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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C520.2 returned 34 results.
STATUES
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH AN "IT." THE "IT" SWINGS
YOU AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND LETS YOU GO. WHEN HE
YELLS "STATUE," YOU MUST FREEZE IN THAT POSITION.
YOU STAY IN THAT POSITION UNTIL ALL OF THE PLAYERS
HAVE BEEN SPUN.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
GUNS
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD GAME, ALL THE PLAYERS DIVIDED
UP INTO TWO TEAMS. THEY THEN SOUGHT OUT THE OPPOSING
TEAM AND TRIED TO SHOOT THEM DEAD BY YELLING: "BANG, I
GOT YOU (NAME." IF YOU WERE SHOT, YOU HAD TO FALL
DOWN DEAD AND STAY THERE FOR THE REST OF THE GAME.
THE GAME ENDED WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE TEAM LEFT.
THE SIDES WERE USUALLY GANGSTERS OR COPS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS BUDDIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
MUD GUTTER
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED ON ANY RELATIVELY LARGE, FLAT
SURFACE, USUALLY FROM ONE CURB OF A STREET ACROSS
TO THE OPPOSITE ONE. ONE PERSON IS ELECTED TO STAND
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, WHILE THE OTHERS ALL
LINE UP PARALLEL WITH THE CURB. THE OBJECT IS TO GET
TO THE OTHER CURB "SAFELY." THE PERSON IN THE CENTER
HAS A CHOICE OF COMMANDS, EITHER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
STEPS TO BE TAKEN OR THE YELL "MUD GUTTER." IF THE
PERSON IN THE CENTER (CALLED "IT") ORDERS THE OTHER
PLAYERS TO TAKE A NUMBER OF STEPS, USUALLY BETWEEN ONE
AND FIVE, THE PARTICIPANTS MOVE BACK, TAKE A RUNNING
START, USE THE CURB AS A DEPARTURE POINT, AND JUMP WITH
THE LARGEST STEPS THEY CAN. FROM THAT POINT WHICH YOU
JUMPED TO, YOU EXTEND AN IMAGINARY LINE AND YOU CAN'T
CROSS IT. ONCE YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DASH FOR
THE OTHER SIDE. IF "IT" CAN TOUCH OR TAG YOU IN THE
PROCESS OF THE DASH, YOU BECOME "IT" TOO AND HAVE TO
AID IN CAPTURING THE OTHER PEOPLE. IF YOU MAKE IT TO
THE OPPOSITE CURB WITHOUT BEING TAGGED, THEN YOU ARE
SAFE. ALSO WHEN YOU ARE STANDING ON YOUR IMAGINARY LINE
OR BEHIND IT, YOU CAN TRY TO ADVANCE A LITTLE AND
PRETEND THAT IS WHERE YOU LANDED. AT ANY TIME "IT"
CAN CHALLENGE YOU. HE MARKS THE SPOT WHERE YOU ARE
STANDING AND MAKES YOU START FROM THE CURB AGAIN AND
EXECUTE THE COMMANDED NUMBER OF LEAPS. IF YOU EQUAL
OR SURPASS THE MARKED SPOT, YOU GET A FREE PASSAGE TO
THE OTHER SIDE; IF YOU FALL SHORT, THEN YOU BECOME
ONE OF THE "IT" PEOPLE. OFTEN WHEN THE "ITS" ARE
CHASING SOMEONE ELSE, YOU CAN GET ACROSS TO THE OTHER
SIDE UNTOUCHED BUT NO ONE MAY RUN ACROSS WHILE A
CHALLENGE IS IN PROGRESS.
THE OTHER CALL IS "MUD GUTTER," WHICH MEANS THAT
EVERYONE MUST RUN ACROSS AS SOON AS THE YELL IS GIVEN.
THE "ITS" CAN USUALLY TAG AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN THIS
MANNER, SO ONLY THREE CALLS OF THIS TYPE CAN BE USED
IN ANY ONE GAME.
A FINAL POSSIBLE MOVE IS THIS. ONCE SAFE ON THE OTHER
SIDE, YOU CAN TRY TO SNEAK UP BEHIND "IT" AND TRY TO
TOUCH ONE OF YOUR COMRADES TRYING TO GET ACROSS. IF
YOU CAN TAG SOMEONE BEFORE BEING DISCOVERED AND TAGGED
YOURSELF, THEN YOU CAN ESCORT THAT PERSON SAFELY BACK
TO THE OTHER SIDE WITH YOU.
AS SOON AS THE SIDE OF THE STREET ON WHICH THE GAME
ORIGINATED IS EMPTY--THE PEOPLE EITHER BEING CAUGHT IN
SOME MANNER OR REACHING THE OTHER SIDE SAFELY--THEN THE
"ITS" MERELY TURN AROUND AND THE ORIGINAL SIDE NOW
BECOMES THE DESTINATION. THIS PROCESS CONTINUES UNTIL
EVERYONE IS CAUGHT. THIS ENDS THE GAME AND A NEW ONE
IS STARTED WITH THE FIRST PERSON CAUGHT IN THE
PREVIOUS GAME BECOMING THE FIRST "IT" FOR THE SECOND.
Submitter comment:
AT GESU GRADE SCHOOL, (DETROIT, MICHIGAN) WE WOULD OFTEN
HAVE OVER THIRTY BOYS PLAYING THIS GAME EVERY DAY
BEFORE SCHOOL IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 00001963 ca.
THREE STEPS ACROSS THE GUTTER
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH THREE OR MORE CHILDREN. IT IS
PLAYED USING THE STREET AS THE PLAY AREA AND THE
OPPOSITE CURBS AS STARTING POINTS. ONE PERSON IS
CHOSEN TO BE IT, AND HE OR SHE STANDS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STREET. THE OTHER KIDS LINE UP ON ONE OF THE
CURBS. THE CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET CALLS
OUT SOMETHING FOR THE OTHER CHILDREN TO DO. IT COULD
BE TWO GIANT STEPS, FOUR BABY STEPS, FIRE ENGINE,
EGGSHELLS, ETC. IT IS UP TO THE CHILDREN TO GET
ACROSS THE STREET AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED WHAT HAS
BEEN ASKED OF THEM. IF THEY ARE CAUGHT, THEY MUST
STAND IN THE MIDDLE AND HELP THE PERSON WHO IS IT
CATCH THE OTHER PEOPLE. ONLY THE PERSON WHO IS IT MAY
CALL OUT THE ORDERS, AND IT MAY CHALLENGE IF HE FEELS
THE CHILD HAS TAKEN MORE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED.
IF CHALLENGED, THE CHALLENGED PERSON MUST REDO WHAT
HAS BEEN CALLED TO SEE IF HE LANDS IN THE SAME SPOT.
THE GAME IS OVER WHEN EVERYBODY HAS BEEN CAUGHT.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED IT FROM THE OLDER CHILDREN ON MY BLOCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
STOP AND GO
ONE CHILD ACTS AS THE POLICEMAN. BEHIND THE STARTING
LINE ARE THE CHILDREN. WHEN THE POLICEMAN SAYS GO
HE TURNS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE CHILDREN.
SUDDENLY, HE YELLS "STOP" AND TURNS AROUND. ANYONE
THAT HE SEES MOVING MUST START ALL OVER AGAIN. THE
FIRST ONE TO TAG THE POLICEMAN BECOMES THE NEXT
POLICEMAN.
Submitter comment:
WHEN I WAS SMALL, I WOULD PLAY THIS WITH MY FRIENDS.
I LEARNED THIS IN EAST DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; EAST DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
HOPSCOTCH
1. EACH PARTICIPANT HAS A STONE (SMALL)
2. BEGIN BY THROWING STONE INTO BLOCK #1
3. HOP ON ONE FOOT FROM BLOCK TO BLOCK, OMITTING THE
ONE WITH THE STONE IN IT. DON'T STEP ON A LINE. IF
YOU DO, YOU ARE SENT TO THE END OF THE LINE TO
BEGIN AGAIN.
4. IF YOU REACH "HOME" TURN ON THE SAME FOOT AND HOP
BACK TO "START."
5. BEGIN PROCESS AGAIN, STARTING BY THROWING STONE TO
BLOCK #2
6. WHEN SOMEONE EITHER MISSES HER BLOCK AFTER THREE
THROWS OR STEPS ON A LINE, SHE GIVES UP HER TURN TO THE
NEXT IN LINE.
7. THE PERSON WHO COMPLETES TEN ROUNDS FIRST WINS.
Submitter comment: DIAGRAM OF PLAYING SURFACE ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 00001967 FALL
THIS GAME IS CALLED "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?" IT IS
PLAYED BY AS MANY CHILDREN AS WANT TO, USUALLY 10-20.
ONE PERSON IS CHOSEN TO BE MR. FOX AND ALL THE OTHERS
ARE LINED NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN A LINE. IN UNISON,
THEY ALL SAY TO MR. FOX, "WHAT TIME IS IT MR. FOX?"
MR. FOX YELLS ONE OF THE HOURS ON THE CLOCK, SUCH AS
2:00 AND ALL CHILDREN TAKE TWO STEPS TOWARD THE GOAL
BEHIND MR. FOX. THE IDEA OF THE GAME IS TO GET TO
THE GOAL LINE WITHOUT MR. FOX TAGGING YOU FIRST. YOU
CANNOT BE TAGGED IN THE SAFETY AREA. WHEN MR. FOX
YELLS OUT, "MIDNIGHT!" ALL PLAYERS RUN FOR THE GOAL
AND HE TRIES TO TAG ONE OF THEM. WHOEVER HE TAGS
BECOMES THE NEW MR. FOX FOR THE NEXT GAME.
Submitter comment: SEE DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
FREEZE TAG
A PLAYER IS CHOSEN AS IT. IT TRIES TO TAG THE OTHER
PLAYERS. WHEN IT TAGS A PLAYER, THE PLAYER MUST
FREEZE IN HIS TRACKS. THE PLAYER MAY BE FREED FROM
THE POSITION BY THE TAG OF ANOTHER PLAYER WHO IS FREE.
ONCE ALL THE PLAYERS ARE IN A FROZEN POSITION THE GAME
ENDS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
POM POM
TWO GOALS ARE SET UP. ONE PERSON IS IT. ALL THE PLAYERS
STAND BEHIND A GOAL EXCEPT FOR IT, WHO STANDS BETWEEN
THE TWO GOALS. IT CALLS POM-POM AND THE PLAYERS RUN TO
GET TO THE OTHER GOAL. IT TRIES TO TAG THE PLAYERS.
ANYBODY THAT IS CAUGHT IS ALSO IT. THIS IS DONE UNTIL
EVERYBODY IS CAUGHT.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-25-1970
GREEN LIGHT, RED LIGHT
ON THE GREEN LIGHT, YOU WOULD RUN AND ON THE RED YOU'D
HAVE TO STOP. IF YOU WERE CAUGHT MOVING AFTER
THE RED LIGHT, YOU WERE "IT."
Submitter comment: PLAYED AS A GIRL IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): TAG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 05-11-1965
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT
"IT" IS PLACED A DISTANCE FROM (A) GROUP OF KIDS AND
CALLS "GREEN LIGHT." THEY RUN TO HIM UNTIL HE CALLS
"RED LIGHT." IF THEY DON'T STOP, THEY RETURN TO
START. THIS IS REPEATED UNTIL ONE REACHES "IT" AND
WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 10-04-1970
A GROUP OF KIDS DECIDE ON A MOTHER AND A WITCH.
THE MOTHER THEN SAYS,
"I'M GOING DOWNTOWN TO SMOKE MY PIPE,
I WON'T BE BACK 'TIL SATURDAY NIGHT.
IF YOU LET THAT OLD LADY WITCH IN,
I'LL SPANK YOU BLACK AND BLUE
WITH MY OLD MOTHER'S SHOES."
AFTER SHE LEAVES, THE WITCH COMES TO THE DOOR AND
ASKS FOR SOMETHING. WHEN THEY OPEN THE DOOR, SHE
STEALS A CHILD. THE MOTHER RETURNS AND SPANKS THE
REST, THEN LEAVES AGAIN, SAYING THE VERSE. THIS
HAPPENS UNTIL ALL CHILDREN ARE GONE. IF THE MOTHER
CAN FIND THE CHILDREN, SHE WINS; IF NOT THE WITCH
WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 10-04-1970
MR. BEAVER
PARTICIPANTS GO TO A PLACE DESIGNATED BEAVER DAM.
THEY ASK MR. BEAVER ("IT"):
MR. BEAVER, MR. BEAVER, MAY WE CROSS YOUR RIVER DAM?
NOT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE COLOR (RED) ON.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE COLOR, THEY CAN TRY TO RUN
ACROSS. IF THEY GET CAUGHT, THEY SWITCH PLACES WITH
THE BEAVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALPENA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 10-04-1970
STATUE
ONE PLAYER IS "IT." HE SPINS A PLAYER AROUND BY THE
ARM. WHEN THE PLAYER STOPS HE MUST "FREEZE" IN ONE
POSITION LIKE A STATUE. "IT" THEN CONTINUED TO
THE OTHER PLAYERS SPINNING EACH IN TURN. ANY
PLAYER WHO WAS A "STATUE" COULD MOVE TO ANOTHER
POSITION IF HE COULD DO IT WITHOUT "IT" SEEING HIM.
IF HE WAS SEEN MOVING, HE WAS "IT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 10-10-1969