Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F536 returned 346 results.
THERE WAS ONCE A GIRL TRAINING TO BE A NURSE. SHE
HAD ENTERED A CLASS ON DISSECTING CADAVERS AND
FELT QUEASY ABOUT TAKING THE COURSE, WHICH WAS RE-
QUIRED. OTHER TRAINEES WHO HAD REALIZED HER FEAR,
HAD PLANNED A PRACTICAL JOKE. THEY CUT AN ARM OFF
OF ONE OF THE CADAVERS AND REPLACED HER LAMP'S
PULLCORD WITH IT. LAMPS IN THOSE DAYS DAYS
UTILIZED A PULLCORD TO TURN THEM ON AND OFF. THEIR
INTENTIONS WERE SIMPLY TO INNOCENTLY SHOCK THE GIRL
AS SHE ENTERED HER ROOM AND TURNED THE LIGHT ON.
AS THE GIRLS AWAITED TO HEAR THE VICTIM'S REACTION
NOTHING HAPPENED AND THEY BEGAN TO WORRY. SO THEY
ENTERED HER ROOM, ONLY TO FIND IT EMPTY WITH A
GURGLING NOISE RISING FROM BENEATH THE BED. IN-
VESTIGATING, THEY FOUND THE STUDENT HUDDLED UNDER
THE BED GNAWING AT THE ARM, HAVING GONE MAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
NO WONDER BUSINESS IS DROPPING OFF!
A UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT STUDENT WHO LIVES IN THE
DORMITORIES DOES ODD JOBS FOR {SOMETHING MISSING}
ON SATURDAYS. EVERY SO OFTEN, HE DROPS IN TO TALK
OR TO ASK MY HUSBAND FOR ADVICE ON ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS,
ETC. SUNDAY EVENING WAS JUST THAT KIND OF A DROP-IN
VISIT.
WE TALKED FOR A WHILE AND THEN I SERVED SOME CAKE, COFFEE,
AND ICE CREAM. CONVERSATION AT THE TABLE TURNED TO THE
FACT THAT THERE WERE FEW GOOD EATING PLACES AROUND THE
UNIVERSITY. HE TOLD US THAT EVEN THE TEMPLES, A
RESTAURANT AT LIVERNOIS AND PURITAN, WAS SUPPOSED TO
CLOSE EVERY NIGHT FROM MIDNIGHT TO 6 A.M. BECAUSE
THEY COULDN'T GET HELP FOR THAT SHIFT. (THEY HAD BEEN
A 24-HOUR RESTAURANT.) THEN WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE
TEMPLES HAS RUN DOWN SINCE THE NEW MANAGEMENT TOOK OVER,
ABOUT THE POOR FOOD, POOR SERVICE, ETC.
AFTER COFFEE, OUR STUDENT FRIEND, IN A "BOY-HAVE-I-GOT-
SOMETHING-TO-SAY-THAT-WILL-SHOCK-YOU!" TONE, ANNOUNCED:
"WELL, NOW THAT WE'VE EATEN, I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED AT THE TEMPLES. SOME GUYS {U OF D
STUDENTS} TOOK A FORMALDEHYDED FROG OVER THERE AND PUT
IT ON A DISH. YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE PRETTY SLOPPY, SO
THEY DIDN'T GET AROUND TO CLEANING OFF THE DISH, AND
SOME DRUNK CAME IN AND ATE THE FROG."
"THAT'S NOT TRUE," I EXCLAIMED. "WELL, MRS. PLACHTA,"
HE SAID, 'MY BUDDY TOLD ME IT WAS TRUE, BUT I"M GIVING
YOU SECOND-HANDED {INFORMATION}." AFTER I RECOVERED
FROM MY FEIGNED SHOCK, HE ADDED, "IN FACT, MY ROOMMATE
SAYS THAT THE DRUNK DIED."
Submitter comment:
IF THIS DOESN'T BECOME A U OF D LEGEND, IT WON'T BE
BECAUSE I DIDN'T RECORD IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 05-23-1965
THERE WAS ONCE A GIRL TRAINING TO BE A NURSE. SHE
HAD ENTERED A CLASS ON DISSECTING CADAVERS AND
FELT QUEASY ABOUT TAKING THE COURSE, WHICH WAS RE-
QUIRED. OTHER TRAINEES WHO HAD REALIZED HER FEAR,
HAD PLANNED A PRACTICAL JOKE. THEY CUT AN ARM OFF
OF ONE OF THE CADAVERS AND REPLACED HER LAMP'S
PULLCORD WITH IT. LAMPS IN THOSE DAYS DAYS
UTILIZED A PULLCORD TO TURN THEM ON AND OFF. THEIR
INTENTIONS WERE SIMPLY TO INNOCENTLY SHOCK THE GIRL
AS SHE ENTERED HER ROOM AND TURNED THE LIGHT ON.
AS THE GIRLS AWAITED TO HEAR THE VICTIM'S REACTION
NOTHING HAPPENED AND THEY BEGAN TO WORRY. SO THEY
ENTERED HER ROOM, ONLY TO FIND IT EMPTY WITH A
GURGLING NOISE RISING FROM BENEATH THE BED. IN-
VESTIGATING, THEY FOUND THE STUDENT HUDDLED UNDER
THE BED GNAWING AT THE ARM, HAVING GONE MAD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
ONE FEATURE OF THE TELEVISION SHOW, "MICKEY MOUSE CLUB,"
WAS A LOOK THROUGH AN ENCYCLOPEDIA. THE THEME FOR
THIS FEATURE USED A RHYTHMIC SPELLING OF "ENCYCLO-
PEDIA"--ENCYC/LO/PEDIA. TODAY, IF YOU ASK ALMOST
ANY YOUNG PERSON WHO GREW UP WITH THE MICKEY MOUSE
CLUB SHOW TO SPELL ENCYCLOPEDIA, HE WILL DO IT
IN THE RHYTHM TAUGHT BY JIMINY CRICKET! {CHARACTER
ON THAT SHOW, AND FROM PINOCCHIO}.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HUNTING FOX, MINK AND RACCOON AND JACK RABBITS WAS
ALSO A SPORT THAT THE DRESBACH MEN ENJOYED ESPECIALLY
WHEN THE FURS BROUGHT A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY. WHENEVER
GRANDFATHER WAS SURPRISED BY A GOOD SHOT WITH HIS
LONG RIFLE, HE WOULD SAY, "BY GOLLEY AND ONE CENT."
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-01-1971
SWAT ON THE RUMP
IT IS ACCEPTED IN FOOTBALL THAT THE REWARDS OF A GOOD
PLAY OR A NICE TRY IS A SWAT ON THE RUMP WITH THE OPEN
PALM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGH SCHOOL ; DETROIT ; FOOTBALL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.3 SPEECH -- Congratulations Appreciation |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FORMULA SPEECH AND GESTURES
WHENEVER THERE IS A KICK-OFF AT A FOOTBALL GAME,
AT DENBY HIGH SCHOOL {DETROIT, MICHIGAN ASSUMED}
IT WAS TRADITION TO RAISE YOUR ARMS AND INTERLOCK
LITTLE FINGERS WITH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU AND SAY
GOOOOOO UNTIL THE BALL WAS KICKED. AT NOTRE DAME
HIGH SCHOOL {DETROIT, MICHIGAN ASSUMED} IT WAS
TRADITION TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT ARM AND CIRCLE IT WHILE
YOU SAID GOOO UNTIL THE BALL WAS KICKED.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
ONE HAND HELD HORIZONTALLY FLAT, WITH FINGERS CLOSE
TOGETHER AND OTHER HAND HELD VERTICAL AND PERPENDICULARLY
UNDER THE OTHER HAND FORMING A "T" SIGNAL FOR "TIME OUT."
Submitter comment: FROM FIRST PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS IN ABOUT 4TH GRADE.
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 10-04-1967
DIVERS' GESTURES
THUMB AND INDEX FINGER CLOSED IN A CIRCLE, OTHER FINGERS
STRAIGHT: ALL RIGHT? AND ALL RIGHT.
HIT CHEST WITH CLOSED FIST: LOW ON AIR.
MAKE CUTTING MOTION ACROSS THROAT WITH INDEX FINGER:
OUT OF AIR.
TAKE MOUTHPIECE OUT OF MOUTH: GIVE ME AIR.
CLOSED FIST WITH THUMB POINTING UP/DOWN: LET'S
GO UP/DOWN.
Where learned: DEARBORN ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
BOOKIES GESTURES
IN ENGLAND THE BOOKIES AT RACETRACKS SET UP BLACK
BOARDS ON WHICH THEY WRITE THE ODDS ON DIFFERENT
HORSES. THERE ARE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHERE ONE
MIGHT PURCHASE A SEAT AND SO THE BOOKIES MUST MAKE
SURE THAT THE ODDS STAY THE SAME IN EACH SECTION.
TO DO THIS THEY HAVE HAND AND ARM SIGNALS WHICH THEY
SEND EACH OTHER TO KEEP AWARE OF THE CHANGING ODDS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MUSIC GESTURE
IN MUSIC WHEN THE MAESTRO TAKES ONE HAND (OPPOSITE THE
HAND HOLDING THE BATON) WITH PALM UP AND MOVES THE
HAND IN AN UPWARD MOTION, HE IS SIGNALING THE
ORCHESTRA FOR MORE VOLUME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A CONDUCTOR OF THE WINDSOR SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA. HE HAS USED THIS GESTURE REPEATEDLY
IN CONCERT PERFORMANCES.
Where learned: CANADA ; WINDSOR
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: 11-10-1971
SOME OLD FISHERMEN OF WESTERN MICHIGAN STILL BELIEVE
THAT IF THEIR LUCK IS BAD, THAT THEY CAN SPIT ON THE
WORM, THEN PUT IT ON THE HOOK, AND GOOD LUCK WILL
FOLLOW THEIR DAY'S FISHING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Bait ; BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CATCH ; FISH ; Fisherman ; FISHING ; GESTURE ; HOOK ; LUCK ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Worm
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 09-10-1969
Entertainment: Catch Tale
Catch Tale Designed to Make Listener Ridiculous and/or Surprised:
Speaker: "I can make a match burn twice."
Listener: "How?"
Speaker: "Watch."
Speaker lights match and then blows it out, whereupon he quickly touches the skin of the listener with the still hot match, thus making it "burn" twice.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [B667] crossed out. F536 written next to it.
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): Catch Riddle ; CATCH TALE ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; MATCH ; MATCHES ; RIDDLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Prank
In LeRoy, N.Y. a common prank would be to call a person on the telephone and tell him you were from teh water department. You would ask him to fill up his bathtub, since the water was to be off for the next day. The pranksters had no connections with the water department, and people would be without use of bathtubs for the night.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): Bathtub ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; PRANKS ; TELEPHONE PRANK ; Water Department
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Prank
Fletcher Tube:
The Fletcher Tube us a non-existent piece of equipment. When freshmen are having problems in lab, you tell them that a Fletcher Tube will do the trick. They go to the stockroom to check one out and are laughed at.
Submitter comment:
Informant said that he pulled this gag while he was a graduate student.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM ; CHEMISTRY BUILDING
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES ; Chemistry ; COLLEGE ; COLLEGE PRANK ; COLLEGE PRANK ; Entertainment ; Freshman ; Hazing ; JOKE ; Laboratory ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Entry filtered.
Prank
TeePee-ing Houses:
A group of people go to a house late at night and throw toilet paper up into the trees, decorate the shrubbery and generally create a real mess.
Submitter comment:
This was done to my house by a group of friends who had attended Roosevelt High School in Wyandotte, MI. It was done in May of 1968. It seems that this was not an uncommon practice for them to do to their friends.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): Amusement ; CUSTOM ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; JOKE ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank ; Shrubbery ; Toilet Paper
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Custom
Bicycling:
In Belgium, where bicycles and bicycle racing is still very popular, it is very common to see people walking beside very nicely decorated bikes during a parade. Decorations could consist of colored paper, ribbons, or roses which might be interwoven in the spokes of the wheels, etc. This custom is continued for the spectacle and unique designs which appear.
Submitter comment:
Recorded on Tape.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [M247.6] crossed out and replaced with F536.
The word Bicycling is written across the top of the entry.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; RESIDENCE ; PITTSBURGH
Keyword(s): ADORNMENT BEAUTIFICATION ; Belgium ; Bicycle ; Bicycling ; CUSTOM ; Decorate ; ETHNIC ; Parade ; Ribbons ; Roses
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Superstition: Baseball
Never mention a shutout or a perspective no-hitter to a pitcher or anyone in a Major-League dugout during the feat or it will be lost to fate.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
The original BN [P880] is crossed out and replaced with P536.
The words Bad Luck are also crossed out from the top left-hand corner of the card.
Where learned: NBC TELEVISION ; RADIO PROGRAM
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Superstition: Baseball
IF YOU'RE PLAYING BASEBALL AND YOUR PITCHER IS PITCHING
A NO-HITTER, IT'S BAD LUCK TO TALK ABOUT IT AND SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT IT TO HIM. JUST PRETEND LIKE YOU
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN BASEBALL THAT I LEARNED FROM
PLAYING IT VERY EARLY IN LIFE.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS ; ASSUMED
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN