Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C500 returned 216 results.
NEVER SIT PARRALLEL TO THE BATHTUB WHILE PLAYING
CARDS (BAD LUCK).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
WHEN PLAYING CARDS IT'S GOOD LUCK TO BE SITTING THE
WAY THE PLUMBING GOES (PARALLEL TO THE PLUMBING).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 12-06-1967
IF, WHEN SHUFFLING A DECK OF CARDS AND THE ACE OF
SPADES POPS OUT, IT MEANS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU ARE HAVING BAD LUCK IN CARDS, WALK AROUND
YOUR CHAIR FOR GOOD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-05-1972
IT IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK IF A PERSON WHO HAS
ALREADY FOLDED LOOKS AT THE CARDS IN THE HAND
OF A PLAYER STILL IN A CARD GAME.
Submitter comment: FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: FRATERNITY HOUSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 10-29-1967
WILD BILL HICCOCK WON A CARD GAME BY AN ACE AND AN
EIGHT. BECAUSE HE WON BY THIS, HE WAS SHOT. TODAY
IT BRINGS BAD LUCK TO WIN A GAME BY AN ACE OR AN
EIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BILL HICKOK
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Eighths / Eight Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Bad luck Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 10-08-1968
WHEN PLAYING POKER, IF YOU GET UP AND CHANGE YOUR SEAT
WHEN YOU ARE WINNING, YOUR LUCK WILL CHANGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports |
Date learned: 11-18-1968
IN BASEBALL, A PITCHER DOESN'T SHAVE IN THE MORNING OF THE
DAY HE IS GOING TO PITCH. THIS WILL BRING HIM GOOD
LUCK.
Submitter comment:
HEARD THIS SAID ABOUT SANDY KOUFAX AND DON DRYSDALE DURING
THE WORLD SERIES PROBABLY 1966.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 10-25-1970 ; 00-00-1966
BASEBALL
WHEN A PLAYER IS DOING WELL, HE FEELS THAT IT WOULD BE
BAD LUCK FOR HIM TO WASH OR CHANGE ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT
OR CLOTHING THAT HE HAS BEEN WEARING SINCE THE STREAK
BEGAN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT STATED THAT ONE YEAR, HE WAS DOING SO WELL, THAT
HE REFUSED TO BUY A NEW PAIR OF BASEBALL SHOES FOR FEAR
HE WOULD BREAK HIS WINNING STREAK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
BASEBALL
A PITCHER DOESN'T STEP ON THE CHALK LINES WHEN GOING OUT
ONTO THE FIELD. THIS WOULD BE BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT PLAYED PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AND HE FOUND THIS
TRUE ON THE TEAMS HE PLAYED FOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.2 |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
Superstition: Baseball
THERE HAS BEEN A PREVAILING BELIEF AMONG THE VARIOUS
BASEBALL BROADCASTERS THAT I HAVE HEARD OVER THE
YEARS, IN THE BAD LUCK OF MENTIONING THE FACT THAT A
PITCHER IS WORKING ON A NO HIT GAME. IF ONE MENTIONS
THE IMPENDING NO-HITTER, THE SUPERSTITION GOES, THE
NO-HITTER WILL NOT CONTINUE FOR THE PITCHER WILL HAVE
BEEN JINXED BY THE MENTIONING OF HIS NEARLY COMPLETE
ACHIEVEMENT.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
Date learned: 11-23-1970
IT IS BAD LUCK TO SING IN BED.
Where learned: INDIANA ; WALTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities |
Date learned: 06-21-1970
SAY HEY LITTLE PLAYMATE
COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME
AND BRING YOUR DOLLARS THREE.
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE,
SLIDE DOWN MY RAIN BARROW
INTO MY CELLAR DOOR
AND WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS
FOREVER MORE, FOREVER MORE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 12-01-1973
A LEGENDARY GAME
THERE WAS A PLAGUE IN ENGLAND AND THE GAME "RING AROUND THE ROSEY"
WAS REALLY A RASH WITH A RING AROUND IT, SO IT'S RING AROUND THE
ROSEY. IT USED TO SMELL, SO THEY KEPT POSIES IN THEIR POCKETS,
POCKET FULL OF POSIES. IT ALSO USED TO MAKE THEM SNEEZE, AND AFTER
THEY SNEEZED THEY WOULD FALL DEAD, SO IT ISN'T REALLY ASHES, ASHES,
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, BUT ACHOO, ACHOO, THEY ALL FALL DEAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Medicine |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
SCOTT FOUNTAIN
THIS FOUNTAIN LOCATED ON BELLE ISLE WAS DONATED BY ONE OF
DETROIT'S MOST NOTORIOUS GAMBLERS AND PRACTICAL JOKERS, WHOSE
NAME THE FOUNTAIN BEARS. THE MONEY FOR THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK
WAS SUPPOSEDLY WON FROM THREE OF DETROIT'S MORE PROMINENT FIGURES
IN A GAME OF CHANCE. IT WAS THE OBJECTION OF THESE THREE THAT
DELAYED ITS CONSTRUCTION FOR SOME THIRTY YEARS. THE FOUNTAIN
NOW STANDS AS AN ETERNAL MOCKERY OF THESE NOBLE CITIZENS, WHO
SCOTT ONCE CUSSED BY SAYING HE WOULD GET THE LAST LAUGH.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Fountain Well Aqueduct |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
KIBITZER
ANY CARD PLAYER WILL TELL YOU A KIBITZER IS THE LOWEST FORM OF
HUMANITY; HE'S CONTINUALLY PEEKING INTO YOUR HAND, SMIRKING AND
GIVING UNNECESSARY ADVICE. KIBITZERS AREN'T NICE. THE NAME
KIBITZER COMES FROM THE WORD KIBITZ, GERMAN FOR LAPWING OR PLOVER.
THIS CREATURE JABBERS INCESSANTLY, BUT CANNOT SING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEONARD QUICKBEAR
WHEN I WAS COACHING THE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM AT THE ST.
FRANCIS MISSION ON THE SIOUX INDIAN RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA,
OUR STAR PLAYER WAS AN INDIAN BY THE NAME OF LEONARD QUICKBEAR.
HE WAS ONLY ABOUT 5' 7", BUT HE COULD TOUCH THE RIM OF THE BASKET.
EVERYONE ON THE TEAM WAS EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK, SO I USED TO GIVE
THEM A REAL PASSING WORKOUT. WHEN THEY GOT THE BALL MOVING AROUND
AS FAST AS I'D EVER SEEN A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM MOVE IT, I TOLD THEM
THEY LOOKED LIKE TIRED 8TH GRADERS. I KEPT YELLING AT THEM, AND
THEY FINALLY GOT THE BALL MOVING AROUND TEN TIMES AS FAST AS
BEFORE.
LEONARD'S BEST SHOT WAS FROM RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BENCH. HE'D
TURN WITH HIS BACK TO THE BASKET, STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE
BENCH, AND FLIP THE BALL BACKWARDS OVER HIS HEAD. IT WENT IN
ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME.
WELL, WE WON THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT THAT YEAR, AND THEN
WE CHALLENGED THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS TO A GAME. YOU KNOW HOW
THEY ALWAYS FOOL AROUND AND PLAY TRICKS DURING A GAME. WELL, THEY
BEAT US BY THREE OR FIVE POINTS, AND THEY NEVER GOT FAR ENOUGH
AHEAD TO TRY ANY TRICKS.
AFTER LEONARD GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HE FORMED A TEAM SIMILAR TO
THE GLOBETROTTERS. THEY WERE PLAYING AT OLYMPIA ONE NIGHT. BY
THIS TIME, MY WIFE AND I HAD MOVED TO DETROIT, SO WE DECIDED TO GO
DOWN AND SEE THEM PLAY. THE SIGN OUT IN FRONT OF OLYMPIA READ,
"LEONARD QUICKBEAR & HIS SIOUX INDIANS." WELL, THAT WAS IN THE
DAYS WHEN, DURING HOCKEY SEASON, THEY'D PUT THE BASKETBALL FLOOR
RIGHT OVER THE ICE. AS THE TEAMS CAME OUT, I DIDN'T SEE LEONARD.
SO FINALLY I JUMPED RIGHT UP, RAN DOWN, JUMPED OVER THE RETAINING
WALL, AND THEN I SLIPPED ON THE ICE. FINALLY I GOT UP AND RAN
OVER TO ONE OF THE INDIANS AND ASKED HIM WHERE LEONARD WAS.
"OH," HE SAID, "WE LEFT HIM IN CHICAGO."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT HIGH SCHOOL ; HISTORY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 01001966, 09001968
NOT GIVEN
THERE WAS A SHRINE TO THE BLESSED MOTHER ON THIS MOUNTAIN IN
ITALY. IT WAS A VERY SACRED PLACE. THERE THE STATUE WAS ENCASED
IN GLASS. ONE DAY SOME BOYS WERE PLAYING "BOTCHES" (LIKE BOWLING)
AND ONE OF THE BALLS ROLLED NEAR THE GLASS CASE, THE NEXT ONE
ROLLED AND BROKE THE GLASS AT THE FEET OF THE STATUE. THE FEET
OF THE STATUE STARTED BLEEDING.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS COLLECTOR'S MOTHER.
Data entry tech comment: "BOTCHES" = BOCCI BALL?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-14-1965
MYSTERIOUS LIGHTHOUSE
DURING A FOG, A SHIP SPOTTED A LIGHTHOUSE NEAR THE COAST OF MAINE.
SEVERAL OF THE MEN LEFT THE SHIP IN A SMALL BOAT AND HEADED TO THE
LIGHTHOUSE. WHILE THEY WERE THERE, TWO OF THE MEN DECIDED TO
HAVE A RACE FROM THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE TO THE BOTTOM. THEIR
BET, WHICH CONSISTED OF A KNIFE, A COMPASS, AND SEVERAL COINS, WAS
TIED IN A HANDKERCHIEF AND DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. ONE OF THE MEN
STARTED DOWN THE STEPS AND THE OTHER JUMPED OUT OF THE WINDOW.
WHEN THE MAN WHO USED THE STEPS REALIZED THIS, HE RAN BACK UP THE
STEPS AND LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW. HE COULD NOT SEE THE OTHER
MAN. WHEN HE WENT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE HANDKER-
CHIEF WAS ALSO GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-20-1968
A LEGENDARY GAME
THERE WAS A PLAGUE IN ENGLAND AND THE GAME "RING AROUND THE ROSEY"
WAS REALLY A RASH WITH A RING AROUND IT, SO IT'S RING AROUND THE
ROSEY. IT USED TO SMELL, SO THEY KEPT POSIES IN THEIR POCKETS,
POCKET FULL OF POSIES. IT ALSO USED TO MAKE THEM SNEEZE, AND AFTER
THEY SNEEZED THEY WOULD FALL DEAD, SO IT ISN'T REALLY ASHES, ASHES,
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, BUT ACHOO, ACHOO, THEY ALL FALL DEAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Medicine |
Date learned: 03-31-1967