Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for HUMOR returned 352 results.
KNOCK-KNOCK JOKE
KNOCK-KNOCK. WHO'S THERE?
JOHN.
JOHN WHO?
JOHN THE BAPTIST.
Submitter comment:
THE PERSON WHO IS TELLING THE JOKE IS SUPPOSED TO PUT A LITTLE
WATER IN HIS HAND BEFORE TELLING IT AND WHEN HE GETS TO THE END OF
THE JOKE HE SPRINKLES THE WATER ON THE PERSON HE IS TELLING IT TO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
James Callow Keyword(s): PRACTICAL JOKE
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 10-02-1967
SIGN ON A FLORIST'S TRUCK
BE CAREFUL HOW YOU DRIVE:
THE NEXT LOAD MAY BE FOR YOU}
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE HUMOR FLOWERS
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 11-05-1967
I HAD A TEACHER SO OLD HER MOTHER SERVED THE LAST SUPPER.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): HUMOR AGE
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
TELEPHONE PRANK
CALL SOMEONE.
ASK IF THEIR REFRIGERATOR IS RUNNING.
IF YES, TELL THEM, "YOU'D BETTER CATCH IT."
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY CHILDHOOD
Where learned: SUN PRAIRIE ; WISCONSIN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HUMOR JOKE
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
TELEPHONE PRANK
CALL A BAR; ASK IF THEY HAVE POP IN BOTTLES. IF ANSWER IS YES, SAY
"YOU'D BETTER LET HIM OUT, MOM WANTS HIM AT HOME."
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY CHILDHOOD
Where learned: SUN PRAIRIE ; WISCONSIN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HUMOR PRACTICAL JOKE METAPHOR SODA
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
CONFU
CONFUSCIOUS SAY:
MAN WHO WALK THROUGH SCREEN DOOR LIKELY TO STRAIN HIMSELF.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DORMS
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
COLLEGE FOLKLORE
WHEN THE CLOCK-TOWER STRIKES 10 P.M.-A LIVE STAGE SHOW CAN BE SEEN
PERFORMING IN THE WINDOWS OF THE HOLDEN HALL'S RESIDENCE FACING THE
MEN'S RESIDENCE WINDOWS AT RENO HALL.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR COLLEGE FUN
James Callow Keyword(s): I ASKED COLLECTOR ABOUT THIS. HE SAID THE GIRLS PUT THIS ON FOR ; THE BOYS' BENEFIT.
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
TOM SWIFTY
I ADMIT IT, I THREW MY WIFE RUTH OUT OF THE CAR WINDOW,
SAID TOM RUTHLESSLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
SWIFTIES
I ALWAYS GOT GOOD GRADES, SHE SAID BRIGHTLY.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Wellerism Quotation |
Date learned: 10-00-1968 ; 10-00-1968
PROVERB
THE IDEAL INCOME IS A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY AND EXPENSES.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-24-1965
PROBERB
I'D GIVE $1000 TO BE A MILLIONAIRE.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
SAYING.
IF I'VE ONLY ONE LIFE TO LIVE, LET ME LIVE IT AS A BLONDE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ADVERTISING ; HAIR COLORING, BLEACHING ; HUMOR. ; TELEVISION COMMERCIAL
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
IF YOUR HEAD IS WAX DON'T WALK IN THE SUN.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): HUMOR
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; STAY OUT OF DANGER IF YOU'RE VULNERABLE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
AS FUNNY AS
IS AS FUNNY AS A RUBBER CRUTCH IN A POLIO WARD.
Data entry tech comment: IS PRECEDED ON 5 X 8 CARD BY ( BLANK-- WHATEVER THE OBJECT IS )
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): METAPHOR HUMOR
James Callow Keyword(s): DISEASE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
PROVERB
LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU, SNORE AND YOU SLEEP ALONE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALIENATION ; HUMOR ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 07-15-1964
PROVERB
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T TAKE BATHS IN THE
DAYTIME.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A REVISION OF A PROVERB. I FIND THIS PROVERB MORE
INTERESTING THAN THE ORIGINAL BECAUSE THE REVISION PLACES GREATER
EMPHASIS ON THE BARE FACT.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR PARODY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 01-13-1980
FABLE ABOUT A WOMAN WHO MISUNDERSTOOD HER RELIGION
IN A SMALL VILLAGE, A VERY POORLY EDUCATED WOMAN WENT TO
CONFESSION. SHE TOLD THE PRIEST THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO GO TO HEAVEN
AND THE PRIEST IN TURN ADVISED HER THAT SHE SHOULD PREPARE HERSELF.
THE WOMAN MISUNDERSTOOD THE PRIEST. SHE CAME HOME AND MADE HER OWN
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON SHE WENT BACK TO THE
CHURCH AND STARTED TO PRAY BY THE SIDE ALTAR.
THE HOUR WAS LATE AND THE CARETAKER DIDN'T NOTICE HER PRAYING BY
THE ALTAR. HE LOCKED THE CHURCH.
AFTER THE WOMAN REALIZED THAT SHE WAS LOCKED IN THE CHURCH, SHE
LOOKED FOR A WAY OUT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ONE. THERE WAS NO WAY OUT,
SO SHE DECIDED TO LOOK FOR A PLACE TO SLEEP.
BY THE SACRISTY THERE WAS A LARGE LAUNDRY BASKET WITH ALL THE
PRIEST'S VESTMENTS IN IT. SHE DECIDED TO TAKE A NAP IN THIS BASKET
AND COVERED HERSELF WITH THE LID.
THAT SAME NIGHT, THIEVES BROKE INTO THE CHURCH FROM A VERY HIGH
WINDOW. ONE THIEF WAS OUTSIDE, THE OTHER WAS INSIDE. THE THIEF
OUTSIDE WAS PULLING VALUABLES OUT BY A ROPE, AND THE THIEF WHO WAS
INSIDE WAS HOOKING ANYTHING OF VALUE ONTO THE ROPE.
THE BASKET BY THE SACRISTY LOOKED GOOD, SO HE HOOKED THE ROPE UP
TO IT. THE OTHER THIEF STARTED TO PULL THE BASKET UP AND OUT OF THE
CHURCH. WHEN THE BASKET WAS ABOUT 40 FEET, CLOSE TO THE WINDOW, THE
LADY WOKE UP AND THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS BEING TAKEN TO HEAVEN. IN A
LOUD VOICE SHE SAID, "Z NIEDZIELI NA SWIENTO MNIE DO NIEBA WZIETO."
(FROM SUNDAY NIGHT TO THE HOLIDAY, I WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN.)
THE THIEVES, UPON HEARING HER VOICE GOT SCARED AND LET GO OF THE
ROPE. THE BASKET FELL TO THE FLOOR AND THE WOMAN WAS KILLED. ALL
HER FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS WERE VERY USEFUL.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS STORY AS A BOY AT AN EVENING OF FAMILY STORY
TELLING FROM HIS UNCLE IN LUKOWA, POLAND. HE TOLD THIS STORY VERY
THOUGHTFULLY AND LAUGHED AT THE ENDING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR ; IRONY
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 02-07-1980 ; 00-00-1934
( PROVERBIAL DEFINITION )
INTOXICATION: TO FEEL SOPHISTICATED AND NOT BE ABLE TO PRONOUNCE IT.
Where learned: THEOLOGY CLASS ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): DRUNKENNESS ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00-00-1963