Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for C500 returned 216 results.
WHEN WITH A DATE, AND YOU SEE A MOVING CAR WITH
JUST ONE HEADLIGHT, SAY "SATELLITE" AND YOU KISS
YOUR DATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
CUT-THE-CHEESE
TWO PEOPLE START SWINGING A JUMP-ROPE. THE OBJECT
IS TO BE ABLE TO RUN THROUGH THE ROPE WITHOUT
TOUCHING IT. COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU CAN
DO IT. ONE WHO DOES IT THE MOST TIMES WITHOUT
TOUCHING THE ROPE WINS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ON WAY TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-22-1967
FREEZE TAG
SOMEONE IS CALLED IT. EVERYONE HE TAGS IS FROZE(N) TO
THE SPOT AND CAN'T MOVE UNLESS SOMEONE WHO HASN'T BEEN
CAUGHT YET TAGS THEM. THEN THEY ARE FREE TIL THEY
GET CAUGHT AGAIN. GAME GOES ON TIL IT TAGS EVERYONE
OR ELSE GIVES UP. THEN A NEW PERSON IS CALLED TO BE
IT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ON WAY TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-17-1967
NUMBERS
PLAYED WITH SIX PEOPLE. ONE PERSON THINKS OF A
NUMBER, WHILE THE OTHER FIVE STAND IN A LINE. THEN
(LET'S SAY THE NUMBER IS THREE) THE NUMBER IS
COUNTED OUT AND WHOEVER IT LANDS ON, IS OUT. GAME
GOES TIL EVERYBODY IS OUT EXCEPT FOR THE LAST
PERSON WHO IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
RED ROVER, RED ROVER
TWO TEAMS ARE PICKED. THEN SOMEONE ON ONE TEAM YELLS
"RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (CALL OUT A NAME ON THE
OPPOSITE TEAM) COME OVER." THEN THE PERSON CALLED
RUNS TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE TEAM WHO HAVE THEIR ARMS
LOCKED TOGETHER. HIS OBJECTIVE IS TO BREAK THROUGH THE
OPPOSITE TEAM. IF HE DOES, HE JOINS THE RANKS OF THE
OPPOSITE TEAM. GAME ENDS WHEN ONE TEAM GETS
THEIR MEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. A VARIATION IS THAT IF
YOU BREAK THROUGH, YOU GO BACK TO YOUR SIDE AND IF YOU
DON'T YOU JOIN THE OPPOSITE TEAM. THEN THE TEAM THAT
IS DEPLETED OF ITS MEN FIRST LOSES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
TEFLON-OFF-THE-WALL
TWO TEAMS ARE CHOSEN. ONE TEAM STANDS AT ONE SIDE OF
A LARGE DRAWN CIRCLE AND THE OTHER TEAM STANDS AT THE
OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CIRCLE. AT THE START OF THE
GAME, ONE MEMBER OF EACH TEAM STARTS RUNNING AROUND
THE CIRCLE, TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE MEMBER FROM THE
OPPOSITE TEAM. WHEN A MEMBER CATCHES SOMEONE FROM
ANOTHER, THE TEAM IS AWARDED ONE POINT. THE TEAM
WITH THE MOST POINTS WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
BACALI
THE GAME OF BACALI IS PLAYED WITH CHILDREN AND ONE
ADULT. THE ADULT CUPS HIS HAND IN HIS LAP AND ONE
OF THE CHILDREN BENDS OVER AND HIDES HIS EYES IN THE
HAND. THE ADULT POINTS TO ONE OF THE OTHER CHILDREN
WHO ARE GATHERED AROUND, THIS CHILD THEN GIVES THE
ONE WHO IS BENT OVER A SWAT ON THE RUMP. THE CHILD
WHO IS HIT THEN TRIES TO GUESS WHO HIT HIM. IF HE
GUESSES RIGHT, THE ONE WHO HIT HIM IS IT. IF HE
GUESSES WRONG, HE HAS TO BEND OVER AGAIN AND
CONTINUE BEING SLAPPED UNTIL HE GUESSES THE RIGHT ONE.
Where learned: WORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 12-02-1967
WHAT TIME
THE PLAYER WOULD LINE UP AT SOME DISTANCE FROM AND
FACING TOWARD A SINGLE PLAYER IN FRONT OF 3EM.
THIS PLAYER WULD THEN{TURN HIS BACK AND AS THE
OTHER PLAYERS ASKED "WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?, HE WOULD
ANSWER THEM WITH ANY TIME HE WISHED. THEY WOULD THEN
TAKE THAT MANY STEPS FORWARD. HOWEVER, MR. FOX COULD
TURN SUDDENLY AND IF HE CAUGHT ANYONE MOVING, HE
COULD SEND THEM ALL THE WAY BACK. THE FIRST PLAYER
TO REACH AND TAG MR. FOX WON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
TRIXIES
THIS IS A JUMP ROPE GAME. ONE PLAYER CHALLENGES
ANOTHER. THEN THE FIRST PLAYER JUMPS AND WHATEVER
THE FIRST PLAYER DOES, THE SECOND PLAYER MUST
DUPLICATE. A MISS MEANS THAT THE PLAYER TAKES THE
END OF THE ROPE (TO TURN IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
MOTHER GOOSE
AGAIN THE PLAYERS LINE UP OPPOSITE A SINGLE PLAYER
WHO GIVES THE COMMANDS, TYPICAL COMMANDS WERE SO
MANY 'BANANA STEPS' OR 'SCISSOR STEPS' OR 'GIANT
STEPS' OR 'BABY STEPS.' THE PERSON TO WHOM THE
COMMAND IS GIVEN ASKS 'MOTHER, MAY I?' THE SINGLE
PLAYER ANSWERS YES OR NO. FAILURE TO ASK THE QUESTION
MEANS YOU START OVER AGAIN. IF THE QUESTION IS ANSWERED
AND THE PLAYER ANTICIPATES A 'YES,' AND MOVES FORWARD
WHEN THE ANSWER GIVEN IS 'NO,' AGAIN THE PLAYER STARTS
OVER. THE FIRST TO REACH MOTHER IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-06-1967
SIMON SAYS
PLAYERS LINE UP OPPOSITE A SINGLE PLAYER. THE SINGLE PLAYER QUICKLY GIVES COMMANDS, PREFACING EACH WITH "SIMON SAYS." THESE COMMANDS MAY BE AND USUALLY ARE HOW MANY STEPS TO TAKE AND HOW TO TAKE THEM. SUDDENLY, HE GIVES THE COMMAND WITHOUT THE PREFACE. IF HE HAS CAUGHT ANYONE NOT ON THE ALERT, THAT PERSON MUST GO BACK. THE FIRST PERSON TO REACH SIMON WINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
STATUE
ONE PERSON WOULD BECOME THE CUSTOMER AND WOULD HAVE
TO LEAVE TILL THE SIGNAL WAS GIVEN. THEN A SECOND
PERSON, AS THE STORE OWNER, WOULD TWIRL THE OTHERS
AROUND AND IN WHATEVER POSITION THEY ENDED, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN. THEN THE CUSTOMER WOULD RETURN
AND CHOOSE ONE. THE 'STORE OWNER' WOULD 'TURN ON'
THE STATUE AND WHOEVER WAS CHOSEN HAD TO DO SOMETHING
AND AT THE COMMAND 'STOP' WOULD REMAIN IN THE POSITION
LAST ATTAINED. THE CUSTOMER WOULD THEN HAVE TO GUESS
WHAT IT WAS. THE FIRST ONE HE GUESSED RIGHT BECAME THE
NEXT CUSTOMER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
ANGELS
THIS IS JUST A WAY WE USED TO MAKE ANGELS IN THE
SHOW. LIE DOWN ON A SMOOTH EXPANSE OF SNOW WITH
ARMS OUTSTRETCHED. MOVE YOUR LEGS BACK AND FORTH
AS WELL AS YOUR ARMS. THEN GET UP VERY CAREFULLY
AND YOU HAVE AN ANGEL WITH WINGS AND SKIRT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
DOCTOR--GAME
ALL OF THOSE PLAYING WOULD JOIN HANDS IN A CIRCLE
EXCEPT ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE UNTIL
HE WAS CALLED. THOSE IN THE CIRCLE WOULD THEN MIX
THEMSELVES UP, WITHOUT LOSSING HANDS, BY CLIMBING
UNDER AND OVER EACH OTHERS JOINED HANDS. THEN WHEN
THEY WERE READY, THEY ALL CALLED "DOCTOR." THE ONE
PLAYER WOULD THEN RETURN AND IT WAS HIS JOB TO GET
ALL OF THE PLAYERS BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITIONS
WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO LOOSE(N) HANDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
TAKE A BIC PEN (BALLPOINT) AND EXPLAIN TO A FRIEND
THAT YOU CAN PRODUCE A MAGNETIC FIELD BY RUBBING
THE POCKET CLIP OF THE PEN ALONG THE SIDE OF THE
PEN ON THE LETTERING. THEN TAKING THE BODY OF THE
PEN IN ONE HAND AND THE CAP IN THE OTHER, HOLD THEM
AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO PUT THE CAP OVER POINT,
SEPARATED BY ABOUT 1/2 AN INCH. SQUEEZE THE END OF
THE CAP SO THAT IT WILL APPEAR TO BE PULLED TOWARD
THE BODY OF THE PEN. WHEN YOUR FRIEND TRIES IT,
THE CAP WILL FALL POWERLESS ON THE FLOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HORSEBITE
A GOOD WAY TO GET BACK AT AN ENEMY OR TO FOOL
AROUND WITH A FRIEND, IS TO ASK HIM IF HE'S SEEN YOUR
HORSEBITE. WHEN HE SAYS NO, POINT TO THE BACK OF
ONE SHOULDER AND WHEN HE IS LOOKING AND POSITIONED
BEHIND YOU, YOU GRAB HIM BY THE LEG WITH YOUR HAND
AND SAY, "NOW, YOU'VE SEEN MY HORSE BITE!"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
AS A CHILD MY FRIENDS WOULD COME UP AND ASK IF I
WANTED ANY ABC GUM. AFTER I SAID I DID, THEY WOULD
TRY TO GIVE ME THE GUM THEY HAD BEEN CHEWING. ABC
STANDS FOR ALREADY BEEN CHEWED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-15-1969
INDIAN GAME
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS GAME CAN BE PLAYED WITH ONLY
TWO PARTICIPANTS. THEY GRAB ONTO EACH OTHER'S
ELBOWS AT THE CROOK WITH THE OBJECTIVE BEING TO
TRY TO STEP ON EACH OTHER'S FEET. THE FIRST
PARTICIPANT TO GET HIS FOOT STEPPED UPON LOSES THE
GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
SHOEMAKER: ONE PERSON IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CIRCLE
WITH HIS HANDS OUTSTRETCHED AND EYES CLOSED. AT THE
LINE "HAVE IT READY BY HALF PAST TWO," SOMEONE PUTS
A FOOT IN HIS HANDS AND HE MUST GUESS WHOSE FOOT HE HAS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-29-1967
BLUE BIRD
THE CHILDREN PLAYING WOULD JOIN HANDS, FORMING A CIRCLE.
ONE CHILD WOULD REMAIN OUT OF THE CIRCLE AND AS THE
SONG WAS SUNG, HE WOULD WEAVE IN AND OUT OF THE CIRCLE.
AS THE THIRD VERSE WAS SUNG, "TAKE A LITTLE GIRL AND TAP
HER ON THE SHOULDER," HE WOULD TAP SOMEONE ON THE
SHOULDER AND THAT PERSON WOULD LEAVE THE CIRCLE, THE
EMPTY SPACE WOULD BE FILLED AND THE SONG WOULD START
OVER THIS TIME WITH THE TWO PEOPLE WEAVING IN AND
OUT OF THE CIRCLE UNTIL THE THIRD VERSE, WHERE THE
SECOND ONE WOULD TAP SOMEONE ON THE SHOULDER, AND SO
ON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Singing Dancing Marching |
Date learned: 12-03-1967