The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

YOU SWEEP WITH A BROOM,
YOU MOP WITH A MOP,
BUT WHATEVER YOU DO,
DON'T MARRY A WOP.

Submitter comment:

THIS WOMAN, WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, PERMITTED
ME TO COLLECT THESE VERSES FROM HER AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
THE VERSES WERE ENTERED BY HER HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES
IN 1939.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; WYANDOTTE

James Callow Keyword(s): DEROGATORY TERM=WOP (FOR ITALIAN)

Date learned: 00-00-1939

View just this record

Ethnic Joke: Italian

Two old friends are at an airport, watching theplanes land and take off. Suddenly, one says to the other, "Hey! I bet you $25.00 that the Pope is aboard that plane!" The other guy, thinking that he has a safe bet says "you're on!" They watch the plane land, and sure enough, the red carpet rolls out to meet the plane and the Pope walks out! Later, as they guy pays off his debt, he asks, "How in the world did you know that the Pope would be on board?" "Simple," replied the other. "The plane was marked T.W.A., and as we all know, that means Top Wop Aboard!"

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs and BN added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Submission Card located in pile marked To Be Classified.

Italian, Ethnic

Where learned: DORM ROOM

Keyword(s): AIRPLANES ; Airport ; Bet ; DEROGATORY ; DEROGATORY TERM=WOP (FOR ITALIAN) ; ETHNIC JOKE ; ETHNIC SLUR ; Gamble ; JOKE ; Pope ; Stereotype

View just this record