PUNCHES THE
BETTER.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN HIGY SCHOOL GHM CLASS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
RUSSIAN BASKETBALL
THIS DEVIATES FROM NORMAL BASKETBALL IN THAT YOU MUST
PASS THE BALL CONTINUOUSLY BUT MAY OCCASIONALLY
CARRY IT WITH YOU, BUT ARE ALLOWED NEVER TO DRIBBLE
IT. AS IN POLISH SOCCER, IT IS PLAYED IN A SMALL
AREA WITH MANY PLAYERS. ALL ROUGHHOUSE TACTICS ARE
LEGAL. EACH TEAM IS AN OFFENSIVE TEAM CONVERTED
TO A DEFENSE WHEN NEEDED TO ALLAY THE OPPOSING
FORCE. AS IS THE OBJECT IN REGULAR BASKETBALL, YOU
HAVE TO SCORE POINTS WHICH ARE RECORDED AS ONE POINT
FOR EVERY FIELD GOAL WHICH YOU GET ANY WAY YOU CAN.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL GYM CLASS.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
Date learned: HIGH SCHOOL
HIDE AND SEEK
ONE PLAYER IS IT AND HE STANDS AT THE GOAL (TREE,
POST, ETC.) AND THE OTHER PLAYERS HIDE. WHILE THE
OTHERS RUN AND HIDE, HE COUNTS TWENTY-FIVE. HE THEN
CALLS THAT HE IS COMING AND GOES TO LOOK FOR THEM.
THE FIRST ONE WHOM HE FINDS IS IT NEXT TIME THE GAME
IS PLAYED. HE CONTINUES TO SEARCH UNTIL ALL ARE
FOUND. A HIDER MAY SAVE HIMSELF BY REACHING AND
TAGGING THE GOAL BEFORE THE "IT" DOES.
Submitter comment: I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I LEARNED IT.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; HAMBURG
Date learned: HIGH SCHOOL
BLIND MAN'S BLUFF
THE PLAYERS ARE IN A CIRCLE FORMATION WITH ONE
PLAYER, THE BLIND MAN, IN THE CENTER AND BLIND-
FOLDED. THE CIRCLE MOVES AROUND UNTIL THE BLIND MAN
SLAPS HIS HANDS. HE THEN POINTS TOWARD THE CIRCLE OF
PLAYERS AND CALLS THE NAME OF ANY ANIMAL. THE PLAYER
TO WHOM HE IS POINTING MUST MAKE A NOISE LIKE THAT
ANIMAL AND THE BLIND MAN GUESSES WHO THE PLAYER IS.
THREE TRIALS ARE GIVEN HIM. IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN
GUESSING THE NAME OF THE PLAYER, THEN THAT PLAYER
BECOMES THE BLIND MAN. IF HE DOESN'T GUESS CORRECTLY
THE GAME IS COMPLETED WHEN HE DOES.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED AS A CHILD IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
DROP THE HANDKERCHIEF
THE PLAYERS STAND IN A CIRCLE FORMATION FACING THE
CENTER OF THE CIRCLE. ONE CHILD IS IT AND HE RUNS
AROUND THE CIRCLE AND DROPS A HANDKERCHIEF BACK OF
AND CLOSE TO ANOTHER PLAYER. HE CONTINUES TO RUN
AROUND THE CIRCLE AND THE PLAYER BEHIND WHOM THE
HANDKERCHIEF WAS DROPPED PICKS IT UP AND RUNS IN THE
DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THAT TAKEN BY THE OTHER PLAYER.
THE PLAYER WHO FIRST REACHES THE PLACE IN THE CIRCLE
VACATED BY THE SECOND PLAYER IS SAFE AND THE OTHER
PLAYER IS IT. THE CHILD WHO IS IT TAKES OR KEEPS
THE HANDKERCHIEF AND THE GAME IS REPEATED.
Submitter comment: MARY LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-01-1967