Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THERE IS AN OLD SUPERSTITION THAT MY MOTHER RELATED
TO ME BACK WHEN I GOT MY FIRST CAR. I HAD JUST
BOUGHT A ST. CHRISTOPHER MEDAL TO PUT ON THE
DASHBOARD. AS I WAS PLACING IT THERE, MY MOTHER
CAME UP AND SAID, "YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN OLD BELIEF
THAT WHEN YOU HIT EIGHTY, OLD ST. CHRISTOPHER GETS
UP AND LEAVES YOU ON YOUR OWN."
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 05-22-1965
RIDDLE
WHY DOES A COW WEAR A BELL AROUND HER NECK?
ANSWER: HER HORN DOESN'T WORK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS: COWS ; RIDDLING QUESTION
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLUSION TO HORNS ON AUTOMOBILES ; PUN ON HORN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
LEGEND
WHILE ON MY WAY TO DANCE CLASS ONE EVENING, I NOTICED A DOLL IN THE
PICTURE WINDOW OF A HOUSE. NOT THINKING ANYTHING OF IT, IMENTIONED
IT TO MY GIRLFRIEND. SHE WAS AMAZED THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD THE STORY
ABOUT THE LITTLE GIRL THAT ONCE LIVED IN THE HOUSE. IT IS BELIEVED
THAT ONE EVENING THE GIRL WAS PLAYING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THAT NOT
SEEING HER, THE FATHER RAN OVER HER AND KILLED HER. THE MOTHER OF
THE CHILD WENT CRAZY AND NOW BELIEVES THE DOLL TO BE HER DAUGHTER.
SHE TAKES CARE OF THE DOLL IN WAYS THAT A MOTHER WOULD TAKE CARE
OF A CHILD. SHE EVEN GOES SO FAR AS TO DRESS THE DOLLUP FOR
SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUCH AS CHRISTMAS AND HALLOWEEN.
Submitter comment: THE HOUSE IS ON OUTER DRIVE IN DEARBORN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GARDEN CITY
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
SONG
(LEADER:)
YOU CAN'T GET TO HEAVEN ON A PAIR OF SKATES,
'CAUSE YOU'LL ROLL RIGHT BY
THOSE PEARLY GATES.
(EVERYONE:)
OH YOU CAN'T GET TO HEAVEN ON A PAIR OF SKATES 'CAUSE
YOU'LL ROLL RIGHT BY THOSE PEARLY GATES.
I AIN'T GONNA GRIEVE, MY LORD, NO MORE.
(LEADER:)
YOU CAN'T GET TO HEAVEN IN A FORD V-8.
'CAUSE THE GOSH DARN THING
WILL BREAK RIGHT DOWN.
(EVERYONE:)
OH YOU CAN'T GET TO HEAVEN IN A FORD V-8 'CAUSE THE GOSH
DARN THING WILL BREAK RIGHT DOWN.
I AIN'T GONNA GRIEVE, MY LORD, NO MORE.
(LEADER CONTINUES TO MAKE UP LINES WHICH EVERYONE THEN
REPEATS. LASTLY HE SINGS:)
IF YOU GET TO HEAVEN BEFORE I DO,
JUST POKE A HOLE AND PULL ME THROUGH.
(EVERYONE:)
OH IF YOU GET TO HEAVEN BEFOR I DO JUST POKE A
HOLE AND PULL ME THROUGH.
I AIN'T GONNA GRIEVE, MY LORD, NO MORE.
(REPEAT LAST LINE THREE TIMES)
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN HAMTRAMACK BUT THINKS
IT HAS BLACK AMERICAN ROOTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE SATIRE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Religious |
Date learned: 12-00-1983
Entry filtered.
ABOUT MAYBE 1:30 P.M., NO, 2:00 P.M. THIS AFTERNOON I SAW
A VERY PECULIAR SIGHT. I WAS ABOUT FIVE MILES NORTHEAST
OF ALMONT, OUT ON A SLIGHTLY PAVED ROAD. IT WAS EXTREMELY
FOGGY OUT. I HEARD THE NOISE OF THE APPROACHING VEHICLE
LONG BEFORE IT CAME INTO SIGHT. I HAD MY CAR ON THE
SHOULDER, BECAUSE I WAS TAKING STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEARBY
RUIN SITES. ANYHOW, THE DISTANCE OF SIGHT WAS NOT CLEAR TO
ME, AND I HEARD BEFORE I SAW. I WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY A GUY
IN A BIG GREEN CAR. LUCKILY, IT WENT RIGHT BY, BUT NO
ONE WAS DRIVING. THE GUY WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I SAW
THE EMPTY STEERING WHEEL. IT DISAPPEARED INTO THE FOG. IT
WAS A FRIGHTENING DAY. THIS IS THE TRUTH.
Submitter comment:
JAMES TOLD ME HE TOOK A PICTURE OF THIS GHOSTDRIVER.
WHEN THE PRINT WAS DEVELOPED ONLY FOG SHOWED UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
James Callow Keyword(s): DRIVERLESS AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
MAKING A WISH
WHEN WE WERE KIDS, WE BELIEVED THAT IF WE SAW A CAR
THAT HAD A BURNT OUT HEADLIGHT, YOU COULD WISH ON IT
AND THE WISH WOULD COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: STUDENT
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; RIVERSIDE
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1970 ; 00-00-1970
THE VANISHING HITCHHIKER
THERE IS A STORY THAT HAS BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS I CAN
REMEMBER. IT IS SAID TO BE TRUE BUT NO ONE KNOWS FOR
SURE. IT IS A STORY ABOUT A LADY GHOST WHO HITCHHIKES
A RIDE FROM PASSING CARS. THE EVENT USUALLY TAKES PLACE
BETWEEN 3 A.M. AMD 6 A.M. AND IT USUALLY HAPPENS TO
DOCTORS ON THEIR WAY TO WORK(THERE IS A HOSPITAL NEARBY).
THEY WILL SEE A YOUNG GIRL HITCHING A RIDE. THEY WILL
PICK THE GIRL UP, SHE WILL GET INTO THE BACK SEAT OF
THE CAR. SHE IS WEARING A WHITE DRESS AND HAS LONG
LONG HAIR. SINCE IT IS EARLY MORNING, IT USUALLY COLD
OUTSIDE. THE DOCTOR USUALLY OFFERS HIS COAT TO THE
WOMAN. HE THEN DRIVES HER TO THE ADDRESS WHICH SHE GAVE
HIM (WHICH IS RIGHT NEAR THE HOSPITAL). WHEN HE GETS THERE
SHE IS GONE AND SO IS HIS COAT. THE PERSON WHO PICKED
THE GIRL UP WILL USUALLY GET OUT OF THE CAR AND GO UP
TO THE HOUSE TO SEE IF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE KNOW THE
GIRL WHICH THEY DESCRIBE. WHOEVER ANSWERS THE DOOR SAYS
YES, AND THAT SHE HAS BEEN DEAD FOR ? YEARS. THEY TELL THE
PERSON WHERE HER GRAVE IS. THE CEMETERY IS RIGHT ACROSS
THE WAY FROM THE HOSPITAL. WHEN THE PERSON GETS TO
THE GRAVESITE, THEIR COAT IS FOUND ON THE GRAVESTONE.
Submitter comment:
I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE OF THE INFORMANT, BUT THIS STORY
HAS BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. MANY PEOPLE
SWEAR THAT IT IS TRUE. AND EVERYTIME IT DOES HAPPEN,
THE STORY ALWAYS IS THE SAME. ONE STRANGE THING THAT
NO ONE UNDERSTANDS IS THAT IT IS USUALLY A MALE THAT
PICKS HER UP, NEVER A FEMALE.
Where learned: HOME ; ILLINOIS
Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1974 ; 00-00-1974
RIDDLE
WHERE DO OLD VOLKSWAGENS GO WHEN THEY ARE JUNKED?
THE OLD VOLKS HOME.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; ATLANTA
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILES
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 00-00-1990
Autograph Rhyme
Each life's an album, every page
From fair haired youth to gray old age
Is writ in prose or story.
God grant your life and album be
Filled up with records good to see
The "finis" found in Glory.
Submitter comment:
Found in autograph book from the 1880's
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): AGE ; Album ; AUTOGRAPH ; Elderly ; Glory ; Gray ; Old ; Record ; RHYME ; Signature ; Story ; VERSE ; Young ; YOUTH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
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
Autograph Rhyme
Friend Pierce, may your cares all fly away like dew before the sun
And when you've nothing else to do just think of me for fun.
Submitter comment:
Located in autograph album from the 1880's
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Album ; AUTOGRAPH ; Language ; RHYME ; Signature ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Autograph Verse
Round went the album, hither it came
for me to write in so here is my name.
Submitter comment:
Found in autograph book from the 1880's
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Album ; AUTOGRAPH ; Language ; NAME ; RHYME ; Signature ; VERSE ; Write
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
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