Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C560 returned 390 results.
WHEN MY MOTHER WAS A YOUNG ADOLESCENT, SHE PLAYED A GAME
CALLED "LASSO" WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS. THIS GAME FEATURED A
LOT OF RUNNING AND ROAMING. IT WAS DEVELOPED FROM THE CHILDREN'S
FASCINATION WITH COWBOY RADIO AND TV SHOWS. "LASSO" WAS PLAYED AT
DUSK. "IT" HAD A ROPE AND WOULD TRY TO CATCH SOMEONE WITH A
LASSO. THE OTHERS WOULD RUN. IF "IT" WAS A GIRL SHE HAD TO LASSO
A BOY AND IF "IT" WAS A BOY HE HAD TO LASSO A GIRL. WHEN SOMEONE
WAS CAUGHT HE OR SHE HAD TO KISS THE CATCHER. HE OR SHE THEN
BECAME "IT" AND THE GAME CONTINUED.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001950S
CB TAG
ANYONE WITH A CAR, A CB, AND A FREE WEEKEND EVENING CAN JOIN A
GAME OF CB TAG. THE PLAYERS ALSO NEED AN AREA TO PLAY. THIS GAME
DEVELOPED AMONG GRATIOT AVENUE CRUISERS IN ROSEVILLE, MICHIGAN.
THE PLAYERS GATHER IN A PARKING LOT TO ESTABLISH WHO IS PLAYING.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT TYPE OF CAR EACH PLAYER IS
DRIVING. THE PLAYERS THEN DRIVE OFF IN ALL DIRECTIONS ALTHOUGH
THEY CANNOT GO BEYOND PRE-SET BOUNDARIES. AFTER ABOUT FIFTEEN
MINUTES THEY BEGIN TO COMMUNICATE USING THEIR CB RADIOS. FROM
THIS POINT ON THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER PLAYERS. EACH PLAYER
MUST CHECK IN EVERY FIVE MINUTES. WHEN ONE PLAYER SEES ANOTHER,
THE SECOND PLAYER IS "CAUGHT" AND MUST RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL
PARKING LOT. THE GAME IS OVER WHEN ALL PLAYERS HAVE RETURNED TO
THE LOT. THE WINNER IS THE DRIVER WHO IS NOT SIGHTED BY THE OTHER
PLAYERS.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED OF THIS GAME FROM A CO-WORKER AT THE MACOMB COUNTY
LIBRARY IN MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN WHO WAS A REGULAR PLAYER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
Date learned: 00-00-1990
whenever playing baseball, never step on the chalk lines
because it will make you play poorly and lose the game.
Submitter comment:
Mike's believed this ever since he was younger and played
ball.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001980S
"Pedovolia" which means "five small objects"
This game can be played both indoors and outdoors but a hard,
relatively smooth floor surface is needed. The game is basically for
young girls but boys can play if they choose to. There is no limit to
the number of players. One player takes five small objects--small
round pebbles are often used. The player then sets four of them on
the floor, throws one stone into the air, picks up one of the four
stones that are on the floor, and then must catch the stone that she
or he threw into the air. If the player is successful in doing this,
she or he continues again throwing a stone into the air, grabbing
another stone off the floor while holding on to the rock that she or
he previously picked up off the ground, and again catching the
falling stone. If one is not successful, it becomes another player's
turn. The object is to see which player can do this for the longest
time. If one player is able to do this four times thus exhausting the
supply of stones, the stones are placed on the ground and then she or
he must throw one stone into the air, scoop two stones in a row up
from the ground, and then catch the falling stone.
Submitter comment:
My informant told me that the game is actually more difficult
than it sounds.
Where learned: GREECE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1947
Religious belief or tale
When I was a little girl my mother used to try and soothe me
during a thunder and lightning storm by telling me that when it
thunders, it is God bowling and when it lightnings God hits a
strike.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANTHROPOMORPHISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Gods BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00-00-1980
Wishing
When eating Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, cut out the
wishbone carefully without breaking it. Let the bone dry
overnight so it will snap easily. When the bone is dry, two
people take ahold of opposite ends of the wishbone. Then you
count to three, "one, two, three, go..." and each person pulls on
the bone at the same time until the bone breaks. Whoever gets the
larger segment of the bone has their wish granted. To cheat place
your thumb on the bone which connects the two bones together and
you push forward while they pull. This snaps the bone below the
connecting piece, making the other person's bone shorter.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Frankenmuth
Date learned: 00-00-1976
7-up
There are seven players involved in this game of 7-up. Each
person is assigned a certain method of bouncing a ball. Three of
the players cover their eyes while the other players throw balls
at them lightly. The object of the game is to determine who threw
which ball. You may distinguish the players by each one's unique
bounce, but if all the balls are thrown at you at the same time,
it is difficult to discern which person threw each ball. When one
of the players is identified, he must sit out until the rest of
the ball throwers are known. Then the last person to be
identified is not "it." This means he gets to be assigned a new
pattern of bouncing the ball and group of individuals who
previously had covered their eyes are assigned ball patterns also.
The individual who had just thrown the balls are now "it."
Submitter comment:
There is also another version of this game which was usually
played during indoor recess. Seven students from the class were
selected to stand against the chalkboard. The remaining students
laid their heads on their desks covering their eyes. One person
with head down would count to 30 and then say, "Heads up 7-up."
While this person is counting to 30, the seven people at the
chalkboard would run around the room and tag one person on the
head. The person tagged would then raise their hand, indicating
they had been already chosen. After the seven individuals at the
chalkboard had tagged one person, they were to run back to the
chalkboard as quickly as possible. If the person counting reaches
the number thirty before the people are done tagging the others,
they are automatically out. The person who catches them gets to
go to the chalkboard the next game. Each of the seven people who
have been tagged, get to guess once who tagged them. If they got
it right then they replaced that person at the board. If the
individual guessed incorrectly then the person at the board
remained at their position. In this version one can cheat by
peeking through their fingers.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sandusky
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
Hot Lava
Hot Lava was a game played by my younger sister and me on rainy
days. It consisted of remaining on some object while trying to reach
the other side of the house. Pillows, rugs, furniture, and each other
were used to accomplish this. If the floor was touched, the person
who touched it would be melted by the "hot lava," and die.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001978CA
T.V. Tag
You find a dirt area outside and a stick. You draw a square in
the dirt; this is your T.V. You write the clues in your Square,
things like the time of the show, channel and day that it's on.
The object of the game is for the person who is "it" to figure out
the answer and chase the person.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001970S
This was a game played by digging a little hole in a straight
line and taking a tennis ball and rolling it down the line.
Whatever hole the ball stopped in the player had to quickly
retrieve the ball and try to throw and hit the other players who
had taken off running. If you hit a player with the ball a rock or
baby was put in his hole, if you missed one was put in yours. If
you had as many babies as there were players you had to line up
against a fence and each player got to throw and hit you anyplace
on your body with the ball.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Horse
Horse was a basketball game played by inner-city youths. It
consisted of two or more players who had to make the exact shot
the previous player had made. If he missed, the player received a
letter that eventually spelled out horse and was out of the game.
The winner was always the one player left.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Running Through
Running through was a game with absolutely no organization. It
consisted of a bunch of players who gathered around the football
with each player wondering who would pick it up and try and run
for the touchdown. Whoever picked it up was immediately tackled
and had to leave the ball for the next player to try and score
with it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Twenty One
Twenty one was a basketball game with again little or no
organization. It consisted of a group of players whose main goal
was to reach twenty-one points despite double and triple teaming
efforts on defense by the other players. Whoever reached twenty
one first was declared the winner.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Roughhouse
Roughhouse was a deviant version of the Twenty One game. The
same principles applied, but were a bit more brutal. This time
whenever the player retrieved the ball he was immediately attacked
by the rest of the players, who came at him throwing punches. No
rules were enforced since it was impossible to dribble the ball
and set up for a decent shot at the goal so there was seldom if
ever a winner.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVER ROUGE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Monkey in the Middle
About five to seven people can play this game. With this
game you need two out of the seven people at each end, to toss a
ball or something back and forth to each other. The other five
remain in the middle to catch the object, which the persons on
opposite ends throw to each other preventing the five in the
middle from catching the object being tossed from end to end. If
one of the persons in the middle catches the ball, while the ball
is being thrown to either end, they must move into the middle and
become the monkey in the middle. Then the monkey takes the place
of the person on the end. Then the process starts all over
again.
Submitter comment:
This game to me was fun, when I was younger, but now that I'm
older I think about me jumping up and down like a jumping bean, I
think if I tried it now I would collapse and C.P.R. would be
needed. However I did enjoy the game.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Rock Teacher
One person acts as the teacher and the others are students.
The students sit on the bottom step and the teacher holds a rock
in her hand behind her back, either in the right hand or the left
hand. The teacher goes to each player and holds out her two
hands in front of them and the student taps the teacher's hand
that they think holds the rock. If that student is right they
move up a step. The student that gets to the top of the porch
first wins and they become the rock teacher.
Submitter comment:
This is a game that I used to play when I was a little girl
sitting on my auntie's porch with my sister and our friends.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
Hully Gully
Hully Gully is the name of a game played many years ago.
Some people played for fun and others played it for money. You
put a rock in one hand behind your back, hold both fist out in
front of you and have your opponent try to guess which hand the
rock is in.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-12-1992
June Bugs
As a child, we played a game of catching bugs and tieing a
string to their leg and letting them fly in a circle around us.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATHENS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Insect |
Date learned: 01001952 CA
The Hand-Rock game: The leader stands in front of the porch
steps while three to five friends sit at the top of the porch
steps (should have at least 5 to 10 steps). The leader holds a
small rock in his right or left hand. The leader shows the rock
to all players and then places his hands behind his back. Once
behind the back, the leader switches hands or the leader can keep
the rock in the same hand. The hands are tightly closed and
placed in front of the friends sitting on the step. The first
player is to tap the closed fist hand that she or he believe
would house the stone. If the right hand is chosen, the hand is
opened to reveal the stone. The player would then be rewarded by
sliding down to the next step. If the player chose the wrong
hand, he or she would receive no award and must remain on the
same step. The leader then moves on to the next player and the
same rules are followed. The first player to reach the bottom
step and tap the hand for a standing position is the winner and
the game starts over.
Submitter comment:
This was indeed a fun game. I played it when I was little.
The best part is that you could play it anywhere. On a rainy
day, our hallway steps made for a perfect play area.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Chinese Jump Rope
Jump rope was a favorite game on our street. Even the boys
would play. But better than jump rope was Chinese jump rope. The
rope was shaped like a hugh rubberband covered with cloth to keep
it from burning your legs if you had to hold it. Two people would
be at each end holding it up, starting around the ankles. The
person jumping would jump in, jump out, jump side to side, jump on,
jump in, jump out. If they could continue to do this without any
mistakes, the rope would rise a half of an inch. The highest
jumper wins.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |