Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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IT IS VERY IMPORANT TO A JEWISH STORE-OWNER THAT THE FIRST
CUSTOMER ON A MONDAY MORNING MUST BUY SOMETHING, REGARDLESS
OF THE PRICE. IF AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER DOES BUY SOMETHING, IT
MEANS GOOD LUCK AND GOOD SELLING THE REST OF THE WEEK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC ; SEMITISM
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Good luck |
PUTTING UP A RAILFENCE DURING THE FLOWERDAYS
THE BOTTOM LOG OF A RAILFENCE (A FENCE MADE OF UNDERLOCKING
LOGS) WILL ROT AWAY WITHIN THREE YEARS IF THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
LAID DURING THE CERTAIN TIME OF THE MOON. OTHERWISE THE BOTTOM
LOG WILL LAST MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE BOTTOM LOGS ARE
ALL LAID AT ONCE SO AS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RIGHT TIME OF
THE MOON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple 686 Fifths BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business BELIEF -- Weather sign or control P890.6 |
Date learned: 10-30-1968
BELIEF
THERE ARE CUFFS ON PANTS BECAUSE ENGLISH GENTLEMAN FARMERS USED
TO ROLL UP THEIR TROUSERS WHEN THEY WENT TO WORK IN THE FIELDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Lower body and legs |
Date learned: 11-05-1968
TELEPHONE PRANK
CALLER: DO YOU HAVE SIR WALTER RALEUGH IN A CAN?
ANSWERER: (WHO CAN WORK IN A STORE) YES.
CALLER: WELL THEN LET HIM OUT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HAS DONE THIS WITH FRIENDS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ; SLANG: "CAN" FOR TOILET."
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
MONEY COUNTING
IT IS A SURE SIGN OF A QUICK DOWNFALL TO COME IF
YOU COUNT YOUR WINNINGS WHILE A GAME OF CARDS IS STILL IN
PROGRESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GAMBLING ; MONEY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-17-1969
CARD BELIEF
CUT THIN AND WIN. CUT DEEP AND WEEP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): CARD-PLAYING ; ELLIPSIS ; RHYME PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GOLF
NEVER UP, NEVER IN.
Submitter comment:
MEANING IF THE BALL NEVER LEAVES THE GROUND, IT WILL
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): ELLIPSIS PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport S555.500 PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
TEAM BELIEF
NO ONE SHOULD TALK THAT THEIR TEAM IS ON A WINNING
STREAK OR IT WILL BE BROKEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): OVER-CONFIDENCE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 09-24-1969
BASEBALL SUPERSTITION
BASEBALL PLAYERS WILL NOT STEP ON THE BASE LINE WHEN GOING
OUT TO FIELD THEIR POSITION. TO DO SO IS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
WHISTLING BELIEF
GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WHISTLE BECAUSE THE BLESSED MOTHER
WOULD TURN HER HEAD AND CRY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD THIS BY HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
SHE PRACTICED THIS WHEN YOUNG, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN THE
TRUTH OF IT NOW. (1920S).
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 10-02-1971
BASKETBALL BELIEF
TIE SHOE LACES ON THE SIDE OF YOUR SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK
INSTEAD OF TYING THEM STRAIGHT UP.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck P881.19 |
Date learned: 03-03-1971
BASEBALL BELIEF
PITCHERS NEVER CROSS THE FIRST OR THIRD BASE LINE BECAUSE IT
MEANS BAD LUCK.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 686 686.1 686 686.1 BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-07-1971
GAME SUPERSTITION
WHEN DOING BAD IN BOWLING OR GOLF, DRAW A FENCE ON THE SCORE
CARD AND YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): FENCE= ZIG-ZAG LINE ON SCOREBOX
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 |
Date learned: 04-18-1971
Entry filtered.
COLLEGE LEGEND
AT EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, IT IS SAID THAT THE TOWER WILL
FALL IF A GIRL GRADUATES A VIRGIN.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 09-25-1968
BEFORE A FRESHMAN CAN STEP ON THE BIG M IN THE CENTRE OF THE
DIAG, HE MUST HAVE TAKEN HIS FIRST EXAM, OR HE WILL FLUNK OUT OF
SCHOOL WITHIN THE YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG--DIAG FOR DIAGONAL? ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
SILLY BELIEF
IT WAS A BELIEF IN THE 8TH GRADE THAT THE PHONE NUMBER
777-7777 WAS THE NUMBER OF A WHOREHOUSE.
Submitter comment:
I REMEMBER ONCE TRYING TO FIND OUT FOR SURE, BUT THE
NUMBER WAS NON-EXISTENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBER ; PROSTITUTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 10-20-1971
SCHOOL BELIEF
IT IS BELIEVED THAT GETTING TOTALLY DRUNK THE NIGHT BEFORE A
PSYCHOLOGY TEST WILL BRING A PASSING GRADE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT AND HIS ROOMMATE FOLLOWED THIS FOR THREE
TESTS AND RECEIVED PASSING GRADES OF B OR BETTER,
HOWEVER THE INFORMANT LATER DROPPED OUT DUE TO POOR GRADES.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
CUSTOM
A GIRL IS NOT A CO-ED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN UNTIL
SHE IS KISSED AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT UNDER THE ENGINEERING ARCH.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EXACT TIME
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
HOLY COMMUNION
YOU SHOULD NEVER GO TO HOLY COMMUNION IF YOU FEEL SICK OR IF
YOU THINK YOU WILL BE. SHE REMEMBERS ONE OF HER STUDENTS RECEIVING
COMMUNION AT MASS, THEN LEAVING CHURCH BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO VOMIT
SHE FOLLOWED HIM OUT, AND FOUND HIM BEING SICK. INSTANTLY
APPEARED THOUSANDS OF MAGGOTS, WHO ATE UP ALL THE VOMIT
AND THEN DISAPPEARED.
SHE BELIEVES THAT THIS WAS A MIRACLE TO KEEP THE HOST FROM BEING
DEFILED
Submitter comment:
THE SHE, REFERS TO THE INFORMANTS 5TH GRADE TEACHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL INSECT LARVA
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Insect BELIEF -- Church |