Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, IT IS A VILLAGE BELIEF THAT WHEN STANDING ON A CERTAIN
ROCK FOUND ON A BEACH, ONE SEES THE EMPEROR, GOOD LUCK FOR ONE
YEAR WILL BE HIS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT DORMS
Keyword(s): JAPANESE BELIEF ; NUMBERS: ONE ; TIME
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Formation BELIEF -- Measure of time Year BELIEF -- Good luck P881.2 |
Date learned: 11-13-1969
RIDDLE
WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU CROSS AN ELEPHANT AND A COW?
PEANUT BUTTER.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM A FRIEND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMALS: COWS ; ANIMALS: ELEPHANTS ; RIDDLE JOKE: CROSSING ONE THING WITH ANOTHER
James Callow Keyword(s): HYBRID
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-13-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT IS PURPLE AND LIVES IN PHONEBOOTHS?
ANSWER: SUPERGRAPE
Data entry tech comment: SUPERMAN, A CARTOON CHARACTER, CHANGED INTO HIS ; SUPERMAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): PHONEBOOTH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
FOOD CUSTOM
BAKING CHANGE INTO A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL AND
THE OTHERS TO FIND AND KEEP.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE BY MY GRANDMOTHER WHILE I WAS YOUNG. SHE WAS A SECOND
GENERATION GERMAN AMERICAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): COINS ; MONEY
Date learned: 00-00-1967
DRINKING JOKE
ALL OF US WERE AT THE BAR. I KNOW THERE WERE FIVE OF US DRINKING.
LET'S SEE: THE TWO MC CARTHYS WERE ONE, YOU WERE TWO, I WAS THREE,
O'BRIEN WAS FOUR, I KNOW THERE WERE FIVE DRINKS IN EVERY ROUND SO
WHO WAS THE FIFTH GUY? LET'S GO OVER IT AGAIN. THE TWO MC CARTHYS
WERE ONE, YOU WERE TWO, I WAS THREE, O'BRIEN WAS FOUR, I KNOW
THERE WERE FIVE DRINKS IN EVERY ROUND SO WHO WAS THE FIFTH GUY?
LET'S GO OVER IT AGAIN...........
Where learned: FLORIDA ; KEY BISCAYNE
James Callow Keyword(s): STUPIDITY: COUNTING TWO AS ONE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 09-00-1981
A MAN WENT TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF A COMPANY AND TOLD
THE SECRETARY HE WANTED TO APPLY FOR A JOB. THE SECRETARY WAS
EXPLAINING THAT THE COMPANY WAS NOT HIRING WHEN THE BOSS CAME
WALKING IN.
"ANY MESSAGES?" HE ASKED.
"SIR," SAID THE MAN, "I WOULD LIKE A JOB WITH YOUR COMPANY."
"WHERE DID YOU COME FROM?" ASKED THE BOSS.
"YALE," SAID THE MAN.
"REALLY?" ASKED THE BOSS.
"YES, SIR," SAID THE MAN, "AND I LEARNED A LOT WHILE I WAS THERE."
"WELL, WE REALLY AREN'T HIRING JUST NOW, BUT WITH YOUR CREDENTIALS,
COME INTO MY OFFICE AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO."
THE MAN SAID, "I SURE APPRECIATE THIS, SIR."
"NOTHING TO APPRECIATE," SAID THE BOSS, "THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR
BRIGHT YOUNG MEN, BUT TELL ME MR. - UH - I DON'T BELIEVE I CAUGHT
YOUR NAME."
"YIM YONES, SIR," SAID THE MAN.
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS JOKE IN 1981.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1981
SHAGGY DOG STORY
A MAD SCIENTIST WAS TRYING TO GET RID OF A FOUL-MOUTHED
CLONE HE HAD CREATED BY SHOVING THE CLONE OUT OF A WINDOW.
THUS THE SCIENTIST WAS MAKING AN OBSCENE CLONE FALL.
Submitter comment: READ THIS SOMEWHERE IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS NEWSPAPER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FRANKLIN VILLAGE
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON OBSCENE PHONE CALL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 07-00-1983
IN ORDER TO CURE SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SICK, THE "QUIMBOISEUR" WILL
GIVE THE PERSON A BATH USING THE SAME WATER THAT SEVEN DOGS HAD
BEEN BATHED IN.
Where learned: GUADELOUPE
Keyword(s): "QUIMBOISEUR" IS SOMEONE THAT PRACTICES WITCHCRAFT AND WHITE MAGIC.
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
JOKE
DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE ACCIDENT AT THE ARMY CAMP? NO, WHAT
HAPPENED? A JEEP RAN OVER A POPCORN BOX AND KILLED TWO KERNELS.
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN: KERNELS FOR COLONELS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
IN AFGHANISTAN, THE VARIOUS MOUNTAIN TRIBES PLAY A
POPULAR GAME. THE GAME GOES LIKE THIS.
THE MEN OF THE TRIBE, MOUNTED ON HORSEBACK, ARE EQUIPPED
WITH POLES THAT HAVE A LONG BLADE ON THE END. WHILE ON
HORSEBACK, THEY MUST KILL A YOUNG CALF WITH THEIR POLES
AND CUT OFF THE HEAD. THEN THEY MUST ROLL THE HEAD OF THE
CALF FROM ONE END OF THE FIELD TO THE OTHER, AND THEN
BACK AGAIN TO WHERE THEY STARTED. THE ONE IN POSSESSION
OF THE HEAD AT THIS POINT WINS THE GAME.
Submitter comment:
SINCE THE SOVIET INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN, THE AFGHANIS
NOW USE CAPTURED SOVIET POW'S FOR THIS GAME INSTEAD OF
THEIR CATTLE, WHICH THEY FEEL THAT THEY MUST CONSERVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): BEHEADING ; SEVERED HEAD OF HUMAN USED AS BALL ; WAR PRISONERS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- War |
Date learned: 08-00-1987
A CUSTOM PERFORMED AT WEDDINGS IN NAPLES, ITALY, IS
PERFORMED AT THE RECEPTION. THE BEST MAN TAKES THE
GROOM'S TIE AND CUTS IT INTO MANY TINY PIECES. HE THEN SELLS
THE PIECES TO THE GUESTS AT THE WEDDING. HE THEN GIVES ALL
THE MONEY TO THE GROOM.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THAT THIS CUSTOM HELPS THE NEWLYWEDS SET
UP HOUSEKEEPING. SHE ALSO SAID THAT MONEY IS USUALLY GIVEN
RATHER THAN A MATERIAL GIFT. IF THE BRIDE OR GROOM'S FAMILY
ARE WELL TO DO, THEY MAY EVEN GIFT THE COUPLE WITH A FLAT
OR AN APARTMENT.
Keyword(s): MONEY ; WEDDING CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 00001980S
For generations the Welty family has told the story of
how Levi Welty (1825-1902) had gone "Pikes Peak or bust
in a covered wagon." In the mid 1970's, an acquaintance
of the family familiar with these stories became injured
while skiing in Colorado. During her recuperative time
there, she came across a book recounting the history of
the area, and found a story about the naming of
Cripple Creek by a Levi Welty. The names of some of the sons
mentioned coincided with the family's genealogy, and it
is, therefore, quite likely that Terry's ancestor was
responsible for Cripple Creek's naming.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): pioneer
James Callow Keyword(s): Eudora Welty ; Pike's Peak
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 PROSE NARRATIVE -- B479 BELIEF -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00001977CA
RIDDLE
WHY ARE MOST OFFICES CONSIDERED OVENS?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE THEIR BREAD.
Where learned: NEW YORK CITY ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): SLANG: BREAD = MONEY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 05-00-1990
Chinese custom
When a close family member dies, the first day of the funeral
one of the children must place one pearl and two coins in the
mouth of the deceased for burial.
Where learned: CHINA
Keyword(s): Gem or Money
Date learned: 00-00-1955
Betting on a cock fight with an excess of more than one hundred
dollars and the cock that you bet on loses, you will have
bad luck for one week.
Submitter comment:
I learned of this belief back in seventh grade when we had a
guest speaker come in and talk to the class about games
involving animals.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST BLOOMFIELD
Keyword(s): Ring, Money.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
Continuous lying will bring nothing but bad luck to you and to
anybody who is close to you.
Submitter comment:
My father told me this when I was very young and lied about
anything. I learned my lesson.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Untrustworthy, Dishonest
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
Asking for money from a stranger and getting it can prove
to be rewarding for the man or woman who has given the
money out. For the reason being that "Good Luck" will
follow him or her for the rest of the day.
Submitter comment:
My father seemed very optimistic when he was telling me
this story.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Farmington Hills
Keyword(s): money, green
James Callow Keyword(s): donor
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00-00-1983
Emergency Phone Calls
When I was a child, I always wore Penny Loafers. My mother would
put dimes in the penny slots of my shoes, just so that I would always
have twenty cents to make a phone call in case of an emergency.
Submitter comment:
The dimes I was forced to wear helped me out of a difficult
situation more than once.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW
Keyword(s): Telephone call, price of
| Subject headings: | 686 First / Once / One / Newness Favorites CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Monetary system Money Wealth ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress HandsFeet BELIEF -- Number P686.1.20 |
Date learned: 00001980CA
Cure
To stop a keloid from growing, one should place the keloid on
the face of a dead love one.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing
James Callow Keyword(s): Loved one
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-10-1992
THE CHUCKIES
A FEW PEBBLES WERE PLACED IN THE PALM OF THE HAND,
THROWN LIGHTLY IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT ON THE BACK OF
THE HAND BETWEEN THE FINGERS AND REPEATED UNTIL
ONE FAILED TO HAVE ANY LEFT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): STONES
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement C560.14 |
Date learned: 01-28-1971