Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HOW DO YOU FIT FOUR ELEPHANTS IN A VOLKSWAGEN?
TWO IN THE FRONT AND TWO IN THE BACK.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST IN SIZE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-01-971
Ethnic Joke: Polish
WHAT DO YOU CALL FOUR-HUNDRED POLISH PARACHUTISTS? AIR-POLLUTION.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD on 12-2010
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
James Callow Keyword(s): SMELL BODY ODOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Ethnic Joke: Polish
DID YOU HEAR WHO WON THE POLISH BEAUTY CONTEST? NOBODY.
Data entry tech comment:
updated by TRD on 12-2010
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
James Callow Keyword(s): UGLY UGLINESS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Ethnic Joke: Polish
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A POLISH MAMA AND A HIPPOPOTAMUS?
ABOUT TWENTY POUNDS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD on 12-2010
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
James Callow Keyword(s): WEIGHT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Ethnic Joke: Polish
HOW DID THE POLAK BREAK HIS ARM? HE FELL OUT OF THE TREE RAKING
LEAVES.
Data entry tech comment:
updated by TRD on 12-2010
Where learned: BOSTON ; Massachusetts
James Callow Keyword(s): DOING THINGS THE HARD WAY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Entry filtered.
BRAD JACKSON JR. A DRIVER FOR BRAD JACKSON INC. RELATED TO ME
THE STORY OF A FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE MAN STOPPING
A SEMI-DRIVER NEAR JACKSONVILLE AND ASKED TO SEE THE DRIVER'S LOG
BOOK, THE DRIVER REPLIED, ME SUH, I AIN'T HAULIN' NO LOGS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL FOLKLORE TRUCK DRIVER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 12-01-1972
TRUCK DRIVING PROWESS
DURING THE 1940'S AND EARLY 1950'S SEMI DRIVERS
FOLLOWING EACH OTHER ON OLD U.S. 22 (ONE OF THE FEW TRUCK
ROUTES INTO THE NEW YORK METRO AREA FROM THAT AREA [HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA]) USED TO ENGAGE IN A "CONTEST"
BY ALTERNATELY KNOCKING OUT THE ROADSIDE MAILBOXES BY SWAYING THE
REARMOST END OF THE TRAILER.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S INFORMANT: JOHN POTERE A DRIVER FOR MCCLEAN TRUCKING. THE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA IN OCTOBER OF 1969.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OCCUPATIONAL FOLKLORE TRUCK DRIVERS
Date learned: 12-01-1972
CONVERSION OF NON-CATHOLIC
JIM'S INFORMANT WAS SISTER GODFREY (SISTER OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
AT SAINT SYLVESTER'S IN PITTSBURGH). SR. GODFREY WAS JIM'S 4TH
GRADE TEACHER. THERE WAS A CATHOLIC HATER WHO MADE A LITTLE CATHOLIC
GIRL STEAL A HOST. HE WANTED TO NAIL THE HOST ON A TELEPHONE POLE
IN FRONT OF A CHURCH. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CARRY IT OUT, THE
TELEPHONE POLE SPURTED BLOOD AND HE WAS CONVERTED.
James Callow Keyword(s): EUCHARIST
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
Date learned: 12-07-1972
SPIRIT IN HER SHOES
THEODORA HAYNES WAS MARYLOU'S ROOMMATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
UNIVERSITY
BEFORE GOING TO BED, SHE WOULD PLACE HER SHOES UNDER THE BED SO
NO SPIRIT COULD COME DURING THE NIGHT TO COMMAND HER SOUL,
HER. {SIC} /THEODORA WAS 18, A BLACK-AMERICAN AND SINGLE
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL OBJECT AMULET ; NEGRO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
WHAT TIME WILL YOU BE HOME?
WHAT TIME WILL YOU BE HOME? PLENTY AFTER 12:00. (IF SAID QUICKLY
IT SOUNDS LIKE 20 AFTER 12:00. MAUREEN'S INFORMANTS WERE HER PARENTS
EDWARD OF IRISH AND FRENCH DESCENT AND PATRICIA OF IRISH AND BOHEMIAN
DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CATCH TRICK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
I'M GOING TO SEE A MAN...
I'M GOING TO SEE A MAN ABOUT A HORSE. REFERS TO GOING TO THE
BATHROOM. THIS PIECE HAS UNKNOWN ORIGINS
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
THE SHAWANO LAKE MONSTER
THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD BY FR. ARNIE SHINKTON AT CAMP TIVOLI
WISCONSIN. THE STORY IS USUALLY TOLD TO BELIEVING 7-YEAR OLDS. IT
WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT AND SOME OF CABINERS WANTED TO SLEEP
OUT BY THE LAKE. THEY WENT TO THE CAMP DIRECTOR WHO WOULDN'T LET
THEM BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING OUT. BUT THEY WERE HEADSTRONG, SO AFTER
LIGHTS-OUT THEY WENT DOWN TO THE LAKE WITH THEIR SLEEPING BAGS. THE
CAMP COUNSELORS CHECKED THE GROUNDS AT NIGHT. THE YOUTHS SUCCESSFULLY
EVADED THE COUNSELORS AND PROMPTLY WENT TO SLEEP. THEY WERE
AWAKENED AT MIDNIGHT BY A TREMENDOUS STORM. THEY WERE AFRAID TO
RETURN TO THEIR CABINS FOR FEAR OF BEING CAUGHT.
SUDDENLY THEY WERE AWARE OF A STRANGE NOISE. SO ONE OF THEM TOOK
OUT HIS FLASHLIGHT AND SHINED IT AGAINST THE WATER. THE NARROW
AS THE BEAST APPROACHED THEM. ONE WAS ABLE TO GET UP AND RUN AWAY
BUT HE DIDN'T REALIZE HIS FRIEND WAS STUCK IN HIS SLEEPING BAG. HE
RAN UP TO THE CABINS AND AROUSED THE COUNSELORS. BUT, BY THE TIME
THEY REACHED THE SHORE IT WAS TOO LATE. ALL THEY FOUND OF THE
MISSING CAMPER WAS HIS SLEEPING BAG AND SHREDDED CLOTHES. THEY
STILL HEARD THE NOISE OF THE AWFUL BEAST AND RAN UP TO AROUSE
THE PRIEST. FR. BUTLER CAMP DIRECTOR SENT ONE OF THE COUNSELORS TO
THE RIFLE RANGE TO GET A GUN. THEY CALLED THE SHERIFF AND CAMP
CUSTODIAN NAMED BERT. FR. BUTLER LOADED THE GREAT SHOTGUN. THEY ALL
ARMED THEMSELVES AND WENT DOWN TO THE LAKE. FR. JOE
MAN, TOOK ONE OF THE ROWBOATS OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. THEY
TOOK A GIANT FLASHLIGHT AND PLAYED THE BEAM OVER THE WATER. AND
THERE IT WAS... THE SHAWANO LAKE MONSTER.
THE MONSTER REARED UP IN THE WATER AND CHARGED JOE'S BOAT.
JUST BEFORE IT REACHED JOE, SOMEONE YELLED, "FIRE" AND THEY
ALL SHOT AT THE MONSTER. THE BULLETS SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT.
THE BEAST STRETCHED ITS FULL LENGTH REVEALING A WHITE SPOT
BELOW ITS TWO BEADY EYES. JOE YELLED "FIRE AT THE WHITE SPOT."
THE BEAST SUDDENLY LURCHED AND IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT HE
WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. FINALLY THE BEAST DIED AND WAS DRAGGED
SHORE. THE NEXT DAY AFTER EVERYONE HAD INSPECTED THE BEAST
THEY CUT IT UP INTO SMALL PIECES. THEY WEIGHTED EACH PIECE
WITH LEAD AND DROPPED THEM IN THE DEEPEST PART OF THE LAKE.
TEN YEARS LATER, FARMERS ON THE LAKE BEGAN TO REPORT MISSING
ANIMALS. FOOTPRINTS WERE LEADING TO AND FROM THE LAKE.
CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED ABOUT THE DEAD MONSTER. SO THEY SENT
EXPERT TEAM DIVERS DOWN TO EXAMINE THE REMAINS. THEY FOUND
NOTHING. THIS LEADS TO SPECULATION THAT THE SHAWANO LAKE
MONSTER IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN QUICKSAND CREEK (A TRIBUTARY
OF THE LAKE). THEY EVEN SAY THAT ON STORMY NIGHTS, HE COMES
OUT LOOKING FOR VICTIMS.
James Callow comment:
AT LEAST ONE KEYPUNCH CARD SEEMS TO BE MISSING HERE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Still water Small body. Lake, pond.... |
Date learned: 12-07-1972
QUARTZ CRYSTALS
IF YOU PUT QUARTZ CRYSTALS OVER YOUR DOOR BY TAPING
THEM THERE. YOU WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS AND HARM. THE REASON
BEING THAT SINCE QUARTZ IS MULTI-FACED, IT WILL REFLECT AWAY EVIL
SPIRITS. BRUCE'S INFORMANT WAS HIS MOTHER ORETHA OF CREOLE DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): MAGICAL OBJECT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 12-08-1972
THAYER'S GRAVE
THAYER'S GRAVE IS IN A CEMETERY IN FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN.
YOU DRIVE INTO A GRAVEYARD, DOWN A HILL PAST THAYER'S GRAVE.
PUT YOUR CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THAYER PULLS YOUR CAR UP THE HILL
BACKWARDS. THE CAR ALWAYS STOPS RIGHT BY HIS GRAVE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE MODERN
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-08-72
GUMPTION IN YOUR LITTLE FINGER
YOU HAVE MORE GUMPTION IN YOUR LITTLE FINGER THAN THE REST OF
THE BUNCH HAS IN THEIR WHOLE BODY. GUMPTION MEANS INCENTIVE
OR INITIATIVE. MAUREEN'S INFORMANT WAS IRENE LANNEN, HER
GRANDMA OF BOHEMIAN DESCENT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
WHAT TIME IS IT?
WHAT TIME IS IT? TIME TO GET A NEW WATCH. THIS REBUKE CAME
FROM MAUREEN'S HIGH SCHOOL DAYS AT MERCY
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ASKING TIME OF DAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
WHAT TIME IS IT?
WHAT TIME IS IT? HALF-PAST KISSIN' TIME, TIME TO KISS AGAIN
MAUREEN'S GRANDFATHER JOE LANNEN AN 87 YEAR OLD WIDOWER WAS HER
INFORMANT. HE IS OF IRISH DESCENT AND RESIDES AT 14545 WOODMONT
IN DETROIT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ASKING TIME OF DAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972
SHELL-OUT FALTER {PUN ON FALL-OUT-SHELTER}
A MAN WHO DIDN'T PAY HIS CHECK SUFFERED FROM SHELL-OUT FALTER
USED IN POST WWII DAYS {BY} MAUREEN'S PARENTS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SPOONERISM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-08-1972