Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY A MAN WHO WAS ON A SUBMARINE
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. IF A SUB USED ALL ITS
TORPEDOES BEFORE COMING BACK FROM A CRUISE, AS THE
SUB CAME BACK TO ITS BASE, THE CREW WOULD ATTACH A
BROOM TO THE PERISCOPE. HE SAID THAT IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF
PRIDE WAS HAD BY ANY CREW WHO COULD RETURN TO BASE IN
SUCH A MANNER.
Submitter comment:
HE WAS A RATHER UNUSUAL SUBMARINER BECAUSE HE WAS
SIX FOOT TWO INCHES TALL. I DON'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
THE BRIDE IS SUPPOSED TO SAVE THE TOP LAYER OF
THE WEDDING CAKE TILL THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN
ORDER TO INSURE HAPPINESS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Wedding cake |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
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
CHICKEN
EACH PLAYER MUST HAVE HIS OWN BICYCLE. A NARROW
PATH OR SIDEWALK IS USED AS THE FIELD. A MARK IS
PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THERE ARE ONLY
TWO PLAYERS AT ANY ONE TIME. THE PLAYERS EACH AT
OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE FIELD START RACING TOWARDS THE
MARK IN THE MIDDLE AND THE FIRST ONE TO GET THERE
OF (OR?) THE LAST ONE TO TURN OF (OFF?) IS THE
WINNER. THE LENGTH OF THE FIELD CANNOT BE TOO
LONG OR THE GAME WOULD JUST TURN INTO A RACE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
THE REASON WHY IT'S BAD LUCK TO WALK UNDER A LADDER
IS BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES OF THE LADDER AND THE
FLOOR REPRESENT THE TRIANGLE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
AND TO PASS THROUGH IT IS AN INVASION OF HEAVEN
AND BREAKS THE TRINITY.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms BELIEF -- Bad luck Ladder (angles, pyramid, etc.) |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
IF ONE PUTS SHOES ON A TABLE, IT IS BAD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS
FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) BELIEF -- Bad luck Clothing (dress, hat, shoes, suit, etc.) |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN ; CHILDHOOD
IT'S BAD LUCK FOR THE BRIDE TO GO IN ONE DOOR AT
THE CHURCH AND OUT THE OTHER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage BELIEF -- Bad luck Crucial moment of life |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
"LUCKY AT CARDS, UNLUCKY AT LOVE."
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): FORMULA SPEECH
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement BELIEF -- Conversions Games Pastimes Sports SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
HICCUPS
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE I LEARNED THAT EVERY TIME A
PERSON HICCUPS, HIS HEART SKIPS A BEAT. A LOGICAL
EXPLANATION FOR THIS BELIEF COULD VERY WELL BE THAT
WHEN A DOCTOR IS USING A STETHOSCOPE, WHEN THE PERSON
HICCUPS, THE DOCTOR WOULD NOT HEAR THE HEARTBEAT.
HENCE, IT SKIPS! THIS, HOWEVER, IS NOT TRUE, AS
PROVED BY ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): HICCUPS=SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.8 |
Date learned: 00-00-1966
THREE ON A BED--THE THIRD ONE'S DEAD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple |
Date learned: 03-28-1968
FROGS CAUSE WARTS WHEN HANDLED.
ACTUALLY, TOADS ARE THE ONES TO BEWARE (OF), BUT I USED TO BE
AFRAID TO GO NEAR A FROG FOR THE WARTS I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD
CAUSE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
TO GET RID OF WARTS, ONE SWINGS A DEAD CAT AROUND HIS HEAD
THIRTEEN TIMES, PUTS IT IN A GUNNY SACK, HANGS IT FROM A TREE
IN A GRAVEYARD, AND SITS UNDER IT ON A NIGHT WITH A FULL
MOON.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO LEARNED THIS FROM HER
ROOMMATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN CHAMPAIGN,
ILLINOIS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
TO GET RID OF A WART, RUB IT WITH A PIECE OF RAW PORK, BURY IT
IN THE YARD, AND NEVER LOOK AT THAT SPOT IN THE YARD AGAIN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND MY FIRST ROOMMATE WHEN
I CAME TO DETROIT (MICHIGAN). HE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HIS
CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): PLUGGING ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 02-00-1968
IF A YOUNG GIRL EATS THE LAST PIECE OF CAKE OR CANDY
LEFT, SHE WILL END UP A SPINSTER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM
HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Number Emptiness, nothingness, zero |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
MARRY IN LENT
AND YOU WILL LIVE TO REPENT.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Marriage BELIEF -- Marriage Time or day of ceremony |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
THERE IS AN OLD BELIEF THAT WHEN POURING A CUP OF
TEA, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO CATCH THE BUBBLES FORMED
IN THE CUP WITH A SPOON BEFORE THEY TOUCH THE SIDE
OF THE CUP, YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR PAYCHECK. IF NOT,
NO CHECK!
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Brew of leaf, bark, root BELIEF -- Use of Object Food |
IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN A PERSON PUTS A PIECE OF
WEDDING CAKE UNDER HIS PILLOW, HE WILL DREAM OF
HIS FUTURE MARRIAGE PARTNER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | 862 Use of object for determining future spouse |
Date learned: 00-00-1967
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE WEDDING RING IS WORN ON
THE FOURTH FINGER BECAUSE THERE IS A VEIN WHICH
RUNS FROM THAT FINGER TO YOUR HEART.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 10-20-1968
HAUNTED HOUSE
ONCE, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A MAN LIVED BY HIMSELF IN
A HOUSE IN THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO. HIS LEGS
WERE BADLY MAULED AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE
THEM AMPUTATED. ONE WAS TAKEN OFF BUT THE MAN
KILLED HIMSELF BEFORE THE OTHER LEG COULD BE TAKEN
OFF. HE WAS BURIED IN THE BASEMENT AND TO THIS
DAY A ONE-LEGGED GHOST HAUNTS THAT HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
IN THE ARMY IF YOU GET SICK, THEY GIVE YOU A WAC AND
PUT YOU TO BED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS IN CHIAGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON WHACK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 12-02-1967