Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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A GAME USING A BASKETBALL AND BASKETBALL NET. EACH
PLAYER PLAYING INDIVIDUALLY WOULD ATTEMPT TO MAKE ANY
KIND OF SHOT FROM ANYWHERE. IF HE MISSED, THE NEXT
PLAYER GOT HIS CHOICE. IF HE MADE IT, THE NEXT
PLAYER (ORDER ASSIGNED PREVIOUSLY) WOULD ATTEMPT TO MAKE
THE SAME SHOT. IF HE ALSO MADE IT, THEN THE NEXT PLAYER
MUST ALSO. THE FIRST PLAYER TO MISS (ORIGINAL STARTER
EXCLUDED AND THOSE AFTER HIM) WOULD BE DESIGNATED WITH
A "P." THE NEXT PLAYER HAS HIS CHOICE OF SHOTS AND
THE GAME CONTINUES. IF THE PLAYER WITH "P" MISSES
ANOTHER SHOT MADE BY THE SAME/DIFFERENT PLAYER, HE
GETS AN "I." THE FIRST PERSON TO GET "P-I-G" IS OUT
OF THE GAME. THE LAST PERSON LEFT IS THE WINNER.
Submitter comment: MANY VARIATIONS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
GAME OF "500."
THIS IS A STREET GAME INVOLVING THE USE OF A BAT AND
BALL. A PERSON STARTS OFF THE GAME, STARTING BY
THROWING THE BALL UP AND HITTING IT WITH A BAT.
EVERYONE ELSE PARTICIPATING GOES DOWN THE STREET
AND TRIES TO CATCH THE BALL. EACH TYPE OF CATCH
IS WORTH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF POINTS. E.G. A GROUNDER
MAY BE WORTH 50, A LINE DRIVE WORTH 75 AND A FLY WORTH
100 POINTS. THE FIRST ONE GETTING TO 500 IS THE NEXT
BATTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
CURB BALL
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO SCORE RUNS. THE BALL
(RUBBER) IS THROWN AGAINST A ROUNDED STREET CURB
AND MUST MAKE IT IN THE AIR PAST THE MIDDLE OF THE
STREET FOR A SINGLE OR OFF THE FIELDER'S GLOVE
FOR A DOUBLE OR HIT THE OPPOSITE CURB FOR A TRIPLE,
OR CROSS THE STREET COMPLETELY FOR A HOMERUN.
EACH TIME THE FIELDER CATCHES IT HE MAKES AN OUT.
THREE OUTS AND HE'S UP TO BAT. HE MUST CATCH THE BALL
BEFORE IT BOUNCES AT ALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
LETTER GAME
O-T-T-F-F-S-S-E (N) T-E-T-T-F-F
LEAVE ONE SPACE BLANK AND ASK A PERSON TO FILL IT IN.
TELL HIM THAT THE LETTERS AS THEY ARE ARE UNRELATED
BUT THEY ALL STAND FOR SOMETHING WHICH IS RELATED.
SINCE HE PROBABLY WON'T GUESS IT, FILL IN THE BLANK
WITH "N." REITERATE THE CLUES. FINALLY, TELL HIM
THAT THE LETTERS STAND FOR THE NUMBERS ONE, TWO,
THREE....FIFTEEN. HE WILL PROBABLY LAUGH AT THE
SIMPLICITY OF THE GAME AND ITS ANSWER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
LITHUANIAN GAME
TWO PEOPLE GET SAME NUMBER OF EGGS. EACH TAKES HOLD
OF ONE EGG AND CHARGES AT EACH OTHER, HITTING THE
EGGS TOGETHER. THE PERSON WHOSE EGG CRACKS GETS
A NEW EGG. THE ONE LEFT WITH THE MOST EGGS WINS.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-00-1970
THIS IS A GAME THAT EITHER ONE OR TWO PEOPLE CAN PLAY.
YOU NEED A BIG OR SMALL RUBBER BALL. THE OBJECT IS
TO BOUNCE THE BALL AND SAY THIS TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
BEGINNING WITH "A" AND WITH A BOUNCE FOR EVERY "A"
WORD MENTIONED, IT GOES, "MY NAME IS ANNA AND MY
HUSBAND'S NAME IS ALBERT. WE LIVE IN ARIZONA AND WE
SELL APPLES." THE PERSON HAS TO QUICKLY THINK OF
(IN THIS CASE) "A" GIRLS NAMES, BOYS NAMES, PLACES
AND THINGS. THAT PERSON CONTINUES ON DOWN THE
ALPHABET SAYING THE SAME PHRASE, BUT SUBSTITUTING
THE CORRECT WORD FOLLOWING ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
IF HE MISSES, THAT IS, CAN'T THINK OF A NAME, ETC.
(HE GETS 5 SECONDS TO THINK), THEN IT IS THE OTHER
PERSON'S TURN AND WHEN HE BEGINS AGAIN HE HAS TO START
FROM THE LETTER "A"--NOT FROM WHERE HE MISSED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-29-1972
THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON AT
NIGHT WOULD COUNT OUT LOUD FROM ONE TO TEN AND YELL
"FIRST TO SEE THE STREETLIGHTS COME ON." THIS WAS
THE EXTENT OF THE GAME AND YOU WOULD CONTINUE ON
WITH WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
LUCK STRIKE GAME
UPON SEEING AN EMPTY LUCKY STRIKE CIGARETTE PACK,
YOU TRY TO STEP ON IT WITH YOUR FOOT WITHOUT ANYBODY
ELSE SEEING YOU. THEN YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PUNCH THE
FIRST PERSON WHO COMES NEAR ENOUGH, SAYING, "LUCKY
STRIKE!" YOU MUST SAY "WIPED IT OFF!" OR THAT PERSON
CAN PUNCH YOU BACK USING THE SAME PACK. YOU USUALLY
PUNCHED THE PERSON IN THE ARM.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 00001950S
ROOK IS PLAYED VERY SIMILAR TO PINOCHLE. IT HAS
FOUR COLORS, RED, GREEN, YELLOW AND BLACK. YOU BID
JUST LIKE IN PINOCHLE. THERE WAS ONE THING THAT
WAS LIKE A JOKER. IT HAD A BIG BIRD ON IT AND WE
CALLED IT ROOK. IT COUNTED A LOT MORE POINTS AND
WAS A GREAT THING IF YOU DREW IT. INSTEAD OF BIDDING
WITH A SUIT, YOU BID WITH A COLOR. THE BID WAS
AUCTIONED, WHICH IT CAN BE OR NOT. YOU HAVE TO CALL
A COLOR TRUMPH. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT COLOR TO
TRUMPH, YOU CAN THROW DOWN ANY OTHER COLOR OR YOU
CAN TRUMPH IF YOU WANT TO. IT HAD THE SAME NUMBER
OF CARDS AS PINOCHLE AND WAS A COUNTRY GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
BROOM DANCE PARTY GAME
WHEN I WAS A YOUNG TEENAGER, WE USED TO PLAY A GAME
WITH A BROOM AT ALL OF THE PARTIES. WHEN THE MUSIC
STARTED, THE COUPLES WOULD START DANCING. ONE PERSON
WOULD DANCE WITH A BROOM AND PASS IT AROUND TO THE
OTHER PEOPLE DANCING. WHEN THE MUSIC STOPPED, THE
PERSON CAUGHT WITH THE BROOM IS "OUT." THE GAME
CONTINUES UNTIL THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Couple Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-04-1972
SPLIT
TWO PEOPLE PLAY THIS GAME, WHICH IS PLAYED WITH A
JACKNIFE. FIRST PERSON BEGINS BY PUTTING FEET CLOSE
TOGETHER, SIDE BY SIDE. HE TRIES TO THROW THE KNIFE
INTO THE GROUND. IF IT STICKS INTO THE GROUND, THEN
OTHER PERSON HAS TO STRETCH FROM A SIMILAR STARTING
POSITION (ONE FOOT IN THE ORIGINAL PLACE AND OTHER
FOOT STRETCHING) SO PLAYER CAN BEND DOWN AND PICK UP
KNIFE. IF HE SUCCEEDS, HE THROWS THE KNIFE AND OTHER
PLAYER MUST STRETCH. FIRST PERSON WHO CAN'T REACH
KNIFE LOSES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-22-1972
CADDY
HAVE A STICK TAPERED ON BOTH ENDS. YOU HIT IT ON
A SIDE AND WHEN IT FLIES UP INTO THE AIR, YOU TRY TO
HIT IT IN MID-AIR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME IN HIS CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-06-1972
FOUL LINE GAME
OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO PITCH A SMALL STONE SO IT
LANDS RIGHT ON THE FOUL LINE OF A REGULATION SIZE
BASEBALL DIAMOND. THE STONE MUST BE THROWN WHILE
SITTING ON THE BENCH IN THE DUGOUT. ANY NUMBER
CAN PLAY. EACH MUST THROW IN TURN UNTIL THERE IS A
WINNER.
Where learned: CANTON ; BASEBALL TEAM ; SUMMER ; OHIO, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
KILLER
MATERIALS: ONE PLAYING CARD FOR EACH PLAYER, ONE OF
WHICH IS THE QUEEN OF SPADES.
EACH PLAYER TAKES A CARD AND HIDES IT FROM THE OTHERS.
THE ONE WITH THE QUEEN IS THE KILLER.
TO WIN: THE KILLER MUST KILL ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS
BY WINKING AT THEM SO THEY CAN SEE HIM DO IT. THEY
THEN AWAY AND ANNOUNCE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED.
THE KILLER MUST KILL ALL PLAYERS TO WIN.
ANOTHER PLAYER MAY WIN BY ANNOUNCING THE KILLER'S
IDENTITY BEFORE GETTING KILLED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; JACKSON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-26-1972
TIPPY-ON-THE-ROCK, A GAME ONCE PLAYED IN ALLEYS,
IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PLAYGROUNDS WERE FEW.
THE GAME WAS PLAYED WITH A CUT-OFF BROOMSTICK OF
WHICH ABOUT EIGHT INCES WAS SAWED OFF FOR THE TIPPY
AND THE REMAINDER USED AS A BAT. THE TIPPY WAS THEN
PLACED AT AN ANGLE ON A BRICK (ROCK), THEN TIPPED IN
THE AIR AND HIT WITH THE BAT. THE WINNER WAS DECIDED
BY COUNTING THE DISTANCE THAT THE TIPPY HAD FLOWN IN
FOOTSTEPS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Structure for dance, game, pastime, sport, drama, etc. |
Date learned: 11-29-1971
ERASER TAG
TWO PEOPLE PLAY THIS GAME. EACH PUTS A CHALK BOARD
ERASER ON HIS HEAD AND ONE TRIES TO CATCH THE OTHER
ONE WITHOUT THE ERASER FALLING OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SAINT JOHN VIANNEY SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
SPORT-BOCHE
BOCHE IS AN ITALIAN SPORT LIKE BOWLING. FIRST ONE PERSON
ROLLS A BALL DOWN A STRAIGHT LINE. OTHERS THROW
BALLS AS CLOSE TO THE FIRST BALL THROWN. THE OBJECT
OF THE GAME IS TO GET AS CLOSE OR HIT THE FIRST BALL
THROWN.
Submitter comment:
THIS PASTIME SPORT WAS DONE BY THE INFORMANT'S PARENTS
AND GRANDPARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SHUFFLEBOARD ; SIMILAR TO CURLING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-25-1971
KICK THE RICKET
THIS GAME IS PLAYED LIKE BASEBALL, BUT INSTEAD OF A BAT
AND BALL, YOU USE PART OF AN OLD BICYCLE TIRE AND A
FEW BRICKS. YOU SET THE PIECE OF TIRE BETWEEN THE
BRICKS AND KICK IT. THE OBJECT IS TO TRY TO SCORE
RUNS AS IN BASEBALL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT CLAIMS TO HAVE PLAYED THIS GAME AS A BOY IN
PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001971 SPRING
STEAL THE BACON
THIS IS A GAME FOR BOYS 10-15 YEARS OLD. IT IS
USUALLY PLAYED IN A ROOM ABOUT 20 FEET ACROSS. THERE
ARE TWO TEAMS, EQUAL IN NUMBER, AND THE MEMBERS OF
EACH TEAM ARE GIVEN NUMBERS. THE TEAMS LINE UP
AGAINST TWO OPPOSITE WALLS OF THE ROOM. IN THE CENTER
IS PLACED AN ARTICLE SUCH AS A HANKERCHIEF
TO SERVE AS "THE BACON." A SUPERVISOR THEN CALLS
OUT A NUMBER, AND THE TWO BOYS HAVING THAT NUMBER
ADVANCE TO THE CENTER TO TRY TO STEAL THE BACON. IF
A BOY CAN GRAB THE BACON AND GET BACK TO HIS TEAM'S
WALL WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED, HIS TEAM GETS A POINT.
BUT IF THE OTHER BOY SUCCEEDS IN TOUCHING HIM, THEN
THE OTHER TEAM GETS A POINT. THE TEAM WITH THE
MOST POINTS, AFTER A DESIGNATED PERIOD OF TIME, WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DO-OR-DIE
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER WE (NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS) WOULD PLAY A
BASKETBALL GAME CALLED DO-OR-DIE. IF ONE PERSON MADE
A BASKET THE NEXT PERSON WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME
BASKET OR HE WOULD DIE. WHEN A PERSON DIED, THE
PERSON AFTER HIM COULD TRY TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF BASKET
HE WANTED TO. IF HE MADE THE BASKET, THE FOLLOWING
PERSON WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME BASKET, BUT IF HE
MISSED, THE FOLLOWING PERSON WOULD GET A CHANCE TO
MAKE ANY KIND OF BASKET HE WISHED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD