Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for ANT returned 422 results.
( PUNCH LINE FROM A SONG)
THERE ONCE WAS A FAMOUS SKIN DIVER NAMED OSEE WHO WAS
ASKED TO TEST A NEW UNDERWATER FLASHLIGHT, INVENTED BY
A PROFESSOR DAWNSEARLY. TO CONDUCT THE TEST, THE
SKINDIVER, THE PROFESSOR AND SOME PROFESSIONAL TEST
CONDUCTORS TOOK A SHIP TO THE NEAREST MURKY WATERS.
OSEE SUBMERGED IN A DIVING SUIT EQUIPPED WITH AN
INTERCOM. HE TOLD THE MAN ON BOARD THAT HE WAS TURNING
ON THE FLASHLIGHT. THEN, THROUGH THE INTERCOM THEY
ASKED THE FATAL QUESTION: "OSEE, CAN YOU SEE BY THE
DAWNSEARLY LIGHT?"
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): NATIONAL ANTHEM SONG: OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.
| Subject headings: | 6677 Formula Tale |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
POLISH PROVERB
THE MOUNTAIN BROUGHT FORTH A MOUSE.
TRANSLATION OF:
GORA PORODZITA MYSZ.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED WHEN THE RESULTS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN EXPECTED.
MY FATHER KNOWS THIS FROM POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTICLIMAX
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-21-1967
PROVERB
THE MORE THERE IS OF MINE, THE LESS THERE IS OF YOUR'S.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOESN'T REMEMBER WHERE OR WHEN SHE FIRST HEARD IT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTITHESIS ; CONTRAST ; PROPERTY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001967 (AUTUMN)
1-2-3-4 WHO ARE WE FOR? (SOMEBODY'S NAME IS GIVEN) RAH, RAH, RAH
5-6-7-8 WHO DO WE APPRECIATE? (SOMEBODY'S NAME IS GIVEN) RAH,
RAH, RAH 9-10-11-12 WHO DO WE THINK IS SWELL?
(SOMEBODY'S NAME IS GIVEN) RAH, RAH, RAH. 13-14-15-16 WHO ARE
ALL THE GIRLS KISSING? (SOMEBODY'S NAME IS GIVEN) RAH, RAH, RAH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHANT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-13-1971
IN THE OLDEN TIMES IT WAS SAID THAT IF A GIRL
KISSED A BOY SHE WOULD HAVE A BABY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PREGNANT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Birth SPEECH -- Magical |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
RIDDLE
WHAT OCCURS ONCE IN EVERY MINUTE, TWICE IN EVERY MOMENT, BUT NOT ONCE
IN A THOUSAND YEARS?
THE LETTER "M".
Keyword(s): CONSTANTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
RIDDLE
WHAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF TEXAS?
THE LETTER "X".
Keyword(s): CONSTANTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
RIDDLE
LUKE HAD IT FIRST. PAUL HAD IT LAST. GIRLS HAVE IT ONCE. BOYS NEVER
HAVE IT. MISS SULLIVAN HAD IT TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE UNTIL SHE
MARRIED PAT MURPHY. THEN SHE NEVER HAD IT AT ALL.
THE LETTER "L".
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): CONATANTS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-07-1967
ELEPHANT JOKE
WHAT DO YOU GET WHE YOU CROSS A FRUIT FLY WITH AN ELEPHANT?
A FORGET-ME-GNAT. A FORGET ME GNAT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ELEPHANT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
WHAT IS FULL OF HOLES YET HOLDS WATER?
-- A SPONGE.
Keyword(s): PLANT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DO THE FIREMEN WEAR SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO KEEP THEIR PANTS UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DOES UNCLE SAM WEAR RED - WHITE - AND - BLUE
SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO HOLD HIS PANTS UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DOES A FIREMAN WEAR RED SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO KEEP HIS PANTS UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DID THE FIREMAN WEAR RED SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO HOLD HIS PANTS UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DOES A FIREMAN WEAR RED SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO HOLD UP HIS PANTS.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DO FIREMEN WEAR RED SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO HOLD UP THEIR PANTS.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
RIDDLE
QUESTION: WHY DOES UNCLE SAM WEAR RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
SUSPENDERS?
ANSWER: TO HOLD UP HIS PANTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): PANTS (A) ; SUSPENDERS (Q)
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; WATER
| Subject headings: |
The Clever Chef
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
There once was a king who demanded that his chef prepare him a different type of meat for each principle meal. when the chef ran out of meats it would mean his death.
Quite naturally, the king soon ran out of chefs and volunteers for the job were few and far between. in fact, things got so bad that the king had to draft his subjects into the job. One of these peasants got drafted and day after day he prepared a different type of meat. However, as time went by, he began to run out of choices. Finally the day arrived when he had none. In desperation, he went to the palace barn at milking time and collected the cow manure as it was being expelled. That night he served it to the king. Upon tasting it, the king called for the chef in order that he might compliment him on the most delicious meat of all. When asked where it came from, the chef replied "it is that which hasn't fallen, your majesty."
Submitter comment:
This is translated from Polish and I feel it has lost its humor in translation.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
A grammatical correction was made to the Collector's spelling: Changing it's to its.
Original Boggs Number [B665] has been crossed out and B646 is written next to it.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Class ; COOKING ; Deception ; FECES ; Fool ; IGNORANCE ; King ; Peasant ; ROYALTY ; Scat ; SCATOLOGICAL ; Scatological Humor ; Social Class ; Trickery ; Wit
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Romantic Realistic |
Caught
Three men: a Catholic, Jew and Protestant; were digging a ditch in front of a house of inequity. They looked up and saw the Rabbi coming down the street. The Rabbi stopped in front of the house, looked both ways and ran up the steps. When this happened the Catholic and Protestant really gave it to the Jew. A little later, the Protestant minister came down the street, stopped in front of the house, looked both ways and ran up the steps. Well now it was the Protestant's turn to be razzed. A little later the three saw a Catholic priest walk up to the front of the house, look both ways and run up the steps. The Catholic man yelled "There must be somebody sick in there!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO PROSTITUTION ; Catholic ; HUMOR ; Jewish ; JOKE ; PROSTITUTION ; Protestant ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |