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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY DID THE MAN THROW THE CLOCK OUT THE WINDOW?
A: HE WANTED TO SEE TIME FLY.

Data entry tech comment: 3 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; AN ACTION (A) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-25-1965

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(RIDDLE) ABOUT CHILDREN

Q: WHY ARE SOME CHILDREN LIKE FLANNEL?
A: BECAUSE THEY SHRINK FROM WASHING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL ; TEXTILE (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: WHEN DOES THE SEA SEEM TO BE FRIENDLY?
A: WHEN IT WAVES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-25-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT KEY IS THE HARDEST TO TURN?
A: A DONKEY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; PLAYGROUND

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (A) ; HARDWARE (Q) ; METAPHORICAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FEED A CAT LEMON JUICE?
A: HE TURNS INTO A SOUR PUSS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; ANIMAL - CAT (A) ; ANIMAL AND DRINK (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-20-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY ARE RIVERS ALWAYS RICH?
A: BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO BANKS.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUILDING (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON AND ALSO MONETARY (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-30-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT BUILDING HAS THE MOST STORIES?
A: LIBRARY

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUILDING (A) ; BUILDING - LIBRARY (Q) ; LITERAL NONOPPOSITIONAL

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1955

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MIDDLE NAME RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS SMOKEY THE BEAR'S MIDDLE NAME?
A: THE.

Data entry tech comment: 2 MORE EXAMPLES ARE IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q) ; COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED MATTER (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY IS A RAILROAD ENGINE LIKE THE FAMILY WASH?
A: BECAUSE BOTH OF THEM GO ON A LINE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CLOTHES (Q) ; HARDWARE (A) ; METAPHORICAL ; TRANSPORTATION (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: IN WHAT WAY ARE A DOG AND A TREE ALIKE?
A: THEY BOTH HAVE A BARK.

Data entry tech comment: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ANIMAL (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1965

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RIDDLE

Q: HOW FAR CAN YOU GO INTO THE WOODS?
A: HALFWAY, BECAUSE THEN YOU START COMING OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

Where learned: OHIO ; CANTON

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS ; PARTICULAR AREA (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1960

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY DOES UNCLE SAM WEAR RED, WHITE, AND BLUE SUSPENDERS?
A: TO HOLD UP THE UNITED STATES.

Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED

Keyword(s): ACTION ; CLOTHES (Q) COLOR ; PARTICULAR AREAS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE OFF LAST BEFORE YOU GET INTO BED?
A: YOU TAKE YOUR FEET OFF THE FLOOR.

Data entry tech comment: TWO VARIANTS IN U OF D FOLKLORE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; FURNITURE (Q) ; LITERAL ; PARTS OF THE BODY (A)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY DID THE ELEPHANT WEAR PINK TENNIS SHOES?
A: BECAUSE HIS GREEN ONES WERE IN THE WASH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; ANIMALS (Q) ; CLOTHES (A) ; LITERAL ; WEARABLE (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR

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LAKE, STREET, HIGHWAY

Q: WHAT IS A LAKE WITHOUT WATER?/ WHAT IS A STREET WITHOUT HOUSES?/
WHAT IS A HIGHWAY WITHOUT CARS?
A: MAP

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER GRANDMOTHER IN GRAND RAPIDS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BUILDING (Q) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q) ; TRANSPORTATION (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH ; INITIAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 07-00-1964

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Entry filtered.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

Q: WHAT DID CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SAY WHEN HE SAW A NEGRO FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
A: GOD BLESS MY HEART, GOD BLESS MY SOUL. I SAW A WALKING
TOOTSIE ROLL.

Submitter comment:

THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (A) ; ACTIONS (Q) ; EATABLES (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CANDY ; RACISM

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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TRUE RIDDLE

Q: UP ON A HILL IS A GREEN HOUSE,
IN THE GREEN HOUSE IS A WHITE HOUSE,
IN THE WHITE HOUSE IS A RED HOUSE WITH A LOT OF COLORED BABIES,
WHAT IS IT?
A: A WATERMELON.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; BUILDINGS (Q) ; EATABLES AND DRINKS (A) ; PERSONS (Q)

James Callow Keyword(s): CUMULATIVE VERSE ; FINAL ITERATION ; INITIAL ITERATION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle C890.400
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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JERRY FORD JOKE

Q: WHICH MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY DOES JERRY FORD TALK TO BEFORE CASTING
HIS VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?
A: ALL FIVE OF THEM. JERRY HOLDS THE LEVER AND WHEN HE SAYS "NOW:"
THEY JERK THE VOTING MACHINE UP AND DOWN.

Submitter comment: PRESIDENT

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT ; NUMBERS ; POLISH JOKE? ; PRESIDENT GERALD FORD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Secular hero
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-00-1975

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ETHNIC JOKE

QUESTION: HOW COME A CERTAIN CITY HAS NO MORE ICE CUBES?
ANSWER: THE LADY WHO HAD THE RECIPE DIED.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A JOKE ABOUT HAMTRAMCK. I HESITATED IN USING THE NAME
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE OF POLISH DESCENT. I'VE
ALWAYS LIKED THIS JOKE BECAUSE IT'S SO STUPID IT'S FUNNY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): INSULT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: CA00001970

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KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE

KNOCK, KNOCK.
WHOS THERE?
SAM AND JANET.
SAM AND JANET WHO?
SAM AND JANET EVENING, YOU MAY MEET A STRANGER...

Submitter comment: THE LAST LINE IS SUNG TO THE TUNE OF: SOME ENCHANTED EVENING.

Where learned: MISSOURI ; SAINT JOSEPH

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

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