Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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THE DRESS.
A GIRL, PRESUMABLY A RELATIVE OF A FRIEND OR CLASSMATE, BOUGHT A
DRESS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL PROM. WHILE WEARING THE DRESS, SHE BECAME
VIOLENTLY ILL AND DIED LATER AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. UPON INVESTIGATION
IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRESS HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED
FROM THE STORE AND RETURNED. THE FIRST " OWNER " WAS A GIRL OF
THE SAME AGE WHO WORE THE DRESS TO BE LAID OUT BEFORE HER FUNERAL
IT WAS THE EMBALMING FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE SECOND OWNER'S DEATH.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): FATAL DRESS. ; THE POISONED DRESS. TY Z551 IN BAUGHMAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: CA00001965
POWDERED MILK FACIAL
TO REMOVE WRINKLES AND RELAX THE FACE MUSCLES,
ADD ENOUGH WATER TO A BOWLOF MILK POWDER TO FORM A THICK PASTE.
SPREAD IT EVENLY OVER THE ENTIRE FACE AND THROAT,
AND LET IT SET FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
REMOVE GENTLY BY SPLASHING THE HARDENED MASK WITH WARM WATER
UNTIL IT BEGINS TO DISSOLVE;
THEN WASH FACE IN WARM WATER AND SOAP, DRY, AND APPLY MOISTURE CREAM.
Submitter comment:
THIS METHOD IS QUITE EFFECTIVE
BUT SHOULD NOT BE USED TOO FRQUENTLY.
BECAUSE IT TENDS TO DRY THE SKIN.
MY INFORMANT OBTAINED THE INFORMATION FROM HER BEAUTY OPERATOR.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): BEAUTY TREATMENTS ; COMPLEXION ; FACIALS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
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KICK THE CAN
THIS GAME CAN BE PLAYED BY ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE. ALL
THAT IS NEEDED IS A LARGE FIELD. TO START THE GAME,
ONE PERSON IS MADE 'IT,' AND IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY
TO CATCH THE OTHERS. THE FIRST PERSON HE CATCHES WILL
BE IT AT THE START OF THE NEXT GAME. THERE ARE TWO
GOAL LINES WHICH REPRESENT FREE ZONES AND THE OBJECT
IS TO GET FROM ONE ZONE TO THE OTHER WITHOUT GETTING
CAUGHT. THE ONE WHO IS IT CALLS ONE PERSON ACROSS
OR HE CAN SAY "KICK THE CAN" IN WHICH CASE, EVERYONE
TRIES TO GET ACROSS AT THE SAME TIME.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: MANY YEARS AGO
Custom: Holiday
Rudolph:
In conjunction with the legend of Santa Claus is his famous team of reindeer. The leader being Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Every child knows the song about Rudolph, and looks upon him as a sort of hero of Christmas.
Data entry tech comment:
Motif added by TRD
Where learned: CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CHRISTMAS ; Hero ; holiday ; Legend ; MYTH ; Reindeer ; Rudolph ; Santa
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mammal |
REAL ESTATE VOCABULARY
REAL ESTATE TERM FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO VISIT OPEN HOUSES OF SUNDAY,
50 YRS. + MOSTLY HOSTILE, BECAUSE REAL ESTATE PEOPLE WASTE BUSINESS
TIME ON USELESS CLIENTS. "SUNDAY SHOPPERS"
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Trade & commerce |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
IF YOU STAND PERFECTLY STILL DURING THE READING OF THE GOSPEL
ON PALM SUNDAY, YOU GET PLENARY INDULGENCE
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Tuesday |
Toast
An Irish Toast:
may you be in Heaven a half hour b'fore th' Divil knows you're dead.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): Dead ; DEVIL ; ETHNIC ; HEAVEN ; Irish ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Ethnic:Polish Superstition
IF A YOUNG GIRL SINGS AT THE TABLE, SHE WILL MARRY A CRAZY HUSBAND.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
Keyword(s): CUSTOM ; ETHNIC ; HUSBAND ; MANNERS ; Omen, Singing ; POLISH ; SUPERSTITION ; TABLE MANNERS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-00-1971
CURE FOR WARTS
IF YOU HAVE A WART ON YOUR BODY, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:
A) CUT AN ONION IN HALF
B) RUB THE ONION ON THE WART
C) BURY THE ONION OUTSIDE SOMEWHERE
IF THIS PROCEDURE IS FOLLOWED CORRECTLY, THE WART WILL DISAPPEAR IN
A FEW DAYS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
Date learned: 11-00-1973
CURE FOR HEADACHES
IF YOU HAVE A HEADACHE OR A BUMP ON YOUR HEAD, IN ORDER TO STOP THE
PAIN OR SWELLING, YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING FIVE STEPS:
1) GET SOME POTATOES
2) CUT THEM IN HALVES
3) CUT THEM IN QUARTERS
4) PUT THEM IN A TOWEL
5) WRAP THE TOWEL AROUND YOUR HEAD, OR AROUND THE BUMP
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Head, physiognomy, face BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
BELIEF
IF YOU GO SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN, OR ANY OTHER LARGE BODY OF WATER ON
HOLY THURSDAY, YOU WILL TURN INTO A FISH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | 663 Holy Thursday Favorites BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Still water Large body. |
Date learned: 10-00-1973
FIRE ESCAPE COUNTERWEIGHTS
THERE IS AN OLD CUSTOM IN CHICAGO OF ELABORATELY DESIGNING THE
COUNTERWEIGHTS ON THE LAST SECTION OF A FIRE ESCAPE (THAT PORTION
OF THE ESCAPE THAT KEEPS THE LAST SECTION RAISED), THESE WEIGHTS
ARE CAST IRON AND THE CASTINGS HAVE INTRICATE DESIGNS OF LETTERS OR
FIGURES. THIS CUSTOM SHOWS UP ON SOME FAIRLY
OLD BUILDINGS I'VE
SEEN SOME FROM THE 20S), HOWEVER, THE NEWER BUILDINGS HAVE DIFFERENT
FIRE ESCAPE SYSTEMS SO IT'S NOT DONE ANYMORE.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- M 84 |
Date learned: 00001960S
RUN MY GOOD SHEEP RUN
PLAYERS FOR THIS GAME ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO TEAMS, EACH WITH A CAPTAIN
(ABOUT EIGHT PLAYERS ARE NEEDED). EACH TEAM MEETS AND DETERMINES A
THREE-WORD CODE, (USUALLY COLORS), 1 STANDING FOR FAR AWAY, 1 FOR
COMING CLOSER AND ONE FOR VERY CLOSE. ONE TEAM IS THEN PICKED TO
HIDE AND THEIR CAPTAIN HIDES THEM, THEN COMES BACK TO THE OTHER TEAM
WHO ARE THE SEARCHERS. HE ACCOMPANIES THEM WHILE THEY LOOK FOR HIS
SHEEP (TEAM). WHILE THEY ARE SEARCHING HE CALLS OUT THE CODE WORDS
TO INFORM HIS TEAM OF THEIR PROGRESS. HE CAN ALSO CALL OUT OTHER
WORDS TO CONFUSE THE SEARCH TEAM. WHEN FINALLY THEY GET VERY CLOSE
TO HIS TEAM AND COULD SEE THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE, HE CALLS RUN MY
GOOD SHEEP RUN AND BOTH TEAMS RACE BACK TO THE STARTING POINT. THE
FIRST TEAM (IN THE FORM OF ANY MEMBER) TO REACH THAT POINT WINS.
THE TEAMS THEN EXCHANGE ROLES AND A RUNNING SCORE IS KEPT.
Submitter comment:
I LEARNED THIS GAME FROM MY PARENTS WHO PLAYED IT ON THE WEST SIDE
OF CHICAGO IN THE 1930S.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO ; WESTCHESTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: CA00001960
CRACKS
STEP OVER A CRACK AND YOU'LL BREAK THE DEVIL'S DISHES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
TURKEY-DAY
THERE IS A CUSTOM IN AMERICA IN WHICH THE PRIMARY FOOD ON
THANKSGIVING IS TURKEY. IT IS BELIEVED THAT WHEN THE PILGRIMS
CELEBRATED THE FIRST THANKSGIVING, THE INDIANS GAVE THEM TURKEY
TO EAT, AND IT HAS CARRIED OVER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Autumn Fall Harvest Thanksgiving |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
GOOD CORN
"KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY" MEANS THE CORN CROP IS DOING
WELL.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
ITCHING EYES
IF YOUR LEFT EYE ITCHES, YOU'LL CRY. IF YOUR RIGHT EYE ITCHES,
YOU'LL LAUGH.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS A FRIEND OF MINE WHO REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 02-00-1971