Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 6074 returned 123 results.
QUIZZIES
THERE WAS A PROFESSOR AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
NOTORIOUS FOR TESTS WHICH HE CONSIDERED SIMPLE ENOUGH
TO BE CALLED "QUIZZIES." ONE DAY, HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD
GIVE A QUIZZIE ON THE FOLLOWING DAY WHICH WOULD REQUIRE
NO PREPARATORY STUDY. THE "QUIZZIE" TURNED OUT TO BE
AN HOUR LONG EXAM! ONE FURIOUS GIRL STOMPPED UP TO
THE PROFESSOR'S DESK AND, SLAMMING DOWN THE EXAM, SAID,
"IF THIS IS A QUIZZIE" I'D LIKE TO SEE YOUR TESTIES."
Submitter comment:
TOLD AS A TRUE STORY AFTER THE INFORMANT'S FIRST
SEMESTER AT MICHIGAN STATE IN 1960.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
STUPID SALLY JOKE
STUPID SALLY WAS AT THE SHOW WITH HER BOYFRIEND, WHEN
SUDDENLY, HE PUTS HIS HAND DOWN HER BLOUSE. BUT
STUPID SALLY WASN'T WORRIED, SHE KNEW HER MONEY WAS
IN HER SHOE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
STUPID SALLY JOKE
STUPID SALLY WAS WALKING THEROUGH TH FOREST WHEN,
SUDDENLY, A MAN JUMPS OUT OF THE WOODS AND SAYS, "TAKE
OFF ALL YOUR CLOTHES!"
BUT SALLY WASN'T WORRIED, SHE KNEW THEY WOULDN'T
FIT HIM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
STUPID SALLY JOKE
STUPID SALLY WENT TO THE DOCTOR WHO TOLD HER THAT SHE
WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT AND GOING TO HAVE TWINS. BUT
SALLY WASN'T WORRIED, SHE KNEW IT COULDN'T BE TRUE
BECAUSE SHE ONLY DID IT ONCE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD IT AT DRIVERS' TRAINING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
STARTING A CAR EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS IS A STORY THAT WENT AROUND WHEN AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSIONS FIRST BECAME POPULAR.
A MAN, WHOSE CAR HAD STALLED, WAS TELLING A WOMAN,
WHO HAD OFFERED A PUSH, THAT TO TURN OVER HIS MOTOR
SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO 35 M.P.H. HE CLIMBS INTO THE
SEAT, LOOKS INTO HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND LEAPS
TO SAFETY, JUST AS THE WOMAN DRIVER CRASHES INTO
HIS CAR AT 35 M.P.H.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DRUNK JOKE
THE STORY IS TOLD ABOUT THE OLD DRUNK WHO WALKS
INTO A STRANGE BAR CARRYING THIS ALLIGATOR.
THE OLD DRUNK ASKS THE BARTENDER IF HE SERVES
DRUNKS AT THIS BAR. THE BARTENDER SAID YES.
"GOOD, SAID THE DRUNK, GIVE ME A WHISKEY AND
GIVE MY ALLIGATOR A DRUNK."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 03-15-1967
SUPERSTITION OF THE NUMBER 13.
NO AIRLINE FLIGHT WILL EVER HAVE THE NUMBER 13 IN IT, OR NO SEAT
WILL BE LABELED SEAT 13. THIS IS CONSIDERED BAD LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: CA00001979
BASEBALL SUPERSTITION
AT THE END OF AN INNING THE OPPOSING TEAM THROWS THE BALL TO THE
MOUND AND THE PITCHER MUST BE THE FIRST ONE TO TOUCH THE BALL. THIS
IS GOOD LUCK TO THE PITCHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually. BELIEF -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA0001979
ELEPHANT JOKE
WHAT TIME IS IT WHEN AN ELEPHANT SITS ON A FENCE? TIME TO GET A
NEW FENCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: CA0001980
FUNERALS
COUNTING THE NUMBER OF CARS IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION,
IT IS ASSURED THAT THER WILL SOON BE A DEATH IN YOUR OWN FAMILY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs |
Date learned: CA02001980
CURE FOR A COUGH
THE BEST CURE FOR A COUGH IS:
1 SHOT OF WHISKEY
2 SHOTS OF LEMON JUICE
3 SHOTS OF HONEY, MIX WELL AND DRINK IT DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: CA02001980
NAME CALLING
WHEN CHILDREN GET INTO ARGUEMENTS, AMONG THEMSELVES
AND THE NAME CALLING BEGINS,
THEY CHANT
STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES BUT NAMES WILL NEVER HURT ME
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): RETORT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: CA02001980
WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL THE NUNS MADE US DRESS UP AS OUR PATRON
SAINT ON HALLOWEEN.
Submitter comment: GRADE SCHOOL ST. MICHAEL'S OF LIVONIA
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | DRAMA -- Religious CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: GRADE SCHOOL
BIRTH BELIEF
AFTER A BABY IS BORN THERE IS A PIECE OF THE UMBILICAL CORD
WHICH IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CHILD!S NAVEL. THIS PIECE WILL
EVENTUALLY FALL OFF. IF YOU THROW THIS PIECE AWAY, THE CHILD
WILL BE A RUN AROUND. IF YOU IMPLANT IT SOMEWHERE IN THE
HOME, THE CHILD WILL GROW UP AND NEVER LEAVE HOME.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS TO HER SON, HE IS 40 AND STILL LIVING
AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
SONG ( JEST )
ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT
GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM.
PUSH YOUR TEACHER OVERBOARD
AND LISTEN TO HER SCREAM
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT THIS SONG IS PRESENTLY SUNG BY THE
STUDENTS OF THE HULL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LIVONIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): SONG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 02-07-1971
SILVERWARE BELIEFS
WHENEVER ONE DROPS A FORK, A WOMWN IS COMING TO THE HOME; WHEN A
KNIFE IS DROPPED A MAN IS COMING; IF A SPOON IS DROPPED A CHILD IS
COMING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | Observation |
Date learned: 09-24-1969
GOOD FRIDAY CUSTOM
PRUNING ROSEBUSHES ON GOOD FRIDAY WILL RESULT IN BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT RECALLS THIS AS A REGULAR PRACTICE OF ONE OF HER POLISH
NEIGHBORS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
| Subject headings: | 663 Good Friday |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
WEDDING SHOWER CUSTOM
AT A BRIDAL SHOWER, THE NUMBER OF RIBBONS BROKEN FROM THE PRESENTS
THE BRIDE RECEIVES INDICATES THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SHE WILL HAVE.
SEVEN BROKEN RIBBONS MEAN SEVEN CHILDREN.
Submitter comment:
EVERYONE LAUGHS AT THIS CUSTOM, BUT AT EVERY BRIDAL SHOWER I HAVE
ATTENDED THE FUTURE BRIDE HAS BEEN VERY CAREFUL. I HAVE NEVER
SEEN A BROKEN RIBBON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several Observation BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: CA00001970
BIRTH BELIEF
AFTER A BABY IS BORN THERE IS A PIECE OF THE UMBILICAL CORD
WHICH IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE CHILD
EVENTUALLY FALL OFF. IF YOU THROW THIS PIECE AWAY, THE CHILD
WILL BE A RUN AROUND. IF YOU IMPLANT IT SOMEWHERE IN THE
HOME, THE CHILD WILL GROW UP AND NEVER LEAVE HOME.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S MOTHER DID THIS TO HER SON, HE IS 40 AND STILL LIVING AT HOME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 03-11-1972
PREDICTION OR BELIEF
WHENEVER A BLACK HEN COMES INTO A HOUSE, IT IS SAID TO BE GOOD LUCK.
THE PEOPLE TRY TO KEEP IT IN THE HOUSE FOR A TIME AND MAKE WISHES
THAT THE MERE PRESENCE OF THE HEN WILL FULFILL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bird BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Good luck P881.32 |