Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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"Great Green Gobs"
(sung to the tune of "The Old Gray Mare")
Great green gobs of greasy, grimy, gopher guts
Mutilated monkey meat
Dirty little birdies' feet
French fried eyeballs lying in a pool of blood,
And I forgot my spoon!
Submitter comment:
This "classic" children's parody of the "The Old Gray Mare"
was learned by Terry in Ohio during the 50's. It is still
being sung in much the same manner by children in the Detroit
area, as well as children in the Chicago area. Probably
versions of it are sung throughout the United States.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): mock horror, cannibalism, humor, gore
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
IF YOU PUT WEDDING CAKE UNDER YOUR PILLOW YOU WILL DREAM ABOUT THE
MAN YOU WISH TO MARRY. IF YOU PUT IT IN THE DEEP FREEZE YOU WILL
POSTPONE THE MEETING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): FREEZER
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage |
Date learned: 10-15-1987 ; 10-14-1987
IF YOU DROP A SPOON YOU ARE GOING TO GET A FEMALE VISITOR, IF YOU
DROP A FORK YOUR ARE GOING TO GET A MALE VISITOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
TAUNT-INSULT
ARABIC INSULT: DAMN THE BOAT THAT BROUGHT YOU OVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 03-02-1970
SILVERWARE-NUMBER GAME
KNIVES, FORKS, AND SPOONS ARE ARRANGED IN WHAT LOOKS
TO BE A PATTERN OF SOME SORT. PARTICIPANTS TRY TO
GUESS WHAT NUMBER FROM ZERO TO TEN THE ARRANGEMENT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE KNIVES, FORKS, AND SPOONS,
HOWEVER, DO NOT REPRESENT ANY NUMBER. THE TRICKSTER
ACTUALLY HAS A CERTAIN NUMBER OR NO NUMBER OF HIS
FINGERS SHOWING ON THE TABLE.
Submitter comment:
A BIOLOGY NUN PLAYED THE GAME ON US. SHE FOUND IT
VERY AMUSING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
WHEN AN ALUMINUM PAN HAS A STAIN IN THE BOTTOM, COOK
A CITRUS FRUIT OR A VEGETABLE LIKE TOMATOES IN IT
TO REMOVE THE STAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 11-14-1971
ST. JOHN ON PURITY
WREATHS OF FLOWERS MADE OF HONEYSUCKLE WITH A LIGHTED
CANDLE IN THE MIDDLE ARE SAILED ON A RIVER WITH A
CURRENT. THE WREATH TRAVELING THE FURTHEST WITH
ITS LIGHT LIT, REPRESENTS THE PURITY AND LONG LIFE
OF THE OWNER.
Submitter comment: THIS IS A POLISH CUSTOM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom |
Date learned: 07-00-1964
THIS GUY WAS LOST ONE NIGHT. HE KEPT DRIVING THROUGH
BUT HE NEW HE WAS ON THE WRONG ROAD. FINDALLY, HE
CAME TO A HOUSE. THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ROCKING ON A
PORCH. HE PULLED UP THERE AND SAID, "HEY, CAN YOU
TELL ME WHERE THIS ROAD GOES?" THE OLD MAN SAID,
"I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE AND THAT ROAD NEVER
WENT ANYWHERE. IT'S ALWAYS STAYED RIGHT THERE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
PAT AND MIKE CAME TO A PERSIMMON TREE (A WILD FRUIT
TREE). PAT SAYS, "LET'S CLIMB UP IN THE PERSIMMON
TREE AND EAT PERSIMMONS." MIKE SAYS, "PAT, YOU
KNOW I CAN'T CLIMB TREES." SO PAT CLIMBS UP THE TREE
AND WAS EATING PERSIMMONS. MIKE SAYS, "HEY, PAT, THROW
ME DOWN ONE, THROW ME DOWN ONE." PAT WOULD TOSS HIM
DOWN ONE AND KEEP EATING. MIKE WAS BEGGING HIM TO
THROW DOWN MORE. WHEN PAT DID, MIKE WOULD BACK OFF
AND CATCH IT IN HIS MOUTH. PAT SAW A LITTLE TREE
FROG UP THERE. HE SAYS, "HEY, MIKE, HERE'S ONE
BUT IT'S A LITTLE CROOKED." "COME-ON, PITCH IT
DOWN," SAYS MIKE, AS HE OPENS HIS MOUTH. "IT'S
A LITTLE CROOKED," SAYS PAT. "CHOMP, CHOMP,
CHOMP, CROOKED OR STRAIGHT," MIKE SAID
"(ILLEGIBLE WORDS) DOWN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
Entry filtered.
SO PAT AND MIKE WERE GOING ALONG ONE DAY AND FOUND A
LITTLE WATCH. A PRETTY LITTLE GOLD WATCH AND THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. ONE HANDED IT TO THE OTHER
AND SAID THAT IT WAS PRETTY. FINALLY, MIKE HELD IT
TO HIS EAR AND HEARD IT TICK-TICK. SO HE SHOVED
IT OVER TO PAT AND SAID, "LISTEN AT IT TICK-TICK-TICK.
THAT IS A TIC." THEY PUT IT ON A BIG STONE AND TOOK
A LITTLE STONE AND SMASHED IT ALL TO PIECES. MIKE
SAYS, "THAT TIC WILL NEVER BITE ANYONE."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
MOON BELIEF
IF THE MOON IS FULL THE CROPS WOULD GROW TALL.
THIS WAS NOT GOOD FOR POTATOES BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE GROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food BELIEF -- Moon |
Date learned: 02-07-1972
BELIEF
WHENEVER MY MOTHER STARTED TO SAY SOMETHING AND SHE FORGOT WHAT
SHE WAS GOING TO SAY, SHE WOULD SAY, "IT MUST HAVE BEEN A LIE."
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; FORGET ; Lie
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 02-02-1972
REMEDY
FOR A SPRAIN TO THE ANKLE OR ELSEWHERE, TAKE THE WHITE OF ONE EGG,
BEAT IT UNTIL STIFF, AND STIR IT THICK WITH SALT. BIND IT ONTO THE
SPRAINED AREA AND RENEW WHEN DRY UNTIL THE SORENESS DISAPPEARS.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; OAKLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001920S
REMEDY
TO RELEIVE THE PAIN FROM A CORN, SOAK A SMALL PIECE OF STALE BREAD
IN A STRONG APPLE VINEGAR AND BIND IT ON FOR THREE NIGHTS OR MORE,
UNTIL THE CORN DISAPPEARS.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; OAKLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001920S
LEGEND: PROHIBITION
THERE IS A METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF GARLAND
AND JEFFERSON IN DETROIT. DURING THE YEARS OF PROHIBITION THE
PASTOR THERE WAS REVEREND STIDGER, KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC AS AN
ARDENT PROHIBITIONIST. ON TOP OF HIS CHURCH WAS A REVOLVING
CROSS THAT WAS ILLUMINATED AND COULD BE SEEN FROM THE RIVER.
IT IS ALLEGED THAT WHEN THIS CROSS WAS LIT AND REVOLVING, THIS
WAS A SIGNAL TO THE RUM-RUNNERS ON THE RIVER CONCERNING WHETHER
THE GUARDS WERE ON DUTY OR NOT, SO THAT THEY COULD MOVE THE
CONTRABAND ACROSS THE RIVER.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER (MR. VAN ANTWERP) HAS TOLD ME OTHER STORIES OF THE
RUM-RUNNING DURING PROHIBITION. HE SAYS HE KNOWS FOR A FACT IT
WAS GOING ON, BUT AS TO WHETHER THE CROSS ON THE CHURCH HAD ANY-
THING TO DO WITH IT, HE THINKS IT WAS ONLY A RUMOR. HE DID SAY
THAT IT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert |
REMEDY
FOR FEVER-USE PEPPERMINT LEAVES FRESH OR IF NOT IN SEASON, USE
DRIED, WITH BORAJA AND TOMARINDO (THEY TASTE AND SMELL LIKE LEMON,
IN THE FORM OF STICKS.). ADD CINNAMON. BOIL TOGETHER ABOUT 15 MINUTES
THEN STRAIN AND DRINK HOT. MAYBE YOU MIGHT ADD 1 OR 2 JIGGERS OF
WHISKEY, IF IN PAIN OR IN HAVING LABOR PAINS.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS LEARNED BY THE INFORMANT WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL IN
TEXAS. SHE WAS TAUGHT THIS BY HER MOTHER OR GRANDPARENTS, PRIMARILY
HER GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LINCOLN PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANTS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P248 BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 01-10-1973
REMEDY
FOR A BURN, MIX EQUAL PARTS OF WHITE OF AN EGG AND OLIVE OIL.
APPLY MIXTURE AT ONCE AND COVER WOUND WITH A PIECE OF LINEN. NO
BLISTERING SHOULD RESULT. YOU MAY ALSO APPLY BAKING SODA,
COVER WITH A CLOTH AND KEEP WET WITH COLD WATER TO AVOID BLISTERING.
Where learned: FLORIDA ; OAKLAND PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 00001920S
THERE IS A MAN (WHOM I HAVE SEEN) WHO WALKS UP AND
DOWN A CERTAIN STREET. HE WAS INJURED IN AN AUTOMOBILE
ACCIDENT. WHEN CARS SPEED UP THE ROAD, HE WILL THROW
ROCKS AT THEM. WHEN THEY DRIVE SLOWLY, HE WAVES
FRIENDILY.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 00-00-1959
HEX SIGNS
THE PENNSYLVANIA-DUTCH USE A HEXAGON-SHAPED AND BRIGHTLY
PAINTED SYMBOL ON THEIR HOUSES AND BARNS TO WARD OFF
EVIL.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BETHEL PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms |
Date learned: 00-00-1959