Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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RAIN ON THE ROOF
THIS IS A SIMPLE GAME OF PHYSICAL SKILL FOR
CHILDREN. ALL THAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS GAME IS A BALL, AN
ALLEY, AND A GARAGE ROOF. IN THIS GAME EVERY CHILD IS GIVEN
A NUMBER. THE PERSON WHO HAS THE BALL THROWS IT ON THE ROOF AND
CALLS OFF ONE OF THE NUMBERS. THE PERSON WHOSE NUMBER IS
CALLED MUST CATCH THE BALL BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND OR HE IS
OUT OF THE GAME. IF HE CATCHES THE BALL, HE THROWS IT AND
CALLS OUT ANOTHER NUMBER. THE GAME CONTINIUES LIKE THIS UNTIL
THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON LEFT, AND THIS IS THE WINNER.
Submitter comment:
THERE IS ONE INTERESTING THING THAT I NOTICED WHILE I WAS
COLLECTING THIS. NOT ONLY DID MY MOTHER PLAY THIS GAME WHEN
SHE WAS YOUNG, BUT A FREIND OF MINE PLAYED THIS GAME MUCH
MORE RECENTLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 01-00-1983
RIDDLE
WHAT DID TARZAN SAY WHEN HE LANDED ON BUTTER?
ANSWER: O-LEO.
Data entry tech comment: OLEO IS A BUTTER SUBSTITUTE AND DRAWN OUT IT ; SOUNDS LIKE THE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
VOCABULARY
YOU'VE MADE YOUR BED SO SLEEP IN IT.
Submitter comment: THIS IS WHAT A GERMAN FATHER SAYS TO HIS DAUGHTER ON HER WEDDING DAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-19-1969
VOCABULARY
PLEASE?
Submitter comment:
THIS IS SAID WHEN ONE NEEDS SOMETHING REPEATED, AND IT
IS FOUND IN OHIO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-19-1969
TWO DRUNKS WERE SITTING IN A PUB WHEN ONE SAID TO
THE OTHER, "WHAT IS THE QUICKEST AND CHEAPEST WAY TO
GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF IRELAND?" "SWIM," MUMBLED
THE OTHER.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT HE HEARD THIS RECENTLY FROM AN
OLD FRIEND WHO JUST RETURNED FROM IRELAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-15-1971
TWO STONE DEAF DRUNKS WERE SITTING IN A PUB WHEN ONE
ASKED, "WHERE ARE WE?" "WIMBLY," THE OTHER ANSWERED.
"LORDY BE! I THOUGHT IT WAS THURSDAY! LET'S HAVE
ANOTHER DRINK!"
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID HE HEARD THIS STORY FROM AN OLD
IRISHMAN VISITING AMERICA AROUND 1925. INFORMANT
CONSIDERS THIS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE STORIES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-15-1971
THERE WAS ONCE A DRUNK WHO WAS GIVEN A JOB AS A
POLICEMAN IN A SMALL INDIANA TOWN. AFTER A TRAINING
PROGRAM, HE WAS ALLOWED TO GO ON HIS BEAT, WHICH ONLY
SPANNED TWO BLOCKS. TO BOOST HIS COURAGE, HE TOOK
A "NIP OR TWO." AFTER A FEW DAYS HE DISAPPEARED.
MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WENT ON A BINGE. A FEW DAYS
LATER, HOWEVER, HE SUDDENLY APPEARED HAGGERED AND
TATTERED AT THE POLICE STATION.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" SHOUTED THE OTHER POLICEMEN.
"WELL, I WAS COMIN' OUT OF O'TOOLE'S BAR AND I SAW
THIS TRUCK GOIN' THROUGH A STOP SIGN. SO I DECIDED
TO HOP ON THE BACK OF THE BUS AND GIVE EM A TICKET.
HOW DID I KNOW HE WAS GOIN' TO PITTSBURG?"
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY IN A SPEAKEASY DURING
PROHIBITION. HE DOES NOT REALLY BELIEVE IT
HAPPENED BUT CALLED IT A "GEM."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 11-15-1971
KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)
LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
IF YOU STRUM YOUR FINGERS ON A TABLE THEN YOU ARE
ANXIOUS TO LEAVE THE PLACE YOU ARE AT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA00001915
IF WHEN A WOMAN IS PREGNANT AND SHE GAINS WEIGHT ALL OVER, THEN
THE CHILD WILL BE A BOY. IF SHE GAINS WEIGHT ONLY AROUND THE
STOMACH THEN THE CHILD WILL BE A GIRL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: CA00001920
IF CHILDREN EAT ALL THEIR FOOD ON THEIR PLATES, THEN THE
NEXT DAY WILL BE BRIGHT AND SHINEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. |
Date learned: CA00001915
A BOY MUST BE THE FIRST TO KISS A GIRL ON NEW YEAR'S DAY OR ELSE
SHE WILL BE WITHOUT A BEAU THROUGH THE YEAR.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Keyword(s): KISS ; New Years ; Relationship ; tradition
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA00001920
FOLKLORE OF NEW YEAR'S DAY
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY WE ALWAYS HAVE PORK. THIS WILL INSURE
US A PLENTIFUL
US A PLENTIFUL YEAR. PORK IS THE RICH MAN'S FOOD.
Submitter comment: THIS HAS BEEN DONE SINCE AT LEAST 1915.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- N 24 N 24.2 Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: CA00001915
THIS IS A TYPE OF MUSICAL CHAIRS. THE MUSIC IS PLAYED AND THE GIRLS
WALK AROUND THE "CHAIRS". THE CHAIRS ARE REALLY THE GUYS SITTING ON
THE FLOOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: CA00001975
HUMAN MUSICAL CHAIRS
ANY NUMBER OF CHAIRS ARE SET UP IN A LINE. THE PLAYERS ARE ASKED A
SERIES OF QUESTIONS, FOR EACH QUESTION THE PLAYER CAN ANSWER YES TO
HE MAY MOVE TO THE NEXT CHAIR. IF HE CAN NOT ANSWER YES HE MUST
REMAIN WHERE HE IS. IF ANOTHER PLAYER CAN ANSWER YES AND YOU
CAN NOT BUT HE WILL BE SITTING ON THE SAME CHAIR, THEN HE SITS ON
YOUR LAP. ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE CAN BE ON ONE CHAIR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Wit |
Date learned: CA00001975
FOLKLORE OF GAMES
EITHER A BOY OR GIRL IS DEEMED IT. HE MUST THEN APPROACH SOMEONE OF
THE OPPISITE SEX AND ASK THE QUESTION "IF YOU ME , HONEY, SMILE?"
THE PERSON MUST THEN REPLY WITHOUT SMILING "I LOVE YOU , HONEY, BUT
I JUST CAN'T SMILE." THE PERSON WHO IS IT MUST KEEP GOING UNTIL HE
FINDS SOMEONE WHO SMILES WHEN REPLYING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime |
Date learned: CA00001975
A FORM OF HIDE AND SEEK. EACH PERSON HIDES AND MUST STAY HIDDEN
UNTIL THE PERSON WHO IS IT CALLS OUT A COLOR THEY HAVE ON. ONCE YOU
HEAR A COLOR CALLED OUT THAT YOU HAVE ON YOU RUN TO THE GOAL BEFORE
YOU ARE CAUGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Hiding Searching |
Date learned: CA00001965
GIRLS THAT WHISTLE LIKE TO BE KISSED AND WHEN THEY ARE WHISTLING
THEY ARE REALLY ASKING TO BE KISSED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: CA00001915
IF YOU FORGET WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY, THEN IT MUST HAVE BEEN A
LIE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: CA00001915
STEP ON THE HEEL OF SOMEONE'S SHOE AND IT MEANS YOU WANT TO GO TO
THEIR WEDDING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FARMINGTON
Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: CA00001915