Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for GAMBLING returned 15 results.
GOOD LUCK FROM A DEAD SPIRIT WHEN YOU PLAY A NUMBER
IF YOU PUT A GLASS OF WATER UNDER YOUR BED IT WILL MAKE YOUR DEAD
GRANDMOTHER COME BACK TO YOU. HER SPIRIT WILL COME TO YOU AND
BRING YOU GOOD LUCK. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN BECAUSE A LADY
GOT RICH THAT WAY. YOU PICK OUT THE NUMBER WHICH YOU WANT TO
COME OUT. AND PUT IT INTO THE GLASS OF WATER. THE SPIRIT OF A
DEAD RELATIVE WILL COME TO GET A TASTE OF THE WATER AND THANK YOU
BY MAKING THE NUMBER COME OUT. THIS WAS PASSED ON TO ME BY MY
GRANDMOTHER. SHE CAME FROM THE SOUTH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GAINING WEALTH ; GAMBLING: PLAYING THE NUMBERS
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 10-00-1974
MONEY COUNTING
IT IS A SURE SIGN OF A QUICK DOWNFALL TO COME IF
YOU COUNT YOUR WINNINGS WHILE A GAME OF CARDS IS STILL IN
PROGRESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GAMBLING ; MONEY
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-17-1969
PERUSE AND LAMENT
PERUSE AND LAMENT, USED BY CRAP SHOOTERS, IT'S SIMILAR TO
READ 'EM AND WEEP.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): GAMBLING ; SEMANTICS
James Callow Keyword(s): DICE ; ELLIPSIS
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
IT IS WISE TO RISK NO MORE THAN ONE CAN AFFORD TO LOSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GAMBLING MONEY CHANCE
Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-20-1965
Legend of Writing to Dead People for Lottery Numbers
When writing to dead people for numbers in the lottery, don't cross your t's or dot your i's. And don't use punctuation. At night, put it over a glass of water, under the bed, on top of silver three-pence. A number is to be provided somehow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B420 429] crossed out and others added: P840, P429, P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): Clairvoyance ; Gamble ; GAMBLING ; GRAMMAR ; Lottery ; NUMBERS ; RITUAL ; Spell ; SPIRIT ; SUPERNATURAL
Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
Superstition: Gambling
Good Luck:
Never win the first hand in a poker game. Otherwise you'll be a sure loser the rest of the night.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with current classification
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): CHANCE ; Entertainment ; FATE ; GAMBLING ; Gaming ; jinx ; LOSERS ; LUCK ; NUMBER ; NUMBERS ; Poker ; SUPERSTITION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
Entertainment: Gambling
In poker, a full house - aces and eights- is a Dead Man's Hand. Supposedly Wild Bill Hickok had this hand when he died.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Entertainment: Gambling
Belief:
Aces and Eights - this is the Dead Man's Hand. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a poler game with this hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] was written twice and crossed out each time/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Belief: Luck
Winning Streak:
Many coaches won't change a suit, socks or some particular piece of clothing if they have a winning streak going.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CLOTHING ; CUSTOM ; Entertainment ; GAMBLING ; jinx ; LUCK ; SPORTS ; SUPERSTITION
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Play on Words
There is a secret method of coming back from Vegas with a small fortune: Go with a large fortune.
Submitter comment:
He heard it from a friend.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Submission card located in pile marked These don't sound traditional - Do Not File Yet.
Keyword(s): fortune ; GAMBLING ; HUMOR ; Large ; MONEY ; PUN ; SIZE ; Small ; Vegas
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Proverb
Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.
Submitter comment:
Informant was told this by his grandfather in Florida.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aphorism ; Apothegm ; CARDS ; GAMBLING ; LOVE ; LUCK ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; VERSE
Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
HOLDING DICE IN YOUR HAND AND BLOWING ON THEM IS
SUPPOSED TO BRING YOU GOOD LUCK IN A DICE GAME.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Blow ; BREATH ; Breathe ; CUSTOM ; DICE ; GAMBLING ; GAME ; Gaming ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Good luck P881.22 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MONEY COUNTING
IT'S A SURE SIGN OF A QUICK DOWNFALL TO COME IF
YOU COUNT YOUR WINNINGS (MONEY) WHILE A GAME OF CARDS IS
STILL IN PROGRESS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): GAMBLING ; MONEY
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-17-1969