Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B662 returned 343 results.
THE STORY OF MIKE MY AUNT
MIKE OHANLEY EXPECTED HIS FATHER'S BROTHER TO VISIT
BUT HE WASN'T SURE IF IT WOULD BE HIS UNCLE OR HIS AUNT
THUS HE WAS CALLED MIKE MY AUNT
Submitter comment: THIS STORY'S ORIGIN IS IN BAD AX MICHIGAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: CA02001980
A CURE FOR A SORE FOOT
A MAN IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN TIMBER LAND HAD A SORE TOE,
HE COULD NOT GET IT HEALED SO HE TOOK AN AX AND CUT OFF HIS TOE
SO IT WOULDN'T HURT ANY MORE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: CA02001980
FABLE ABOUT A WOMAN WHO MISUNDERSTOOD HER RELIGION
IN A SMALL VILLAGE, A VERY POORLY EDUCATED WOMAN WENT TO
CONFESSION. SHE TOLD THE PRIEST THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO HEAVEN
AND THE PRIEST IN TURN ADVISED HER THAT SHE SHOULD PREPARE HERSELF.
THE WOMAN MISUNDERSTOOD THE PRIEST. SHE CAME HOME AND MADE HER OWN
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON SHE WENT BACK TO THE
CHURCH AND STARTED TO PRAY BY THE SIDE ALTAR.
THE HOUR WAS LATE AND THE CARETAKER DIDN'T NOTICE HER PRAYING BY
THE ALTAR. HE LOCKED THE CHURCH.
AFTER THE WOMAN REALIZED THAT SHE WAS LOCKED IN THE CHURCH, SHE
LOOKED FOR A WAY OUT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ONE. THERE WAS NO WAY OUT,
SO SHE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR A PLACE TO SLEEP.
BY THE SACRISTY THERE WAS A LARGE LAUNDRY BASKET WITH ALL THE
PRIEST'S VESTMENTS IN IT. SHE DECIDED TO TAKE A NAP IN THIS BASKET
AND COVERED HERSELF WITH THE LID.
THAT SAME NIGHT, THIEVES BROKE INTO THE CHURCH FROM A VERY HIGH
WINDOW. ONE THIEF WAS OUTSIDE, THE OTHER WAS INSIDE. THE THIEF
OUTSIDE WAS PULLING VALUABLES OUT BY A ROPE, AND THE THIEF WHO WAS
INSIDE WAS HOOKING ANYTHING OF VALUE ONTO THE ROPE.
THE BASKET BY THE SACRISTY LOOKED GOOD, SO HE HOOKED THE ROPE UP
TO IT. THE OTHER THIEF STARTED TO PULL THE BASKET UP AND OUT OF THE
CHURCH. WHEN THE BASKET WAS ABOUT 40 FEET, CLOSE TO THE WINDOW, THE
LADY WOKE UP AND THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS BEING TAKEN TO HEAVEN. IN A
LOUD VOICE SHE SAID, "Z NIEDZIELI NA SWIENTO MNIE DO NIEBA WZIETO."
(FROM SUNDAY NIGHT TO THE HOLIDAY, I WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN.)
THE THIEVES, UPON HEARING HER VOICE GOT SCARED AND LET GO OF THE
ROPE. THE BASKET FELL TO THE FLOOR AND THE WOMAN WAS KILLED. ALL
HER FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WERE VERY USEFUL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS STORY AS A BOY AT AN EVENING OF FAMILY STORY
TELLING FROM HIS UNCLE IN LUKOWA, POLAND. HE TOLD THIS STORY VERY
THOUGHTFULLY AND LAUGHED AT THE ENDING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; IRONY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 02-07-1980 ; 00-00-1934
RIDDLE
CUSTOMER: HOW MUCH IS THAT BIRD?
CLERK: TEN DOLLARS, MA'AM.
CUSTOMER: I'LL TAKE IT. WILL YOU SEND ME THE BILL?
CLERK: SORRY, MA'AM. YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE THE
WHOLE BIRD.
Where learned: SAINT LEONARD SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 09-28-1965
ONE EVENING A DRUNK WAS FOUND BY A POLICEMAN
KNOCKING ON A LAMP POST. THE OFFICER ASKED WHY HE
WAS BANGING LIKE THAT, AND THE INEBRIATED MAN
REPLIED, "I KNOW MY WIFE IS HOME, I SEE THE LIGHT
ON."
Where learned: OHIO ; PORT CLINTON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NARRATIVE
MY MOTHER HEARD AN INTERVIEW OF MISS BETTY HOO BY
JOHN D. JEST OVER WMGS RADIO IN BOWLING GREEN, OHIO.
SHE WAS AN ORPHAN AT 5, ABUSED UNTIL 16, WHEN SHE
DECIDED TO BE A MISSIONARY. SHE HAS MOTHERED OVER
3000 YOUNGSTERS IN CHINA SO FAR. SHE WAS TELLING
THIS STORY:
SHE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES ON MISSION WORK AND
STEPPED OFF THE TRAIN. THE PORTER ASKED IF HE
COULD HELP HER WITH THE "GRIP." SHE SAID, "I
DIDN'T BRING IT WITH ME. MY MOTHER STILL HAS IT
AND IS SICK IN BED." LATER SHE FOUND OUT WHAT THE
OTHER MEANING OF "GRIP" WAS AND SHE WAS EMBARRASSED.
James Callow Keyword(s): GRIPPE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 09-17-1965
A DRUNK IS WALKING DOWN A STREET AND SEES TWO NUNS
APPROACHING HIM. AS THEY NEAR HIM, ONE GOES ON
EITHER SIDE. THE DRUNK SAYS TO HIMSELF, "HOW DID
SHE DO THAT?"
Where learned: INDIANA ; INDIANAPOLIS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
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WHY DID THE LITTLE MORON PUT HIS FATHER IN THE
REFRIGERATOR?
HE WANTED COLD POP!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 01-29-1968
DRUNK JOKE
TWO DRUNKS LEAVE A BAR, GET INTO THE CAR AND START
TO DRIVE DOWN A ONE-WAY STREET AGAINST TRAFFIC.
THE DRUNK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TURNS TO THE DRIVER
AND SAYS "HEY, JOE! WE MUST BE LATE, EVERYONE IS
COMING BACK."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
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DRUNK JOKE
THE STORY IS TOLD ABOUT THE OLD DRUNK WHO WALKS
INTO A STRANGE BAR CARRYING THIS ALLIGATOR.
THE OLD DRUNK ASKS THE BARTENDER IF HE SERVES
DRUNKS AT THIS BAR. THE BARTENDER SAID YES.
"GOOD, SAID THE DRUNK, GIVE ME A WHISKEY AND
GIVE MY ALLIGATOR A DRUNK."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
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I ONCE KNEW AN OLD MAN WHO DROVE HIS OLD MODEL A
INTO TOWN EVERYDAY TO BUY THE PAPER. ON HIS WAY,
HE OFTEN HAD TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT JUST
PAST A HIGH SCHOOL. A CERTAIN FRESH KID MADE A
HABIT OF PULLING ALONGSIDE, HOLLERING "WANNA
DRAG, POPS?" THEN AS THE LIGHT CHANGED, BLAST
OFF, LEAVING POPS IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE AND DUST.
WELL, POPS GOT TIRED OF THIS, SO ONE DAY HE WENT
DOWN TO JOE'S GARAGE AND SAYS TO JOE, "I WANT YOU
TO PUT IN THE BIGGEST ENGINE YOU CAN FIT UNDER THE
HOOD AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION."
JOE WAS RATHER SKEPTICAL, BUT AGREED TO DO IT.
SEVERAL DAYS LATER, POPS PICKED UP THE CAR AND
LEFT THE GARAGE WITHOUT SEEING JOE.
THAT AFTERNOON, POPS WAS SITTING AT THE LIGHT,
WAITING. THE OLD MODEL SHAKING AND QUIVERING,
WHEN THE KID PULLED UP. POP HOLLERS, "DO YOU
WANNA DRAG?" NATURALLY, THE KID SAYS YES. THE
LIGHT CHANGES AND OFF THEY GO.
JOE, THE MECHANIC, PICKS UP HIS PHONE. IT'S POPS
"WHAT IS THE MATTER, POPS?" "COME SEE," SAYS POPS.
WHEN HE GETS THERE, JOE SEES PARTS STREWN ALL
ALONG THE ROAD. "WHAT THE HELL?" SAYS JOE.
WELL, I WAS DRAGGING THIS KID; I HAD IT IN "L"
FOR "LEAP OFF," REALLY GOT THE DROP ON HIM. THEN
I PUT IT IN "D" FOR "DRAG," AND WAS BEATING THE
HELL OUT OF HIM. TO REALLY WHIP HIM GOOD, I PUT
IT IN "R" FOR "RACING" AND SOMETHING HAPPENED.
Submitter comment: PICKED UP AROUND MASSILLON, OHIO, 1958.
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
THE DUMB MECHANIC
A COMMON STORY TOLD AMONG TRUCKS AND MECHANICS:
BACK ABOUT 1930 WHEN I WAS HAULIN' COAL OUT OF
CADIZ (SOUTHEAST OHIO), I BOUGHT ME ONE OF THEM
NEW WHITES WITH A DIESEL ENGINE. ONE DAY, THAT BIG
BASTARD JUST WOULDN'T RUN FER SHIT, SO'S I STOPPED
AT HANK'S (SOME TRUCK STOP) AND SAYS, "HEY, HANK,
TAKE A LOOK-SEE AT WHAT AILS THIS RIG." "WELL,
HANK PROPS UP THE HOOD WITH A 4 X 4 AND STARTS
MONKEYING AROUND. SHORTLY, HE JUMPS DOWN SAYING,
'WHY, HELL MAN, IT'S A WONDER THIS THING RUNS AT ALL.
IT AIN'T GOT NO SPARK PLUGS.'"
Submitter comment:
TOLD TO ME ABOUT 1957 BY A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC
WHO DROVE SCHOOL BUS AS PART-TIME JOB. HE WAS
ABOUT 60 AND TOLD IT IN THE FIRST PERSON. HAVE
HEARD THE SAME STORY TOLD IN THIRD PERSON BY A
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WHO USED DIFFERENT
LOCALITY (HUNTINGTON, W. VA.), DIFFERENT KIND
OF TRUCK AND OTTO'S TRUCK STOP.
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |