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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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REMEMBERING

IF YOU FORGET SOMETHING TAKE THREE STEPS BACK TO REMEMBER.
HE WAS TOLD THIS BY HIS GRANDMOTHER WHEN HEWAS LITTLE.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION POSITION ; HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 10-00-1972

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BUTTER CUP

PLACE A BUTTER CUP (FLOWER) UNDER A PERSONS CHIN AND IF YOU CAN SEE
A YELLOW REFLECTION ON HIS CHIN. IT MEANS HE LIKES BUTTER.

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): VARIANT PLANT: DANDELION

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food N244.44
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Use of Object

Date learned: 11-19-1972

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SAINT ANTHONY

WHEN YOU LOSE SOMETHING, TURN THE STATUE OF SAINT ANTHONY
UPSIDE DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. THIS IS
SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU FIND THINGS

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Favorites
BELIEF -- Religious hero
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color

Date learned: 11-19-1972

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ACE OF SPADES

IF YOU WALK THRU AN OPEN FIELD WITH A DECK OF CARDS WITH THE ACE
OF SPADES ON THE TOP, FACE UP, YOU CAN HEAR THE DEVIL FOLLOW YOU

Where learned: DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): PLAYING CARDS

Subject headings: Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration
BELIEF -- Devil Demon

Date learned: 11-19-1972

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IF YOU LAY DOWN WITH DOGS YOU'LL GET UP WITH FLEAS.

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMALS ; COMPANY ASSOCIATIONS

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 11-18-1972

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GREETING GAME

HELLO CHEST! (PAT ON CHEST ) GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK (PAT ON BACK )
HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN YEARS (PULL EAR), BUT STILL I NOSE YA!"
(PULL NOSE)

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN (NOSE AND KNOWS)

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-26-1972

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RING THE BELL

RING THE BELL(PULL LOCK OF HAIR), KNOCK AT THE DOOR (TAP FOREHEAD)
PEEP IN (LOOK IN EARS), LIFT THE LATCH (TILT NOSE), WALK IN
(OPEN MOUTH), GO DOWN IN THE CELLAR AND EAT APPLES(TICKLE THROAT)

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): METAPHOR

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics
BELIEF -- Body part Senses
SPEECH -- Gesture

Date learned: 11-26-1972

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MARKING THE SPOT

JACK AND JOE WERE FISHING AND FOUND THIS PLACE WHERE FISHING WAS
GOOD. JOE SAID YOU BETTER NOT FORGET THIS PLACE. MARK IT SO WE CAN
COME HERE AGAIN. JACK TOOK A PENCIL AND WROTE AN "F" ALONG SIDE
THE BOAT. WHEN THEY GOT HOME JOE ASKED JACK IF HE MARKED THE PLACE
GOOD. JACK SAID YES I PUT AN "F" ON THAT SIDE OF THE BOAT FOR FISH
SO WE'LL KNOW WHERE THE FISHING IS GOOD. JOE HIT JACK IN THE HEAD
AND SAID, "YOU DUMMY, WE WON'T HAVE THAT BOAT AGAIN."

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman

Date learned: 11-25-1972

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THE FEET OF A STRANGER ARE SMALL

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WILL TELL THIS TO A THIRD PARTY WHO STICKS HIS MOUTH
INTO AN ARGUMENT THAT DOES NOT AFFECT HIM.

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): BUTTING IN MEDDLE ; INTERRUPTS ; METONYMY

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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THE SKUNKS

MAMA SKUNK WAS WORRIED BECAUSE SHE COULD NEVER KEEP TRACK OF HER TWO
KIDS. THEY WERE NAMED "IN" AND "OUT" AND WHEN "IN" WAS IN, "OUT" WAS
OUT. AND IF "IN" WAS OUT, "OUT" WAS IN. ONE DAY SHE CALLED "OUT"
AND TOLD HIM TO BRING "IN" IN. HE DID. "GOOD!" SAID MAMA SKUNK.
"HOW DID YOU FIND HIM IN SO SHORT A TIME?" "IT WAS EASY SAID
OUT, "INSTINCT!"

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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HOW DOES THE BIG MOUNTAIN CALL HIS SON? (HE YELLS, "HEY CLIFF")

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON FIRST NAME

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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WHAT DID THE RIGHT EYE SAY TO THE LEFT EYE? (THERE'S SOMETHING
BETWEEN US THAT SMELLS.)

Where learned: MARYLAND ; BALTIMORE ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): NOSE ; PUN ON SMELLS

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00-00-1972

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BLONDIE AND DAGWOOD WENT TO TOWN

BLONDIE AND DAGWOOD WENT TO TOWN/ BLONDIE BOUGHT AN EVENING GOWN/
DAGWOOD BOUGHT A PAIR OF SHOES/ AND ALEXANDER BOUGHT THE NEWS/ THIS
IS WHAT THE HEADLINES SAID/ CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN/ IF YOU
MISS YOU TAKE THE END/

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): COMIC STRIP CHARACTERS

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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DONALD DUCK

A RHYME RECITED WHILE JUMPING ROPE.
DONALD DUCK IS A ONE-LEGGED
ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED DUCK/ DONALD DUCK IS A TWO-LEGGED/ TWO-LEGGED
TWO-LEGGED DUCK./ DONALD DUCK IS A THREE-LEGGED/ THREE-LEGGED, THREE-
LEGGED DUCK/ DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR-LEGGED/ FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED
DUCK/ JUMP OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): CARTOON AND COMIC STRIP CHARACTER ; CHAIN COUNTING

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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FORECASTING WINTER

ACCORDING TO INFORMANT, IF ACORN TREES PRODUCE AN ABUNDANCE OF ACORNS
ONE CAN EXPECT A LONG HARD WINTER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): OAK TREES PLANT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Plants

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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Entry filtered.

GRAFFITO

WHY CHANGE DICKS
IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCREW? RE-ELECT NIXON IN '72.

Submitter comment:

THE FOLLOWING WAS FOUND ON THE WALL OF A MEN'S ROOM
IN THE LIFE-SCIENCE
BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT. IT PERTAINS TO THE
RE-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON IN 1972.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

 

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; LIFE SCIENCE BUILDING ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture
Filter - Mature Content
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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DON'T CROSS BATS

THE INFORMANT LEARNED THE FOLLOWING WHILE PLAYING BABE RUTH BASEBALL
IN PORT HURON. "IT IS BAD LUCK WHEN THE BASEBALL BATS LAY ACROSS
ONE ANOTHER INSTEAD OF IN A STRAIGHT ORDERLY LINE."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion
BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications
BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.6

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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Entry filtered.

SNAKES IN A DEPARTMENT STORE

LATE ONE SUMMER NIGHT IN 1971, A WOMAN WAS TRYING ON A COAT AT THE
K-MART STORE IN PORT HURON. WHEN SHE STUCK HER ARM IN ONE OF THE
SLEEVES, SHE EXPERIENCD WHAT FELT LIKE A HUNDRED PIN PRICKS. UPON
EXAMINATION SHE DISCOVERED A SCORE OF BABY SNAKES AND THEIR MOTHER
NESTING IN THE LINING OF THE SLEEVE. THE WOMAN WAS RUSHED TO THE
HOSPITAL AND GIVEN A POISON ANTIDOTE. THE COAT HAD BEEN MADE IN
AND SHIPPED DIRECTLY FROM A FAR EAST COUNTRY. THAT IS WHERE THE
SNAKES HAD COME FROM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL REPTILES

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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IF LOST

IF A PERSON IS LOST AND IS NOT SURE WHAT DIRECTION TO TAKE, HE
SHOULD SPIT IN THE PALM OF ONE HAND, AND SLAP THE SPIT WITH THE
FIRST TWO FINGERS OF THE OTHER HAND. THEN MERELY TRAVEL IN THE
DIRECTION THAT THE SPIT FLEW. THIS METHOD WILL PUT THE PERSON IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION LOCATION

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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LOCK THE DOOR AND THROW AWAY THE KEY

THE INFORMANT WITNESSED THE FOLLOWING IN A KINDERGARTEN CLASS. THE
GESTURE WAS MADE BY THE TEACHER. THE MEANING WAS FOR THE CHILDREN TO
BE QUIET. IN GESTURE FORM THE TEACHER MADE BELIEVE HER MOUTH WAS A
LOCK AND IN HER HAND A KEY. SHE PUT HER HAND UP IN FRONT OF HER
MOUTH AND MADE BELIEVE SHE WAS LOCKING THE DOOR. SHE THEN THROWS THE
MAKE BELIEVE KEY AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; PORT HURON

James Callow Keyword(s): PANTOMIME

Subject headings: Shadow / Pantomime
SPEECH -- Gesture
SPEECH -- To Be Seen

Date learned: 10-30-1972

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