Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C500 returned 216 results.
PADIDDLE GAME
THE FIRST PERSON TO NOTICE A CAR THAT HAS ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT
WORKING GETS A KISS FROM WHOMEVER HE CHOOSES.
Submitter comment: THIS GAME CAN ONLY BE PLAYED AT NIGHT WHEN CARS HAVE THEIR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): QUICKNESS
Date learned: 00001980S
COUNTING-OUT PROCEDURE
TO DETERMINE WHO GETS TO CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WILL BAT OR FIELD
FIRST, A BAT IS TOSSED FROM ONE TEAM CAPTAIN TO ANOTHER.
HAND OVER HAND IS CONTINUED UNTIL NO MORE BAT REMAINS.
BESIDES HAND OVER HAND, OTHER MOVES INCLUDE TWO FINGERS
(WHEN THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE WHOLE HAND), FLAT
TOPS (PLACING THE PALM OF YOUR HAND OVER THE HANDLE), OR
EAGLE CLAWS (HOOKING THUMB AND FINGERS OF ONE HAND OVER
THE BAT HANDLE). WHOEVER MAKES THE LAST MOVE GETS FIRST
CHOICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
Date learned: 00001980S
"BLOODY MARY" (BRAVERY GAME)
A TEST OF BRAVERY IN MY GRADE SCHOOL WOULD BE A GAME CALLED
"BLOODY MARY".
FIRST, ONE WOULD GO INTO A SCHOOL BATHROOM, TURN OUT THE LIGHTS
AND FILL THE SINK WITH WATER. AFTER STARING INTO THE WATER FOR
THIRTY SECONDS, ONE WOULD QUICKLY LOOK INTO A MIRROR IN HOPE OF
SEEING THE GHOST OF "BLOODY MARY" STABBING HERSELF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA ; CASS ELEMENTARY
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION ; FEAR TEST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: CA00001970
GAME
KILLER BALL. THIS IS LIKE DODGE BALL. ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY
THE PLAYERS DIVIDE INTO TWO EQUAL TEAMS AND LINE UP FACING EACH
OTHER. THEY MUST BE ALONG A WALL. BALLS ARE DISTRIBUTED AMONG THEM.
THE OBJECT IS TO HIT YOUR OPPONENT WITH THE BALL. IF YOU ARE HIT
YOU ARE OUT OF THE GAME. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST PLAYERS LEFT
AT THE END WINS.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED BY TEENAGERS AND VERY FORCEFUL. OFTEN THE
OBJECT WAS TO SEE HOW HARD YOU COULD HIT YOUR OPPONENT.
ALL BALLS ARE THROWN AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE RULESAGAINST
HITTING TOO HARD OR ABOVE THE WAIST BUT THEY ARE MOSTLY IGNORED.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; CHESAPEAKE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
CHILDREN'S GAMES
"MOTHER MAY I"
OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO BECOME MOTHER. THIS GAME IS
PLAYED LIKE SIMON SAYS EXCEPT THAT INSTEAD OF SAYING
"SIMON SAYS" YOU SAY "MOTHER MAY I." THE FIRST TO TOUCH
"MOTHER" WINS AND BECOMES THE NEW MOTHER. MM
"TEACHER" CAN BE PLAYED BY USING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
OR OTHER MATERIALS. AFTER CHOOSING A TEACHER ALL "STUDENTS"
BEGIN ON THE BOTTOM STEP OF A FRONT OR BACK PORCH.THE
FIRST TO REACH THE TOP STEP BECOMES THE NEW TEACHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
GAME/COCO LIVIO
A GAME INVOLVING TWO TEAMS CONTANING 4 - 8 PEOPLE. ONE PERSON
RUNS OUT AND TRIES TO KEEP AWAY FROM MEMBERS OF THE OTHER TEAM.
IF THE PERSON IS CAUGHT, THE PERSON CATCHING THEM SAYS COCOLIVIO
1-2-3, 1-2-3. THE ONES CAUGHT ARE SET ASIDE AND ANOTHER PERSON
RUNS OUT AND TRIES TO FREE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM BEFORE
GETTING CAUGHT.
Where learned: NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
FOOD
AWO-CHEESE FOOD USED AS CHEESE IS USED IN AMERICA. MADE
FROM DAIRY PRODUCTS.
Where learned: NIGERIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 01-10-0198
JUMP ROPE RHYME
SEE-SEE MY PLAYMATE. COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME
AND BRING YOUR DOLLIES THREE,
CLIMB UP MY APPLE TREE.
SLIDE DOWN MY RAINBOW,
INTO MY CELLAR DOOR.
AND WE'LL BE JOLLY FRIENDS FOREVER MORE.
Submitter comment:
I COLLECTED THIS FROM MY COUSIN, BECAUSE I THOUGHT
IT WAS INTERESTING THAT I HAD LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.50 Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-00-1983
LIFESAVERS
WHAT WOULD YOU DO BEFORE YOU DIE? I'LL GO TO THE STORE AND BUY
SOME LIFESAVERS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; PARENTS HOME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 02-28-1984
COUNTING OUT RHYME
"IN GAMES LIKE HIDE-AND-SEEK, THE PERSON WHO WAS 'IT' WAS DETER-
MINED BY A NUMBER OF WAYS. ONE SUCH WAY IS BY EACH PLAYER OF THE
GAME PLACING HIS FOOT IN A CIRCLE. ONE OF THE PERSONS WOULD THEN
ASK (AT THE SAME TIME TAPPING A FOOT OF EACH PLAYER ONCE FOR EACH
SYLLABLE IN THE SAYING): 'BUB-BLE-GUM, BUB-BLE-GUM, IN A DISH,
HOW MAN-Y PIE-CES DO YOU WISH?' THE PERSON WHOSE FOOT WAS TAPPED
LAST WOULD THEN SAY A NUMBER (1-10) AND THE TAPPING OF FEET
WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL THE NUMBER HAD BEEN COUNTED. AT THE END OF
THE COUNT, THE TAPPER WOULD CONTINUE BY SAYING (E.G. 1-5):
'1-2-3-4-5 AND YOU WILL NOT BE IT.' THEN THE PERSON TO BE TAPPED
ON 'IT' WOULD BE OUT OF THE COUNTING. THE ROUTINE CONTINUED
UNTIL THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT AND HE WOULD BE 'IT.'"
Submitter comment:
THE COUNT COULD BE SHORTENED BY DELETING "NOT" FROM THE FIRST
PART OF THE SAYING ("...WILL NOT BE IT.")
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
COONING FOR APPLES
A GROUP OF 5 OR 6 PEOPLE GET INTO THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK.
THERE IS ONLY THE DRIVER IN THE TRUCK. THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 TEAMS
OF PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST.
THE OBJECT OF THIS IS TO GO OUT INTO THE APPLE ORCHARDS AT NIGHT AND
STEAL APPLES WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME IS PLAYED ON THE EVE OF HOMECOMING DANCE.
THIS IS NATIVE TO RAVENNA, MICHIGAN AND IS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport |
IF YOU CATCH SOMEONE SAYING A WORD BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER B, YOU
HIT THEM UNTIL THEY SAY B-B-BUTCHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-00-1987
ROCK SCHOOL GAME
REQUIRE THREE OR MORE PERSONS PLAYING GAME, NEED PORCH STEPS,
1 STONE, 1 PERSON AS TEACHER, OTHERS SIT ON THE FIRST STEP,
THE STUDENTS INDIVIDUALLY GUESS WHAT STONE IS IN,
THUS MOVING UP TO THE TOP STEP AND BECOMMING TEACHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 10-20-1987 ; 10-24-1987
THE OLD SHACK GAME.
ON THE WAY TO OUR FAMILY REUNIONS IN TEXAS AND
SOUTH CAROLINA MY SISTER WOULD SEE THE UGLIEST
SHACK AND SAY THAT I LIVED IN THAT SHACK. EVENTUALLY
I WOULD SEE AN UGLY SHACK AND SAY SHE LIVED IN IT.
THE GAME WOULD GO BACK AND FORTH LIKE THAT.
Where learned: ON THE WAY TO TEXAS IN A CAR
James Callow Keyword(s): TRADING INSULTS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001980S
CATEGORIES
MY MOTHER USED TO PLAY "CATEGORIES" WITH HER BROTHERS AND
AND SISTERS WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH.
UP TO FOUR PEOPLE CAN PLAY. EVERYONE STARTS OFF CLAPPING
TOGETHER DEVELOPING ONE BEAT. AS EVERYONE CLAPS THEY BEGIN TO
CHANT "LET'S PLAY" (CLAP, CLAP) "CATEGORIES" (CLAP,CLAP) "NAMES
OF" (CLAP, CLAP) "STREETS"!!!!! EVERYONE HAS TO NAME A STREET
AND KEEP IN TIME WITH THE HAND CLAPPING. THE FIRST PERSON THAT
STUMBLES OR FAILS TO RECITE A STREET IN TIME TO THE BEAT IS OUT
OF THE GAME. YOU CAN USE STREETS, NAMES, SCHOOLS OR STATES. AS
LONG AS YOU KEEP IN TIME TO THE BEAT YOU WILL REMAIN IN THE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
THERE IS A GAME OR "SCAM", WHICH IS ILLEGAL,
THAT IS TRAVELING THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN
DETROIT AREA. IT IS SOMETIMES CALLED THE
"AIRPLANE PYRAMID SCAM". IT WORKS, AS FOLLOWS:
15 INVESTORS TRY TO FILL AN IMAGINARY AIRPLANE.
EACH INVESTOR PAYS $1,500 TO THE PILOT TO GET
A "SEAT" ON THE PLANE. ONCE A PLANE IS FULL, THE
PILOT CAN "FLY" WITH $12,000.
THE PLAYERS INCLUDE:
THE PILOT
2 CO-PILOTS
4 CREW MEMBERS
8 PASSENGERS.
STEP 1: THE PILOT, CO-PILOTS AND CREW MEMBERS
RECRUIT EIGHT PASSENGERS WHO PAY $1,500 FOR A
SEAT ON THE PLANE.
STEP 2: WHEN THE EIGHT SEATS ARE SOLD, THE
PILOT COLLECTS $1,500 FROM EACH PASSENGER
AND LEAVES WITH THE MONEY.
STEP 3: THE PLANE SPLITS IN TWO, AND THE
TWO CO-PILOTS OF THE ORIGINAL PLANE BECOME
THE PILOTS OF THE NEW PLANES. EACH PILOT
AND CREW RECRUITS EIGHT PASSENGERS FOR EACH OF
THE NEW PLANES.
Submitter comment: THIS IS AN ILLEGAL GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Perdiddle
This game my sister taught me while we were driving
home from my grandparents' house.
The game is called perdiddle and anyone in the car can
play. Usually it is played with two people, a boyfriend
and a girlfriend. When a person sees a car with one
headlight on they call out "perdiddle" and hit the roof
of the car with their hand. The person who calls out
first and hits the roof first gets the point. These are
the rules for a group game. However, if it is just
between a boyfriend and a girlfriend then the person
who calls "perdiddle" and hits the roof first gets the
point, but the point in this case is usually a kiss.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
When you are at a bar with a group of people and
someone burps, the last one to put their thumb on
their forehead gets biffed on the head.
Submitter comment:
The fun part of the game is getting people that
have no idea what is going on. People usually
catch on after getting hit two or three times.
Biffed means to get slapped on the forehead.
Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
BLOODY KNUCKLES
THIS IS A GAME OF PAIN TOLERANCE. THE OPPONENTS FACE
EACH OTHER WITH THEIR HANDS, FISTS CURLED, TOUCHING.
THE PERSON WHO WINS A TOSS OF THE COIN HAS HIS HANDS
SLIGHTLY ON TOP. THE OBJECT FOR THE PERSON WITH
HIS HANDS ON TOP IS TO BRING HIS KNUCKLES
DOWN VERY HARD ON THE OTHER PERSON'S HAND.
THE PERSON WHOSE HANDS ARE ON THE BOTTOM HAS TO
TRY TO ANTICIPATE THE MOVEMENT AND MOVE HIS HANDS, CAUSING
THE PERSON TRYING TO HIT TO MISS. THE PERSON ON TOP
CONTINUES TO TRY TO HIT UNTIL HE MISSES, AT THIS TIME THE
TWO HAND POSITIONS ARE CHANGED. THE LOSER IS THE ONE WHO
SAYS HE HAS HAD ENOUGH FIRST.
Submitter comment:
ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH OPEN PALMS
AND IS CALLED SLAP.
BLOODY KNUCKLE PUNISHMENT IS OFTEN USED AS PUNISHMENT
FOR LOSING IN GAMES SUCH AS PAPER, SCISSORS, ROCK.
Where learned: MONTANA ; FROMBERG
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
This is a game that was first introduced to me as
a child, by my father. It is played while going
for a long ride in the car. Two or more people
are needed in order to play. The object of the
game is to be the first person to go through the
entire alphabet (letter by letter, starting with 'A')
finding objects that begin with each letter. These
objects can be words on a sign, buildings, people,
sayings on a passing car, or any other things that a
person sees while driving in a car.
For example, a billboard on the side of the road has
an advertisement for an "Apple orchard" that is in
the area. The player who spots the word "apple" on the
billboard yells "Apple" while pointing to it, so
other players can verify his claim. Once it is
verified, this person is now able to look for
something that begins with a 'B', while the other
players must still find something that begins with an
'A'. The game continues in this fashion until all 26
letters are exhausted. The winner is the person who,
after finding the first 25, spots and yells out
something that begins with a 'Z'. Since there is no
repeating what another player has already used, the
game can be quite lengthy. But a good way to keep
kids occupied while going on vacation, as my father
would say.
Submitter comment: The hardest letters to find are Q, X, Y, and Z.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): TRAVEL
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00001970S