Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C560 returned 390 results.
CHINESE JUMPROPE
SWISS CHILDREN HOOK A PIECE OF ELASTIC OVER THREE
POSTS AND THEN DO JUMPING TRICKS BY HOOKING THEIR
LEG IN AND OUT OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-04-1972
PINATA
AMONG THE MEXICANS, THERE IS A FAVORITE GAME CALLED
PINATA. A DONKEY (OR ANY FIGURE) IS MADE FROM
BRIGHTLY COLORED PAPER OR OTHER MATERIAL. THEN,
SEVERAL CHILDREN ARE BLIND-FOLDED AND THEY TRY TO
STRIKE THE DONKEY WITH AN INSTRUMENT. THE DONKEY,
HOWEVER, IS BEING PULLED AROUND BY A STRING BY
SOMEONE INVOLVED IN THE GAME. THE CHILD WHO
SUCCESSFULLY STRIKES THE DONKEY DISCOVERS THAT IT IS
FILLED WITH CANDY AND SWEET BREADS. THIS IS AN
ESPECIALLY FAVORITE GAME AT CHRISTMAS TIME,
ALTHOUGH IT IS PLAYED ALL YEAR ROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-15-1971
KNIFE GAME
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 12, WE USED TO PLAY A GAME WITH POCKET
KNIVES WHICH WE REFERRED TO AS "SPLIT" OR "STRETCH."
TWO BOYS WOULD STAND FACING ONE ANOTHER WITH THEIR FEET
TOGETHER. THE BOYS WOULD TAKE TURNS THROWING THEIR
KNIVES AND TRYING TO STICK THEM IN THE GROUND.
WHEN A BOY'S KNIFE STUCK, THE OTHER BOY HAD TO
"STRETCH" ONE LEG UNTIL HIS FOOT TOUCHED THE KNIFE,
KEEPING THE OTHER FOOT IN PLACE. THE BOYS WOULD
CONTINUE, REMOVING THE KNIVES AND RE-THROWING THEM
UNTIL ONE BOY STUCK HIS IN SO FAR AWAY THAT THE OTHER
BOY COULD NOT STRETCH FAR ENOUGH TO TOUCH IT AND
WOULD THEREFORE LOSE THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HOUSE BALL
THIS GAME IS PLAYED ON A WALL OF A HOUSE WITH A RUBBER
BALL. IT IS ON THE SAME PRINCIPLE AS CURB BALL, BUT
INSTEAD OF THROWING DOWN AT THE CURB, THE BALL IS
THROWN IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION AGAINST THE WALL.
CERTAIN BOUNDS ARE MADE AND RULES FOR SCORING. THE
FIELDER MUST CATCH THE BALL IN THE AIR BEFORE IT
BOUNCES FOR AN OUT. OVER THE GARAGES IS A FOUL
BALL AND INTO THE GARAGE IS A HOME RUN. (REGULATIONS
ARE AVAILABLE ON LOCATION OF WALL.)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
BUICK
IN BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN IN THE LATE 1950S WE PLAYED
A GAME CALLED "BUICK" (PRONOUNCED AS WE PERCEIVED
A BLACK MAN MIGHT AND NAMED FOR SAME BECAUSE MORE
BLACKS SEEMED TO BUY BUICKS--"DEUCE AND A QUARTERS"
THAN WHITES). YOU WERE A "B" THEN A "BU" ETC.
EACH TIME YOU MISSED THE (TENNIS) BALL COMING OFF
THE (GARAGE) ROOF IN A PREDETERMINED ROTATION OF
PLAYERS. ONCE A B-U-I-C-K YOU WERE OUT OF THE GAME;
THE LAST PLAYER REMAINING WON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00001950S
HIT THE BAT
IN "HELL'S KITCHEN" AND MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, WE PLAYED
A BASEBALL GAME CALLED "HIT THE BAT." ONE PLAYER WOULD
HIT THE BALL "OUT OF HIS HAND" TO A GROUP DOWN THE
STREET WHO WOULD VIE TO CATCH IT. THE SUCCESSFUL PERSON
WOULD THEN (FROM THE CATCHING POINT) THROW THE BALL
BACK TOWARD THE HITTER (WHO HAS NOW LAID THE BAT
DOWN ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF HIM) IN SUCH A MANNER
THAT IT STRIKES THE BAT AND FLIES UP INTO THE AIR TO
THE HITTER, WHO MUST THEN CATCH THE AIRBORNE BALL
OR RELINQUISH HIS POSITION TO THE THROWER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; MAMARONECK ; HELLS KITCHEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
BASEBALL
TO DETERMINE WHICH TEAM WOULD HIT FIRST, ONE PLAYER
WOULD TOSS A BAT TO A MEMBER OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM
(PRESELECTED PEOPLE); WHERE THE SECOND PLAYER CAUGHT
THE BAT (KNOB UP), WOULD BE THE STARTING POINT FOR
ALTERNATING HAND GRIPS (ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER) OF
EACH PLAYER TOWARD THE BAT KNOB. THE LAST PLAYER ABLE
TO SUFFICIENTLY GRASP THE BAT WOULD BE THE WINNER.
"SUFFICIENTLY GRASPING" WAS DETERMINED BY BEING BLE TO
THROW THE BAT AT LEAST 10 PACES, OR WITHSTANDING THE
OPPONENT'S KICK AT THE BAT BOTTOM WITHOUT DROPPING IT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001950S
WE PLAYED A BASEBALL GAME IN NEW YORK CALLED
"FLIES AND GROUNDERS." ONE MAN HIT THE BALL TO A
GROUP OF FIELDERS WHO HAD TO ACCUMULATE FIVE FLIES
AND 10 GROUNDERS TO BE THE NEXT BATTER.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971
CONKERS
TAKE A CHESTNUT, BORE A HOLE THROUGH IT; TAKE A
STRING AND TIE IT THROUGH.
EACH OPPONENT HAS TO TRY AND SMASH THE OTHER MAN'S
CHESTNUT WITHOUT CRACKING HIS OWN.
Submitter comment: NEW FAD IN IRELAND, FALL OF 1971
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; IRELAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
IT WAS A GAME IN GROSSE POINTE FARMS FOR A FEW YOUNG
BOYS (ABOUT AGE 10) TO GO INTO A FRIEND'S BASEMENT
AND WITH THE LIGHTS OFF, THROW BOXING GLOVES AT
EACH OTHER.
Submitter comment: MIKE HADN'T THOUGHT OF THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; GROSSE POINTE FARMS
Keyword(s): SPARRING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-10-1971
OVERHEAD RELAY
THERE ARE TWO LINES WITH TEN CHILDREN IN EACH.
THEY PASS THE BALL OVER THE HEAD. PERSON AT
THE END RUNS TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. THE FIRST
LEADER TO GET BACK AT HIS PLACE FIRST, WINS THE
GAME.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-31-1971
ANDYOVER
A POPULAR GAME IN INDIANA, TWENTY YEARS AGO, WAS ANDYOVER.
TWO PEOPLE WOULD STAND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A GARAGE
OR BARN AND THROW A BALL OVER THE TOP OF A BUILDING
TO THE PERSON ON THE OTHER SIDE, LETTING HIM KNOW
THE BALL WAS ON ITS WAY BY YELLING "ANDYOVER."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; INDIANA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-10-1971 ; 00-00-1951
BALLOON GAME
WHEN WE WERE LITTLE IT WAS A GAME WE PLAYED WITH A LONG,
THIN BALLOON--ONE FOR EACH TEAM. ONE TEAM WOULD STAND
AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR CIRCULAR STAIRCASE AND THE OTHER
AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME WAS
TO GET YOUR BALLOON ON THE OPPOSING TEAMS AREA OF THE
STAIRCASE. THE TEAM WOULD ACT DEFENSIVELY AS WELL
AS OFFENSIVELY, STRIVING TO KEEP OPPOSING BALLOON
OUT OF YOUR TERRITORY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
CAT'S CRADLE
A STRING GAME PLAYED WITH ONE, TWO, OR MORE PEOPLE
USING STRING WRAPPED AROUND CERTAIN FINGERS TO
FORMULATE SEVERAL SHAPES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME FREQUENTLY DURING GRADE
SCHOOL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
BASEBALL CARDS
AS A BOY IN NEW YORK CITY, I OFTEN GAMBLED PART(S)
OF MY CARD COLLECTION BY MATCHING HEADS AND TAILS
WITH ANOTHER COLLECTOR, BY FLIPPING THE CARDS FROM
ONE'S HAND (AS ONE MIGHT THROW A SOFTBALL UNDER-
HANDEDLY) TO THE GROUND.
"DOUBLES" OR "TRIPLES" ETC. OF THE SAME CARD WERE GOOD
TO USE AS LUCKY CARDS, SO WE BELIEVED. ALSO, WE
BELIEVED THAT WEARING LONG PANTS WHILE DOING THIS
WAS UNLUCKY (PROBABLY BECAUSE THE PANT CUFFS SOMETIMES
CAUGHT ONE'S FLIPPED CARD AND CHANGED OUR PLANNED
SHOWING SIDE).
