Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RIDDLE
WHAT CAN A PERSON WEAR THAT IS NEVER OUT OF STYLE?
-- A SMILE.
Where learned: HOME ; MINNESOTA ; TOLD AT ; MINNEAPOLIS
Keyword(s): TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSATIVE VERB "TO SMILE."
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
A MAN IS IN HIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND HE LOOKS OUT THE
WINDOW, TURNS AROUND AND SAYS "OH MY GOD, MY WIFE HAS
JUST BEEN KILLED." WHERE UPON THE ATTORNEY TAKES OUT A
GUN AND KILLS THE CLIENT. WHY DID THE ATORNEY KILL THE
CLIENT? TELLER IS ASKED QUESTIONS WHICH CAN BE ANSWERED
YES OR NO UNTIL THE STORY UNFOLDS.
-- THE ATTORNEY WAS JEALOUS OF THE CLIENT'S WIFE. THE
ATTORNEY WAS A WOMAN.
Where learned: CALIFORNIA ; HOME ; LOS ANGELES ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): WOMEN LAW ATTORNEY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
RIDDLE
HOW LONG IS A PIECE OF STRING?
-- TWICE AS LONG AS IT IS FROM THE MIDDLE TO THE END.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS IN KINDE, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): DISTANCE MEASURMENT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-10-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT IS BLACK AND HAS PIMPLES ON TOP?
-- A SEWER TOP
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): SEWER
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-00-1971
RIDDLE
WHAT GOES ALL AROUND THE WORLD YET STAYS IN ONE CORNER?
-- A POSTAGE STAMP.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): STAMP
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
WHAT SMELLS MOST IN A FLOWER SHOP?
-- YOUR NOSE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): TRANSATIVE AND INTRANSATIVE VERB "TO SMELL."
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-10-1971
RIDDLE
WHAT IS THERE IN YOUR HOUSE THAT OUGHT TO BE LOOKED INTO?
-- A MIRROR!
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): INVESTIGATE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-17-1968
RIDDLE
WHAT KIND OF GLASS CAN'T YOU DRINK OUT OF?
-- AN EYEGLASS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): GLASSES SPECTACLES
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 10-10-1971
RIDDLE
WHAT HAS FOUR LEGS, A TAIL, AND EARS?
-- A DOG. WHO TOLD YOU?
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL CANINE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
WAGON
WHAT GOES TO THE WATER AND HAS A TONGUE,
BUT DOESN'T DRINK?
-- A WAGON
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): PRIVATIONAL CONTRADICTIVE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-06-1971
RIDDLE
WHAT HAS TEETH BUT CAN'T BITE?
-- A COMB
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS IN THE DORMITORY AT U OF D.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): PRIVATIONAL CONTRADICTIVE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
RIDDLE
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST PUBLIC BUILDING IN YOUR CITY?
-- THE LIBRARY HAS THE MOST STORIES.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): STORY STOREY
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
RIDDLE
IF THERE WERE A ROW OF MEN AND WOMEN STANDING ALONG
A WALL AND ANOTHER MAN WAS ASKED TO PICK OUT ADAM AND
EVE, HOW COULD HE? BY THE WAY, ALL THESE MEN AND
WOMEN ARE NAKED.
-- ADAM AND EVE WOULD BE THE TWO PEOPLE WITHOUT BELLY
BUTTONS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): NAVEL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-23-1971
DICK AND JANE RIDDLE
DICK AND JANE WERE LYING ON THE FLOOR DEAD. ON THE FLOOR THERE
WAS BROKEN GLASS AND WATER. HOW DID THEY DIE?
-- THEY WERE GOLDFISH AND THEIR AQUARIUM BROKE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS RIDDLE FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS AT U OF D.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): FISH WATER AQUARIUM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
RIDDLE
SOMEONE CAME INTO THE ROOM AND FOUND JOHN AND MARY DEAD
ON THE FLOOR WITH WATER AROUND THEM. HOW DID THEY DIE?
-- JOHN AND MARY WERE GOLDFISH AND THEIR BOWL GOT KNOCKED
OFF THE TABLE AND BROKE WHICH KILLED THEM.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): FISH
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-22-1972
ONE WAY PASSAGE
JOHN AND MARY SAILED TO EUROPE. ON THE WAY OVER JOHN
THREW MARY OVERBOARD. NO ONE SAW HIM DO IT. EVERYONE
THOUGHT MARY FELL. UPON HIS RETURN JOHN WAS ARRESTED
FOR THE MURDER OF MARY. WHO KNEW THAT JOHN KILLED MARY?
(THE TELLER OF INFORMANT IS THEN ASKED QUESTIONS THAT
CAN BE ANSWERED "YES" OR "NO" UNTIL THE STORY UNFOLDS.
-- THE TICKET SELLER KNEW. HE SOLD JOHN ONE ROUND-TRIP
TICKET AND ONE ONE-WAY.
Submitter comment:
FIRST HEARD THIS AROUND 1952 AND WAS PASSED ON AND HEARD
FREQUENTLY SINCE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1952
RIDDLE
THERE WAS A MAN WHO WAS FOUND HUNG TO DEATH IN AN EMPTY
ROOM WITH A PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER HIM. WHAT HAPPENED?
-- ORIGINALLY, THE MAN WAS LEFT STANDING ON A BLOCK OF
ICE WITH A ROPE TIED LOOSELY AROUND HIS NECK. AS THE ICE
MELTED FURTHER DOWN, THE MAN WAS HUNG.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-22-1971
RIDDLE
A MAN WAS FOUND LYING DEAD IN AN ALLEY WITH FIVE BICYCLES
ALL AROUND HIM. HOW AND WHY DID HE DIE?
-- HE WAS KILLED BECAUSE HE CHEATED IN A POKER GAME AND
THE BICYCLES WERE FIVE "BICYCLE" BRAND PLAYING CARDS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): POKER BICYCLE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-22-1972
RIDDLE
FIFTY PEOPLE WERE FOUND DEAD IN A CABIN ON THE TOP OF A
MOUNTAIN. HOW DID THEY DIE?
-- THE CABIN WAS AN AIRPLANE CABIN. THERE WAS A PLANE
CRASH IN WHICH ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE PLANE DIED.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): PLANE CABIN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-22-1972
THREE WORMS
ONCE THERE WERE THREE WORMS - MOM, DAD, AND WEE LITTLE BABY -
WHO DECIDED TO HAVE A PICNIC. THEY PACKED A LUNCH AND
SCAMPERED OFF. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE PARK IT CLOUDED UP
SO THEY RAN AS FAST AS THEY COULD TO THEIR HOLE. WHEN THEY
ARRIVED THERE SAFELY THE WEE BABY WORM SAID, "GEE, I'M GLAD THE
FOUR OF US ARRIVED SAFELY." WHY DID HE SAY "FOUR" WHEN THERE
WERE THREE? (TELLER IS ASKED QUESTIONS WITH "YES" AND "NO"
RESPONSES)
-- HE WAS TOO YOUNG TO COUNT ACCURATELY.
Submitter comment:
FIRST HEARD IN 1952 AND MANY TIMES SINCE. SOMETIMES WITH
MICE INSTEAD OF WORMS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): HUMOR INTELLIGENCE ATTIBUTED TO ANIMALS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1952