Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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" I ALWAYS BURN MY OLD PALMS IN MY FIREPLACE AS WHEN I WAS SMALL"
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT BELIEVED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS CUSTOM WAS REVERENCE
FOR SACRED OR BLESSED OBJECTS, BUT THE INFORMANT WAS NOT SURE OF THE
REASON FOR USING THE FIREPLACE.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F633 F633.11 |
Date learned: 11-05-1972
A REAL TEARJERKER.
Submitter comment: USED TO DESCRIBE EMOTIONAL BOOKS OR MOVIES.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 10-29-1972
HYDE PARK
THERE WERE THESE TWO MEN WHO USED TO COME TO HYDE PARK ALL THE TIME.
ONE WAS A FUNDAMENTALIST, AND THE OTHER WAS AN ATHEIST. THE ATHEIST
ALWAYS SAID "IF THERE IS A GOD, LET HIM STRIKE ME DOWN."AND THE
FUNDAMENTALIST
SAID"YOU'D BETTER WATCH IT OR HE WILL." SO THE
FUNDAMENTALIST
GOT A GUN AND HID BEHIND A BUSH AND WHEN THE ATHEIST SAID HIS
LINE, HE SHOT HIM. BUT THE FUNDAMENTALIST THOUGHT HE KILLED HIM AND
SAID "WELL MAYBE THERE ISN'T A GOD IF HE LET ME KILL HIM."
AND AS THE
ATHEIST RECOVERED, HE SAID "MAYBE THERE IS A GOD." SO FROM THEN ON,
THEY CHANGED PLACES IN THE PARK.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious |
Date learned: 10-29-1972
FREE ADVICE IS WORTH THE PRICE
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb |
Date learned: 11-05-1972
KEEP A PENNY IN YOUR PURSE SO THE DEVIL WON'T GET IN
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT STATED THAT THIS SAYING WAS TOLD TO HER ONE DAY BY
HER GRANDMOTHER WHEN THEY WERE SHOPPING AND SHE WENT INTO HER PURSE
TO GET SOME CHANGE AND SHE SAID "LEAVE A PENNY IN YOUR PURSE SO THE
DEVIL WON'T GET IN"
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-01-1972
THE DISAPPEARING TREE
WELL, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TREE OUT ON THE LAKE
UP BY 7 MILE ROAD THAT YOU CAN SEE ONLY AT NIGHTTIME. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT, BUT THEY SAID IT'S ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE, AND IF YOU
SHINE YOUR CAR HEADLIGHTS ON IT, IT DISAPPEARS.
Submitter comment:
Lake St. Clair off of Jefferson Road on Lake Shore Drive near 7 Mile (Moross Road).
James Callow comment:
COLLECTOR'S SPELLING CORRECTED
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 26038 State Fair
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-29-1972
Entry filtered.
HE DRIVES LIKE SUTTER.
MR. GORSKI SAID HE USED THIS PHRASE AMONG FRIENDS WHEN BEHIND A
DRIVER WHO DROVE TOO SLOW FOR THEM. HE SAID THE NAME SUTTER CAME FROM
AN OLD MAN THEY KNEW AS KIDS, WHO ALWAYS "DROVE UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT
AND EVERY ONE MADE FUN OF HIM."
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PERSONAL PROVERBIAL PHRASE
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-01-1972
"IN RESPONSE TO THE WORN OUT PHRASES OF OUR GENERATION SUCH AS: "FAR
OUT" AND "RIGHT ON " WE WOULD CHANGE ONE OF THE TWO WORDS IN THE
EXPRESSION AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE MANY DIFFERENT GREETINGS
SUCH AS: "FAR IN" "FAR GO" "LEFT OFF" "HARD ON" "RIGHT OFF"
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-10-1972
CERAMIC PRESENTS FOR GRANDMA
"WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED IN TOLEDO, OUR FAMILY USED TO MAKE ABOUT
5-10 TRIPS DOWN THERE EVERY YEAR FROM DETROIT, AND IT WAS SORT OF A
"UNWRITTEN LAW" THAT WE WOULD STOP AT THE OHIO CHINA COMPANY NEAR THE
TOLEDO CITY LIMITS, AND BUY SOME SMALL CERAMIC FIGURE FOR MY GRANDMA
SUCH AS ANIMALS, OR STATUES SINCE SHE COLLECTED THESE AS A HOBBY."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-10-1972
"IN RESPONSE TO THE OVERUSED GREETING AMONG FRIENDS OF "WHAT'S THE
WORD" WE OFTEN REPLY WITH "LEGS" " SPREAD THE WORD."
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): RETORT
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-15-1972
"PINK SKIES AT NIGHT, A SAILOR'S DELIGHT. BLUE SKIES AT MORNING, A SAILOR'S WARNING."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: 11-15-1972
"IF YOU STEP IN DOG CRAP, IT WILL BE YOUR LUCKY DAY"
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck P881.3 |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
"WHEN YOU CROSS RAILROAD TRACKS, YOU SHOULD PICK UP YOUR FEET AND STEP
OVER THE RAILS, CAUSE IF YOU STEP ON THEM, IT'S BAD LUCK."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
STEALING ICE
"A LOT OF TIMES WE WOULD STEAL ICE FROM THE OLD ICE TRUCKS THAT YOU
DON'T SEE ANYMORE."
Submitter comment: INFORMANT EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS USUALLY DONE IN A GROUP.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
"DON'T PUT YOUR SHOES UNDER THE TABLE, IT WILL
BRING BAD LUCK."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 |
Date learned: 11-01-1972
"PUTTING SWEATERS ON BACKWARDS WILL BRING BAD LUCK."
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck P882.1 |
Date learned: 11-09-1972
BUCK BUCK
"WE WOULD ALL PLAY THIS GAME CALLED BUCK BUCK, WHERE ONE TEAM WOULD
LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL , EACH ONE BENT OVER AND THE OTHER TEAM
WOULD RUN UP AND JUMP ON THAT LINE AS HARD AS THEY COULD, AND WOULD
PILE UP GUYS AND TRY TO BREAK UP THAT LINE."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity |
Date learned: 11-09-72
"IF YOU DROP A KNIFE ON THE FLOOR, COMPANY WILL COME."
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 11-10-1972