Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F537 returned 241 results.
THE AXEMAN
A GROUP OF THE INFORMANT'S FRIENDS WHEN IN HIGH SCHOOL USED TO
PASS THE BLOOMFIELD ESTATES CEMETERY ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL EVERY
MORNING. EACH MORNING IN THE CEMETERY WAS A MAN WHO CARRIED AN
AXE STANDING AT HIS WIFE'S GRAVE. THE GROUP OF TEENAGERS CALLED
HIM "CHARLIE THE AXEMAN." THEY USED TO TEASE HIM EVERY MORNING
UNTIL ONE DAY ONE OF THE FELLOWS FOUND THIS AXE WEDGED THROUGH
THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO FURTHER TEASING AFTER THAT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 03-31-1967
ONE-ARMED HOOK MAN
THERE WAS THIS GUY AND GIRL OUT PARKED ON LOVERS' LANE. THEY
HAPPENED TO HEAR A REPORT ON THE RADIO ABOUT A ONE-ARMED MAN
(HE HAD A HOOK FOR HIS OTHER HAND) WHO HAD ATTACKED AND KILLED A
FEW GIRLS LATELY. THE GUY OF COURSE DIDN'T TAKE THIS ACCOUNT TOO
SERIOUSLY AND HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO SCARE THE GIRL. SO HE
STARTED TELLING HER ALL SORTS OF GORY STORIES ABOUT THE HOOK MAN.
THE GIRL STARTED TO REALLY GET SCARED, AND THEN SHE THOUGHT SHE
HEARD SOMETHING OUT IN THE FIELD. WELL, SHE WAS ABOUT READY TO
GO INTO HYSTERICS, SO FINALLY THE GUY THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO GO.
WHEN HE GOT TO HER HOUSE AND WENT TO LET HER OUT OF THE CAR, HE
JUST ABOUT FAINTED. FOR THERE ON THE DOOR HANDLE WAS HANGING A
LONG SILVER HOOK WITH BLOOD DRIPPING FROM THE BUTT OF IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A STORY WHICH USED TO BE PASSED AROUND THE HIGH SCHOOL
CROWD IN LANSING. IT IS TOLD AS IF IT HAD ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AND
IT IS EVEN LOCALIZED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
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
FRATERNITY PLEDGE DIES
THE MEMBERS OF A FRATERNITY, AS PART OF THE INITIATION, HAD A
PLEDGE PLACED ON THE TOP OF A LADDER. TELLING HIM HE WAS ATOP
A 10-STORY BUILDING, THEY PUSHED HIM OFF. THE PLEDGE DIED OF
FRIGHT.
Submitter comment: HE SAID THAT HE SAW THIS IN A NEWSPAPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
LEGEND
THERE WAS A LEGEND AT MY HIGH SCHOOL IN CLEVELAND, NOTRE DAME
ACADEMY, THAT A NUN WAS BURIED UNDER A LOOSE SLAB OF MARBLE IN
THE MAIN HALLWAY, AND NOISE DISTURBED HER. THEREFORE, WE WERE
TO REMAIN QUIET IN THE HALLS.
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 12-06-1967
LEGEND
AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY THERE IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION IN
HONOR OF THE ORANGE HORSE. EVERY YEAR DURING FALL TERM, STUDENTS
HAVE A SLEEP-IN AT BESSY HALL IN HONOR OF THEIR COMPATRIOTS WHO
STAGED A SLEEP-IN IN PROTEST OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FIRING
THREE OUTSPOKEN TEACHERS. THIS PROTEST WAS NICK-NAMED THE ORANGE
HORSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ; Lansing
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
CAMPUS TALE
THERE IS A STORY THAN AN ARCHITECT FROM THE SIXTH FLOOR OF SHIPLE
WENT OUT ON THE NARROW LEDGE WHICH RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE BUILD-
ING AND RACED ANOTHER ARCHITECT WHO WAS IN THE HALL AND BEAT HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 09-00-1966
U OF D LEGEND
IT IS SAID BY SOME STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT THAT THE
BELL IN THE TOWER CHIMES EVERY TIME A VIRGIN PASSES BY. IT HAS
NOT AS YET SOUNDED ITS MELODIC CHIMES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING THIS WHEN HE BEGAN U OF D AS A
FRESHMAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 1962.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 03-21-1965 ; 09-00-1962
ROTC=ROTTEN OLD TIN CANS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; JOKE ; MILITARY ; PLAY ON WORDS ; PUN
James Callow Keyword(s): ACRONYM ; ROTC:MILITARY TRAINING UNIT. ; SATIRE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- P535 SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 02-15-1970
Entry filtered.
THE RAISING OF THE HAND TO GAIN ATTENTION IN A
CLASSROOM.
Where learned: CLASSROOM THINKING
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
SCHOOL CUSTOM
IN SCHOOL, IT IS A CUSTOM TO RAISE YOUR HAND TO BE
CALLED UPON FOR AN ANSWER.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS IN SCHOOL IN 1955-1956.
Where learned: PORT CHESTER ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 00001955-1956
STUDENT MUST STAY THREE FEET BEHIND TEACHER WHEN
ENTERING A DOORWAY AS A MATTER OF RESPECT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
Superstition: Academics
Belief:
Don't shave from the time of studying for an exam until the student takes the exam.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and F537 is written next to it.
Where learned: SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself
Keyword(s): Academics ; BELIEF ; Books ; EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; GROOMING ; jinx ; Shaving ; Studying ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Trick
Cooties:
You used to put an "X" on your hand or something. That was your cootie shot. One girl was designated as having cooties and if she touched you, you passed it on to somebody else. Or else if you didn't have the "X" you'd get it."
Submitter comment:
Informant recalls this as being practices often while attending grade school.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): GAME ; gender ; Prank ; SCHOOL ; Tease ; TRICK ; TRICKSTER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Entry filtered.
Custom
Graduation Custom:
When the seniors graduated they turned their rings so that the writing faced out toward other people and was upside down to the person wearing it.
Submitter comment:
This was a common custom at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Farmington, MI. The informant performed this ceremony in 1968 when she graduated. I also did this when I graduated in 1968.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Commencement ; CUSTOM ; Graduation ; JEWELRY ; RING ; SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Custom
Slate:
When the informant was of grade-school age, it was mandatory to come to school with a slate and a sponge wet enough to last for the whole day.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [M243] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; EDUCATION ; Learning ; Objects ; SCHOOL ; TOOLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Ethnic: Belgium
Homework Law:
In Belgium, where 51/2 days of school per week is the rule, there is a law which limits the amount of homework to 2 hours per day for any student.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [F574.5, F574.82] crossed out. Replaced with current classification
Where learned: HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): Belgium ; EDUCATION ; ETHNIC ; Homework ; Law ; SCHOOL ; Student
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Entertainment: Game
A method children use to select teams or "it" is for everyone to hold out both fists and someone counts off on each fist"one-potato, two-potato, three-potato, four. Five-potato, six-potato, seven-potato more." The first fist on which "more" lands must be put behind back. The winner (or loser) can either be the first or last person to have both fists behind his back.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Choose ; COUNTING ; Elimination ; Entertainment ; Fists ; GAME ; POTATO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |