Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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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
Entry filtered.
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
RIDDLE
WHICH PART OF A HORSE HAS THE MOST HAIR?
-- THE OUTSIDE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
ON WHICH SIDE DOES THE CHICKEN HAVE THE MOST FEATHERS?
-- THE OUTSIDE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
WHICH SIDE OF A CHICKEN HAS THE MOST FEATHERS?
-- THE OUTSIDE.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-0000
RIDDLE
A MAN WENT INTO A BAR AND ASKED THE BARTENDER FOR A GLASS
OF WATER. THE BARTENDER PULLED A GUN ON HIM. WHY?
-- THE MAN HAD THE HICCUPS SO HE WANTED TO SCARE HIM IN
ORDER TO GET RID OF THEM.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): FRIGHT CURE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-23-1972
RIDDLE
IF A BUTCHER IS 5 FEET 7 INCHES TALL AND WEARS A SIZE
10 SHOE, AND IS 34 INCHES AROUND THE WAIST, WHAT DOES
HE WEIGH?
-- MEAT
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): TRANSATIVE AND INTRANSATIVE VERB MEANING "TO WEIGH."
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
RIDDLE
THERE WAS A MAN WHO LIVED IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING.
EVERYDAY TO GET UP TO HIS APARTMENT WHICH WAS ON THE
12TH FLOOR, HE WOULD TAKE THE ELEVATOR TO THE 6TH FLOOR
AND WALK 6 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS. LEAVING THE APARTMENT,
HE WOULD GET INTO THE ELEVATOR AND GO RIGHT DOWN. HE
WOULDN'T GET OFF UNTIL HE GOT TO THE LOBBY FLOOR (HIS
DESTINATION). WHY DID HE ONLY GO SIX FLOORS ON THE
ELEVATOR AND THEN WALK UP THE REST ?
-- HE WAS A DWARF AND COULDN'T REACH THE NUMBER 12 BUTTON.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-23-1971
RIDDLE
A MAN WALKS UP TO ANOTHER MAN'S HOUSE WITH A LONG
TRENCH COAT ON AND A BOX UNDER HIS ARM. HE PROCEEDS
TO HAND IT TO THE OTHER MAN SAYING "NOW, WE'RE EVEN."
WHY?
-- TWO MEN WERE SHIPWRECKED ON A DESERTED ISLAND
WITHOUT FOOD AND INSTEAD OF STARVING, THE ONE MAN
(WHO WAS A DOCTOR) SAID HE'D CUT OFF THE OTHER MAN'S
ARM TO USE FOR FOOD. IF THEY EVER GOT OFF THIS ISLAND,
THE DOCTOR SAID HE WOULD REPAY THE MAN BY CUTTING OFF
HIS OWN ARM ONCE THEY GOT BACK. SO, THERE WAS AN ARM
IN THE BOX. THE REASON FOR THE LONG TRENCH COAT WHICH
HID THE DOCTOR'S ARM WAS HE STILL HAS HIS OWN ARM. HE
HAD CUT THE ARM IN THE BOX OFF OF SOMEONE ELSE IN HOPES
THAT THE MAN WOULD THINK IT WAS THE DOCTOR'S ARM.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-22-1972
RIDDLE
THERE WERE TWO BROTHERS BORN IN MARCH WHOSE BIRTHDAY'S
WERE IN JULY. ONE MARRIED THE OTHER DID NOT, YET BOTH
DIED BACHELORS. FIGURE IT OUT.
-- MARCH IS A TOWN IN EAST. ONE MARRIED - HE WAS A PRIEST.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 08-11-1964
RIDDLE
RIDDLE ME RIDDLE ME, RANDY - O,
MY FATHER GAVE ME THE SEED TO SOW.
THE SEED WAS BLACK AND THE GROUND WAS WHITE,
COME RIDDLE ME THAT AND I'LL GIVE YOU A PIPE.
-- COLLECTOR FORGOT ANSWER
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): HARVEST
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 08-00-1964