Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PEANUTS--CONFESSION JOKE
1ST BOY: FATHER, I THREW PEANUTS IN THE ELEPHANT CAGE.
PRIEST: WELL THAT'S OK SON, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
2ND BOY: FATHER, I THREW PEANUTS IN THE ELEPHANT'S CAGE.
PRIEST: YES. I SEE.
3RD BOY: ...AND I THREW PEANUTS IN THE ELEPHANT'S CAGE.
PRIEST: I SEE, BUT THAT'S NOT A SIN.
4TH BOY COMES IN.
PRIEST: I SUPPOSE YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME THAT YOU THREW PEANUTS
IN THE ELEPHANT'S CAGE. 5TH BOY: NO I'M NOT. I'M PEANUTS.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS MY GRANDMOTHER'S FAVORITE JOKE ABOUT CONFESSIONS. SHE'S
BEEN TELLING IT TO MY FAMILY EVER SINCE MY OLDER BROTHER WAS OLD
ENOUGH TO GO TO CONFESSION. BECAUSE SHE'S TOLD IT SO MANY TIMES
THERE ARE VARIATIONS EVEN WITHIN HER OWN TELLINGS. THE NUMBER OF
BOYS BEFORE PEANUTS MAY VARY AS WELL AS THE PRIEST'S COMMENTS.
SOMETIMES PEANUTS GETS THROWN INTO THE FOUNTAIN INSTEAD OF THE
ELEPHANT'S CAGE, BUT NATURALLY THE PUNCHLINE ALWAYS REMAINS THE
SAME.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): NAME MISUNDERSTOOD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00001960S
NARRATIVE SONG
DOCTOR, DOCTOR, CAN YOU TELL
WHAT WILL MAKE POOR (GAL'S NAME) WELL?
SHE IS SICK AND ABOUT TO DIE
AND THAT WOULD MAKE (HER BEAU'S NAME) CRY.
Submitter comment:
MY GREAT-AUNT PLAYED THIS ON THE PIANO AT ALL THE FAMILY PARTIES
THAT THEY HAD AT THEIR HOUSE. ALL THE KIDS WOULD JOIN IN THE
SINGING. IN THIS SONG THE NAME OF A GIRL COUSIN WAS ALWAYS FILLED
IN THE FIRST BLANK AND THEN A BOY COUSIN'S NAME WAS CHOSEN FOR THE
SECOND BLANK. NATURALLY NO ONE WAS REALLY SICK. THE OBJECT OF
THE SONG IS RATHER OBVIOUS--JUST PAIRING OFF THE GIRLS AND THE
BOYS WHO WERE THERE.
Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ballad, Song, Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest |
Date learned: 00001960S
EPIPHANY CAKE
EACH YEAR ON EPIPHANY OUR FAMILY BAKES A CAKE WITH A RING INSIDE IT.
WHOEVER GETS THE RING IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOOD LUCK THROUGHOUT
NEW YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS CUSTOM IN MY FAMILY ON AND OFF
SINCE I WAS IN THE THIRD GRADE. I THINK ORIGINALLY IT MAY HAVE BEEN
A GERMAN CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): LUCKY FIND
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck P881.4 |
Date learned: CA 00001965
TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT
TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT
WHO DO WE APPRECIATE
OUR TEAM, OUR TEAM
RAH, RAH, RAH!
TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT
WHO DO WE REALLY HATE?
THEIR TEAM, THEIR TEAM
RAH, RAH, RAH!
TWO FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, TEN
(NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL)'S GOING TO DO YOU IN.
O-O-O-H A-A-A-H
WE GOT THE POWER!
Submitter comment:
ALTHOUGH THESE ARE REALLY THREE SEPARATE CHEERS I COMBINED THEM
INTO ONE ITEM BECAUSE OF THEIR SIMILARITY TO EACH OTHER. THE
FIRST ONE IS THE TRADITIONAL CUB SCOUT BASEBALL CHEER FOR OUR AREA.
THE SECOND CHEER IS ALSO SAID BY THE CUB SCOUTS AND THEIR FANS IF
THEY ARE FEELING IN A PARTICULARLY NASTY MOOD. THE THIRD CHEER (AS
THE GREATER AMOUNT OF NUMBERS USED INDICATES)
IS SAID BY A SLIGHTLY
HIGHER EDUCACATIONAL GROUP. I'VE HEARD IT SAID MOST FREQUENTLY
AT HIGH SCHOOL GAMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival |
BLUE MIST
IT IS BELIEVED THAT UPON A CERTAIN STREET IN GROSSE ILE, AT A
CERTAIN TIME, THE BLUE MIST DESCENDS UPON ANY CAR THAT TRESPASSES
THERE.
Submitter comment: THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A STORY AS TO THE WHY OF THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): GROSSE ILE IS AN ISLAND IN THE DETROIT RIVER ; GROSSE ILE, MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
Language
FLAT ROCK IS CALLED BY DOWNRIVER PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN FLAT ROCK
LEVEL PEBBLE.
Submitter comment:
JUST RECENTLY.
A TOWN SOME 25 MILES SOUTH OO DETROIT, MICHIGAN.; FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN; THIS ITEM REFERS TO FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN,
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD 02-22-2011
James Callow comment:
INCOMPLETE COMMENT?
CN[ PARTIPILO, FRANK 720870
C1[ 14909 STONEHAM
C2[ RIVERVIEW, MICHIGAN 48192
CO[ JUST RECENTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
Keyword(s): Flat ; Language ; Level ; MICHIGAN ; Nickname ; Pebble ; Region ; REGIONAL ; Rock ; SLANG ; STATE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Place |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
THE STIGMATA OF PADRE PIO
PADRE PIO OF SAN GIOVANNI DI ROTONDO IN ITALY HAS THE STIGMATTA OF
OUR LORD ON HIS HANDS. THE WOUNDS ARE SAID TO BE OPEN ABOUT ONCE A
MONTH. ALSO ONLY MEN WERE ALLOWED TO SEE THIS. THE REASON FOR
THIS IS UNKNOWN.
Submitter comment:
I ALSO HAD A CHANCE WHILE IN ITALY IN 72, TO SEE THIS SIGHT, HOWEVER
I CANNOT ACCOUNT FOR IT. THE WOUNDS WERE OPEN AND BLEEDING AS HE SAID
MASS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; SEXISM ; STIGMATA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
GARDEN GATE JOKE
DON'T KISS YOUR GIRL BY THE GARDEN GATE,
CAUSE LOVE IS BLIND BUT THE NEIGHBORS AIN'T.
Submitter comment:
SHE EMPHASIZED THAT THIS WAS A STRICT RULE OF THOUGHT BACK WHEN SHE
WAS YOUNG. HOWEVER SHE DID GIGGLE AS SHE RECITED IT, GIVING THE
IMPRESSION THAT SHE WAS PULLING MY LEG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DELRAY ; DETROIT ; ETHNIC SECTION
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | 730 Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
THE TISSUE PRANK
ASK A PERSON TO SAY TERRIFIED. THEN ASK THEM TO SAY TISSUE. THEN ASK
THEM TO SAY IT TOGETHER. WHEN THEY SAY TERRIFIED TISSUE, ANSWER WITH
NO GO RIGHT AHEAD
Submitter comment:
AS SHE FINISHED THIS JOKE WITH MYSELF AS THE PERSON IT WAS PULLED ON
SHE STOOD THERE WITH HER EYES CLOSED AND HER LIPS PUCKERED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): KISS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
SMALL CHANGE FOR GOOD LUCK.
AN OLD MALTESE CUSTOM SAYS, PUT SMALL CHANGE ON THE WINDOW SILL
BEFORE THE NEW YEAR COMES. LEAVE IT THERE UNTIL AFTER THE NEW YEAR
SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE FINANCIAL GOOD LUCK THAT YEAR.
Submitter comment:
EVEN THOUGH THE INFORMANT DIDN'T BELIEVE THE WART
CURE {PREVIOUS ENTRY}, SHE SEEMED TO
BELIEVE THIS ONE, JUST BY THE WAY SHE SAID IT.
SHE GOT THIS ITEM FROM HER MALTESE HUSBAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF
Date learned: 01-00-1974
WART CURE
IF YOU HAVE A WART, STEAL SOMEONE'S DISHRAG AND TAKE IT AND BURY IT.
THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR WITHIN THREE WEEKS.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT OFFERED THIS ONE, ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED SHE DID NOT
BELIEVE IT, SAYING SHE HAD HEARD IT FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): DISBELIEF
Date learned: 01-00-1974
INDIAN TWISTER
HEAP SMART FELLOW, HEAP FELLOW SMART.
Submitter comment:
SHE SEEMED TO GLOW WHEN GIVING THIS ONE, SURE THAT I COULDN'T SAY
IT WITHOUT TRIPPING UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): CHIASMUS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
THE EGG
PUT AN EGG IN YOUR SHOE AND BEAT IT.
Submitter comment:
MRS. FRENDO JUST SNICKERED AS SHE FINISHED THIS ONE, EXPECTING A
GROAN BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN SLANG: BEAT IT FOR GO AWAY
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 01-00-1974
THE ICE CUBE STORY
THERE WAS THIS GUY BY THE NAME OF SAM, AND SAM HAD A JOB DELIVERING
ICE CUBES. SAM HAD BEEN DOING THIS JOB FOR 20 YEARS OR SO AND WAS
PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT. ONE DAY THE ICE CUBE COMPANY GOT AN ORDER FROM
THE HOTEL IN TOWN FOR 1000 ICE CUBES AND SAM WENT OUT TO THE ICE
HOUSE AND COUNTED OUT THE CUBES AND LOADED THEM ON HIS TRUCK. THEN
HE STARTED OUT FOR THE HOTEL. ON THE WAY THERE A BUS RAN INTO HIS
TRUCK AND SCATTERED THE ICE CUBES ALL OVER THE STREET. POOR SAM
GOT OUT AND PICKED UP ALL THE CUBES AND COUNTED THEM. HE WAS
RELIEVED TO FIND THAT ALL 1000 CUBES WERE THERE, AND SINCE THE
TRUCK WAS STILL DRIVABLE, HE GOT BACK IN AND CONTINUED ON HIS WAY
TO THE HOTEL. WELL, JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT THERE, IN FACT, WITHIN
A BLOCK OF THE PLACE ANOTHER DELIVERY TRUCK HIT HIM. WELL, SAM GOT
OUT AND AGAIN BEGAN TO COUNT THE CUBES. THIS TIME WHEN HE FINISHED
THERE WERE ONLY 999. SAM THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH DAY.
I COULD EASILY HAVE MISCOUNTED. BESIDES, WHO'S GOING TO MISS ONE
ICE CUBE IN A THOUSAND. SO HE DELIVERED THE CUBES AND WENT HOME
AND THOUGHT NO MORE ABOUT IT. THE NEXT MORNING, EARLY, HE GOT A
PHONE CALL FROM HIS BOSS AT THE CUBE COMPANY, AND HE SAID, SAM,
THERE'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT, CAN YOU COME DOWN RIGHT
AWAY. SAM SAID, SURE, I'LL BE RIGHT OVER, AND HE DROVE DOWN TO THE
COMPANY NOT PARTICULARLY WORRIED SINCE AS I'VE SAID HE WORKED
THERE FOR 20 YEARS. WELL, HE WALKED IN TO THE BOSS'S OFFICE AND THE
BOSS SAID, SAM, YESTERDAY YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DELIVER A THOUSAND
ICE CUBES
TO THE HOTEL AND YOU ONLY DELIVERED 999. I'M SORRY, YOU'RE FIRED.
THIS ONE IS TOLD FIRST AND THEN THE OTHER WITH ONE OR TWO OTHERS TOLD
IN BETWEEN. THE ICE CUBE IS THEN FOUND IN THE DOG'S MOUTH.
{HERE IS STORY NO. 701604-17.}
THE NEWLY WED COUPLE
A MAN AND A WOMAN HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR A WHILE, AND THEY
WERE JUST ABOUT TO THE POINT WHERE THE HONEYMOON WAS OVER. IN THE
COURSE OF THEIR MARRIAGE THE HUSBAND HAD PICKED UP ONE HABIT THAT
REALLY ANNOYED THE WIFE AND THE WIFE HAD ONE THING THAT THE HUSBAND
COULD NOT STAND. THE HUSBAND'S WAS THAT HE WOULD SMOKE THESE BIG
BLACK CIGARS AND THE WIFE'S WAS AN UGLY POODLE THAT SHE HAD MANICURED
AND CUT AND SO FORTH . ONE TIME THEY WENT ON A VACATION TOGETHER AND
SINCE IT WAS COLD OUT THEY HAD TO KEEP THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. THE
HUSBAND WAS SMOKING AWAY AND THE WIFE SAID, IF YOU DON'T PUT OUT THAT
CIGAR I'M GOING TO TAKE IT AND THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW. THE HUSBAND
SAID, IF YOU DO THAT I'LL TAKE THAT DOG OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND
THROW HIM OUT THE WINDOW. WELL, THEY DROVE ON IN SILENCE FOR ABOUT
30 MILES UNTIL THE WIFE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER, AND SHE REACHED
OVER, GRABBED THE CIGAR, AND THREW IT OUT THE WINDOW. THE HUSBAND
THEN REACHED BACK AND GRABBED THE DOG OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AND THREW
IT OUT THE WINDOW. THEY DROVE ON AND COMPLETED THEIR VACATION IN
SILENCE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER THEY WERE SITTING AT HOME , STILL
NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER, WHEN THEY HEARD A SCRATCHING AT THE DOOR.
THEY WENT TO THE DOOR AND OPENED IT AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS THE
POODLE AND HE HAD SOMETHING IN HIS MOUTH, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS?
RIGHT, IT WAS THE ICE CUBE.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY IS USED IN CONNECTION WITH SEQUENCE NUMBER 701604-17.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY PESSIMISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 11-00-1973
THE VIPER STORY
A COUPLE HAD JUST GOTTEN MARRIED AND THEY LOOKED FOR AN APARTMENT
TO LIVE IN. THEY FOUND ONE ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR OF AN APARTMENT
BUILDING AND TWO DAYS LATER THEY MOVED IN. THE FIRST NIGHT THEY
WERE THERE THEY WERE SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM WHEN THEY HEARD A
STRANGE SOUND FROM THE FIRST FLOOR. THERE WAS THIS VOICE CALLING
VERY MOURNFULLY, I'M THE VIPER. THEY GOT A LITTLE WORRIED BUT DIDN'T
THINK MUCH OF IT TIL THEY REALIZED THAT THE VOICE WAS COMING CLOSER.
THEY HEARD IT ON THE SECOND FLOOR SAYING, I'M THE VIPER. SOON THEY
HEARD IT EVEN CLOSER, ON THE THIRD FLOOR SAYING, I'M THE VIPER. BY
NOW THEY WERE PRETTY SCARED AND THE HUSBAND VENTURED OUT INTO THE
HALL WHERE HE COULD HEAR FOOTSTEPS COMING UP THE STAIRS FROM BELOW
AND HE STAYED THERE TIL HE HEARD I'M THE VIPER COMING FROM THE
FOURTH FLOOR. THEN HE RAN BACK INTO THE ROOM. BY THIS TIME THE
FOOTSTEPS WERE AUDIBLE EVEN INSIDE THE APARTMENT AND THEY LISTENED
WHILE IT CLIMBED TO THE FIFTH FLOOR, AND IT SAID I'M THE VIPER.
THEN IT SLOWLY CLIMBED THE STAIRS TO THE SIXTH FLOOR AND SAID I'M
THE VIPER. NOW IT WAS GETTING VERY CLOSE AND THEY HEARD EACH STEP
AS IT CLIMBED TO THEIR FLOOR. THEY COULD HEAR IT STOP OUTSIDE THEIR
DOOR AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DOOR FLEW OPEN AND A LITTLE MAN
CAME IN AND SAID, I'M THE VINDOW VIPER, VANT YOUR VINDOWS VIPED?
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY IS TOLD VERY OMINOUSLY WITH THE I'M THE VIPERS BEING
A LITTLE LOUDER AND MORE HAUNTING EACH TIME. IT ALSO HELPS TO THROW
IN THE SOUND OF STAIRS BEING CLIMBED AT APPROPRIATE TIMES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; WESTCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN WIPER ; VIPER=SNAKE ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: 00001960S
Entry filtered.
GAME VERSE
HAMBONE, HAMBONE HAVE YOU HEARD
PAPA IS GONNA BUY ME A MOCKING BIRD.
IF THAT MOCKING BIRD DON'T SING
PAPA IS GONNA BUY ME A DIAMOND RING.
IF THAT RING DON'T SHINE
PAPA IS GONNA BUY ME A BOTTLE OF WINE.
IF THAT BOTTLE OF WINE DON'T TASTE,
PAPA IS GONNA TAKE ME TO THE LAKE.
IF THE WATER SPLASH ON ME
PAPA IS GONNA WHIP MY B-U-T
Submitter comment:
THIS RHYME WAS USED AS A HAND CLAPPING GAME BETWEEN TWO OR MORE
PERSONS.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM SPELLING
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 11-05-1973
CURSE TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAKE
FIRST WRITE A LETTER TO A DEAD PERSON TELLING HIM ABOUT THIS PERSON
YOU WANT TO KEEP AWAKE AT NIGHT TO THINK ABOUT HIS WRONG DOINGS. YOU
THEN SEAL THE LETTER AND PLACE IT UNDER YOUR BED. YOU ALSO PUT A
GLASS OF WATER ON TOP OF THE LETTER. WHEN THE WATER EVAPORATES THE
SPELL IS WORKING.
Submitter comment:
THIS CURSE WAS USED ON A MALE FRIEND OF THE INFORMANT AND IT WAS
SUCCESSFUL. IT WAS USED IN FLORIDA.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; FLORIDA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): INSOMNIA ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Measure of time Sleeping BELIEF -- Curse SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: CA11001973
CHAIN LETTERS
WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CHAIN LETTER YOU SHOULD PUT IT BACK INTO THE
ENVELOPE, BURN IT ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, AND RETURN IT TO THE SENDER.
Submitter comment: I USED BOTH OF THESE METHODS AND NO BAD LUCK CAME TO ME.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: CA11001973
POINTING
YOU SHOULD NEVER POINT AN ACCUSING FINGER AT A PERSON BECAUSE IF
YOU LOOK AT YOUR HAND, THREE OF YOUR FINGERS ARE POINTING AT YOU.
Submitter comment: TOLD TO BREAK CHILDREN OUT OF HABIT OF POINTING AT PEOPLE.
Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA11001973