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 ART returned 219 results.
TERMITE
A TERMITE WENT INTO A BAR AND ASKED, "IS THE
BAR TENDER HERE?"
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): BARTENDER PUN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
IRISH LEGEND
IT SEEMS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER KNEW A WOMAN IN IRELAND WHO TOLD HER
THE STORY OF HER SON. ONE DAY WHEN THE LITTLE BOY WAS BEING CHASTISED
HE RAISED HIS HAND IN ANGER TO HIS MOTHER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE
LITTLE BOY DIED. A FEW DAYS AFTER HE WAS BURIED HIS MOTHER WAS CALLED
TO THE GRAVE SITE. THERE WAS THE LITTLE BOY'S HAND STICKING UP OUT
OF THE GROUND. A PRIEST WAS SUMMONED AND AFTER A SERIES OF RITUALS
AND APPLICATIONS OF HOLY WATER THE HAND RECEDED INTO THE GROUND. THIS
INCIDENT OF COURSE WAS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE TOWNSPEOPLE OF WHAT
HAPPENS TO CHILDREN WHO DO NOT RESPECT THEIR PARENTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BODY PART
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1937
AUTOGRAPH VERSE
WHEN HILLS AND VALLEYS PART US
AND YOUR FACE NO MORE I SEE
JUST TAKE A PEN AND PAPER
AND WRITE A LINE TO ME.
Submitter comment: (1939, BIRCH TREE, MONTANA)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): FRIENDLY ; INVERSION ; METER: IAMBS ; NOTE AFTER PARTING ; QUATRAIN ; REQUEST ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Tender sentiment |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE
NOVEMBER 10, 1937
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED,
DON'T MARRY A FOOL.
MARRY A BOY
FROM CARY SCHOOL. MM
2 DAY
+2 MORROW
4 GET ME NOT
GERALDINE RITCHIE MM
DECEMBER 8, 1937
IF I WAS A LITTLE RABBIT
AND HAD A TAIL OF FLUFF,
I WOULD SIT ON YOUR DRESSER
AND BE YOUR POWDER PUFF.
ELEANOR FODOR MM
DECEMBER 12, 1937
YOU MAY LIVE IN ITALY.
YOU MAY LIVE IN SPAIN.
BUT THE WAY I LOVE YOU BABY,
WOULD MAKE A BULLDOG BREAK ITS CHAIN.
YOURS TIL BUTTER FLIES.
GEORGIA CASH MM
FEBRUARY 7, 1938
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED
AND HAVE TWINS,
DON'T SEND TO ME
FOR SAFETY PINS.
SYLVIA GAZDAG MM
FEBRUARY 14, 1938
YOU MAY BE FRENCH OR GERMAN,
BUT MARRY A BOY NAMED HERMAN.
CAROLYN
Submitter comment:
THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK VERSE WAS COLLECTED BY THE INFORMANT
WHILE A PUPIL AT HUGH CARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 6501 SOUTH
STREET, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. THE INFORMANT ATTENDED CARY
SCHOOL FROM 1931-1940 (KINDERGARTEN-EIGHTH GRADE) AND
ESTIMATES THE ETHNIC MAKE-UP AS 50% ARMENIAN, 20% HUNGARIAN,
20% ITALIAN, AND 10% OTHER (LESS THAN 1% BLACK).
"STEP-INS" ARE PANTIES. "TOYS", ACCORDING TO THE
INFORMANT, MEANS "I AM FOND OF YOU."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: BABY FOR SWEETHEART
Date learned: 09-00-1982
MY FATHER BROUGHT BACK A QUITE UNUSUAL GIFT FROM HIS
BUSINESS TRIP-- AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL KEY CHAIN. THIS
KEYCHAIN IS POLISHED QUITE NICELY, IT IS SAID TO BRING
GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WHO HAVE IT.
Submitter comment:
THEY SAY THAT AN OSTRICH'S TOENAIL CAN KILL SOMEONE
IF THEY ARE STUCK BY THE OSTRICH'S FOOT.
PURCHASED AT BUSH GARDENS, FLORIDA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): ART ; GOOD LUCK CHARM ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 02-00-1978
ONE DAY A MAN ESCAPED FROM AN INSANE ASYLUM. HIS NAME WAS ART. HE
WAS ART. HE WENT TO A GROCERY STORE TO ESCAPE
THE POLICE. IN THE STORE, HE ASKED THREE PEOPLE TO GIVE
HIM A DOLLAR. NONE OF THEM WOULD SO HE STRANGLED
ALL THREE. THE NEXT DAY IN THE PAPER, WHAT DID THE HEADLINES READ?
ARTI = CHOKES 3 FOR A DOLLAR!!!!!
Where learned: MICHIGAN
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON ARTICHOKES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 12-01-1987
(sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg.
Batmobile lost a wheel,
And Joker got away. MM
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Fifty miles away.
He blows his nose in cheerios,
And eats them right away!
Submitter comment:
This is only one of many such "gross" songs that the
elementary school boys love to sing.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): Parody, Cartoon character, humor, Christmas
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001987ca
Entry filtered.
Wearing used clothes from a thrift shop may bring you either
good luck or bad luck, depending on how the original owners
conducted themselves when wearing those clothes.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): Articles, Fashion
James Callow Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
Chin Tickler
I remember this little game my grandmother played on my face
and head. She would knock on my head and say, "head knocker", then
touch my eyes and say, "eye peepers," then pinch my nose and say,
"nose blower," then place her finger on my mouth and say, "mouth
chopper" and tickle under my chin and say, "chin tickler."
Submitter comment:
The two of us would continue the little game, laughing until
one of us would finally give in due to stomach pain from laughter.
I did the same with my children.
Where learned: Grandmother
James Callow Keyword(s): Names for body parts
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics SPEECH -- Vocabulary |
Date learned: 00001950S
TICK, TACK, TOE
AND AROUND WE GO
AND WHERE WE STOP
NOBOBY KNOWS.
THE PERSON CLOSES HIS EYES AS HE RECITES THIS VERSE.
HE CIRCLES THE CHART WITH A POINTER AND WHERE THE
VERSE ENDS, HE POINTS TO THE PLACE WHERE HE STOPS.
AS MANY POINTS HE POINTS TO, THAT'S THE AMOUNT HE
GETS. AT THE END OF THE GAME, THE PERSON WITH THE
MOST POINTS WINS.
Submitter comment: I USED TO PLAY THIS WHEN I WAS SMALL, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEE NUMBERED, WHEEL-CHART, DRAWN ON 5 X 8 CARD.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.750 |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
MNEMONIC DEVICE
JOHN STEPHEN ULRICH NEEDS EVERY VITAMIN, MINERAL, PLUS MEAT
Submitter comment:
THIS SENTENCE HELPS IN REMEMBERING THE PLANETS IN THE ORDER OF
LARGEST TO SMALLEST
INFORMANT SAID HE LEARNED THE DEVICE FROM SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT
SCHOOL. HE DIDN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD IT TO HIM BUT SAID IT WAS USED
BY ALMOST EVERYONE IN HIS CLASS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): Earth ; JUPITER ; MARS ; MERCURY ; NEPTUNE ; PLANETS ; PLUTO ; SATURN ; URANUS ; VENUS
| Subject headings: | Favorites ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
HAUNTED HOUSE
UP IN THE COVE THERE WAS A HOUSE THAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT
WAS HAUNTED. EVEN THE REVENUE MEN THOUGHT IT WAS
HAUNTED. IT WAS OWNED BY A BOOTLEGGER NAMED LADD.
YOU COULD SEE HIM GO IN THE HOUSE BUT WHEN YOU WENT
IN TO ARREST HIM, YOU COULD SEARCH THE PLACE OVER AND
NOT BE ABLE TO FIND HIM. THE GOVERNMENT EVEN SENT MEN
THERE TO MEASURE THE HOUSE TO SEE IF IT HAD A SECRET
ROOM BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY. AFTER OLD MAN LADD
DIED HIS CHILDREN SHOWED HOW THERE WAS A PASSAGEWAY
THROUGH THE CHIMNEY DOWN INTO THE CELLAR THAT LED OUT
TO A BIG CAVE WHERE HE STORED HIS BOOZE. EVEN THEN
NOBODY WOULD BUY THE PLACE AND FOR ALL I KNOW THE
LADDS ARE STILL LIVING THERE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): LIQUOR MOONSHINE TREASURY DEPARTMENT T-MEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
TRUE STORY
AT ONE TIME, MARIA WAS TEACHING A RELIGION CLASS
OF LITTLE CHILDREN AND SHE ASKED A LITTLE BOY,
"WHAT'S ANOTHER NAME FOR GOD?" AND THE LITTLE
CHILD REPLIED "HAROLD." MARIA EXCLAIMED, "HAROLD?
WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?" THE LITTLE CHILD REPLIED
"IN THE LORD'S PRAYER, BECAUSE WE SAY 'OUR FATHER
WHO ARE IN HEAVEN, HAROLD BE THY NAME."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ABSURD MISUNDERSTANDING ON PART OF A CHILD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE LAIRD OF LENOX
A VERY THIN MAN WITH WHITE, SIGHTLESS EYES, RED SKINNED,
AND DRESSED IN STUART-TARTAN, EKED OUT A LIVING BY
BLOWING ON A BIG TIN WHISTLE. NOBODY EVER KNEW THE
TUNES THAT THE "LAIRD" PLAYED, BUT ALWAYS BEFORE
BEGINNING HIS RECITAL, HE WOULD REMARK: "WHO GAVE
ME THIS LONESOME WHISTLE?" "AH, I MIND NOO! THE
LAIRD OF LENNOX."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MUSICIAN, FLUTE BLIND MAN STUART: ALTERNATE SPELLING: STEWART
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 01-28-1971
TRUE STORY
AT ONE TIME, MARIA WAS TEACHING A RELIGION CLASS
OF LITTLE CHILDREN AND SHE ASKED A LITTLE BOY,
"WHAT'S ANOTHER NAME FOR GOD?" AND THE LITTLE
CHILD REPLIED "HAROLD." MARIA EXCLAIMED, "HAROLD?
WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?" THE LITTLE CHILD REPLIED
"IN THE LORD'S PRAYER, BECAUSE WE SAY 'OUR FATHER
WHO ARE IN HEAVEN, HAROLD BE THY NAME."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ABSURD MISUNDERSTANDING ON PART OF A CHILD.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MEIN HERTZ IST KLEIN,
KANN NIEMAHND NEIN,
NUR DU MEIN LIEBER JESU ALEIN.
Where learned: HUNGARY
James Callow Keyword(s): HEART ; JESUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 00-00-1897
RUSSIAN PROVERB
WALK CAUTIOUSLY INTO THAT HOUSE WHERE ONE CAN HEAR GAY MUSIC.
Where learned: RUSSIA ; MOSCOW
Keyword(s): PARTY FUN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001905-
WAS BITTER IST IM MUNDE DAS IST DEM HERZ GESUNDE.
Where learned: RESIDENCE
Keyword(s): IS HEALTHY IN THE HEART. ; {KEYPUNCHER'S TRANSLATION} : WHAT IS BITTER IN THE MOUTH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |