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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BEACH PARTY PROSE
THESE DUDES WERE HAVING A BEACH PARTY. AND THEY WERE
DRINKING A LITTLE
AND THE PARTY HAD PROGRESSED TO WHERE THE GUYS AND GIRLS WERE ALL
PAIRING OFF AND GOING UP ON THE SAND DUNES AND WHAT NOT. THIS ONE
PARTICULAR
COUPLE WENT UP ON THE SAND DUNE AND THEY WERE LAYING THERE
TALKING AND KISSING. SUDDENLY, UNDERNEATH THE SAND, WHERE THEY WERE
LYING ON THE BLANKET, THEY HEARD A FAINT SCRATCHING. AT FIRST THEY
DIDN'T
THINK ANYTHING, BUT IT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. QUICKLY THEY JUMPED
UP AND PULLED THE BLANKET UP AND THEY COULD SEE THE SAND DEEPENING
INTO A HOLE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS SOME KIND OF ANIMAL OR SOMETHING.
THE HOLE REALLY STARTED TO SINK IN, YOU KNOW HOW THE SAND GOES WHEN
YOU DIG IN IT. OUT OF CURIOSITY THE GUY STARTED TO DIG TO SEE WHAT IT
WAS AND PRETTY SOON HE GOT PRETTY DEEP AND THE SAND STARTED TO GET
WET
AND COLD. FINALLY HE BROKE THROUGH AND HE COULD SEE FOUR FINGER
TIPS. SO HE TOLD HIS GIRLFRIEND TO GO BACK AND GET THE OTHER KIDS.
WHILE
THE GIRL WAS GONE SHE HEARD A LOUD SCREAM. SHE GOT EVERYONE ELSE
AND THEY RAN OVER TO WHERE THE GUY WAS. BUT, WHEN THEY GOT THERE THE
SAND WAS COVERED UP LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED AT ALL AND THE GUY WAS
GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Supernatural Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- B533 PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
MURDER PROSE
DOWN SOUTH IN LOUISIANA, THERE WERE THESE TWO CHICKS SPENDING THE
NIGHT
TOGETHER. YOU SEE, ONE OF THE GIRLS' PARENTS RE GONE FOR THE WE
WEEKEND AND SO THE GIRLS WERE STAYING TOGETHER SO THE ONE WOULDN'T BE
ALONE. ANYWAY, IT WAS GETTING LATE AND THEY WERE GETTING READY FOR
BED, WHEN THE GIRL WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE HEARD SOMETHING DOWNSTAIRS
DOWNSTAIRS IN
THE KITCHEN. SO, SHE WENT DOWN TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. WELL, A LITTLE
WHILE LATER, THE GIRL UPSTAIRS HEARS THIS HORRIBLE SCREAM. SHE GOT
REALLY SCARED BY THIS, SO SCARED SHE DIDN'T EVEN GO DOWNSTAIRS
TO SEE WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. ALL SHE DID WAS GO INTO THE CLOSET AND HIDE. THIS
CLOSET WAS REAL SMALL WITH NO LIGHT. SHE KEPT ON HEARING THESE
STRANGE
NOISES LIKE A SCRAPING SOUND AND THEN A THUD. THIS WENT ON A GOOD
PART OF THE NIGHT. THESE NOISES SCARED HER SO MUCH THAT SHE FINALLY
FAINTED. THE NEXT MORNING THE GIRL WAS AWOKEN BY THE OTHER GIRLS'
PARENTS WHO HAD COME HOME FROM THEIR TRIP. THE PARENTS SAID, "WHAT HA
"WHAT HAPPENED
HERE LAST NIGHT?" SHE TOLD THEM HER STORY ON WHAT HAD HAPPENED
. THEN THE GIRLS' PARENTS TOOK THE OTHER GIRL TO THE TOP OF THE
STAIRS
AND THERE WAS THE OTHER GIRL HALF WAY UP THE STAIRS, DEAD, WITH
HER LEGS CUT OFF. SHE WAS THE ONE CAUSING THE STRANGE NOISES.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): GORE HORROR
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-22-1972
MURDER PROSE
THIS CHICK AND GUY IN CLEVELAND WERE OUT IN THE PARK AND THE
GUY IN THE
CAR THOUGHT HE HEARD NOISES, BUT DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION. THE
SECOND TIME HE HEARD IT, HE KNEW IT WAS A NOISE BEING DONE
DELIBERATELY.
IT KEPT UP AND THE GUY DECIDED TO GET OUT; BY THE WAY, THIS WAS A
CONVERTIBLE. HE TOLD THE GIRL TO LOCK THE DOORS AND GET DOWN ON THE
FLOOR. HE STEPS OUT. SO HE'S OUTSIDE, NOW THIS IS PRETTY LATE AT
NIGHT. SHE GOT PRETTY WORRIED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T COME BACK.
THE NEXT THING
SHE KNOWS IS A FAINT SCRATCHING ON THE TOP OF THE CAR IN A
RHYTHMIC MOTION.
SHE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, ONLY EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.
LATER ANOTHER
CAR PULLS UP, SHE COULDN'T SEE WHO IT WAS. THEN SHE SAW A
FLASHLIGHT FLASHING AROUND IN THE CAR. IT WAS A COP. HE SAID
FOR HER
TO GET OUT. THE COP SAID DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU AND GET INTO
MY CAR.
SHE DID, BUT HER CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED. IT WAS JUST THE BREAK OF
DAWN, SO THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH LIGHT. SO SHE LOOKED BEHIND AND
SAW HER
BOYFRIEND HANGING BY HIS NECK FROM A TREE SWINGING ABOVE THE CAR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
James Callow Keyword(s): OHIO ; PARKING
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
MURDER PROSE
THERE IS AN APARTMENT OR FLAT AND THESE GIRLS, WELL FIRST
OF ALL IT IS
IN A FAMILIAR NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THIS ONE AROUND U OF D, LET'S SAY.
AND IT WOULD BE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES TO LET'S SAY SOME GIRLS
GOING TO MARYGROVE. O.K., NOW THESE THREE CHICKS LIVE IN AN UPSTAIRS
FLAT.
AND TWO OF THEM HAD DATES THAT NIGHT, SOME WEEKEND NIGHT.
THEY
WENT OUT, AND THERE WAS ONE LEFT IN THE FLAT. SO SHE WAS STUDYING AND
EVERYTHING, BUT YOU KNOW, SINCE IT WAS SUCH A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD OF
COURSE THEY
HAD ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AND EVERYTHING AND THEY WERE VERY
SIDEWALK
STRICT ITH THEIR SECURITY. SO, IT WAS GETTING PRETTY LATE AND SHE W
WASN'T GOING TO WAIT UP FOR HER FRIENDS, SO SHE STARTS TO GO TO BED.
NOW, BEFORE SHE GOES TO BED, SHE HEARS SOME STRANGE NOISES OUTSIDE
LIKE
POSSIBLY A SCREAM, BUT SHE WASN'T REALLY SURE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
ALTHOUGH, HER CURIOSITY WAS AROUSED AND SHE AT LEAST WAS GOING TO
HAVE
A LOOK. SO SHE WENT TO THE WINDOW AND SHE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING,
BUT SHE STILL HEARD A LOT OF THRASHING AROUND OUTSIDE. NOW THIS
REALLY
SCARED THE GIRL BUT STILL SHE HAD TO GO DOWN AND SEE WHAT IT WAS.
SO SHE GOES DOWN AND GETS ENOUGH COURAGE TO LOOK OUT AGAIN AND
OPENS THE DOOR. SO SHE GOES OUT. ALONG THE TWO SIDES OF THE
THERE ARE THESE TWO SHRUBS AND OF COURSE THE SIDEWALK IS A
PRETTY
LONG ONE. SHE WALKS DOWN, STILL SCARED BUT ALL THE LIGHTS WERE
ON AND EVERYTHING. SHE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DIDN'T REALLY HEAR
ANYTHING
AND SORT OF EXPECTED IT WAS AN ALLEY CAT OR SOMETHING, BUT THEN,
SHE TURNED AROUND AND STARTED TO WALK BACK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE
HEARD THIS THRASHING SOUND, BUT SHE WAS REALLY SCARED AND SHE WASN'T
GOING TO BOTHER LOOKING BACK. SHE HEARD THE THRASHING SOUND RUNNING
ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HOUSE AND OF COURSE THIS MULTIPLIED IN HER
MIND,
ALL THE EFFECTS OF THIS THING, SO SHE RUNS UP, SHUTS THE DOOR AND
THEN RIGHT AFTER SHE SHUTS THE DOOR, SHE HEARS THIS FAINT SCRATCHING
AT THE DOOR, BUT SHE REALLY COULDN'T TELL WHAT IT WAS. SHE HAD HAD
IT/, SHE RUNS BACK UPSTAIRS SCARED TO DEATH, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK
LOOK OUT
OUT OR ANYTHING. SO ABOUT FORTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER, HER SECOND
ROOMMATE
CAME IN. HER ROOMMATE WAS JUST OUT OF IT. SHE RUNS UP TO THE GIRL
AND SAID, "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?" THE GIRL SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN
THERE ALL NIGHT. SO SHE BRINGS THE GIRL DOWN TO THE DOOR AND
THERE IS
HER OTHER ROOMMATE DOWN ON THE PORCH TH A HATCHET IN HER BACK,
WITH ONE HAND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 09-25-1972
CHRISTMAS DAY
IN POLISH FAMILIES BEFORE EVERYBODY STARTS EATING, THE HEAD OF
THE FAMILY PASSES BREAD AROUND TO EVERYBODY WHICH HAS BEEN BLESSED
BY THE PRIEST OF THEIR CHURCH.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Oplatki CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 Church |
Date learned: 11-14-1968
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
THE POLISH WRITE THE NEW YEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR OF
THEIR HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; RENO HALL ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-14-1968
IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN A GIRL RECEIVES FROM HER
BOYFRIEND OR OTHER MALE ADMIRER A DOZEN RED ROSES
WITH AN EXTRA YELLOW ONE, IT MEANS THAT SHE STANDS
OUT IN THE CROWD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 03-00-1972
RIDDLE
"WHY IS SLIPPING ON A BANANA PEEL LIKE MUSIC?"
"BECAUSE YOU'LL BE FLAT IF YOU DON'T SEE SHARP}"
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DORM
Keyword(s): BANANAPEEL ; FRUIT: BANANAS ; MUSIC: INTERVALS ; RIDDLING QUESTION
James Callow Keyword(s): LOOK SHARP ; PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WEST POINT
CADETS AT WESTPOINT THROW PENNIES OVER THE SADDLE
AND GIVE A LEFT-HANDED SALUTE TO THE STATUE OF
TECUMSEH TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL PASS THEIR EXAMS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
IF YOU LOSE MONEY, SPIT ON THE BACK OF YOUR HAND AND
THROW IT OVER YOUR SHOULDER. WHICH EVER WAY THE WIND
BLOWS IT, THAT'S THE DIRECTION TO LOOK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object Human beings and their activities |
Date learned: 01-26-1972
THE LEGEND OF CURTIS TURNER
CURTIS TURNER, A NOTED RACE DRIVER, WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE GOTTEN
HIS START WHEN HE WAS RUNNING BOOTLEG WHISKEY IN A MODEL A FORD.
HE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A NARROW ROAD ONE NIGHT WHEN HE NOTICED
A POLICE CAR BEHIND HIM AND ONE IN FRONT OF HIM. THERE WAS A ONE
LANE BRIDGE AHEAD OF HIM ALSO. WHEN HE GOT TO THE BRIDGE HE DID
A 180 DEGREE TURN AT 75 MILES AN HOUR AND HEADED BACK TOWARDS THE
OTHER POLICE CAR. THE OFFICER WAS SO SHOCKED THAT HE WENT OFF
THE ROAD AND TURNER GOT AWAY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): WILD CHASE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 11-20-1968
ON THE NIGHT OF A FULL MOON IT AFFECTS YOUR DREAMS.
Submitter comment: BELIEVES IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 11-03-1971
THE PHANTOM SHIP
OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA THERE WAS A SHIP THAT DISAPPEARED ON
ITS WAY TO INDIA. ABOUT SIX YEARS LATER IT WAS SIGHTED BY ANOTHER
SHIP WHICH PULLED ALONG SIDE OF IT TO INSPECT IT. THEY FOUND NO
ONE ON BOARD. THEY DID FIND PLENTY OF FOOD AND THE LOG WHICH ENDED
ON THE DATE THAT THE SHIP DISAPPEARED. WHEN THEY TIED A ROPE TO
THE SHIP TO TOW IT A STORM CAME UP AND BROKE THE ROPE. THE SHIP
DRIFTED AWAY AND WAS LOST AGAIN. UP UNTIL 1953 THE SAME THING
HAPPENED OVER AND OVER TO OTHER SHIPS WHO SPOTTED THE PHANTOM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOST SHIPS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-20-1968
LOOK AT A FULL MOON THROUGH A WINDOW. IT WILL HAVE A
GOOFY EFFECT ON YOU.
Submitter comment: SHE BELIEVES IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
REMEDY--HAIR
TO MAKE YOUR HAIR LOOK HEALTHY, PUT CINNAMON ON IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
A FOOL
IT IS EASIER FOR A FOOL TO DENY THAN FOR ARISTOTLE TO PROVE.
Submitter comment: SPANISH: MAS PUEDE UN NEEIO NEGAR QUE ARISTOLELES PROBAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 03-31-1970
ARABIAN MAXIM (TRANS.)
IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO GET TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
Keyword(s): HUNTING
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
REMEDY: TO KEEP HAIR FROM SPLITTING, USE VASELINE
AND BRUSH HAIR 100 STROKES A DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 11-03-1971
CURER
MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHILE IN THE MARINES, CAME ACROSS
ANOTHER MARINE WHO HAD BEEN SHOT, THE MARINE THAT WAS
SHOT ASKED MY BROTHER-IN-LAW TO HELP HIM. MY
BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HELP
HIM. THE WOUNDED MARINE REPLIED, IF YOU CAN
CORE AN APPLE, YOU CAN GET A BULLET OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curer |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
LEGEND OF CHRIST
ONCE OUR LORD WENT INTO A BAKERY SHOP TO SEEK SOME NOURISHMENT.
EACH TIME THE PROPRIETOR OF THE SHOP PUT THE DOUGH IN THE OVEN IT
GREW SO BIG THAT HE DECIDED TO GIVE IT AWAY. FOR THIS, OUR LORD
PUNISHED HIS GREED BY CHANGING HIM INTO A BIRD. THE BIRD FLEW UP
THE CHIMNEY AND BECAME A RAVEN FROM THE DUST IN THE CHIMNEY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIBLICAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |