Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for AUTOMOBILE returned 62 results.
SLUG BUG
A FEW YEARS AGO WHILE IN GRADE SCHOOL, WE'D PLAY THIS
LITTLE GAME WHILE TRAVELING. THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE
A VOLKSWAGON WOULD YELL OUT "SLUG BUG" AND,
CONSEQUENTLY, GOT TO SLUG THE OTHER PERSON IN THE ARM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE=VOLKSWAGON
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 10-08-1971
GAME PLAYED WHILE TRAVELING BY CAR
PERONS IN THE CAR TRY TO FIND WORDS ON SIGNS, BUILD-
INGS, ETC. BEGINNING WITH EACH LETTER OF THE
ALPHABET. FOR EXAMPLE, A WORD BEGINNING WITH A
HAS TO BE FOUND FIRST, THEN A WORD BEGINNING WITH
B. THE WORDS MUST BE FOUND IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
THE FIRST ONE TO FIND A SIGN BEGINNING WITH Z WINS.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED IT EITHER FROM MY FAMILY OR FROM SCHOOL
FRIENDS WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Mental Activity CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GAME FOR TRAVELING: YOU WOULD COUNT AS YOU RODE. ALL
ANIMALS COUNTED ONE, BUT A WHITE HORSE COUNTED FIVE.
YOU DIDN'T COUNT POULTRY AS THEY WERE TOO HARD TO SEE.
SOMETIMES, A KID WOULD FIND OUT WHERE ONE WAS AND
ALWAYS SIT ON THAT SIDE. THE HIGHEST POINT COLLECTOR
GOT A PRIZE AT THE END OF THE TRIP.
Submitter comment: PPLAYED AS A BOY IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; OMAHA ; NEBRASKA
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; COUNTING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 05-10-1965
GAME FOR TRAVELING
IT WAS A DUTCH-GERMAN TRADITION THAT FAMILIES DRIVING
THROUGH THE COUNTRY--SUNDAY DRIVES WERE THE THING TO
DO THEN--AND ON TRIPS, WELL, THE THREE OF US (HERSELF
AND TWO SISTERS) USED TO BE IN THE BACK AND YOU PLAYED
GAMES TO KEEP THE KIDS QUIET. AND ONE OF THE OLD
FAVORITES WAS THAT YOU LOOKED IN THE FIELDS FOR A GRAY
OR WHITE HORSE AND WHOEVER WAS THE FIRST TO SEE HIM
WOULD MOISTEN THE THUMB ON THEIR RIGHT H AND WITH THEIR
TONGUE AND FIRMLY STRIKE THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND WITH
THE MOISTENED THUMB AND THEN FORM THE RIGHT HAND INTO A
FIST AND STAMP THE PALM OF THE LEFT HAND THAT HAD BEEN
MOISTENED WITH THE THUMB. THEN YOU WATCHED ALL CARS AND
PEOPLE FOR A RED-HEAD AND THE FIRST ONE TO SUCCEED
IN FINDING THE HORSE AND RED HEAD GOT THEIR WISH.
YOU WOULD REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH THE RED HEAD
AS WHEN YOU SAY (SAW?) THE HORSE.
Submitter comment: HAPPENED AS A GIRL LIVING IN DETROIT (MICHIGAN).
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 05-10-1965
JUNGLE PATCHING
THE DRIVER OF THE CAR DRIVES UP ON A LAWN AND STOPS.
HE THEN TORQUES THE ENGINE AND PUTS THE CAR INTO
GEAR, WHICH CAUSES THE WHEELS TO CHEW UP THE LAWN
IN TWO IDENTICAL LINES. THE RESULT IS TWO PARALLEL
TRACKS OF BARRED EARTH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAW IT HAPPEN A COUPLE OF TIMES.
Where learned: HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; Prank
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 00001967 SUMMER
THE FADE
IN THIS GAME, THE DRIVER OF THE CAR PULLS NEXT TO
SOMEONE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, PACING HIM AND THEN
PULLING AHEAD. AS HE DOES SO, HE GOES THROUGH THE
MOTIONS OF TURNING TOWARDS THE CAR NEXT TO HIM, AS IF
HE DOESN'T SEE HIM BY PASSING HIS HANDS OVER THE TOP
OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND LEANING SLIGHTLY TOWARDS
THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR. THE CAR CONTINUES AHEAD
IN A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT GIVES THE FALSE CONCEPTION OF
TURNING. THE USUAL RESULT IS THE UNWARY DRIVER STOPPING
QUICKLY OR SWERVING IN ORDER TO
AVOID A NON-EXISTENT COLLECSION.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00001967 SUMMER
IF YOU FIND AN OLD TIRE, THROW IT IN THE RIVER AND
YOU WILL FIND SOME MONEY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT THOUGHT THAT HE ORIGINATED THIS SUPERSTITION
BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG LAD IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN,
HE CARRIED OUT THIS PRACTICE THREE TIMES AND FOUND
MONEY EACH TIME. HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT, PREVIOUSLY.
HE HAS NOT DONE IT SINCE THEN, BECAUSE HE FEARS
IT WILL NOT WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Use of Object Manufactured objects, homemade, machined BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 04-18-1965
WITHIN A YEAR OF THEIR INTRODUCTION, THE BELIEF
AROSE THAT, OTHER THINGS BEING REMOTELY EQUAL,
AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO BEAT A MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSION/CLUTCH IN A
DRAG RACE
Submitter comment:
HOWEVER, LIKE MANY FOLK THEORIES IN SCIENCE, THIS
HAS BEEN DISPROVEN AS OF 1962.
Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
EVER SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF DETERGENT OIL, THERE
HAS BEEN A BELIEF THAT IT IS BAD FOR THE AVERAGE
ENGINE. THE FACT THAT THIS BELIEF IS STILL AROUND
SHOWS THE STRENGTH OF FOLKLORE FOR ALL HEAVY DUTY
ENGINE MANUFACTURERS (G.M., CUMMINS, DETROIT
DIESEL, ETC.) AND MOST GENERAL DUTY ENGINE
MANUFACTURERS (FORD, CHEVY) RECOMMEND HIGH DETERGENT
OIL.
Submitter comment:
THIS BELIEF IS HELD BY MANY CAR OWNERS OF ALL AGE
BRACKETS AND BY SOME OLDER, CONSERVATIVE TYPE
MECHANICS.
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
COUNT 100 RED CONVERTIBLES AND THE NEXT BOY YOU MEET IS YOUR
FUTURE HUSBAND.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; DORM ; PEABODY COLLEGE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILES CARS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Number P686.1.100 BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 04-09-1969
TALE
A MAN HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW CAR. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR TWO
WEEKS, HE DISCOVERED AN AWFUL RATTLE IN THE DOOR. TAKING IT TO
A GARAGE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, HE DISCOVERED AN EMPTY
COKE BOTTLE WAS LODGED IN THE DOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): COKE=COCA COLA: BRAND NAME FOR SOFT DRINK. AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
DRIVING--TURN SIGNAL
LEFT ARM EXTENDED OUT WINDOW WITH FOREARM AT A
90 DEGREE ANGLE WITH BICEP MEANS RIGHT TURN.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DRIVING--TURN SIGNAL
ARM STRAIGHT DOWN MEANS SLOW UP OR STOP.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN ; PARENTS
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Belief
When driving past a cemetery place on efinger on the roof of the car and put another finger on your mouth and say "shhhh". This is so you will not wake up the dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; BELIEF ; CEMETERY ; GESTURE ; GRAVEYARD ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
Jokes
How do you fit four elephants in a Volkswagon?
Two in the front, and two in the back.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; ELEPHANT ; Funny ; JOKE ; Volkswagon
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Retort
Get a Horse!
-Said to anyone driving too slow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; HORSE ; RETORT ; SPEED ; Tease
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Retort
When someone blows their horn during a traffic jam, one can answer "blow your nose, you'll get more out of it!"
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Small grammatical corrections.
Where learned: ONTARIO ; Chatham
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; Car ; COMEBACK ; Horn ; INSULT ; NOSE ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Traffic ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Train Tunnels
Whenever I have driven through a train tunnel there have been at least one person to beep their horn for no apparent reason except that of beeping. This leads me to think of the horn-blowing practice as a type of folklore.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE ; Beep ; Car ; Horn ; Train ; Tunnel
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom |