Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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LIGHTS
IT IS VERY BAD LUCK IN THE NAVY AIRBORNE FOR THREE FRIENDS TO LIGHT
THEIR CIGARETTES FROM THE SAME MATCH.
Where learned: ROUTE 2 ; W JEFFERSON RD
Keyword(s): MILITARY
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- P535 BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 03-09-1970
PARODY
OH SAY CAN YOU SEE
ANY BEDBUGS ON ME
IF YOU DO
TAKE A FEW
AND I'LL FRY THEM FOR YOU.
Submitter comment: FROM HER GRANDFATHER, MR. HELLER, OF ENGLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): FOOD : AABBB ; HUMOR ; STAR SPANGLED BANNER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Verse without Music |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
Legend
DURING THE REVOLUTION, THERE WAS A DESERTER WHO LIVED IN A SHACK
WITH A WOMAN THAT HE KIDNAPPED, AND FROM THIS WOMAN HE HAD A SON
WHO LATER DID THE SAME THING AS HIS FATHER AND IT HAS GONE ON LIKE
THIS FOR GENERATIONS. IT IS RUMORED THAT THE MAN IS STILL
LOOKING FOR HIS WIFE BUT HAS NOT FOUND HER YET.
Submitter comment:
LEROY SAW THE CABIN AND SAYS HE GOT THE LEGEND FROM THIS
EXPERIENCE.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated on 02-22-2011 by TRD
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ABDUCTION ; Common Law ; DESERTER ; ILLEGITIMACY ; MARRIAGE ; MILITARY ; REVOLUTIONARY WAR ; Shack
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1967
G.I. SHOES,
G.I. HAT,
G.I. THIS AND
G.I. THAT.
G.I. LIKE YOU
G.I. DO.
G.I. HOPE YOU LIKE ME, TOO.
Submitter comment: AUTOGRAPH BOOK 1963
Data entry tech comment: ADDED COMMAS WHERE NEEDED
Where learned: TEXAS ; SAN ANTONIO
Keyword(s): MILITARY
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Translations, plays on words, symbol writing |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
Entry filtered.
SUPERSTITION
NEVER GIVE YOURSELF A MANICURE ON SUNDAY. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL
HAVE A WEEK OF BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
SOME OLD LADY TOLD THIS SUPERSTITION TO MY MOTHER YEARS AGO.
MY MOTHER RELAYED THIS SUPERSTITION TO MY SISTER AND ME. MY
SISTER BELIEVES THE SUPERSTITION. I ONLY BELIEVE IT IF I DO
MY NAILS ON SUNDAY AND HAVE A WEEK OF BAD LUCK.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GROOMING ; SABBATARIANISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA00001930 ; 01-13-1980
SAYING
I'M TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
Keyword(s): STARTING A NEW CHAPTER IN LIFE BY MENDING MY WAYS
James Callow Keyword(s): RESOLUTION TO BEGIN ANEW
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00001950'S
ITALIAN MEN
WHAT DO YOU CALL 5 ITALIAN MEN CHASING AFTER A GARBAGE TRUCK?
THE GALLOPING GOURMETS.
Submitter comment:
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT "THE GALLOPING GOURMET" WAS THE
NAME OF A TELEVISION COOKING PROGRAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GOURMET COOK-COMEDIAN, WHO HAS TRAVELED WIDELY, ; STAR OF THE PROGRAM, GRAHAM KERR, AN AUSTRALIAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote ITAL |
Date learned: 09-11-1980
WHEN TWILIGHT DRAWS HER CURTAIN
AND PINS IT WITH A STAR.
REMEMBER YOU HAVE A FRIEND
NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.
Where learned: NONE GIVEN
Keyword(s): FRIENDLY ; METER: IAMBS ; METER: TRISYLLABIC FOOT ; POETIC DICTION ; PROMISE OF FRIENDSHIP ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME:ABCD ; STARS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- C768 C768.14 |
Date learned: 03-28-1960
"CURTAINS OF EVENING"
"WHEN EVENING PULLS ITS CURTAINS BACK
AND PINS THEM WITH A STAR.
KNOW THAT I'LL REMEMBER YOU
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE."
Submitter comment:
SIGNED BY ALDENE COTE, LATELY OF MIAMI, FLA.,
TO A PHOTO OF HERSELF, GIVEN TO ME.
Keyword(s): FRIENDLY ; FRIENDSHIP ; METER: IAMBS ; POETIC DICTION ; PROMISE OF REMEMBRANCE ; QUATRAIN ; RHYME: ABCB ; STARS ; TWILIGHT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
STORY OF ROB BACKUS
I HEARD THIS STORY FROM A GUY NAMED ROB BACKUS IN 1969. HE LIVED
IN A HOUSE WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME. ROB TOLD A STORY ONE TIME
ABOUT HOW HE GOT OUT OF THE U.S. NAVY. ROB WAS A SEAMAN ON A
NAVY SHIP AND HE WAS GROWING MORE DISCONTENTED WITH LIFE IN THE
NAVY. ONE DAY HE WENT TO A MUSIC STORE AND BOUGHT A SAXOPHONE.
THE NEXT DAY IN THE EARLY MORNING BEFORE REVILLE HE CLIMBED TO
THE TOP OF THE MAST OF THE SHIP. WHEN THE SAILORS WERE ASSEMBLED
FOR REVILLE HE STARTED BLOWING ON THE SAXOPHONE. THEY FINALLY
GOT HIM TO COME DOWN, AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, HE WAS DISCHARGED
FROM THE NAVY. HE HAD NEVER PLAYED A SAXOPHONE BEFORE THAT DAY.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY HAPPENED DURING THE VITENAM WAR ERA, AND IT WAS
GRATIFYING TO ME TO KNOW THAT ONE PERSON THAT I KNEW HAD BEEN ABLE
TO SAVE HIS LIFE FROM THE PERILS OF VIETNAM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; KALAMAZOO
James Callow Keyword(s): FEIGNED INSANITY TO GET OUT OF MILITARY SERVICE.
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
A STAR IS BORN BY THE URGINGS OF A FRIEND
IN 1939 THE ONLY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN A SMALL TOWN OF WEST
VIRGINIA WAS HAVING AN AMATEUR TALENT CONTEST. CHUBBY LITTLE
RICHARD BEGGED, PLEADED AND FINALLY URGED HIS SHY, SKINNY FRIEND
TO JOIN WITH HIM. AFTER MUCH CAJOLING LITTLE DON FINALLY
ACQUIESCED. THE BOYS WORKED UP A SONG AND PATTER ROUTINE WITH
GUITAR AND BANJO. THEY WERE THE DECISIVE WINNERS. THOUGH THEY'RE
SEPARATED THEY HAVE KEPT IN CLOSE CONTACT THROUGH THE YEARS.
GROSSE POINTE DOCTOR RICHARD FERRARA FREQUENTLY SEES HIS GOOD
FRIEND DON KNOTTS AND THEY STILL SING THE OLD SONGS TOGETHER.
James Callow Keyword(s): TELEVISION STAR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero |
Date learned: 00-00-1939
WHEN I WAS A KID IF I DROPPED ANYTHING ON THE GROUND
I WOULD CROSS MYSELF WITH THE OBJECT IN MY HAND AND
SAY "GOD KISS IT, DEVIL MISS IT." THIS MADE ME
BELIEVE THAT THE OBJECT WAS CLEAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SANITARY
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration Favorites BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications SPEECH -- Formula SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-00-1983
KNOCK KNOCK JOKE
WHEN I SAY, "KNOCK, KNOCK", YOU REPLY, "WHO'S THERE?"
I WILL SAY A NAME, THEN YOU REPLY, "I GOT TO GO WEAR MY
COAT", THEN THAT NAME.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
BILL
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, BILL.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
SAM
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, SAM.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
TOM
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, TOM.
KNOCK, KNOCK
WHO'S THERE?
TEX
I GOT TO GO WEAR MY COAT, TEX.!!!!!
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS JOKE AT A PARTY AT A NUN'S RESIDENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
James Callow Keyword(s): KOTEX IS A SANITARY NAPKIN.
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
On the feast of St. Barbara (Dec.4), artillerymen wear
red socks.
Submitter comment:
Ray was not sure how this custom came into being, but says
that St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillerymen. Perhaps
because she is the saint to be prayed to for protection from
lightening and fire, the artillerymen feel that she has an
affinity with the explosive power of their weapons.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
Keyword(s): Military, soldiers
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F120 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern BELIEF -- Religious hero BELIEF -- Work Commerce Business |
HOW MANY ETHIOPIANS CAN YOU FIT IN A BATH TUB. NONE,
THEY WILL FALL DOWN THE DRAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): THIN FROM STARVATION
| Subject headings: | ETHI |
Date learned: 00001970S
Festival of the Star
The Christmas Eve events in Poland are called the "Festival of
the Stars." This Festival begins when the young children see the
first star that evening. The mother has a white table cloth on
the table with small amounts of straw on it to symbolize the
Bethlehem stable in which Jesus was born. After the first star is
seen by the small children, the mother puts out the food. But
before anyone eats the dinner the family says a prayer of
Thanksgiving and the father passes out small wafers with religious
pictures stamped on them. These wafers have been blessed by the
priest. Those present at the dinner wish each other good health
and happiness and share the wafers with each of the others. One
at a time you go up to another member of the family, wish the
other family member good health and happiness and then break off a
small portion of their wafer and eat it. The special dinner
consists of borscht soup (beet soup) or duck soup, fish (it is a
pike fish with saffron and raisins in it), pierogi, sauerkraut,
mushrooms, nuts and kolatchi cookies (these are cookies made of a
sugar dough which is wrapped around a fruit jam in the middle).
One place setting is left vacant for either the Christ child or an
unexpected guest. This is significant of Mary and Joseph's search
for a place to stay when Mary was to give birth to Jesus. Since
there was no place for them to stay, not even in the inn, this
place guarantees a place for them. After supper, the Christmas
tree is lit, and Polish Christmas carols are sung. The star man
comes to the house and asks the children about religion and tests
their catechism knowledge. Three boys dressed as the Three Wise
Men carry a lit star into the room singing Polish Christmas carols
and bring presents to the children. The children do not believe
in Santa Claus; they receive their presents from the Three Wise
Men, only if they answer the religious questions posed by the star
man correctly. Sometimes men would also dress up to be a camel
and accompany the Three Wise Men in their entrance into the home.
At midnight, the families attend the midnight mass which they call
"Pasterka" or in English, "Shepherd's Mass." The church is
decorated with the manger scene throughout the Christmas season.
On January 6, "The Day of the Three Kings," the Christmas season
is over.
Submitter comment:
Many of the activities listed in this Polish Christmas were
practiced by both her mother and father when they lived in Poland.
The Polish Christmas dinner, Christmas Carols, and the tree
decorating are still practiced in the family. Also the family
attends the "Shepherd's Mass" each year.
Where learned: POLAND
Keyword(s): Festival of the Star
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
The Ant and the Grasshopper
All day long all through the warm days of summer, a green
grasshopper went happily about. Whenever the grasshopper was
thirsty, he would sip nectar from any plant he saw. One
afternoon, as the grasshopper was leaping from flower to flower,
he saw beneath him a little black ant struggling to carry a fat
leaf bigger than himself. "Little friend," said the grasshopper,
"What are you doing down there?" "Why, I am carrying this leaf
off to my nest. I must fill my nest with food to last through
winter." "Winter?" said the grasshopper. "Who cares about
winter? Why don't you climb up to this flower and enjoy its
sweet nectar? Winter will take care of itself." "That isn't the
way things work in this world," said the ant. "Winter will be
here soon. The flowers will be gone, and there will be nothing
to eat." "Well, suit yourself," said the grasshopper. And off
he went, singing happily and having no cares at all. The ant
returned to carry each leaf, but he did not mind. He knew he
would have enough to last the winter. Soon the cold weather
came. The ant was snug in his
nest with plenty of food to eat. The grasshopper? He had
nothing to eat and soon was no more. A WISE PERSON KNOWS THAT
SUMMER DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.
Submitter comment: My informant remembers reading this fable in Aesop.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
Keyword(s): Nectar = A sweet liquid secreted by plants
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Tale BELIEF -- Measure of time Winter |
Date learned: 11-00-1991
CHARLIE CHAPLIN SAT ON A PIN.
HOW MANY INCHES DID IT GO IN?
ONE, TWO, THREE,...
Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTER ; CHARLIE CHAPLIN, MOVIE STAR ; COUNTING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
SHIRLEY TEMPLE WENT TO FRANCE
TO TEACH THE CHILDREN HOW TO DANCE.
HEEL AND TOE AND AROUND YOU GO,
HEEL AND TOE AND AROUND YOU GO.
SALUTE THE CAPTAIN,
BOW TO THE KING,
TURN YOUR BACK ON THE UGLY OLD QUEEN.
Where learned: OHIO ; NEW BREMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): CHARACTER MOVIE STAR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 00-00-1972