Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RED ROVER
THIS GAME IS PLAYED BY CHOOSING UP SIDES. THEN THE
TEAMS FACE EACH OTHER ABOUT TWENTY FEET APART AND LOCK
(HOLD) HANDS WITH THE TEAMMATE NEXT TO YOU. YOU
THEN HAVE TWO PARALLEL LINES OF PLAYERS. THE CAPTAIN
OF ONE TEAM YELLS OUT: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, SEND
(NAME) RIGHT OVER." THEN THAT PERSON LETS GO OF HIS
TEAMMATES AND TRIES TO RUN THROUGH THE HANDGRIP OF
ANY TWO MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSING TEAM. IF HE RUNS
THROUGH AND BREAKS THE GRIP, HE GETS TO BRING BACK A
PLAYER TO HIS TEAM. IF HE CANNOT BREAK THE GRIP, HE
STAYS ON THAT TEAM. THE LOSER IS THE MAN WHO IS ALONE
ON HIS TEAM.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IT FROM HIS FRIENDS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-00-1967
SUPERSTITION
WEAR DARK COLORED CLOTHES AFTER A DEATH TO ALLOW THE SOUL OF
THE DEAD TO REST.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATES THAT BRIGHT CLOTHES, BECAUSE OF THEIR
EMITTING PROPERTIES, STIMULATE THE SOUL AND PREVENT ITS REST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 02-12-1979
PEDIDDLE
IF THERE IS A "ONE-EYED" CAR AT NIGHT, THE GUY CAN KISS
THE GIRL IF HE SAYS "PEDIDDLE" FIRST. IF SHE SAYS
IT FIRST, SHE SLAPS HIS FACE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS PLAYED IN
CLEVELAND WHEN HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO, HE SAID
THAT FRIENDS IN CHICAGO ALSO HAD HEARD OF IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 10-27-1970
INDIAN GAME
INFORMANT SAID THAT THIS GAME CAN BE PLAYED WITH ONLY
TWO PARTICIPANTS. THEY GRAB ONTO EACH OTHER'S
ELBOWS AT THE CROOK WITH THE OBJECTIVE BEING TO
TRY TO STEP ON EACH OTHER'S FEET. THE FIRST
PARTICIPANT TO GET HIS FOOT STEPPED UPON LOSES THE
GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 12-02-1971
GAME: COMMIES VS. AMERICANS. STREET WAS THE BERING
STRAIGHT.
GAME: CALDWELLS (BAD GUYS) VS. (BLANK)
BIKES WERE HORSES. ALWAYS TWO GIRLS AT LEAST IN THE
CALDWELL CLAN; PRISCILLA AND PENELOPE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: 11-03-1971
RABBIT
EACH PERSON STANDS NEXT TO ANOTHER SO THAT A SINGLE
FILE LINE IS FORMED WITH THE PEOPLE STANDING SIDE
TO SIDE. THE FIRST PERSON IN LINE KNOWS HOW TO PLAY
THE GAME AND IS TEACHING THE REST OF THEM HOW TO PLAY.
FIRST EVERYONE IS TO KNEEL ON THEIR RIGHT KNEE, THE WHOLE
LINE DOES THIS. THEN EVERYONE IS TO PUT THE RIGHT
FINGER OF THEIR RIGHT HAND STRETCHED OUT IN FRONT OF
THEM ON THE FLOOR. THE PERSON WHO IS TEACHING THEM
THEN GIVES ONE QUICK SHOVE TO THE PERSON NEXT TO HER
WITH HER HIPS AND THE WHOLE LINE ENDS UP FALLING
ON THE FLOOR. IT'S RATHER IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN
A SENSE OF BALANCE IN THE POSITION ONE IS IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
THERE IS A TRICK GAME CALLED THE "TYPEWRITER GAME."
THE LISTENER FOLDS HIS ARMS AND THE GAME TELLER
PRETENDS TO TYPE ON THEM. BUT, OF COURSE, WHEN HE
GETS TO THE END OF THE LINE, HE MUST PUSH THE
CARRIAGE BACK, SO HE SLAPS THE FACE OF THE LISTENER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
THIS GAME CONSISTS OF TESTING WHICH OF TWO PEOPLE
CAN TOUCH THE OTHER ONE LIGHTER. AFTER A COUPLE
TRYOUTS, THE PERSON WHO KNOWS THE GAME SLAPS
THE LEARNER AND CRYS OUT, "YOU WIN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
LETTER GAME
O-T-T-F-F-S-S-E (N) T-E-T-T-F-F
LEAVE ONE SPACE BLANK AND ASK A PERSON TO FILL IT IN.
TELL HIM THAT THE LETTERS AS THEY ARE ARE UNRELATED
BUT THEY ALL STAND FOR SOMETHING WHICH IS RELATED.
SINCE HE PROBABLY WON'T GUESS IT, FILL IN THE BLANK
WITH "N." REITERATE THE CLUES. FINALLY, TELL HIM
THAT THE LETTERS STAND FOR THE NUMBERS ONE, TWO,
THREE....FIFTEEN. HE WILL PROBABLY LAUGH AT THE
SIMPLICITY OF THE GAME AND ITS ANSWER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 02-01-1971
CONKERS
TAKE A CHESTNUT, BORE A HOLE THROUGH IT; TAKE A
STRING AND TIE IT THROUGH.
EACH OPPONENT HAS TO TRY AND SMASH THE OTHER MAN'S
CHESTNUT WITHOUT CRACKING HIS OWN.
Submitter comment: NEW FAD IN IRELAND, FALL OF 1971
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; IRELAND
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-02-1971
SPUD
YOU THROW UP A BALL AND CALL OUT "SPUD YOUR OUT."
TAKE THREE GIANT STEPS AND THROW THE BALL AT SOMEONE
TO TRY TO GET HIM OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
FOUR SQUARE
DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD SHOWS SQUARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR
SMALLER SQUARES, NUMBERED ACROSS TOP 1 AND 2, AND ON
BOTTOM, 3 AND 4.
SERVER STARTS THE BALL IN SQUARE NO. 1. YOU ARE
ALLOWED ONE BOUNCE IN YOUR SQUARE. YOU CANNOT LEAVE
YOUR SQUARE. IF YOU VIOLATE ONE OF THESE TWO RULES
YOU'RE OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-06-1971
ARITHMATIC BINGO
ALL PLAYERS HAVE DIFFERENT CARDS. A LEADER GIVES
TWO NUMBERS TO BE ADDED IN YOUR HEAD. IF YOU HAVE
THE NUMBER, YOU MARK IT ON YOUR CARD AS IN REGULAR
BINGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-27-1971
KILLER
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS "KILLER," AND THE OBJECT IS TO
BE ABLE TO KEEP A STIFF AND BLANK FACE SO AS NOT TO
GIVE AWAY YOUR SECRET. THE GAME IS PLAYED AS FOLLOWS:
EVERYONE SITS IN A CIRCLE ON THE FLOOR AND ONE PERSON
IS "IT." "IT" BEGINS BY WINKING CAREFULLY AT ONLY
ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE CIRCLE AND TEN SECONDS LATER
THAT PERSON IS "DEAD." EVERYONE ELSE IN THE CIRCLE
HAS TO GUESS WHO THE KILLER WAS, AND THE ONE WHO
GUESSES CORRECTLY IS "IT" OR THE "KILLER" FOR THE NEXT
GAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 01-30-1971
THIS IS A "TWENTY QUESTIONS" GAME, WHERE SOMEONE GIVES
A SCENE, AND THE LISTENERS ARE ALLOWED TO ASK ANY
QUESTION WHICH CAN BE ANSWERED BY "YES" OR "NO" ONLY.
THE OBJECT IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, BE A DETECTIVE
WITH ONLY A FEW CLUES TO WORK FROM.
SCENE: THERE IS A MAN LYING DEAD ON THE SIDEWALK, A
POOL OF RED NEXT TO HIM AND A STICK. WHAT HAPPENED?
ANSWER: THE MAN DIED WHILE EATING A POISON POPSICLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 03-23-1971
TWENTY QUESTIONS
A SCENE IS GIVEN, FROM WHICH THE AUDIENCE MUST DISCOVER
WHAT HAPPENED BY ASKING LEADING QUESTIONS.
SCENE: THERE IS A MAN LYING DEAD ON A DRIVEWAY, A
CAR IN THE GARAGE, A PIECE OF PAPER, AND A SET OF
TRACKS. WHAT HAPPENED?
ANSWER: THE MAN LYING DEAD ON THE SIDEWALK HAD RUN OVER
A MAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN THE CAR ACCIDENT, AND
CRIPPLED THE MAN FOR LIFE. HE HAD LEFT THE ACCIDENT
AND THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN CRIPPLED HAD ONLY BEEN ABLE
TO COPY DOWN HIS LICENSE NUMBER ON THE SLIP OF PAPER.
HE SWORE HE WOULD GET EVEN WITH THE MAN, SO CAME
BACK IN HIS WHEELCHAIR AND KILLED THE MAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 09-00-1970
TWENTY QUESTIONS
SCENE: THERE ARE TWO MEN LYING DEAD IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE DESERT WITH PACKS ON THEIR BACKS AND NO
FOOTPRINTS. WHAT HAPPENED?
ANSWER: THE MEN WERE PARACHUTING OVER THE DESERT WHEN
THEIR PARACHUTES FAILED TO OPEN AND THEY CRASHED AND
DIED.
SCENE: A MAN IS RIDING IN AN ELEVATOR OF HIS APARTMENT
BUILDING WHEN SUDDENLY THE ELEVATOR STOPS AND HE KNOWS
INSTANTANEOUSLY THAT HIS WIFE HAS JUST DIED. HOW DID
HE KNOW?
ANSWER: THE MAN'S WIFE HAD A DEFECTIVE LUNG, AND WAS IN
AN ARTIFICIAL LUNG. AS SOON AS THE ELECTRICITY WENT
OFF, SHE WAS UNABLE TO BREATHE, AND SHE WOULD HAVE DIED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 09-00-1970
OF COURSE, YOU REMEMBER BILL-DING (BUILDING).
INFORMANT GETS TOGETHER WITH OTHERS AND MAKES UP
THESE NAMES AS A PASTIME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: 11-08-1971
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
A GAME INVOLVING TWO OR MORE PLAYERS. OBJECT IS TO TRY
TO GO ON THE TRIP WITH THE LEADER BY NAMING AN OBJECT
WITH (A) SAME FIRST LETTER, (B) DOUBLE CONSONANT WORDS,
(C) SAME LAST LETTER, ETC. WHATEVER THE LEADER
DECIDES. BEGIN: LEADER: "I AM GOING ON A TRIP AND I
AM GOING TO BRING 'BALOONS.' PLAYER: REPEATS SAME
PHRASE ADDING SOMETHING HE IS GOING TO BRING--AN
AIRPLANE. LEADER: "NO YOU CAN'T GO." NEXT PLAYER REPEATS
THE SAME PHRASE BUT SAYS "BRING BEER." LEADER: "YES
YOU MAY GO." THE GAME STARTS AGAIN AND CONTINUES UNTIL
ALL THE PLAYERS HAVE CAUGHT ON TO THE OBJECT OF THE GAME.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THIS GAME YOU HAD TO FIGURE OUT THAT I
WAS BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER "B" AND YOU COULDN'T
GO ON THE TRIP UNTIL YOU SAID SOMETHING YOU WERE GOING
TO BRING THAT BEGAN WITH "B."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: 01-24-1972