Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C560 returned 390 results.
JAMES--BING THE LEGS
TIP A CHAIR ON ITS BACK. STAND BACK ABOUT SIX FEET
FROM THE CHAIR AND TRY TO RING THE LEG OF THE CHAIR
WITH A RUBBER JAR RING. COUNT 25 POINTS FOR EACH
RING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
HAMMER THROW
BLOW UP A PAPER BAG AND TIE WITH A STRING, THEN
THROW FOR A DISTANCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
UPSIES
TRYING TO MAKE A JACK KNIFE STICK IN THE GROUND BY
THROWING IT FROM DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1961
DUCKY
ONE BIG ROCK IS PLACED ON THE GROUND. EACH PLAYER HAS
ONE STONE TO THROW AT THE LARGE ROCK. THE PERSON
WHOSE STONE MISSES THE ROCK BY THE LARGEST DISTANCE
IS OUT OF THE GAME AND HAS TO PLACE HIS STONE ON
TOP OF THE LARGE ROCK. THE REST OF THE PLAYERS
COLLECT THEIR STONES AND THROW AGAIN TRYING TO KNOCK
THE STONE OFF THE ROCK. THE PLAYERS TAKE A PLACE BY
THEIR STONE. WHEN THE STONE IS KNOCKED OFF THE ROCK,
ALL PLAYERS MUST "FLY" (RUN) BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL
POSITIONS BEFORE THE PLAYER WHO WAS OUT OF THE GAME
CAN PUT HIS STONE BACK UP ON THE ROCK. THE LAST ONE
BACK IS OUT OF THE GAME. THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL
ONLY ONE PERSON IS LEFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
ROCK ON THE DOCK
EACH PLAYER HAS ONE TIN CAN AND THERE IS A PERSON THAT
IS IT. HE TAKES HIS CAN PUTS IT ON ANOTHER CAN
AND SAYS "ROCK ON THE DOCK." EACH PLAYER PUTS HIS
CAN DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM AND WHILE "IT" WALKS AROUND
THE PLAYERS TRY TO PICK UP THEIR CAN AND KNOCK THE
ROCK OFF THE DOCK. IF THEY MISS THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY
"IT." IF THEY ALL SUCCEED THEN AFTER THE LAST PERSON
THROWS AND HITS IT, EVERYONE MAKES A DASH FOR THEIR
CAN; PICKS IT UP AND GOES BACK TO START, WHILE "IT"
TRIES TO CATCH SOMEONE. IF HE DOES, THAT PERSON IS
"IT."
Where learned: SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DUCK ON THE ROCK
A PILE OF CANS IS STACKED IN PYRAMID FASHION. THE
PERSON WHO IS "IT" GUARDS THE PYRAMID, WHILE THE OTHER
CHILDREN STAND BEHIND A DESIGNATED LINE AND THROW CANS
AT THE PYRAMID, ATTEMPTING TO KNOCK IT DOWN. IF THE
PERSON WHO IS GUARDING THE PYRAMID FAILS TO DETER THE
THROWN CAN, HE IS NO LONGER "IT;" THE PERSON WHO THREW
THE CAN AND DID KNOCK DOWN THE PILE IS THE NEW "IT."
Submitter comment: PLAYED IT AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-01-1965
DUCK ON THE ROCKS
A GAME PLAYED IN MY CHILDHOOD. EVERYONE STARTS OUT WITH
HIS OWN CAN. ONE OF THE PLAYERS USUALLY TAKES IT UPON
HIMSELF TO BE IT. THE ONE THAT IS IT PLACES HIS CAN
ON A FAIRLY LARGE ROCK. A LINE IS DRAWN ABOUT THIRTY
FEET FROM THE ROCK. THE PLAYERS LINE UP AND TRY TO
KNOCK THE CAN OFF THE ROCK WITH THEIR CANS. IF ONE
PERSON KNOCKS THE CAN OFF THE ROCK, HE PICKS UP HIS
CAN AND RUNS FOR THE LINE. THE ONE WHO IS IT HAS
TO PUT HIS CAN BACK ON THE ROCK AND TOUCH THE OTHER
PLAYER BEFORE HE REACHES THE LINE. THE OTHER PLAYER
IS NOW IT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DUCK ON THE ROCK
ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY THIS GAME. EVERYONE HAS AN EMPTY
TIN CAN AND PLAYERS FORM A CIRCLE. ONE PERSON IS IT,
AND HE HAS TO STAND IN THE MIDDLE AND PLACE HIS CAN
ON TOP OF A ROCK. THE PLAYERS IN THE CIRCLE HAVE TO
THROW THEIR CANS AT THE CAN ON THE ROCK AND TRY TO
KNOCK IT OVER. IF A PLAYER THROWS HIS CAN AND MISSES
HE MUST RETRIEVE IT BEFORE HE IS TAGGED BY THE PLAYER
IN THE MIDDLE. WHEN SOMEONE IS TAGGED, HE REPLACES
THE PLAYER IN THE MIDDLE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND'S FATHER, AND HE CLAIMED THAT
HE USED TO PLAY THIS GAME WHEN HE WAS A SMALL BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
KICK THE CAN
ONE PERSON COUNTS TO FIFTY AND ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS
HIDE. ONE PLAYER TRIES TO KICK THE CAN BEFORE THE
PERSON COUNTING TAGS HIM. IF THIS PLAYER IS ABLE
TO KICK THE CAN WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT, THE SAME COUNTER
MUST START OVER AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL SOME ONE
IS CAUGHT AND A NEW MEMBER GETS TO (BE) THE COUNTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
KICK THE CAN
OBJECT: TO TOPPLE A CAN SET UP ON A ROCK BEFORE BEING
TAGGED OR OTHERWISE CAPTURED BY THE PERSON WHO IS "IT."
THE KIDS WHO WERE NOT IT USUALLY HID WHILE THE KID
WHO WAS IT SOUGHT THEM OUT. THE PERSON WHO WAS IT
HAD TO TAG OR CATCH ALL THE OTHERS BEFORE ONE OF
THEM KNOCKED OVER THE CAN. IF A BUNCH WERE TAGGED
AND THE CAN WAS TOPPLED THEY WERE FREE UNTIL CAUGHT
AGAIN. IF ALL WERE CAUGHT THE FIRST ONE CAUGHT WAS
THE NEW "IT."
Where learned: REMINISCING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-05-1968
KICK THE CAN
TAKE A CAN, KICK IT HIGH, AND WHILE FLYING, ALL
THE PLAYERS HIDE EXCEPT "IT" WHO KICKED THE CAN.
"IT" HAS TO FIND EVERYBODY. IF HE DIDN'T, HE
REMAINED "IT."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED IN NEW YORK IN THE 1930S BY THE
INFORMANT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NEW YORK ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-19-1970 ; 00001930S
KICK THE CAN
PLAYED LIKE BASEBALL, EXCEPT THAT THE CAN IS
THE BALL.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
RING TOSS
DRAW THREE CIRCLES, EACH WITHIN THE OTHER, TEN FEET
FROM THE STARTING LINE. TOSS RUBBER JAR RINGS
INTO THE CIRCLES. INSIDE CIRCLE COUNTS 50,
SECOND 25, AND THIRD 10 POINTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
ARITHMATIC BINGO
ALL PLAYERS HAVE DIFFERENT CARDS. A LEADER GIVES
TWO NUMBERS TO BE ADDED IN YOUR HEAD. IF YOU HAVE
THE NUMBER, YOU MARK IT ON YOUR CARD AS IN REGULAR
BINGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
FOUR SQUARE
DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD SHOWS SQUARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR
SMALLER SQUARES, NUMBERED ACROSS TOP 1 AND 2, AND ON
BOTTOM, 3 AND 4.
SERVER STARTS THE BALL IN SQUARE NO. 1. YOU ARE
ALLOWED ONE BOUNCE IN YOUR SQUARE. YOU CANNOT LEAVE
YOUR SQUARE. IF YOU VIOLATE ONE OF THESE TWO RULES
YOU'RE OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
SPUD
YOU THROW UP A BALL AND CALL OUT "SPUD YOUR OUT."
TAKE THREE GIANT STEPS AND THROW THE BALL AT SOMEONE
TO TRY TO GET HIM OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
A STRING OF NYLONS ARE TIED AROUND A PLAYER'S WAIST
WITH A CARROT HANGING FROM ONE END, WHICH IS MOVED
TO THE BACK OF THE PLAYER AND HANGS DIRECTLY BEHIND
HER. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO TRY TO GET THE
CARROT INTO A MILK BOTTLE BY BENDING UP AND DOWN
WITHOUT TOUCHING THE NYLONS TIED AROUND THE WAIST NOR
THE CARROT. THIS IS A GAME PLAYED AT MIXED PARTIES,
AND TO SEE IT IN MOTION IT LOOKS QUITE NASTY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-18-1971
AGAINST THE WALL
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, A GAME WE COMMONLY PLAYED WAS CALLED
AGAINST-THE-WALL. IT WAS PLAYED USING A SMALL RUBBER
BALL AND THE WALL OF A HOUSE. THERE ARE TWELVE BASIC
FEATS WHICH (CAN)BE DONE IN SEVERAL POSITIONS. THE
FIRST POSITION IS USING BOTH HANDS AND MOVING WHERE EVER
YOU WISH. NEXT IT IS DONE IN STATIONARY POSITION. THEN
IT IS DONE WITH THE RIGHT HAND AND THEN WITH THE LEFT
HAND. THEN (WITH) RIGHT HAND STATIONARY AND LEFT HAND
STATIONARY. THE FEATS ARE 1-THROW THE BALL AGAINST
THE WALL AND CATCH IT. 2-THROW THE BALL AGAINST THE
WALL AND LET IT BOUNCE ONCE, DO THIS TWICE. 3-THROW
THE BALL AGAINST THE WALL AND CLAP YOUR HANDS THREE
TIMES, DO THIS THREE TIMES. 4-THROW THE BALL INTO THE
AIR AND CLAP FOUR TIMES; DO THIS FOUR TIMES. 5-THROW THE
BALL UNDER YOUR LEFT LEG AND HIT THE WALL WITH IT; DO THIS
FIVE TIMES. 6-THROW THE BALL AGAINST THE WALL AND CLAP
SLAP YOUR RIGHT LEG AND CLAP AGAIN BEFORE YOU CATCH THE
BALL; DO THIS SIX TIMES. 7-THROW THE BALL AGAINST THE
WALL AND CLAP IN FRONT OF YOU, BEHIND YOU AND IN FRONT
OF YOU AGAIN BEFORE YOU CATCH THE BALL; DO THIS SEVEN
TIMES. 8-THROW THE BALL ON THE GROUND AND IT MUST HIT
THE WALL AND BOUNCE OFF OF IT BEFORE YOU CATCH IT; DO
THIS EIGHT TIMES. 9-PLACE ONE OF YOUR ARMS OUT TO THE
WALL AND OUTSTRETCH YOUR HAND AGAINST THE WALL. WITH
YOUR OTHER HAND THROW THE BALL SO THAT IT WILL ENCIRCLE
THE ARM AND CATCH IT WITH THE SAME HAND, WITHOUT REMOVING
THE OTHER HAND FROM THE WALL. 10-THROW THE BALL AGAINST
THE WALL AND ROLL YOUR ARMS FORWARD FOR FIVE TIMES.
THEN YOU MUST SAY REVERSE AND REVERSE YOUR ARM DIRECTION
FOR THE NEXT FIVE TIMES. 11-THROW THE BALL AGAINST THE
WALL AND REVOLVE IN A CIRCLE BEFORE THE BALL IS CAUGHT;
DO THIS ELEVEN TIMES. 12-BOUNCE THE BALL ON THE GROUND
ALTERNATING HITTING THE BALL WITH THE TOP SIDE AND THE
BOTTOM SIDE OF THE HAND; DO THIS TWELVE TIMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A FOUR SIDED PIECE OF WOOD POINTED AT EACH END IS USED.
ON THE ENDS ARE MARKED I, III, V, X. YOU THROW IT
TO AN INDIVIDUAL AND IF A "I" IS THROWN, THE PERSON
GETS TO HIT THE STICK ONCE. IF A "III" IS THROWN, THE
PERSON GETS TO HIT THE STICK THREE TIMES. IF A "V" IS
THROWN THE PERSON GETS TO HIT THE STICK FIVE TIMES.
IF AN "X" IS THROWN THE PERSON IS AUTOMATICALLY OUT.
THE OBJECT IS TO TRY TO HIT THE STICK BETWEEN SOME
SPECIFIED GOALS.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOESN'T KNOW NAME OF THIS GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-00-1971
CADDY
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED ON AN EMPTY LOT OR ON A DESERTED
STREET. AT LEAST TWO MUST PLAY, BUT THERE IS NO LIMIT
ON THE NUMBER. A 2-1/2 TO 3 INCH PIECE IS SAWED OFF OF
A BROOMSTICK. ONE END IS WHITTLED TO FORM A SHARP
POINT. THE 2-1/2 TO 3 INCH PENCIL SHAPED PIECE IS
CALLED THE "CADDY." THE BROOM IS CUT OFF THE REMAINING
PIECE OF WOOD. THIS PIECE IS ALSO USED IN THE GAME.
THE CADDY IS PLACED AGAINST A MOUND OF DIRT OR A STONE
IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD SHOWS POINTED STICK LEANING ON
A MOUND OF DIRT OR STONE.
THE POINTED END OF THE CADDY IS STRUCK A DOWNWARD BLOW
WITH THE LONG PART OF THE BROOMSTICK. THE CADDY WILL FLY
UP IN THE AIR. WHILE IN THE AIR, THE CADDY IS STRUCK
AGAIN WITH THE BROOMSTICK. THE OBJECT IS TO KNOCK THE
CADDY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE FROM THE STONE OR DIRT MOUNT IT
WAS RESTING ON. AFTER THE CADDY STOPS, THE DISTANCE IS
COUNTED OFF IN STEPS AND RECORDED. AFTER A GIVEN
NUMBER OF TURNS, THE COMBINED SCORES ARE TOTALED AND
THE HIGHEST NUMBER WINS. IF A PLAYER COULD HIT THE
AIRBORN CADDY TWICE, HIS "STEP" SCORE WAS DOUBLED.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME IN THE 1920S AND 30S WITH HIS
BROTHERS AND FRIENDS. GIRLS COULD ALSO PLAY IF THEY
COULD HIT THE CADDY. INFORMANT'S SISTER-IN-LAW CLAIMS
THAT THIS WAS DIFFICULT.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-02-1971