Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for F536 returned 346 results.
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE UNITED SCREW CORPORATION"
Submitter comment:
AS YOU ARE SHAKING THE PERSON'S HAND
YOU ROTATE YOUR OWN HAND TO SIMULATE THE TURNING OF A SCREW
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): ENDURANCE TEST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND"
Submitter comment:
AS YOU SAY THE GREETING YOU GRAB THE AIR AND MISS THE PERSON'S
HAND TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOU ARE BLIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
"TOPENG MONJET" (MADE UP LIKE A CLOWN MONKEY)
A NATIVE WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE AND ASK THE PEOPLE
IF HE COULD COME IN. THE VENDER WOULD BE CARRYING TWO MONKEYS
IN A CAGE. THE MONKEYS WOULD BE MADE UP LIKE A MAN
AND HIS WIFE. THE VENDER WOULD THEN HAVE THE MONKEYS DO
TRICKS, LIKE A SMALL CIRCUS. THE MONKEYS, FOR EXAMPLE,
WOULD SERVE COFFEE, SIT ON CHAIRS, OR ANY NUMBER OF
THINGS. AFTERWARD, THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE HIM
SOME SORT OF FEE.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS AN INDONESIAN ENTERTAINMENT WITNESSED ABOUT 1930-1940.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
"ONDEL, ONDEL"
THE ONDEL ONDEL IS ACTUALLY DERIVED FROM THE WAJUNG KULIT
OF INDONESIAN CULTURE. BUT WHILE THE WAJANG KULIT IS STATION-
ARY, THE ONDEL ONDEL IS ABLE TO MOVE ABOUT. ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
AN INDONESIAN NATIVE WOULD CARRY A LARGE STICK ON HIS BACK,
THE STICK WAS TWO LARGE PUPPETS. ONE WAS A MAN, THE OTHER
WAS A WOMAN, WALKING ABOUT, THE NATIVE WOULD BOUNCE UP
AND DOWN, CAUSING THE ARMS TO WAVE AROUND. THE NATIVES
DESCRIBED THE SOUNDS AND THE ACTION AS "ONDEL ONDEL".
THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE THE CHARACTERS SO RIDICULIOUS LOOKING,
THAT THEY MADE PEOPLE LAUGH. AS THIS WAS WALKING PAST
YOUR HOME, YOU WOULD PAY THEM A TIP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Date learned: 04-00-1979 ; 00001930-1950
SUPERSTITION
I HAVE A FRIEND, WHO WHEN WALKING TO THE PLATE IN BASEBALL,
WOULD ALWAYS WALK AROUND THE CATCHER AND THE UMPIRE.
HE WOULD NEVER WALK IN FRONT OF THEM. HE THOUGHT IT WAS
TO HIS BENEFIT TO SHOW SOME COURTESY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1979
TRICK: SNIPE HUNTING
THIS IS PLAYED AS TRICK. SOMEONE BANGS POTS AND PANS WHILE HOLDING
A PAPER BAG YELLING "SNIPE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 04-11-1979
INNOCENTS DAY
ON DECEMBER 28 THE BOYS AND MEN OF CERTAIN TOWN IN THE ISLAND
CELEBRATE THE INNOCENTS DAY BY DRESSING UP IN EXTREMELY COLORFUL
COSTUMES WITH TINY BELLS ATTACHED ALL OVER. THEY GO AROUND IN FLOATS
PLAYING TRICKS AND ASKING FOR MONEY. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE BEST
COSTUME AND CARAVAN IS SELECTED.
Submitter comment: SOME OF THESE COSTUMES MAY COST AROUND 500.00 DOLLARS TO MAKE.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO ; HATILLO
James Callow Keyword(s): BEGGING
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 28 Holy Innocents CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
PATRON SAINT FESTIVAL
IN EVERY TOWN THERE IS A WEEK OF CELEBRATION, PARTYING, PARADES,
AND ENTERTAINMENT IN CONMEMORATION TO THE TOWNS SAINT.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
Date learned: 00-00-1979
COCK FIGHTS
TO HAVE COCK FIGHTS IS A VERY COMMON ENTERTAINMENT THAT COMES FROM A
FEW CENTURIES BACK. PEOPLE BET ON THEIR FAVORITE ROOSTER.
Where learned: PUERTO RICO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
CHARGE CALL
CRAZE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS FOR A TRUMPET FLOURISH TO BE PROCEEDED
(PRECEDED? SUCCEEDED?)
BY A YELL OF "CHARGE" FROM SPECTATORS AT A BASKETBALL OR A FOOTBALL
GAME.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): SPORTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- To Be Heard |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
EVERY TIME A TEAM WINS A SWIM MEET, IT IS CUSTOMARY FOR THE MEMBERS
OF THE TEAM TO PUSH THE COACH AND OTHER TEAM MEMBERS INTO THE
SWIMMING POOL. USUALLY, THE PEOPLE ARE HALF OR FULLY DRESSED WHEN
THEY GET PUSHED IN. FOR EXAMPLE, A SWIMMER MAY BE WEARING A WARM-UP
JACKET OR A TEE-SHIRT AND SHORTS. IN MOST CASES, THE FINAL SCORE IS
ANNOUNCED AND A CHEER IS GIVEN BEFORE THE PUSHING BEGINS.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM IS NOT ONLY PRACTICED IN MICHIGAN. THE INFORMANT HAS
SEEN IT DONE IN CALIFORNIA, OHIO, AND CONNECTICUT ALSO. IT IS MOST
PROBABLY PRACTICED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE INITIATION RITE
HOCKEY INITIATION IS A HAIRY SCENE. TRADITIONALLY, VETERAN
PLAYERS HOLD A ROOKIE DOWN, WHIP OUT A RAZOR BLADE AND SCRAPE THE
HAIR FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF HIS BODY.
USUALLY, THE HAIR REMOVED IS FROM THE CHEST OR OTHER, MORE PRIVATE
LOCATIONS USUALLY COVERED BY CLOTHING. BUT SOMETIMES IT'S MORE
VISIBLE. PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR AL COATES SAYS HIS MINOR LEAGUE
TEAMMATES ONCE TRIMMED OFF ONE OF HIS EYEBROWS. AND THE RECENT
TREND, PERHAPS A BACKLASH CREATED BY MODERN, MALE HAIRSTYLES, IS TO
CHOP HAIR FROM HEADS OF PLAYERS.
FOR DETROIT RED WINGS' ROOKIES MIKE FOLIGNO AND GLENN HICKS, THE
HAIRCUTS TOOK PLACE IN THE SHOWER AREA OF THE TEAM LOCKER ROOM,
LEAVING FOLIGNO WITH A SKULL THAT LOOKS LIKE THE ROUGH OF A
LOW-BUDGET GOLF COURSE AND LEAVING HICKS LOOKING LIKE A HARE KRISHNA
WITHOUT THE PONY TAIL.
"YOU KNOW, POLONICH, HE'S THE INSTIGATOR," SAID COACH BOBBY KROMM,
WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRACTICE BUT WORRIED ABOUT IT GETTING OUT
OF CONTROL. HE DESCRIBED THE WAY IT HAPPENS.
"POLONICH IS NOT THE CUTEST-LOOKING GUY IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW,
WITH HIS NOSE ALL OUT," KRO
SAID. "AND HE GETS THE BLEEPING LITTL
DUNCE HAT OVER HIS HEAD, WITH HIS BLEEPING TASSLE ON THE BACK, AND
HE'S WEARING ONE OF THESE WHITE BLEEPING APRONS, WITH BLOOD AND MEAT
AND EVERYTHING ON IT.
"AND HE'S GOT ALL THE INGREDIENTS. HE LOOKS LIKE A REAL LITTLE
BLEEPING BUTCHER. AND PERRY MILLER COMES WITH AN APRON AND A MASK
AND A HAMMER AND A KNIFE AND A HACKSAW."
THE ROUTINE THAT FOLLOWS IS SIMILAR TO A SURGICAL PREP AND IT
LEAVES THE LOCKER ROOM A MESS. OFTEN, THE PLAYER IS TRICKED INTO AN
AMBUSH. POLONICH WHO RECEIVED A MOHAWK HAIRCUT AS A JUNIOR, WAS
INITIATED WITH THE WINGS IN 1975 AFTER WALT MCKECKNIE CHALLENGED HIM
TO A WRESTLING MATCH.
AFTER MCKECHNIE PINNED POLONICH HE GAVE EVERYBODY THE SIGNAL.
BUGSY WATSON WAS THE GUY THAT DID IT. AS THE BUGSY WATSON OF HIS
ERA, POLONICH LAST WEEK GAVE THE SIGNAL FOR TEAMMATES TO OVERPOWER
FOLIGNO AND BIND HIM WITH A DOZEN ROLLS OF TAPE.
Submitter comment: QUOTED FROM A STORY BY DETROIT FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER JOE LAPOINTE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SPORTS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 11-14-1979
Superstition: Baseball
WHEN THE PITCHER HAS A NO-HITTER GOING IN A BASEBALL GAME IT IS BAD
LUCK TO MENTION THIS FACT UNTIL THE GAME IS OVER. IF YOU DO MENTION
IT THE PITCHER WILL LOSE HIS NO-HITTER. DURING THE 1979 DETROIT
TIGERS BASEBALL SEASON DAVE ROZEMA HAD A NO-HITTER GOING IN THE
SEVENTH INNING AND THE UN-BASEBALL-WISE CHANNEL FOUR TV ANNOUNCER
MIKE BARRY ANNOUNCED THIS AND SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT BATTER GOT A
HOMERUN. THE OTHER TV ANNOUNCERS, FORMER BASEBALL PLAYERS AL KALINE
AND GEORGE SWELL, ALMOST THREW BARRY OUT OF THEIR THIRD-DECK BOOTH.
ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL KNOWS YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE
TO MENTION A NO-HITTER AND BARRY SAID IT IN FRONT OF A QUARTER
MILLION PERSON TV AUDIENCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; BASEBALL ; BASEBALL STADIUM ; CHANCE ; CUSTOM ; Fan ; FATE ; jinx ; LUCK ; No-Hitter ; Shutout ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): SPEAKING TABU
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-23-1979
DORMITORY PRANK
OUR FAVORITE PRANK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DORMITORIES IF WE
DIDN'T LIKE SOMEONE WAS TO PENNY HIM INTO HIS ROOM. THIS WAS
ACCOMPLISHED BY TAKING THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE PENNIES, DEPENDING ON
YOUR STRENGTH AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE DOOR
AND JAM THEM INTO THE DOOR. NOW THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL THE
PERSON INSIDE SHAKES THE PENNIES LOOSE OR SOMEONE ELSE IN THE DORM
IS CALLED TO KNOCK THEM OUT FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE PENNYING IS DONE
LATE AT NIGHT WHILE EVERYBODY IS ASLEEP BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS TO
YOUR HEALTH IF THE PERSON OPENS HIS DOOR WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO
PENNY HIM IN. SILENCE IS VERY IMPORTANT SO YOU WON'T WAKE ANYONE UP
PENNYING SOMEONE IN IS EVEN BETTER WHEN THE PERSON YOU TRY TO GET OR
HIS ROOM-MATE HAS A CLASS AT EIGHT THE NEXT MORNING. FOR ME AND
MY FRIENDS PENNYING PEOPLE IN BECAME A SCIENCE. WE WOULD USE
THREE SETS OF FIVE PENNIES EACH. STEVE WOULD WRAP ELECTRICAL TAPE
AROUND THE PENNIES SO THEY WOULD NOT FALL APART WHILE BEING PUT IN.
WE WOULD STOP THE ELEVATOR ON THE FLOOR OF THE ROOM WE WERE PENNYING
IN SO WE COULD MAKE A QUICK ESCAPE SHOULD WE HEAR THE SOUND OF
SOMEONE WAKING UP IN THE ROOM. STEVE WOULD PLACE A PIECE OF
ELECTRICAL TAPE ON THE DOOR EYEHOLE SO THE PERSON INSIDE OF THE ROOM
COULD NOT SNEAK UP AND IDENTIFY US THROUGH IT. WHILE ME, FRANK, AND
ROB APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE DOOR INWARD STEVE WOULD PLACE THE
PENNIES. ONE SET WOULD GO SIX INCHES ABOVE THE DOORKNOB, ANOTHER SI
INCHES BELOW THE DOORKNOB AND THE LAST SET WOULD GO UP HIGH. THIS I
ALL DONE IN COMPLETE SILENCE, ANY TALKING IS DONE IN THE ELEVATOR
LOBBY BEFOREHAND.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FROM WHEN I LIVED IN BURSLEY HALL ON THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN DURING THE 1976 SCHOOL YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1976 ; 11-23-1979
DORMITORY PRANK
ON MY HALLWAY WHENEVER IT WAS SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY SIX OF US WOULD
GRAB HIM AND THROW HIM INTO THE SHOWER. ACTUALLY WE WOULD USE ANY
EXCUSE TO THROW SOMEONE IN THE SHOWER. IF A BUNCH OF US WERE SITTIN
IN THE HALLWAY AND THINGS GOT BORING WE WOULD SILENTLY AGREE ON WHOM
WAS MOST DESERVING AND BEFORE HE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING HE WOULD BE
HELPLESS. OUR FAVORITE TARGET WAS THE RESIDENT ADVISER ERNIE. I
WOULD NEVER GET THROWN IN BECAUSE I WAS TOO QUICK AND BIG AND THE
BLACK KID WASN'T THROWN IN BECAUSE NO ONE WANTED TO START A RIOT.
EVERYONE ELSE WAS THROWN IN THE SHOWER AT LEAST ONCE. SOME GUYS
WOULD LEAVE THEIR ROOM IN THE MORNING AND NOT COME BACK ALL DAY ON
THEIR BIRTHDAY TO AVOID THIS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FROM MY FRESHMAN YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DURING
THE 1976 SCHOOL YEAR WHEN I LIVED ON FOURTH LEWIS FLOOR OF BURSLEY
HALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 00-00-1976 ; 11-23-1979
DORMITORY PRANK OR SPORT
ONE OF THE FAVORITE PASTIMES AT BURSLEY HALL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
MICHIGAN WAS TO TRY TO FIGURE WAYS TO BORROW (STEAL) TRAYS FROM THE
CAFETERIA. YOU WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE THINGS OUT OF THE CAFETERIA
PEOPLE SPENT MUCH TIME DEVISING MANY SNEAKY WAYS TO BORROW THE TRAYS
THE LEAST IMAGINATIVE AND MY FAVORITE WAS TO SIMPLY WALK OUT THE
EMERGENCY EXIT WITH A TRAY WHEN NOBODY WAS WATCHING. ONCE YOU HAD A
TRAY YOU USED IT TO SLED DOWN THE STEEP, SNOW-COVERED HILL BEHIND OU
DORMITORY.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS FROM MY FRESHMAN YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN IN ANN
ARBOR DURING THE 1976 SCHOOL YEAR WHEN I LIVED IN BURSLEY HALL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Date learned: 00-00-1976 ; 11-23-1979
Entertainment: Catch Tale
TELL VICTIM YOU CAN MAKE A MATCH BURN TWICE. LIGHT MATCH, AND BLOW
OUT. THEN STICK THE TIP INTO THE VICTIM'S HAND.
Data entry tech comment:
Edited on 11-30-2010/ added Motifs,Keywords,BN. -TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CATCH ; Catch Riddle ; CATCH TALE ; Diversion ; Entertainment ; MATCH ; MATCHES ; MOCK EPIC FIRE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-16-1968
SPORT
BELGIAN-DETROITERS RAISE AND RACE THOROUGHBRED PIGEONS FOR SPORT.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE SPORT OF RACING HORSES.
Submitter comment: THEY DO THIS TO DATE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001930S ; 02-16-1980
RETORT
WHEN ANSWERING A TELEPHONE, REPLY "SO AND SO ABORTION CLINIC, NO
FOETUS CAN BEAT US."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 02-16-1980
"MAMA, MAMA" JOKE
CHILD: MAMA, MAMA, WHY IS DADDY RUNNING?
MOTHER: SHUT UP AND RELOAD.
THIS ITEM WAS COLLECTED WITH MANY SIMILAR ITEMS THROUGH
NUMEROUS MEETINGS AT VARIOUS BARS IN DETROIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PATRICIDE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001970S ; 03-00-1980