Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB,
THE DOCTORS WERE SURPRISED.
BUT THEY WERE EVEN MORE SURPRISED,
WHEN MAC DONALD HAD A FARM.
James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; WILLIAMSVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): BIRTH CONNOTATION
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Wisecracks, gags, silly stories, insults |
Date learned: 06-00-1965
FORMULA SPEECH
IF TWO PEOPLE TALKING TO EACH OTHER SAY THE SAME THING AT THE SAME
TIME, THEN THE FIRST TO SAY "OWE ME A COKE, TOUCH BLACK, NO CHANGE
BACK" IS ENTITLED TO A COKE BOUGHT BY THE OTHER PERSON.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; TOLD IN
Keyword(s): TALKING
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 09-00-1968
FELLOW AT CONFESSION, TELLS PRIEST HE HAD INTERCOURSE
TEN TIMES LAST NIGHT. ADULTERY? NO, WIFE. WHY TELL
ME? WANTED TO TELL SOMEBODY.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
THE PUTTING TOGETHER OF THE HANDS AND SLIGHTLY BOWING
FROM THE WAIST--MEANING, "PRAY PLEASE SHUT UP. I'D
LIKE TO SPEAK."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; HIGH SCHOOL ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts SPEECH -- Instructions Directions Silence |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE SKY IS BLUE,
HOW OLD ARE YOU.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
CUSTOMERS TO TOPLESS WAITRESS, "A DOZEN OYSTERS,
PLEASE....ONE AT A TIME."
Data entry tech comment: TOPLESS WAITRESS, THAT IS, WITH NO CLOTHES OVER THE
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
A WOMAN, STANDING NAKED BEFORE A FULL LENGTH MIRROR,
SPEAKING TO HER HUSBAND, SAYS, "YOU KNOW, DEAR, THE
DOCTOR SAID TODAY THAT I HAVE THE BREATS OF A 35-
YEAR-OLD." "YEAH," SAYS THE HUSBAND, "WHAT DID
HE SAY ABOUT YOUR 50 YEAR-OLD ASS?" "HE DIDN'T
MENTION YOU."
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; JOKE COLLECTION
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Married couple |
Date learned: 10-05-1971
MY PARENTS
ONCE IN MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE WAS THIS ONE KID WHO
ASKED HIS FATHER IF HE COULD MARRY THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.
HIS FATHER SAID NO AND TOLD HIM THAT THAT GIRL WAS
REALLY HIS DAUGHTER AND TO MARRY HIS SISTER WOULD
NEVER DO. HIS MOTHER TOOK HIM ASIDE LATER AND TOLD
HIM NOT TO WORRY AND THAT HE COULD MARRY THAT GIRL
BECAUSE HE WASN'T REALLY HIS SON.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Married couple |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGM
THE ONLY CERTAIN THINGS ARE DEATH AND TAXES
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
THE FATHER BAKER STORY
IT IS A COMMONLY ACCEPTED FACT THAT WHEN THEY WERE CONSTRUCTING
FATHER BAKER'S HOME FOR BOYS (BUFFALO, NEW YORK), THERE WAS GOING
TO BE A SHORTAGE OF OPERATING FUNDS. WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO TAP
THE GAS PIPE, FATHER BAKER SAID NO, POINTED TO A DIFFERENT SPOT,
AND SAID, "DIG THERE." THEY FOUND A NATURAL GAS WELL.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
Entry filtered.
PARODY OF "BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC"
GLORY GLORY HALLELUJAH
TEACHER HIT ME WITH A RULER
I MET HER AT THE DOOR
WITH MY TRUSTY FORTY-FOUR
AND THERE AIN'T NO TEACHER ANYMORE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): ANTI-TEACHER ; EUPHEMISM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Ill humor Ridicule Mockery Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORED BY COLLECTOR.
Toast
A toast to all your fine ambition, about which we all rant;
Because it makes you do the things that everyone says you can't.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): Ability ; AMBITION ; DRINKING ; Social ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
BAD LUCK OMEN
ACCORDING TO THIS INFORMANT, IT IS
AN OLD POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT IF ONE WEARS
A HAT INSIDE A HOUSE, IT MEANS THAT
SOMEONE IN THE FAMILY WILL SOON BECOME SICK.
Where learned: HOME ; BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: SPRING 00001964
BAD LUCK OMEN
ACCORDING TO THIS INFORMANT, IT IS AN
OLD POLISH SUPERSTITION THAT IF A PAIR OF
SHOES IS LEFT ON A DINING TABLE, IT MEANS
THAT A DEATH IN THE FAMILY IS NEAR.
Where learned: HOME ; BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Toast
Although another year has passed, we will act no older than the last.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Small grammar correction written on submission.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
Keyword(s): AGE ; Maturity ; Social: Drinking ; TOAST
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech SPEECH -- Formula |
Entry filtered.
WEDDING TRADITION
ORIGINALLY, THE WEDDING RING WAS PLACED
ON THE THIRD FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND BECAUSE IT WAS THOUGHT
TO BE CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE HEART BY THE
"VENA AMORIS", THE VEIN OF LOVE.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK ; WEDDING SHOWER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 10-00-1969
GRADUATION CUSTOMS
IT IS CUSTOMARY AT AMHERST HIGH SCHOOL IN BUFFALO,
NEW YORK, THAT THE SENIORS SKIP A DAY OF CLASSES
NEAR THE END OF THE SEMESTER. ALSO, THEY PULL PRANKS
SUCH AS POURING ACID ON THE GRASS OF THE SCHOOLYARD
TO READ OBSCENE WORDS, OR PUT SOMETHING ON THE
FLAGPOLE AND GREASE IT SO NO ONE COULD GET IT DOWN.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU PLACE A PURSE ON A BED, YOU'LL SOON HAVE BAD LUCK.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Furniture (bed, table, chair, etc.) |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD