Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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PROVERB
NEVER LAUGH ON FRIDAY; YOU'LL CRY ON SATURDAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 09-20-1972
PROVERB
EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY; EVERY CAT HAS HIS NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): PARALLELISM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 09-23-1972
YOU HAVE AS MUCH GRACE AS A WOUNDED BUFFALO.
Submitter comment: USED TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE AS BEING A KLUTZ {CLUMSY}.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001960S LATE
QUESTION: HOW DO YOU HIDE A ELEPHANT IN A CHERRY TREE? ANSWER:
PAINT HIS TOE NAILS RED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-23-1972
QUESTION: WHAT'S GREEN AND DANGEROUS? ANSWER: A FROG WITH A
GRENADE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SIZE HUMOR
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-23-1972
IF YOU DROP CANDY OR ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD ON THE GROUND, IF YOU
HOLD IT UP TO THE SKY (TO GOD) AND KISS IT, THEN THE GERMS WILL
BE GONE.
Submitter comment:
KEITH HEARD THIS (AND DID IT IN PENNSYLVANIA) AND I HEARD AND DID
THE SAME THING IN MY CHILDHOOD IN DETROIT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): DISINFECT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 09-21-1972
FOR GOOD LUCK FOR A YEAR, A GOOD LUCKING PERSON, MAN OR WOMAN
1MUST RING THE DOORBELL ON NEW YEARS EVE OR DAY.
Submitter comment: I KNOW OF MANY FAMILIES BESIDES THE LOCKHARTS WHO BELIEVE IN THIS
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): GOOD LOOKING? HANDSOME?
Date learned: 01-01-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHY DO SO FEW PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE ON QUEMOY?
A: BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KILL YOURSELF JUMPING OUT OF A CAVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): QUEMOY: ISLAND OFF THE CHINA COAST
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT IS A BIGAMIST?
A: AN ITALIAN FOG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- W4OO |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
RIDDLE {SICK HUMOR}
QUESTION: WHY DO THEY BOIL WATER WHEN SOMEBODY HAS A BABY?
ANSWER: SO IF IT DIES, THEY CAN MAKE SOUP.
Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO ; TORONTO
James Callow Keyword(s): CANNIBALISM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00001971 (SUMMER)
VERSE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
BEANS, BEANS, THE MUSICAL FRUIT, THE MORE YOU EAT THE MORE YOU TOOT,
THE MORE YOU TOOT, THE BETTER YOU FEEL, SO EAT BEANS AT EVERY MEAL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): EUPHEMISM: TOOT FOR FART ; RHYME: AABB ; SCATALOGICAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: 09-20-1972
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HELEN KELLER AND THE WARREN
COMMISSION? A: HELEN KELLER KNOWS BRAILLE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-15-1972
RETORT
WHEN SOMEONE HAS CALLED YOU A DIRTY OR A NASTY NAME, YOU ARE TO
RETORT WITH "I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I?"
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT, MY YOUNGER SISTER, SAYS THIS IS A VERY GOOD WAY TO
KEEP BIG MOUTHS AWAY BECAUSE THIS RETORT HAS A CIRCULAR MOTION
TO IT, AND YOU COULD KEEP SAYING IT ALL DAY.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): METONYMY: BIG MOUTH FOR OFFENSIVE TALKER ; SLANG: BIG MOUTH FOR OFFENSIVE TALKER
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-20-1972
Entry filtered.
VERSE
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
THE NIGHT WAS DARK, THE SKY WAS BLUE, AROUND THE CORNER A WAGON FLEW.
A SHOT WAS FIRED, A SCREAM WAS HEARD, AND A MAN WAS HIT BY A FLYING TURD.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE IS CURRENTLY GOING AROUND CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: AABB ; SCATALOGICAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture |
Date learned: 09-20-72
Entry filtered.
VERSE
WHEN YOU GET MARRIED AND LIVE IN A FLAT, SEND ME A PICTURE OF YOUR
LITTLE BRAT.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): MARRIAGE ; SLANG FOR CHILD
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 09-09-1972
VERSE
YOUR HEART IS NOT A PLAYGROUND,
YOUR HEART IS NOT A TOY,
BUT IF YOU WANT IT BROKEN,
JUST GIVE IT TO A BOY.
WANT IT BROKEN, JUST GIVE IT TO A BOY.
Submitter comment:
THIS VERSE WAS TAKEN FROM AN AUTOGRAPH BOOK BELONGING TO THE
INFORMANT,
WHO IS MY MOTHER. THIS SAME VERSE WAS FOUND THREE TIMES IN THE
BOOK, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN A POPULAR VERSE WITH THE EIGHTH GRADE
AT NICHOLS SCHOOL IN DETROIT, JUNE 1944.
Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN
James Callow Keyword(s): RHYME: ABCB ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
Date learned: 06-09-1944
Entry filtered.
IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY IN THE PAST CENTURY THERE WAS A WOMAN WITH FIVE
CHILDREN WHO ONE DAY REFUSED A GYPSY MALE SOME FOOD OR MONEY. HE
MUTTERED SOMETHING AND WENT AWAY. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN THE WOMAN
OPENED THE WINDOW IN HER KITCHEN - THE WINDOWS OPENED INWARDS - SHE
FOUND A DAGGER STICKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SILL. BEFORE THE YEAR
WAS UP SHE HAD LOST ALL OF HER FIVE CHILDREN TO DEATH, EACH SEPA-
RATELY. SHE TURNED TO DRINK AND LOST HER WILL TO LIVE. HER HUSBAND
REFUSED SYMPATHY AND BEAT HER UP INSTEAD. SHE FELL, BROKE HER HIP
AND DIED SHORTLY AFTER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAYS THAT AS HER MOTHER TOLD HER THE STORY, IT WAS HER
MOTHER'S SISTER THAT THIS HAPPENED TO - THE INFORMANT'S GREAT AUNT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
THE COLLECTOR'S GREAT AUNT?
CK[ CURSE
Where learned: OHIO ; CLEVELAND
James Callow Keyword(s): CURSE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 09-10-1972