Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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TELEPHONE PRANK
CALL A BAR; ASK IF THEY HAVE POP IN BOTTLES. IF ANSWER IS YES, SAY
"YOU'D BETTER LET HIM OUT, MOM WANTS HIM AT HOME."
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY CHILDHOOD
Where learned: SUN PRAIRIE ; WISCONSIN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HUMOR PRACTICAL JOKE METAPHOR SODA
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
TELEPHONE PRANK
CALL SOMEONE.
ASK IF THEIR REFRIGERATOR IS RUNNING.
IF YES, TELL THEM, "YOU'D BETTER CATCH IT."
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM MY CHILDHOOD
Where learned: SUN PRAIRIE ; WISCONSIN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): HUMOR JOKE
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
THREE FLIES UP
THREE FLIES UP IS A COMMON CHILDHOOD GAME. THE GAME FOLLOWS
THE USUAL RULES OF BASEBALL, WITH THE "BATTER" GIVEN THREE
OUTS, AND BOUNDARIES OF A FIELD ARE ESTABLISHED. THE GAME
IS USUALLY PLAYED BY TWO PEOPLE, A BATTER AND A FIELDER.
A RUBBER BALL IS THROWN AGAINST THE SIDE OF A TALL BRICK
WALL. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS FOR THE BATTER TO BOUNCE
THE BALL OFF THE WALL AND HAVE IT LAND IN THE FIELD
WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT, WHICH IS A HIT. RUNS ARE TALLIED
IN THE USUAL WAY, AND HOME RUNS ARE POSSIBLE, DEPENDING
ON THE FIELD BOUNDARIES. THE WINNER AT THE END OF THE
GAME HAS THE MOST RUNS.
Submitter comment:
THIS GAME WAS PLAYED QUITE FREQUENTLY BY MYSELF DURING
CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: POUGHKEEPSIE ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
STARLIGHT, STARBRIGHT
FIRST STAR I SEE TONIGHT.
I WISH I MAY, WISH I MIGHT,
HAVE THE WISH I WISH TONIGHT.
Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM SISTER.
Where learned: NEW YORK, ASSUMED ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-24-1967
FRANKENSTEIN
(NAME) IS A FRIEND OF MINE,
HE RESEMBLES FRANKENSTEIN.
WHEN HE DOES THE IRISH JIG,
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE PORKY PIG.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): QUATRAIN INSULT DANCING-IRISH JIG ; RHYME: ABAB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
POLISH CUSTOM
IT IS A CUSTOM, THAT A WEEK AFTER NEW YEAR'S DAY, THE INITIALS OF THE
THREE BIBLICAL KINGS ARE SCRAWLED IN CHALK ON THE DOORS. THE HOMES
THAT ARE MARKED ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST MISFORTUNE FOR A
YEAR.
Where learned: DETROIT, ASSUMED ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): EPIPHANY
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 6 Twelfth Day Epiphany January 6 |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
LAGOON MAN
ONE PLAYER IS SELECTED AS THE LAGOON MAN. HE IS BLIND
FOLDED, THEN ORDERED TO TWIRL AROUND. WHEN HE
STOPS, THOSE OTHER PLAYERS WHO HAVE TAKEN LEAVE
FROM HIM MUST ALSO STOP AND NOT MOVE. THE LAGOON MAN
PROCEEDS TO STEP FORWARD AND THE FIRST PLAYER HE
CORRALS IS THE NEW LAGOON MAN.
Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS WHEN I WAS SMALL. I DON'T KNOW FROM WHO.
Where learned: NEW YORK, ASSUMED ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN A DOG HOWLS AT NIGHT, LOOK IN THE DIRECTION IT
IS HOWLING AND THERE WILL BE A DEATH IN THAT HOUSE.
Submitter comment:
THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE HER
GRANDFATHER DIED. COINCIDENCE?
FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; TAYLOR
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
MIDNIGHT
ONE PLAYER IS THE FOX AND THE OTHER PLAYERS ARE THE
CHICKENS. THE FOX IS IN HIS DEN, A SMALL AREA
MARKED OFF AT ONE END OF THE PLAY SPACE. THE CHICKENS
APPROACH HIS DEN ASKING, "WHAT TIME IS IT?" THE FOX
MAY ANSWER ANY CLOCK TIME. WHEN HE ANSWERS "MIDNIGHT!"
THAT IS HIS SIGNAL THAT HE IS GOING TO CHASE THE
CHICKENS. AT THE SIGNAL, THE CHICKENS RUN FOR SAFETY.
THEY ARE SAFE WHEN THEY REACH A SPECIFIED AREA. ANY
WHO ARE CAUGHT BY THE FOX BEFORE REACHING SAFETY ARE
TAKEN TO HIS DEN AND ASSIST IN CATCHING THE CHICKENS
WHEN THE FOX SIGNALS. THE CHICKENS APPROACH THE FOX'S
DEN AND THE GAME CONTINUES UNTIL ALL THE PLAYERS ARE
TAGGED.
Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED FROM KIDS IN NEIGHBORHOOD.
Where learned: NEW YORK, ASSUMED ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 10-29-1967
RUSSIAN FOOD
RUSSIANS LOVE ICE CREAM AND ALL OVER RUSSIA THEY HAVE LITTLE
CARTS WITH READY MADE CONES.
Where learned: GRAND RAPIDS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GUESSING GAME
A CERTAIN CHILDHOOD GUESSING GAME INVOLVES TRYING TO GUESS
WHAT OBJECT WAS PURCHASED AT A GROCERY OR DEPARTMENT STORE
FROM CLUES GIVEN BY A PERSON. THE PERSON LEADING THE
GAME BEGINS WITH THE WORDS, "I WENT TO THE STORE AND I
BOUGHT..." HE THEN GIVES SUBTLE HINTS AS TO WHAT THE
OBJECT MIGHT BE. IF A PARTICIPANT GUESSES WHAT THE
SUBJECT IS, THEN HE WILL CHOOSE THE NEXT ITEM TO BE
GUESSED AT. IF THE OBJECT IS NOT GUESSED AT CORRECTLY
AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, THE ANSWER IS GIVEN, AND THE
SAME PERSON CONTINUES WITH ANOTHER OBJECT TO BE GUESSED
AT. THIS GAME WAS PLAYED FREQUENTLY BY ME DURING
CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: POUGHKEEPSIE ; NEW YORK, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERB
ONE WHO TRIES TO HIDE HIS SICKNESS DIES FROM IT
Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; TAYLOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; MEDICINE
James Callow Keyword(s): MEDICAL TREATMENT ; SECRETIVE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
MAKE A WISH ON YOUR BIRTHDAY CANDLES. THEN TRY TO BLOW
THEM OUT (ALL AT ONCE). IF ALL THE CANDLES ARE BLOWN
OUT, THE WISH WILL COME TRUE THAT YEAR. THE NUMBER
OF CANDLES LEFT BURNING REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF
YEARS FOR THE WISH TO COME TRUE.
Submitter comment: FAMILY CUSTOM.
Where learned: NEW YORK, ASSUMED ; HAMBURG
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
IN THE FACTORY WHERE I WORKED THIS SUMMER, IT WAS
A WELL KNOWN GESTURE TO POINT ONE'S INDEX FINGER
UP IN THE AIR AND ROTATE IT TO INDICATE STARTING
THE MACHINE BACK UP AFTER A JAM-UP OR BREAKDOWN.
Where learned: Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOLK CURE FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
TAKE A FRESH LEMON AND SQUEEZE OUT THE JUICE AND DRINK IT STRAIGHT.
Where learned: WESTERN YMCA ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 11-12-1971
ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING STORIES MY FATHER EVER TOLD ME
ABOUT BANSHEES WAS THIS ONE. IT SCARED ME MORE THAN ANY
OF THE REST BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER.
SOMEHOW THOSE STORIES AREN'T QUITE SO FRIGHTENING WHEN
THEY ARE ABOUT SOMEONE ELSE.
GRANDPA DIED A VERY OLD MAN. HE WAS BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY
HIS DAUGHTER, NELLIE, WHO WAS MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER.
HE WAS REFERRED TO BY THE CHILDREN, MY FATHER AND UNCLES,
AS "BLIND GRANDPA." CATARACTS HAD TAKEN HIS SIGHT EARLY
IN HIS SIXTIES. BESIDES BEING VERY OLD AND BLIND,
GRANDPA WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE THAT WARM SPRING DAY,
AS HE SAT ROCKING IN THE FRONT PARLOR. SUDDENLY, HE
LET OUT A YELL TO NELLIE.
"NELLIE, COME IN HERE, GET THIS DOG OUT OF HERE, GET
HIM OUT." NELLIE CAME RUNNING. SHE WAS SO SURPRISED AT
HER FATHER'S OUTBURST THAT SHE DIDN'T STOP TO THINK
THAT HE COULDN'T HAVE SEEN ANY DOG EVEN IF THERE WAS
ONE, WHICH THERE WASN'T BECAUSE THE MC GRAWS DIDN'T
OWN A DOG THEN. SHE TRIED TO CALM HER FATHER, BUT HIS
AGITATION ONLY GREW AND SHE CALLED HER SISTERS-IN-LAW
FROM NEXT DOOR TO COME OVER WHILE SHE WENT FOR THE DOCTOR.
SHE NEEDN'T HAVE BOTHERED. WHEN SHE CAME BACK OUT INTO
THE PARLOR WITH KIT AND JO, BLIND GRANDPA WAS DEAD. HE
WAS SITTING IN THE ROCKER WITH HIS EYES CLOSED AND HE WAS
DEAD. NEXT TO HIM, JUST OUTSIDE THE SCREEN DOOR SAT A
HUGE BLACK LABRADOR. WHILE KIT, JO AND NELLIE STOOD
THERE IN HORROR, HE THREW BACK HIS HEAD AND HOWLED, THEN
TURNED AND DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. A THOROUGH SEARCH OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRODUCED NO DOG NOR ANYONE WHO CLAIMED
SEEING SUCH A DOG EVER AROUND THERE. SOME HAD HEARD THE
HOWL, OTHERS HADN'T OR REFUSED TO ADMIT IT. MY FATHER
REMEMBERED IT AS DID HIS BROTHER CHARLES, BOTH OF WHOM
HAD BEEN IN LORRAINE, OHIO WHILE THEIR GRANDFATHER WAS
DYING IN THE FRONT PARLOR OF THE FAMILY HOUSE IN CLEVELAND.
THE WAIL OF THE BANSHEE IS HEARD BY THOSE MEANT TO HEAR
IT AND IS NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN.
Where learned: OHIO ; LAKEWOOD ; OHIO, ASSUMED ; CLEVELAND
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001913-1968
STANDING IN THE SEVENTH INNING OF A BASEBALL GAME.
Submitter comment: LEARNED IT WHEN I SAW IT ON T.V.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THAT WENT OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
YOU MAKE ABOUT AS MUCH SENSE AS A SCREEN DOOR IN A SUBMARINE.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 11-23-1970
DIVIDING THE RING
ONE PERSON GOES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM AND
FACES AWAY. ANOTHER PERSON TAKES A RING AND MAKES
TWO ROUNDS OF ALL THE PEOPLE SITTING AROUND HIM.
THEN THE GUESSER HAS TO COME BACK, AND TRY TO
GUESS IN THREE GUESSES. IF HE DOESN'T, HE MUST FORFEIT
SOMETHING. TO GET IT BACK, HE MUST DO WHATEVER THE
GROUP DECIDES FOR HIM TO DO: RECITE A POEM, SING A
SONG, TELL AN IMPROMPTU STORY OR SUCH.
Where learned: LITHUANIA, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Guessing |
Date learned: 03-27-1972