Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C560 returned 390 results.
DRINKING GAME
USING A DECK OF CARDS, THE DEALER HANDS EACH PLAYER
ONE CARD. THE REST OF THE DECK IS PUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE TABLE. EACH PLAYER MAY DISCARD ONCE.
LOW CARD DOWNS DRINK.
Submitter comment: USUALLY DONE WITH LIQUOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
JACK IS LIT CAMPFIRE GAME
THE END OF A STICK OR TWIG IS PUT IN THE FIRE.
IT IS KEPT IN UNTIL THE TIP GLOWS RED. EACH MEMBER
SITTING IN THE CIRCLE BLOWS ON IT AND PASSES IT ON.
THE PERSON LEFT HOLDING THE BURNED OUT EMBER MUST
STAND ANS SING A SONG OR TELL A JOKE ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LAKEPORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
GESTURES
WHEN CHEATING AT CARDS THERE ARE CERTAIN HAND GESTURES THAT
SYMBOLIZE EACH OF THE FOUR SUITS. TO INDICATE HEARTS, ONE MAKES A
FIST AND PLACES IT OVER HIS HEART. TO SHOW DIAMONDS,
ONE POINTS TO HIS RING FINGER, TO INDICATE CLUBS,
ONE LAYS THREE FINGERS ON THE EDGE OF THE TABLE,
TO SHOW SPADES ONE MERELY POINTS TO THE GROUND. OF COURSE ALL
OF THESE GESTURES MUST BE MADE SUBTLY,
SO YOUR OPPONENT DOES NOT CATCH ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1975
SPORTS BELIEF
BATTING WITH THE TRADEMARK UP BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE THE MOST SUPERSTITIOUS ATHLETES I HAVE
EVER COME IN CONTACT WITH. THEY HAVE MANY METHODS TO AFFECT
THEIR LUCK, OF WHICH THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MILFORD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
Entry filtered.
"GATRIK"
THE GAME INVOLVES TWO STICKS, ONE 12 TO 16 INCHES
LONG, THE OTHER ABOUT SIX. THE SMALLER STICK WAS PLACED
FLAT ON THE GROUND. WITH THE LONGER STICK IT WOULD
BE FLIPPED UP IN THE AIR. THE IDEA WAS TO KEEP HITTING
THE SMALLER STICK WITH THE LONGER ONE, FOR AS LONG AS
YOU COULD. THE FINAL SCORE WAS TABULATED BY COUNTING
THE NUMBER OF HITS AND THE DISTANCE YOU HAD GONE WITH THE
SMALLER STICK. THE LARGER STICK WAS THEN USED AS A
MEASURE.
Submitter comment:
MANY INDONESIAN GAMES WERE HIGHLY CREATIVE, SIMPLE IN FORM,
AND ECONOMICAL. THIS OCCURS IN THAT THE NATIVES JUST DIDN'T
HAVE THE MONEY FOR A MORE ELABORATE MEANS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
"GUNDU" (MARBLE PLAY)
EACH PLAYER WOULD HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TWO MARBLES AT EACH OF
THE POINTS DIVIDED IN A SQUARE, CIRCLE, OR TRIANGLE. TO
START THE GAME THEY HAD TO TOSS ANOTHER MARBLE AS CLOSE TO
THE PLAYING SURFACE WITHOUT HITTING THE OTHER MARBLES IN IT.
THE CLOSEST MARBLE HAD THE FIRST CHANCE AT HITTING THE OTHER
MARBLES. THE PLAYER CONTINUED UNTIL HE MISSED, OR HIT ALL
THE MARBLES. WHEN HE MISSED, IT WAS THE SECOND CLOSEST TURN.
WHEN ALL THE MARBLES WERE HIT OUT OF THE PLAYING SURFACE,
THE PLAYER WITH THE MOST MARBLES HIT, WON THE GAME AND ALL
THE MARBLES.
Submitter comment: THIS IS AN INDONESIAN GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
"BULU BULU" (FEATHERS)
DURING WORLD WAR TWO, JAPANESE AND AMERICAN PLANES WOULD
FLY OVER AND DROP PAMPHLETS OF NEWS, INFORMATION, AND
PROPAGANDA. SEEING THIS, THE CHILDREN WOULD TAKE SEVERAL
STRIPS OF PAPER AND WRITE MESSAGES ON THEM. ONE MIGHT
SAY SOMETHING DUMB, BUT ANOTHER MIGHT GIVE YOU A PRIZE.
THESE MESSAGES WERE WRAPPED AROUND A ROCK OR A STONE
AND THROWN IN THE AIR. THE PAPERS WOULD SHOOT OFF
INTO THE AIR AND THE CHILDREN WOULD RUN AND TRY TO
CATCH AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
Submitter comment: THIS HAPPENED IN INDONESIA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
INDONESIAN GAME
AN ADULT, OR A CHILD, WOULD TAKE A STICK AND RUSTED
OUT BICYCLE RIM, WITHOUT THE TIRE AND SPOKES, AND ROLL IT
AROUND. A RACE WOULD TAKE PLACE WITH THE PARTICIPANTS RUN-
NING WITH THE STICK KEEPING THE RIM ROLLING ALONG SIDE
THE RUNNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
SUPERSTITION
WITH EVERYONE OF MY HOCKEY STICKS AND (AT TIMES) MY
BASEBALL BATS, I DRAW A LITTLE RELIGIOUS CROSS AT
THE UPPER PART OF THE STICK AND THE LOWER PART OF THE
BAT
Submitter comment:
SUTHERLAND IS NOT AN EXTREMELY RELIGIOUS PERSON.
HE DOES NOT ATTEND CHRUCH REGULARLY, BUT HE DOES NOT
QUESTION THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 00-00-1978
GAMES
CHILDREN ENJOY ROLLING EASTER EGGS DOWN AN INCLINED
BOARD TO SEE WHOSE TRAVELS THE FARTHEST. EGGS ARE ALSO TAPPED
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER . THE LOSER IS THE ONE WHOSE EGG CRACKS FIRST.
FIRECRACKERS ARE ALSO POPULAR.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM IS CARRIED ON IN POLAND. IT IS ALSO CARRIED ON IN
MANY POLISH FAMILIES AROUND DETROIT, INCLUDING MY FAMILY.
Where learned: DETROIT
Date learned: 04-02-1979
ROUNDERS
ROUNDERS, PLAYED WITH A TENNIS BALL, IS SIMILAR TO BASEBALL.
WHEN THE PITCHER HAS THE BALL IN HAND, THE PLAYER IS OUT. THIS
IS PLAYED WITH TEAMS.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A MALTESE GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-28-1979
RACING, CHASING GAME: PICKLE
THIS GAME IS PLAYED ON THE FRONT SIDEWALK. THERE ARE TWO CATCHERS
AND TWO RUNNERS, ONE STARTING AT EACH END OF THE FRONT WALK.
THE RUNNERS MUST GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE BASES WHILE THE TWO
CATCHERS THROW THE BALL BACK AND FORTH BEING CAREFUL NOT TO BE
CAUGHT OFF BASE. IF CAUGHT OFF BASE, THEY WOULD BE TAGGED OUT.
Submitter comment:
THE GAME WAS CALLED PICKLE BECAUSE THE TWO CATCHERS WOULD OFTEN CATCH
THE RUNNER BETWEEN THEM, PUTTING HIM IN A BIND, OR AS WE CALLED IT, A
PICKLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 04-11-1979
ALPHABET GAME
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE. SOMEONE READS
A SENTENCE OR TWO, WHICH IS WRITTEN VERTICALLY DOWN A PAPER NEXT
TO THE ENGLISH ALPHABET. THUS YOU HAVE 26 PAIRS OF INITIALS.
A TIME LIMIT OF THREE MINUTES IS GIVEN TO THINK OF FAMOUS
PEOPLE WITH THOSE MADE UP WITH INITIALS. THE PERSON WITH THE MOST
WINS, HOWEVER, TWO LIKE NAMES WILL CANCEL OUT, IF SOMEONE ELSE
HAS A DIFFERENT NAME FOR THAT COMBINATION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Memory Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-11-1979
KINGS IN A CORNER, OR FOUR SQUARE
THIS GAME IS PLAYED WITH FOUR PEOPLE AND A BOUNCING BALL. EACH
PLAYER STANDS IN THE SQUARE, ABOUT 4X4, BOUNCING THE BALL TO
ANOTHER. ONE CORNER IS THE KING'S. THIS PERSON HITS THE BALL
FIRST. THEN EVERYONE BOUNCES IT BACK AND FORTH TO EACH OTHER,
ONLY LETTING IT BOUNCE ONCE. IF IT BOUNCES MORE THAN ONCE, THEY
MOVE BACK TO SQUARE ONE, AND EVERYONE ELSE ADVANCES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-11-1979
POCKET CALCULATOR PUZZLE/RIDDLE
THE NUMBER 71,077,345 IS PUNCHED OUT ON THE CALCULATOR KEYBOARD
SO THAT IT APPEARS ON THE READOUT. THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IS THEN
ASKED WHILE SHOWING THE NUMBER TO THE PERSON QUESTIONED: "WHAT
BIG OIL COMPANY MADE THIS AMOUNT IN PROFITS LAST YEAR?" WHEN
THE PERSON QUESTIONED INDICATES HE OR SHE DOESN'T KNOW THE ANSWER,
THE CALCULATOR IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. THE NUMBER ON THE
READOUT WILL NOW SPELL OUT THE WORDS "SHELL OIL."
Submitter comment:
THE ABOVE ONLY WORKS WHEN THE NUMBER IS DISPLAYED ON A CALCULATOR
VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SEGMENTS (LINES),
VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF HORIZONTAL AND VERTICLE SEGMENTS (LINES).
THAT IS, A SEVEN-SEGMENT READOUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
TAG WITH BUCKETS OF WATER
THIS GAME IS PLAYED JUST LIKE TAG EXCEPT THE "IT" THROWS A BUCKET OF
WATER ON THE PLAYERS INSTEAD OF TAGGING THEM IN ORDER TO CATCH THEM.
ONCE A PLAYER IS SPLASHED WITH WATER, HE BECOMES "IT" AND IS GIVEN
THE BUCKET TO FILL WITH WATER SO THAT HE CAN THROW IT ON SOMEONE
ELSE.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS INVENTED AND PLAYED BY THE INFORMANT AND HER FRIENDS O
HOT SUMMER DAYS. IT WAS MORE FUN TO PLAY WHILE WEARING CLOTHES, BUT
A BATHING SUIT WAS OFTEN WORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow |
Date learned: CA00001969
HIDE THE THIMBLE
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH ONE "HIDER" AND AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF
"FINDERS". THE HIDER WOULD TAKE A THIMBLE AND HIDE IT ANYWHERE IN
A DESIGNATED ROOM. THE THIMBLE HAD TO BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY VISIBLE
IN ITS HIDING SPOT. WHILE THE HIDER HID THE THIMBLE, THE FINDERS
HAD TO STAY IN ANOTHER ROOM SO THAT THEY COULDN'T WATCH THE HIDER.
AFTER THE THIMBLE WAS HIDDEN, THE FINDERS WERE CALLED INTO THE ROOM
SO THAT THEY COULD LOOK FOR THE THIMBLE. SOMETIMES THE HIDER WOULD
TELL A FINDER IF HE WAS HOT OR COLD; HOT MEANT THAT HE WAS IN THE
NEAR VICINITY OF THE THIMBLE AND COLD MEANT HE WAS NOT NEAR IT.
AFTER THE THIMBLE WAS FOUND, IT WAS HIDDEN AGAIN BY WHOEVER FOUND IT
AND THE GAME CONTINUED THE SAME WAY.
Submitter comment:
IF A THIMBLE WASN'T AVAILABLE, THE INFORMANT USED ANY SMALL OBJECT
THAT COULD BE EASILY HIDDEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: CA00001967
HANGMAN SPELLING GAME
ONE PERSON THINKS OF A WORD AND PUTS DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER THE
NUMBER OF BLANK SPACES THAT THERE ARE LETTERS IN THE WORD. THE OTHE
PERSON MUST NOW GUESS THE LETTERS UNTIL HE HAS SPELLED OUT THE WORD
OR HAS BEEN HANGED. LET'S SAY I HAVE DECIDED ON THE WORD AND YOU AR
GUESSING IT. I DRAW THE BLANK SPACES AND A SIMPLE GALLOWS WITH ROPE
YOU NOW GUESS A LETTER. IF THAT LETTER IS IN THE WORD I FILL IN THE
APPROPRIATE BLANK SPACE. IF THE LETTER APPEARS MORE THAN ONCE I MUS
FILL IN EACH APPEARANCE. IF THE LETTER IS NOT IN THE WORD I WRITE I
DOWN AND DRAW A CIRCLE FOR YOUR HEAD CONNECTED TO THE GALLOW ROPE.
AFTER YOUR NEXT WRONG LETTERS I DRAW LINES FOR YOUR TRUNK, BOTH ARMS
AND BOTH LEGS. IF YOU ARE A REALLY BAD GUESSER AND I WANT TO RUB IT
IN I MIGHT ADD EYES, FEET, ETC. UNTIL YOU GET THE WORD. ONE STRATEG
OF THE GUESSER IS TO GUESS VOWELS AND MOST COMMON LETTERS FIRST.
Submitter comment:
EVERYBODY I KNOW HAS PLAYED HANGMAN. THIS IS A GOOD GAME TO PLAY IN
THE BACK OF A BORING CLASS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Knowledge Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-23-1979
BUG AUTOMOBILE GAME
THIS GAME IS PLAYED IN THE CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY DURING A LONG TRIP
TO MAKE IT LESS BORING. WHEN YOU THINK YOU SEE A VOLKSWAGEN BUG YOU
YELL OUT BUG FOLLOWED BY ITS COLOR. THE FIRST PERSON TO FINISH
SAYING BUG GETS ONE POINT. VOLKSWAGEN RABBITS OR BUSES DO NOT
COUNT. IF YOU YELL OUT BUG AND THERE IS NONE YOU LOSE ONE POINT,
UNLESS YOU THOUGHT A RABBIT OR BUS WAS A BUG IN WHICH CASE YOUR SCOR
STAYS THE SAME. IF THE DRIVER IS SPEEDING HE MIGHT MAKE A STATE
HIGHWAY PATROL OR COP WORTH THREE POINTS AND A COUNTY MOUNTY WORTH
TWO POINTS. YOU DO NOT LOSE POINTS FOR MISTAKEN COPS. PARKED
VOLKSWAGENS OR DEAD BUGS ARE WORTH ONE HALF POINT BUT VOLKSWAGEN
DEALERSHIPS DO NOT COUNT. ONE STRATEGY WHEN YOU SEE A FIAT OR
CHEVETTE IN THE DISTANCE IS TO YELL OUT BUS OR BU HOPING THE OTHER
PERSON WILL YELL OUT BUG MISTAKENLY AND LOSE A POINT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
James Callow Keyword(s): QUICKNESS GAME
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-23-1979