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00001940-1950
BASEBALL CARDS
AS A BOY IN NEW YORK CITY, IF OFTEN GAMBLED PART(S)
OF MY EXTENSIVE CARD COLLECTION BY MATCHING "HEADS"
AND "TAILS" WITH ANOTHER COLLECTOR BY FLIPPING THE CARD
FROM ONE'S HAND (AS ONE MIGHT THROW A SOFTBALL--
UNDERHANDEDLY) TO THE GROUND.
ONE OF MORE CARDS WOULD BE WAGERED AT A TIME. I
RECALL GAMBLING UP TO 1000 CARDS IN A MATCH; THE FIRST
PLAYER "FLIPS" DOWN 1000 CARDS, AND LET'S ASSUME THAT
THEY COME OUT 995 "HEADS" (FACE UP) AND 5 "TAILS" (FACE
DOWN). THE SECOND PLAYER MUST THEN DO EXACTLY THE SAME
WITH HIS CARDS. THERE WERE MANY TIMES THAT THE MATCHER
LOST ALL 1000 CARDS ($10 FACE VALUE) ON THE LAST FLIP.
WHEN MY FAMILY MOVED TO DETROIT, I INTRODUCED THE GAME
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS AROUND HENRY FORD HOSPITAL
(1953).
IN 1959, I SOLD THE MAJORITY OF MY COLLECTION (CARDS
FROM 1932-1959) FOR OVER $900 (OVER 30,000 CARDS)
TO A NEW JERSEY DEALER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1953
SLUG BUG
A FEW YEARS AGO WHILE IN GRADE SCHOOL, WE'D PLAY THIS
LITTLE GAME WHILE TRAVELING. THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE
A VOLKSWAGON WOULD YELL OUT "SLUG BUG" AND,
CONSEQUENTLY, GOT TO SLUG THE OTHER PERSON IN THE ARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE=VOLKSWAGON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
JUMP ROPE--UNDER THE MOON
A. UNDER THE MOON--THE PERSON RUNS UNDER THE ROPE WHILE
IT IS BEING TURNED.
B. #1--THE PERSON JUMPS ONCE AT SLOW SPEED.
C. #2--THE PERSON JUMPS TWICE AT A NORMAL SPEED.
D. #3--THE PERSON JUMPS THREE TIMES ON HER RIGHT FOOT.
E. #4--THE PERSON JUMPS FOUR TIMES ON HER LEFT FOOT.
F. #5--THE PERSON JUMPS FIVE TIMES WITH HER EYES CLOSED.
G. #6--THE PERSON JUMPS SIX TIMES WHILE TURNING
AROUND CLOCKWISE.
H. #7--THE PERSON JUMPS SEVEN TIMES WHILE TURNING AROUND
COUNTERCLOCKWISE.
I. #8--THE PERSON JUMPS EIGHT TIMES ALTERNATING FEET
(RIGHT, LEFT, ....).
J. #9--THE PERSON JUMPS NINE TIMES WHILE CLAPPING ON EACH
JUMP.
K. #10--THE PERSON JUMPS TEN TIMES AT A FAST SPEED.
THE PERSON MUST REPEAT THE SERIES BACKWARDS. IF SHE
MISSES AT ANY TIME SHE MUST TAKE AN END AND WAIT HER
TURN. WHEN SHE RESUMES PLAY SHE MUST START FROM THE
BEGINNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
MONKEY IN THE MIDDLE
TWO PERSONS OR GROUPS STAND WITH ONE PERSON IN THE
MIDDLE. BOTH SIDES TRY TO KEEP A BALL AWAY FROM
THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE. IF AND WHEN THE PERSON
(MONKEY) IN THE MIDDLE GETS THE BALL, THEN THE LAST
PERSON TO HAVE THROWN THE BALL BECOMES THE "MONKEY"
IN THE MIDDLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
PICKLE
THIS IS A GAME PLAYED WITH A BALL AND USUALLY BASEBALL
GLOVES. TWO GOALS OR SAFETY SPOTS ARE DESIGNATED A
CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER. RUNNERS ARE CHOSEN AND
CATCHERS ARE CHOSEN. THE RUNNERS MUST RUN FROM GOAL TO
GOAL WITHOUT GETTING TAGGED BY A CATCHER WITH THE BALL.
THE CATCHER MUST HAVE THE BALL WHEN HE TAGS A RUNNER
"OUT." WHEN THE RUNNER HAS THREE OUTS HE EITHER
BECOMES THE CATCHER OR A NEW RUNNER COMES IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-02-1971