Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for HUMOR returned 352 results.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE PRETZELS, HE'D BE ENTIRELY ON A
LIQUID DIET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ALCOHOLISM ; BEER ; DRINKING ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MODEST: ONE WHO WEARS THE LATEST FASHIONS.
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; HUMOR ; PUN ON "MOD"--FOR THE LATEST, THE MOST MODERN.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 05-29-1970
COINCIDE: WHAT YOU DO WHEN IT STARTS RAINING.
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; HUMOR ; PUN FOR GO INSIDE.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 05-29-1970
DEBATE: IT LURES DE FISH.
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; HUMOR ; PUN FOR THE BAIT.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 05-29-1970
KNOB: A THING TO ADORE.
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; HUMOR ; PUN FOR A DOOR.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 05-29-1970
MORBID: A COMMON PHRASE USED BY AN AUCTIONEER.
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; HUMOR ; PUN ON MORE BID.
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 05-29-1970
S(E)X=F(U)N
James Callow comment: THE X AND THE N ARE WRITTEN AS SUPERSCRIPTS ON THE ; ORIGINAL CARD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): DEFINITION ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-29-1969
Entry filtered.
MARTINI'S LAW
MARTINI'S LAW STATES THAT FOR EVERY 50 FEET THE SCUBA DIVER DESCENDS
THE EFFECT OF THE NITROGEN UPON HIM IS EQUIVALENT TO DRINKING ONE
MARTINI. THIS THEORY IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FORMULATED BY THAT GREAT
ITALIAN SKIN DIVER, MARTINI. THIS LAW HAS GIVEN TO THE SAYING THAT
"YOU SHOULDN'T DRINK AND DIVE."
Submitter comment:
THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK, EVENTHOUGH THE EFFECT OF BREATHING NITROGEN
UNDER PRESSURE IS SIMILAR TO DRINKING, OR PERHAPS, BECAUSE OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): MILITARY
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
UANS APPANA TAIM UAS TRI BERRES: MAMA BERRE, PAPPA BERRE, E BEIBE
BERRE. LIVE INNE CONTRI NIRE FORESTA. NAISE AUSE. NO MOGHEGGIA.
UANNA DEI PAPPA, MAMMA, E BEIBE GO BICE, OLIEL, A FURGHETTE
LOCCHE DI DOOR.
BAI ENNE BAI COMMESE GOLILOCCHESE. SCI GARRA NATTINGHE TO
DU BATTE MEICHE TROBLE. SCI PUSGIE OLLA FUDDE
DAON DI MAUTE. NO LIVE CROMME. DEN SCI GOS APPESTERRESE
ENNE SLIPSE IN OLLE BEDDSE. LEISI SLOBBE.
BAI ENNE BAI COMMESE OMME DI TRI BERRES, OLLE SONNEBRONE
ENNESEND INNE SCIUS. DEI GARRA NO FUDDE! DEI GARRA NO BEDDSE. EN UARA
DEI GOINE DU TU GOLDILOCCHESE? TRO ER AUTE INNA STRIT? COLLE
POLISSEMENNE? FETTE CIENZE!
DEI UAS ITALIEN BERRES, ENNE DES SLIPPE ONNA FLORRE.
GOLDILOCCHESE STEI DERRE TRI UICASE! ITTE AUTE AUSENOMME,
EN GIUSTE BICOSE DEI ISCHE ERRE TU MEICHE DI BEDDSE, SCI SEI "GO TU
ELLE," ENNE RUNNE OMME CRAIN' TU ERRE MAMMA, TELLENERRE AUT
SAINIMABICESE DI TREE BERRESE UER.
UAT-IE-USE? URA GOINE DU? - - -
GO COMPLEINE SITTIOLLE?
TRANSLATION: ONCE UPON A TIME WAS THREE BEARS: MAMA BEAR,
PAPA BEAR, AND BABY BEAR. LIVE IN THE COUNTRY NEAR FOREST.
NICE HOUSE. NO MORTGAGE. ONE DAY PAPA, MAMA, AND BABY GO
BEACH, ONLY THEY FORGET LOCK THE DOOR.
BY AND BY COMES GOLDILOCKS. SHE GOT NOTHING TO DO BUT
MAKE TROUBLE. SHE PUSH ALL FOOD DOWN THE MOUTH. NO LEAVE
CRUMB. THEN SHE GOES UPSTAIRS AND SLEEPS IN ALL BEDS. LAZY
SLOB.
BY AND BY COMES HOME THE THREE BEARS, ALL SUNBURNED AND SAND
IN THEIR SHOES. THEY GOT NO FOOD. THEY GOT NO BEDS. AND WHAT ARE
THEY GOING TO DO TO GOLDILOCKS? THROW HER OUT IN THE STREET?
CALL POLICEMEN? FAT CHANCE!
THEY WERE ITALIAN BEARS, AND THEY SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.
GOLDILOCKS STAYED THERE THREE WEEKS. EAT OUT OF HOUSE & HOME
AND JUST BECAUSE THEY ASK HER TO MAKE THE BEDS, SHE SAY "GO TO
HELL," AND RUN HOME CRYING TO HER MAMA, TELLING HER WHAT
SON OF A BITCH THE THREE BEARS WERE.
WHAT'S THE USE? {WHAT} ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
GO COMPLAIN AT CITY HALL?
James Callow comment: THE ABOVE TRANSLATION IS FURNISHED BY PAC AND JTC.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): LINGUISTIC HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group |
Date learned: 11-17-1968
ETHNIC HUMOR-YIDDISH
YOU SHOULD GROW LIKE AN ONION, WITH YOUR HEAD IN THE
GROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00-00-1971
DERISIVE GESTURE
WHEN SOMEONE MAKES A REMARK INTENDED TO BE SARCASTIC OR
FUNNY, BUT YOU DON'T THINK IT WAS, YOU TURN TO THEM
AND SAY, "DO YOU KNOW HOW FUNNY THAT WAS? THIS FUNNY."
YOU THEN HOLD UP ONE HAND INDICATING A SPACE (VERY
SMALL) BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND FOREFINGER INDICATING
AN AMOUNT OF FUNNY (OR FUNNINESS I GUESS YOU SAY).
Submitter comment:
EXPLAINED BY INFORMANT AFTER HAVING USED IT ON
COLLECTOR. INFORMANT SAYS SEVERAL OF HER FRIENDS
USE THIS GESTURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; VARSITY NEWS OFFICE
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Derision Scorn |
Date learned: 10-00-1966
RIDDLE
WHAT QUESTION CAN NEVER BE ANSWERED BY "YES"?
ARE YOU ASLEEP.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
RIDDLE
WHAT IS THE LONGEST WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE?
S-MILE; SMILE
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
RIDDLE
WHAT IS THE LONGEST WORD IN THE WORLD?
RUBBER, BECAUSE IT STRETCHES!
Where learned: QUEEN OF HEAVEN SCHOOL
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
WHEN DOES FRIDAY COME BEFORE THURSDAY?
IN THE DICTIOARY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
WHAT WORD CAN BE PRONOUNCED QUICKER AND SHORTER BY JUST ADDING A FEW
SYLLABLE TO THEM?
QUICK AND SHORT
Where learned: DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
NUMBER RIDDLE
WHAT IS A COMMON WORD THAT HAS HAS A SUCCESSION OF THREE LETTERS
WHICH ARE THE SAME. IT IS THE NAME OF A COURSE OF STUDY INMOST HIGH
SCHOOL. AFTER YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS COURSE, YOU CAN BECOME ONE.
BOOKKEEPER
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
RAILROAD CROSSING, LOOKOUT FOR CARS. CAN YOU SPELL THAT WITHOUT ANY
R'S?
T-H-A-T; THAT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
RIDDLE
LONDONBERRY, CORK AND KERRY. SPELL ME THAT WITHOUT A "K"?
"T-H-A-T." "THAT"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-00-1971