Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B666 returned 173 results.
STUCK ON TOILET
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE TOLD THE BABYSITTER NOT TO SIT ON THEIR
TOILET WHICH HAD JUST BEEN PAINTED. SHE FORGOT, SAT ON THE
TOILET, AND GOT STUCK. SHE CALLED FOR A DOCTOR, WHO CAME AND
SLIPPED ON THE FLOOR AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. WHEN THE
AMBULANCE ARRIVED, THEY HAD TO UNBOLT THE TOILET. THE GIRL
WAS THEN RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SHE HAD TO BE CUT AWAY
FROM THE TOILET SEAT.
LATER SHE SUED THE HOMEOWNER AND HAD TO SHOW HER SCARS TO THE
JUDGE TO PROVE THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED. (IT REALLY DID.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 08-00-1964
NOT GIVEN
A HITCHHIKER IS THUMBING IN TEXAS; HE GETS PICKED UP BY A GUY
IN A CADILLAC. THEY START TALKING WHEN THE RIDER NOTICES A
PAIR OF THICK GLASSES ON THE SEAT.
"ARE THOSE YOURS?"
"YES."
"SHOULDN'T YOU BE WEARING THEM FOR DRIVING?"
"NO, I'VE GOT THE WINDSHIELD GROUND TO MY PRESCRIPTION."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 03-18-1972
IF YOU CROSS YOUR FINGERS OR TOES OR TWO PIECES OF
HAIR, ETC., IT MEANS WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ISN'T
THE TRUTH, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT TO LIE ABOUT IT.
Submitter comment:
SHE SAID THAT SHE LEARNED IT FROM FRIENDS WHEN
SHE WAS YOUNG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 02-08-1967
WHEN TELLING A LIE, CROSS THE FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND
AND YOU WON'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF COMMON IN THE OSWALD FAMILY AS WELL
AS IN MY OWN GRADE SCHOOL DAYS CIRCA 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: 09-20-1967
IF A PERSON IS TELLING THE OTHER PERSON SOMETHING AND
THE OTHER PERSON HAS ASKED FOR THE TRUTH, AND THE
PERSON TELLING THE STORY CROSSES HIS FINGERS, WHEN HE
DOES SO, THEN HE IS TELLING THE PERSON AN UNTRUTH AND
IT IS BELIEVED NOT TO HAVE THE CONSEQUENCES O A LIE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU TELL A LIE WITH YOUR FINGERS CROSSED, IT IS NOT
A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Date learned: 03-10-1970
WHEN YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CROSS
YOUR FINGERS OR YOUR FEET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT RITAS CONVENT
Date learned: 03-01-1970
IF YOU'RE TELLING A LIE, CROSS YOUR FINGERS BEFORE YOU
SAY IT AND IT WON'T BE A LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Date learned: 11-29-1969
IN ORDER TO RELIEVE ONE'S GUILT WHEN TELLING A LIE,
ONE CROSSES THE INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGERS OF ONE HAND.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 10-02-1967
There once was a professor who was very abrasive in dealing with the students. IOne day he even told one student to go to hell. Well, the student went to Dr. Payne and told him about it..."why he even told me to go to hell!" Dr. Payne replied: "well, if I were you, I wouldn't do it."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): HELL ; JOKE ; Professor ; Student ; Tale
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
A going joke at the Georgia State University campus. "Did you hear they had to cancel the virgin parade? One girl got sick and the other didn't want to march alone."
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
There was a professor here that was sort of a sub teacher. He weighed about 90 lbs.--Howard Dawson. There was a course in statistics [that] was very hard. Everyone dreaded it. It was sort of a bugaboo on campus. There was another ole boy from Alabama who (300 lbs--Bud Bakin) had to take it. He met the professor in front of the library, looked down on him and said, "Dawson, if a little ole runt like you can take statistics and get away with it, I can take it, as big as I am." Dawson said, "Well, I'll tell you. Before I took it I was a bigger man than you."
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Peabody once owned a farm with Holstein cows. Rumor got around that Dr. Payne thought more of cows than faculty. Summer came and it got hot. Back then there were no air conditioners. As it got hotter, the fans began to disappear. Finally Payne was seen sneaking in at night stealing the fans to make his cows more comfortable.
Data entry tech comment:
Probably referring to Peabody College. Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |