Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F534 returned 113 results.
GOOD LUCK IN RESTAURANTS
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, A NEW ONE DOLLAR BILL IS PLACED
ON THE WALL OF THE RESTAURANT. IT REMAINS ON THE
WALL UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR, WHEN A NEW ONE DOLLAR
BILL IS PUT UP.
Submitter comment:
BY DOING THIS, THE RESTAURANT WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK
ALL YEAR, AS WELL AS GOOD BUSINESS. GOOD FOOD AND
GOOD SERVICE WILL PREVAIL ALL YEAR ROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST DETROIT
THERE WAS THIS OLD ACCOUNTANT, WHO IN COMING TO WORK,
WOULD OPEN UP HIS DESK, LOOK AT A PIECE OF PAPER,
THEN LOCK IT UP AGAIN. HE DID THIS EVERY DAY,
AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE OFFICE WAS WONDERING
WHAT WAS IN IT. WELL THE OLD GUY FINALLY DIED,
SO THE OTHERS IN THE OFFICE BROKE OPEN THE
DRAWER AND TOOK OUT THE PIECE OF PAPER. IT
READ: "DEBITS-LEFT; CREDITS-RIGHT."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
INDIAN STORY
IT SEEMS AN INDIAN WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A GREAT MEMORY
SO MUCH SO THAT HIS FAME HAD SPREAD. ONE DAY, HE
CAME INTO A RESTAURANT AND ORDERED A COUPLE OF EGGS.
JUST THEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND THE INDIAN WAS
INJURED, TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, AND WAS RELEASED.
WAR BROKE OUT AND HE WAS DRAFTED, SERVED IN THE PACIFIC,
AND EVENTUALLY AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, WAS DISCHARGED.
SO AFTER ABOUT TEN YEARS, HE AGAIN WALKS INTO A
RESTAURANT AND THE SAME PROPRIETOR WAITS ON HIM.
JOKINGLY, THE PROPRIETOR, NOT RECOGNIZING HIM, SAYS,
"HOW!" THE INDIAN REPLIED, "SCRAMBLED."
Submitter comment:
I HAVE HEARD THIS STORY SO OFTEN OVER A PERIOD OF
YEARS THAT I NO LONGER HAVE ANY IDEA WHO TOLD IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MORRIS WAS STATIONED ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND IT WAS
THE NORMAL PRACTICE FOR EVERYONE ON BOARD TO TRY
THEIR BEST TO GET DRUNK ON THEIR DAILY RATION OF TWO
BEERS. TO DO THIS, THEY USED TO GO UP ON THE TOP
DECK OF THE SHIP, WHERE THE TEMPERATURE OFTEN
REACHED 105 DEGREES, LAY DOWN IN THE HOT SUN, AND
DRINK THE BEER THROUGH STRAWS. IT WORKED FOR HIM
EVERY TIME.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 05-12-1965
REFUSE MONEY?
THE INFORMANT THINKS THAT IT IS RATHER ODD, THE WAY
THAT BARTENDERS REFUSE PENNIES IN THE DETROIT AREA.
THE BARTENDERS AT THE MORE EXPENSIVE BARS SEE TO IT
THAT ALL DRINKS SEEM TO ROUND OFF EVENLY, TAX
INCLUDED, SO THAT THEY WON'T HAVE TO HANDLE PENNIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
CPA TRADITION
MY INFORMANT REMINDED ME THAT IT IS TRADITIONAL FOR
CPAS (CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS) TO WEAR HATS,
DARK SUITS, AND CARRY BRIEF CASES. BECAUSE HE
REFUSES TO WEAR A HAT, MY INFORMANT SAID, HE NEVER
BECAME A CPA. (I SUSPECT OTHERS REASONS, TOO).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 02-19-1965
CPA TRADITION
FURTHER SUBSTANTIATION FOR THE CPA TRADITION OF
WEARING HATS, DARK SUITS AND CARRYING BRIEF CASES:
I VISITED A FRIEND OF MINE, MRS. STANLEY SIDICK,
AT HER HOME IN DEARBORN HEIGHTS (MICHIGAN). WHEN I
ASKED WHERE HER (HUSBAND) WAS WORKING, SHE INFORMED
THAT HE WAS STILL WITH A CPA FIRM IN THE DOWNTOWN
DETROIT AREA. SHE SEEMED VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT
HE LOOKED VERY HANDSOME IN THE "UNIFORM" OF THE CPA--
HAT (WITH THIS SHE FLICKED THE TOP OF HER FOREHEAD),
DARK SUIT, AND (WITH A CARRYING MOTION) A BRIEF
CASE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 05-00-1965
TABLE HOPPING FORBIDDEN
THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT THE LAST TIME THAT HE WAS
IN SARNIA, CANADA, THAT THE BARS HAD A LAW AGAINST
MOVING FROM TABLE TO TABLE WITH A DRINK. IT IS ALL
RIGHT TO HAVE THE WAITRESS MOVE THE DRINK FOR THE
PERSON OR TO FINISH THE DRINK, MOVE TO ANOTHER
TABLE AND BUY ANOTHER DRINK, BUT NOT TO MOVE WITH
A DRINK FROM ONE TABLE TO ANOTHER. THE INFORMANT
BELIEVES THAT THIS PRACTICE HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF INDIANS WHO VISIT THE BARS.
Data entry tech comment: I THOUGHT IT HAD TO DO WITH SOLICITING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
FILL THE GLASS FULL
THE INFORMANT REPORTS THAT IT IS A CUSTOM IN THE OLDER
BARS IN THE CITY OF DETROIT (MICHIGAN) TO FILL A GLASS
FROM ONLY ONE BOTTLE. IF THE BARTENDER CANNOT FILL
THE GLASS WITH ONE BOTTLE, SAY IF THE THE BOTTLE RUNS
OUT, THEN THE CUSTOMER GETS A FREE DRINK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
MARKET PRACTICE
THE INFORMANT SAID THAT IT IS A PRACTICE FOR THE
FARMERS AT EASTERN MARKET IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN),
NOT TO SPLIT THE ODD BASKET OF FRUIT. THEY RATHER
THROW FINGERS TO SEE WHO WINS IT. (ROCKS, PAPER
& SCISSORS (GAME)).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
CPA TRADITION
ONE OF MY INFORMANTS TOLD OF THE CPA (CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT) TRADITION OF WEARING HATS, DARK SUITS, AND
CARRYING BRIEF CASES. ANOTHER INFORMANT, WHOM I PREFER
NOT TO NAME, SUBSTANTIATED THIS STORY WITH THE
FOLLOWING:
HE HAD ARRIVED BY PLANE AT A FLINT AIRPORT (MICHIGAN)
TO REPORT FOR AN AUDIT TO WHICH HE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED
BY A LARGE CPA FIRM. HE ALIGHTED FROM THE PLANE AND
STOOD AROUND FOR A LONG WHILE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO
MEET HIM. AFTER MOST OF THE PASSENGERS HAD DEPARTED, HE
FINALLY WENT UP TO SOME CONSERVATIVELY-DRESSED MEN
AND ASKED IF THEY WERE WAITING FOR THE CPA FROM DETROIT
WHO HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE FLINT AUDIT. AFTER
ASSURING HIM THAT THEY WERE, THEY SAID, "WE WERE
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH A HAT ON."
THAT EVENING, MR. C., TOLD ME, "I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT
A HAT."
Submitter comment: HE TOLD ME THIS STORY ON OCTOBER 18, 1964.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 05-00-1965
TRADITIONAL OCCUPATION
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE STRUCTURAL STEEL WORKERS
IN NEW YORK CITY WHO WORK ON THE FRAMING FOR SKY-
SCRAPERS, ARE NAVAJO INDIANS WHO BECAUSE OF AN INBORN
SENSE OF BALANCE HAVE PASSED THIS HAZARDOUS JOB
DOWN FROM FATHER TO SON.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY
James Callow Keyword(s): BUILDING TRADES ; SKYSCRAPERS.
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
OLD LAW
THE INFORMANT REMARKS THAT THERE IS A LAW WHICH
PREVENTS TWO MEN FROM DANCING TOGETHER IN A BAR;
YET THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST TWO WOMEN DANCING
TOGETHER IN A BAR.
Data entry tech comment: HE SURE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT BARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
FOOD CUSTOM OF FINNISH LUMBERJACKS
PASTIES WERE A MEAT PIE PREPARED BY THE WIVES OF
THE FINNISH LUMBERJACKS IN MICHIGAN'S UPPER PENINSULA.
EACH MORNING THE WIVES WOULD BAKE THEM TILL THEY WERE
RED HOT AND THEN WRAP THEM UP IN A TOWEL OR SOMETHING,
WHATEVER THEY USED TO WRAP THEM IN, AND THE MEN WOULD
PUT ON IN EACH POCKET OF THEIR COAT. THEY GAVE THE
MEN A HOT MEAL AT NOON TIME AND ALSO WERE USED TO
KEEP THE MEN'S HANDS WARM.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS RECEIVED FROM A FRIEND OF HERS (THE
INFORMANT'S) WHO WAS THE DAUGHTER IN A
LUMBERJACKING FAMILY IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF MASS,
MICHIGAN IN THE UPPER PENINSULA.
Where learned: WHITEHEAD AND KALES ; MILL STREET PLANT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business Food Drink -- Meat |
Date learned: 02-23-1967
THE INDIANS WEAVED THEIR BASKETS. THEY WENT OUT INTO
THE SWAMP AND CUT DOWN THESE, THEY WERE LIKE WIDE
BLADES OF GRASS, CALLED "SWEET GRASS." AND THEY BROUGHT
THEM HOME AND THEY HAD THESE HUGE WOODEN MALLETS AND
THEY TOOK THESE BLADES OF GRASS AND PUT THEM ON LARGE
WOODEN STUMPS AND POUNDED THEM UNTIL THEY WERE PAPER-
THIN. SOMETIMES IT TOOK HOURS AND HOURS. THEN THESE
BLADES WERE DYED DIFFERENT COLORS AND THEN WOVEN INTO
BASKETS, WHICH THEY SOLD TO THE TOURISTS WHO CAME UP
EVERY SUMMER. THEY ALSO SOLD THEM TO THE BIG STORES
IN TOWN ON CONSIGNMENT. THESE BASKETS SOLD FOR BIG
PRICES, BEING AUTHENTIC INDIAN AND HAND-MADE. THEY
DON'T DO THIS KIND OF THING IN THE UPPER PENINSULA
(MICHIGAN) ANY MORE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 05-22-1965
BED
IN THE INFORMANT'S HOME IT WAS CUSTOMARY FOR THE FATHER
TO SLEEP APART FROM THE FAMILY TO GUARD THE GRAIN.
HE SLEPT ON A LOUCK, WHAT WE KNOW AS A BENCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-00-1971
ITALIAN JOKE
A MAN ASKED AN ITALIAN BOY: "WHAT WAGES ARE PAID AROUND HERE, BOY?"
"I DON'T KNOW," REPLIED THE BOY. "WELL," CONTINUED THE MAN, "WHAT
DOES YOUR FATHER GET ON A SATURDAY NIGHT?" "HE GETS DRUNK," REPLIED
THE BOY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business ITAL |
Date learned: 02-25-1982
THE FIRST DOLLAR A MAN EARNS SHOULD BE HUNG PROMINENTLY ON A WALL AT
HIS PLACE OF BUSINESS TO BRING GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S PARENTS WERE BORN IN LEBANON, AND HIS FATHER PLACED A
DOLLAR FROM THE FIRST PAYCHECK HE EARNED IN THE U.S. ABOVE THE FRONT
DOOR OF HIS HOME SINCE HE DID NOT HAVE HIS OWN PLACE OF BUSINESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRASER
Date learned: 03-00-1982
FIRST CUSTOMER OF THE DAY MUST PAY CASH.
Submitter comment:
THE MAN TO WHOM THIS PERTAINS OWNED A GROCERY STORE.
ITEM SHOWS CREDIT VS. CASH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth |
Date learned: 09-12-1982
OCCUPATIONAL HAZING
NEW MEN IN THE PLANT ARE GIVEN OUTRAGEOUS TASKS TO CARRY
OUT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO LEARN THEIR WAY AROUND THE PLANT.
ONE SUCH PRACTICE IS LOOKING FOR THE DESIGN CHECKER. A MAN
IS SENT TO THE OFFICE AREA TO LOOK FOR THE DESIGN CHECKER.
THE OLDER WORKERS THEN SEND THE NEW MAN AROUND THE PLANT
IN A SEARCH TO FIND THIS PERSON. AFTER A GIVEN PERIOD HE IS
RETURNED TO HIS JOB AND THE OLDER WORKERS HAVE HAD A GOOD
TIME. DEPENDING ON YOUR DEPARTMENT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
THINGS YOU MAY BE SENT TO LOOK FOR.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 08-00-1977