Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F536 returned 346 results.
DANCES 1910
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT DANCES IN MY DAY, IT'S A BIT
ONE-SIDED. IN ORDER TO RATE THE HORSE AND BUGGY
TO TAKE A GIRL, ALSO HAD TO TAKE ONE OF MY SISTERS.
I INVENTED THE IDEA OF ASKING A GIRL IF I COULD WALK
HER HOME. IF YOU STUTTERED A LITTLE, IT HELPED.
SHE WOULD FIGURE YOU WERE BASHFUL. ONE NIGHT I SAW
ANOTHER ONE I LIKED MUCH BETTER AFTER I ASKED THE
FIRST ONE. I HURRIED HER HOME AND RACED BACK. LO
AND BEHOLD, THE FIRST ONE WAS BACK AHEAD OF ME.
Where learned: LETTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
"MUNGING" IS A WORD THOUGHT OF BY THE TWO PEOPLE ABOVE.
MUNGING IS PLAYING A PRACTICAL JOKE ON YOUR FRIEND.
IN THIS INSTANCE THE JOKE WAS ABOUT 10 POUNDS OF SNOW
THROWN ON MUELLER BY DAVIDSON, WHILE MUELLER WAS
USING GAS STATION BATHROOM. A LIVE MUNG.
Where learned: PARTY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
BELIEF IN ANIMAL
WHEN YOU GO HUNTING AND YOU SHOOT A WOODCHUCK, YOU
MUST CUT OFF ITS TAIL TO PROVE TO THE OTHERS IT'S
DEAD. YOU ARE TO KEEP THE TAIL BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU
THE POWER OF THE WOODCHUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT GOES HUNTING AND WHENEVER HE SHOOTS A
WOODCHUCK, HE CUTS THE TAIL OFF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-08-1971
DEVIL'S NIGHT
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, THE NIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN, DEVIL'S
NIGHT, WE WOULD GO OUT AND PLAY TRICKS ON PEOPLE.
ONE TRICK WAS TO FILL A PAPER BAG UP WITH MANURE, THEN
PUT IT ON THE DOORSTEP OF SOMEONE'S HOUSE. THEN,
WE WOULD LIGHT THE BAG ON FIRE, AND RING THE DOORBELL.
WE'D RUN AND HIDE. WHEN THE PERSON WOULD ANSWER THE
DOOR AND SEE THE BURNING BAG, HE'D RUN OUT AND START
STAMPING IT. THEN HE'S START CUSSING AND YELLING
WHEN HE'D SEE HIS SHOE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-15-1972
ENTERTAINMENT BELIEF
IT IS A STAGE CUSTOM THAT BEFORE THE PRESENTATION
THE CAST PICKS A WORD, AT RANDOM, OUT OF THE
DICTIONARY. EACH CAST MEMBER, NO MATTER HOW SMALL
A PART, MUST FIT THAT WORD INTO THEIR DIALOG. IF
THIS IS ACHIEVED, GOOD LUCK WILL FOLLOW THE CAST AND
THE PRESENTATION WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
Where learned: NEW JERSEY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
WHEN INTRODUCED TO MY GIRLFRIEND'S FATHER, I POLITELY
SHOOK HANDS WITH HIM. HE PERSISTENTLY CONTINUED
TO SHAKE MY HAND WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ASKED ME IF
I BELIEVED IN GHOSTS. I ANSWERED NO, AND HE THEN
ASKED ME, "THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL SHAKING?"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-22-1971
A PRACTICAL JOKE
INFORMANT TOLD ME HOW HIS OLDER BROTHER AND THREE OF
HIS MECHANICALLY-INCLINED FRIENDS FROM COOLEY HIGH
SCHOOL (DETROIT) THREATENED THEIR SHOP TEACHER THAT
THEY WERE GOING TO TRICK HIM ON DEVIL'S NIGHT, IF THEY
DID NOT ALL GET A'S IN HIS CLASS. THEY DID NOT ACHIEVE
THIS GOAL, SO ON THAT OCTOBER 30TH THEY TOOK THE
TEACHER'S VOLKSWAGEN (CAR) APART IN FRONT OF HIS
HOUSE, CARRIED IT TO COOLEY, AND REASSEMBLED THE CAR
ON ONE OF THE BALCONIES OF THE SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 10-30-1971
RUSSIAN CUSTOM
DURING THE INTERMISSION AF A BALLET, OFTER THEY HAVE
EATEN, RUSSIANS WILL PROMENADE AROUND A RCECTANGULAR
ROOM. MM
RUSSIANS ARE VERY FOND OF CIRCUSES AND HAVE
EXCELLENT ONES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GOOD LUCK IN BASEBALL
IN BASEBALL, AFTER AN OUT IS MADE, INFIELDERS WILL
THROW BALL AROUND. 3RD BASEMAN HAS TO OBTAIN
THE BALL LAST, TO THROW TO THE PITCHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 10-24-1971
I PLAY ON A SUMMER BASEBALL LEAGUE EVERY SEASON. WHILE
INVOLVED IN PLAYING, IF THE TEAM IS ON A WINNING STREAK
IT IS NEVER PROPER TO WASH YOUR BASEBALL SOCKS, OR
YOUR TEAM WILL BREAK ITS LUCK. THE SAME ALSO GOES IF
I AM ON A HITTING STREAK, I'LL NEVER WASH MY
BASEBALL SOCKS OR I MEAN HAVE MY MOTHER WASH THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
THIS IS A CUSTOM FOLLOWED IN THE SPORT OF BOWLING.
IF IN BOWLING, ONE GETS TWO OR MORE STRIKES IN A ROW,
DON'T PUT THE TOTALS OR SCORES ON THE SCORE SHEET
UNTIL YOU MISS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
IN A BASKETBALL GAME, IF SOMEBODY'S "HOT"--IN
SCORING POINTS--YOU ALWAYS FEED HIM THE BALL, BECAUSE
IF HE DOESN'T GET THE SHOTS HE WILL GET COLD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
BODY PARTS, SENSES
AT A BAND JOB, A MAN FROM THE AUDIENCE CAME UP ON STAGE
AND BEGAN SINGING THE "WARSAW WALTZ." WHILE DOING SO,
HE WAS STROKING HIS NOSE WITH HIS HAND, MAKING A NASAL
SOUND. NOW, WHENEVER THE BLUE ANGELS PLAY THE "WARSAW
WALTZ," THE LEADER OF THE BAND STROKES HER NOSE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A MEMBER OF THE BAND AND WITNESSED THIS
PROCEDURE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
ENGLISH PARTY CUSTOM
WHENEVER MY MOTHER'S FAMILY HAD PARTIES, THEY WOULD
HAVE A TALENT SHOW CALLED A "MAJOR BOWES."
EVERYONE WOULD DO SOMETHING.
Data entry tech comment: BASED ON AN OLD RADIO SHOW "MAJOR BOWES," AN AMATEUR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-26-1971
TELEPHONE CATCHES
MY GIRLFRIEND AND I USED TO PLAY TRICKS ON PEOPLE AND
CALL UP ON THE PHONE AND ASK, "IS YOUR REFRIGERATOR
RUNNING?" WHEN SOMEONE WOULD ANSWER OR GRUNT, WE'D
THEN ADD, "YOU'D BETTER CATCH IT!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; SAGINAW
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 03-27-1971
RECIPE FOR FISH
A CERTAIN KIND OF FISH, NORMALLY UNEDIBLE, CAN BE USED
IN THE FOLLOWING RECIPE:
TAKE THE FISH AND A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF COW DUNG AND
WRAP THEM TOGETHER IN CABBAGE LEAVES AND COOK OVER
A FIRE OR IN THE OVEN FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THROW
OUT THE LEAVES AND THE FISH AND EAT THE REST.
Data entry tech comment: THAT'S A JOKE, SON!
Where learned: ILLINOIS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
BLUE RIBBON
IT IS THE CUSTOM IN SPORTS TO ALWAYS AWARD THE FIRST
PLACE WINNER WITH THE BLUE RIBBON. THE SYMBOLISM
BEHIND THE COLOR BLUE IS THAT THE SKY IS THE
HIGHEST THING THAT MAN CAN REACH FOR, SO THE COLOR
OF THE SKY WAS CHOSEN AS THE HIGHEST HONOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
WHEN SITTING IN A HUNTING LODGE, THE OLDER HUNTERS
GET TO SIT AROUND THE FIREPLACE, WHILE THE NOVICE
HUNTERS PERFORM THE ODD JOBS (TAKING THE DOGS OUT...)
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HUNTS AND EXPERIENCES THIS TYPE OF
GET-TOGETHER AT THE LODGE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-08-1971
TELEPHONE PRANK
DO YOU HAVE RALEIGH IN A CAN? IF YOU DO, YOU HAD
BETTER LET HIM OUT!
Data entry tech comment: REFERS TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH SMOKING TOBACCO--USUALLY
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 03-19-1971
PRANK
ONE PERSON TELLS A YOUNG GIRL THAT THE COINS HE HAS CAN
FORETELL HER FUTURE HUSBAND. THE COINS ARE FLIPPED,
BUT HELD TOGETHER HIDING WHAT THEY HAVE INDICATED,
WHETHER YES OR NO TO QUESTIONS ABOUT HIM. FINALLY,
THE QUESTION "WHAT WILL BE MY FIRST WORDS TO HIM ON
OUR WEDDING NIGHT?" THIS TIME THE COINS ARE HELD
TIGHT AND THE GIRL SAYS (IN ANSWER TO HER OWN
QUESTION) "GIVE IT TO ME!" OR "LET ME HAVE IT!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN