Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for Pit returned 63 results.
Entry filtered.
Retort
You're about as funny as a cigarette in a Cancer ward.
Submitter comment:
From his brother, Joe. From his friend, Brian Battersby.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Cancer ; Cigarette ; COMEBACK ; HOSPITAL ; INSULT ; RETORT ; SARCASM ; Wisecrack
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Proverb
House guests and fish spoil on the third day.
Submitter comment:
Origin: Unknown
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; FISH ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; Spoil ; VERSE ; Welcome
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Blason Populaire |
Proverb
Little pitchers have big ears.
Submitter comment:
I heard this in Ferndale, MI
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CHILDREN ; Maxim ; METAPHOR ; Pitcher ; PROVERB ; VERSE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Language
The eight secluded areas complete with love seats in a girl's dorm lounge are known as the "passion pits."
Submitter comment:
The college is Emory and Henry in Emory, Virginia and the dorm is Martha Washington
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Keyword(s): COLLEGE ; Dorm ; Dormitories ; Language ; Lounge ; Loveseat ; Nickname ; Passion ; Pit ; SLANG ; Vocabulary
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Place |
Ghost Tale
In Chapel Hill, TN, There is a ghost that roams next to the railroad. All you can see is his light as he flashes it up and down the tracks. It is supposedly a lineman who had fallen off the train many years before. When he fell he lost his head. Now he roams the track swinging the light looking for his head.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Beheaded ; DECAPITATION ; GHOST ; HEAD ; Lineman ; RAILROAD ; Story ; SUPERNATURAL ; Tale ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Proverb
Little pitchers have big ears.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added By TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Already Under V200, Who Said? Said to children who hear things they shouldn't.
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): Big ; CHILDREN ; EARS ; Eavesdrop ; EUPHEMISM ; Little ; METAPHOR ; Overhear ; Pitchers ; SIMILE ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, SOMEONE'S COMING WITH A HOLE IN
THEIR BRITCHES.
Submitter comment:
BRITCHES=PANTS
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; CORNERSVILLE
Keyword(s): BRITCHES ; Company ; Hole ; HOSPITALITY ; ITCH ; NOSE ; OMEN
| Subject headings: | Observation Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching nose |
Date learned: 00001972-00001973 (ASSUMED)
WHENEVER WALKING PAST A GRAVEYARD, SPIT THREE TIMES
THROUGH THE GATE OR THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
WITHIN A MONTH.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MCKENZIE
Keyword(s): DEATH ; FAMILY ; GRAVEYARD ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; THREE
Custom
Speech - Professional Group:
At St. Thimas Hospital - the operator will page a Mr. Salamander to come to a certain ward if there's a fire in that ward - so as not to alarm patients and visitors.
Data entry tech comment:
Entered by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Code ; FIRE ; FIRE ; HOSPITAL ; Page ; Salamander
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
DOOR
IF SOMEONE ENTERS YOUR FRONT DOOR, IT IS BAD LUCK FOR THEM
TO LEAVE OUT OF THE BACK DOOR.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Back ; BELIEF ; Front ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Home BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
ENTERING AND LEAVING A HOUSE
MANY SLAVIC PEOPLE TODAY BELIEVE THAT IF A PERSON
DOES NOT LEAVE SOMEONES HOUSE BY THE SAME DOOR THAT THEY CAME IN,
THEN THEY WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE OF THAT
PARTICULAR HOME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Entrance ; Exit ; fortune ; Guests ; HOSPITALITY ; House ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 09-14-1969
HOUSE BELIEF
IF A GUEST COMES INTO THE HOUSE BY THE FRONT DOOR
THEY SHOULD LEAVE THE SAME WAY, OTHERWISE, YOU WILL SOON HAVE MORE
COMPANY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Company ; Entrance ; Exit ; Guests ; HOSPITALITY ; SUPERSTITION ; VISITORS
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 12-00-1969
WHEN AN UNFAMILIAR GUEST ENTERS YOUR HOME, YOU
MUST HAVE FRESH FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE. THIS CUSTOM
ENSURED A HAPPY VISIT FOR BOTH PARTIES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: CANADA ; COLLECTED BY MAIL ; MONTREAL
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; FLOWERS ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; SUPERSTITION ; tradition
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
ORANGE GROVE
A BOY AND GIRL IN FLORIDA WENT OUT PARKING IN AN ORANGE GROVE.
WHEN THEY WERE READY TO LEAVE THE BOY FOUND THAT HE WAS OUT OF
GAS. HE WAS REALLY DISGUSTED WITH HIMSELF AS HE STOMPED AWAY,
WARNING THE GIRL TO LOCK THE DOORS AND WAIT FOR HIM IN THE CAR.
HOURS PASSED AND THE GIRL WAS GETTING VERY WORRIED. IT WAS COLD
AND SHE WAS VERY TIRED SO SHE FELL ASLEEP. A TAP AT THE WINDOW
WOKE HER. A POLICEMAN TOLD HER TO GET OUT AND GO TO THE PATROL
CAR AND HE'D TAKE HER HOME. AS HE HELPED HER TO THE CAR HE WARNED
HER NOT TO LOOK BACK AT THE OTHER CAR. AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR
SHE GLANCED BACK AT THE OTHER CAR. THERE WAS HER BOYFRIEND'S
HEAD, ON THE ROOF, STREAMING BLOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Keyword(s): Boyfriend ; DEATH ; Girlfriend ; MURDER ; PARKING ; Urban Legend ; VIOLENT
James Callow Keyword(s): DECAPITATION
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
LUCK OF THE FAMILY.
WHEN VISITING A HOUSE IN IRELAND ONE MUST ALWAYS LEAVE BY THE
SAME DOOR YOU CAME IN, OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE STEALING THE GOOD
LUCK FROM THAT FAMILY.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cultural ; CUSTOM ; GOOD LUCK ; Guest ; HOSPITALITY ; IRELAND ; Irish ; LUCK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
Entry filtered.
IF SOMEONE TALKS BEHIND YOUR BACK, SPIT IN
FOUR CORNERS OF A ROOM.
Submitter comment:
HEARD FROM A FRIEND.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; J L HUDSONS COMPANY
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Corners ; CUSTOM ; GOSSIP ; Response ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; TALK
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Conversions P883.22 |
Date learned: 11-25-1967
SOME OLD FISHERMEN OF WESTERN MICHIGAN STILL BELIEVE
THAT IF THEIR LUCK IS BAD, THAT THEY CAN SPIT ON THE
WORM, THEN PUT IT ON THE HOOK, AND GOOD LUCK WILL
FOLLOW THEIR DAY'S FISHING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Bait ; BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CATCH ; FISH ; Fisherman ; FISHING ; GESTURE ; HOOK ; LUCK ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Worm
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 09-10-1969
IF YOU AND ANOTHER PERSON SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SPIT BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS
FOR GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BEHAVIOR ; BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Fingers ; GESTURE ; Hands ; Jinxs ; Same Time ; Simultaneous ; SPIT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: 04-05-1970