Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for BIRMINGHAM returned 584 results.
HANGOVER CURE
DRINK WHAT MADE YOU DRUNK
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001970S
GOOD LUCK
LIFT YOUR FEET UP WHILE GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: 00001970S
GOOD LUCK
TOUCH THE CEILING IN THE CAR WHILE GOING UNDER RAILROAD TRACKS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001970S
WEATHER VERSE
RED SKY AT NIGHT
SAILOR'S DELIGHT.
RED SKY IN THE MORNING
SAILORS TAKE WARNING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; FEMININE RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 00001950S
WEATHER BELIEF
RAIN BEFORE SEVEN.
SHINE BEFIRE ELEVEN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): CONTRAST ; FEMININE RHYME
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb Proverb BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 00001950S
COLD HANDS, WARM HEART
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): AFFECTION ; ALLITERATION FOR CONTRAST ; CONTRAST ; ELLIPSIS ; LOVE ; METONYMY ; TENDERNESS
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001950S
TEARS DO NOT MELT TROUBLES.
Submitter comment: SAID WHEN CRYING OVER SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 00001940S
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
WALK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK.
Submitter comment: I WAS TOLD THIS WHEN GOING FOR AN INTERVIEW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001970S
WATER, ICE, SNOW
MOTOR BOAT, MOTOR BOAT, GO SO FAST
MOTOR BOAT, MOTOR BOAT, RUN OUT OF GAS.
Submitter comment:
SAID WHILE RUNNING IN WATER IN A CIRCLE AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE
PART "RUN OUT OF GAS" EVERYONE FALLS DOWN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Water Ice Snow Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse C750.580 |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
FABLE? (DIRECTOR'S TITLE)
A MAN TRIED TO GET A JAR OF PICKLES OPENED. HE TRIED
AND TRIED. FINALLY, HE SAW THAT IT WAS A JAR OF
JELLY AND WAS JAMMED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 09-24-1965
RELIGIOUS JOKE
DID YOU EVER READ THE BIBLE FROM COVER TO COVER?
DON'T BOTHER, THE GOOD GUY GETS IT IN THE MIDDLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
TWO BOYS WERE TALKING. THE FIRST BOY SAID, "MY DAD
CAN'T MAKE UP HIS MIND WHETHER TO BUY A COW OR A
TRACTOR." THE SECOND BOY SAID, "HE SURE WOULD
LOOK FUNNY TRYING TO RIDE A COW." THE FIRST BOY
SAID, "HE'D LOOK A LOT FUNNIER TRYING TO MILK A
TRACTOR."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THIS TALE IS A MOCK ON HOW CLOSE THE IRISH FAMILIES
ARE.
ONE DAY AN ENGLISHMAN CAME WALKING DOWN THE MAIN
STREET OF DUBLIN. HE HAPPENED TO NOTICE A YOUNG
GIRL ALL DRESSED UP STANDING NEAR THE CURB WITH A
SUITCASE IN HER HAND. ON THE STEPS OF THE BUILDING
BEHIND HER WERE THREE MEN WITH THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH
OTHER, CRYING AND CARRYING ON SOMETHING AWFUL. THE
ENGLISHMAN STOPS, AND ASKS THE GIRL WHAT IS GOING ON. M "OH," SHE SAYS, "THERE HAS BEEN A WEDDING AND THAT IS M
MY NEW HUSBAND SAYING GOODBYE TO HIS FATHER AND
GRANDFATHER."
Submitter comment:
JUDY HEARD THIS TALE FROM JIM CONWAY, AN IRISH
INTERN FROM DUBLIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
Date learned: 11-27-1965
TALE
A MAN AND HIS WIFE WERE ON THE WAY HOME FROM A LONG
VACATION, PULLING A HUGE TRAILER BEHIND THEIR CAR.
THE HUSBAND HAD DRIVEN FOR MANY HOURS AND WAS TIRED.
HIS WIFE TOOK OVER THE WHEEL AND (HE) WENT TO LIE DOWN
IN THE TRAILER IN HIS SHORTS. HIS WIFE PUT ON THE
BRAKES VERY SUDDENLY, AFTER ALMOST MISSING A RED LIGHT.
THE MAN, FRIGHTENED BY THE SUDDEN STOP, RAN OUT OF THE
TRAILER (STILL IN HIS SHORTS) TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG.
AT THE SAME TIME THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE WIFE SPED
AWAY LEAVING HIM STRANDED. AT THIS VERY TIME, AN OLD
FRATERNITY BROTHER OF THIS MAN'S DROVE BY AND PICKED
HIM UP. HE ARRIVED HOME BEFORE HIS WIFE AND WAS
STANDING ON THE BACK PORCH (STILL IN HIS SHORTS) WHEN
SHE PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY. SHE WAS SO STARTLED
THAT SHE FORGOT TO STOP THE CAR AND RAN RIGHT THROUGH
THE BACK OF THE GARAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Married couple |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TALE
ONE MORNING A WOMAN WENT DOWN THE BASEMENT TO DO THE
LAUNDRY, WITH ONLY HER NIGHTGOWN ON. REALIZING THAT THIS
ALSO NEEDED WASHING, SHE TOOK IT OFF AND PUT IT IN WITH
THE LOAD OF CLOTHES. WHILE WORKING OVER THE MACHINE
IN HER "BIRTHDAY SUIT" A PIPE STARTED TO LEAK, SO SHE
PUT ON HER SON'S FOOTBALL HELMET WHICH WAS SITTING
RIGHT NEXT TO THE MACHINE. AT THAT MOMENT THE GAS-MAN
ENTERED THE HOUSE AND STARTED DOWN THE STEPS. THE
WOMAN, HEARING HIM, HID BEHIND THE FURNACE. AFTER HE
HAD LEFT, SHE FELT THE COAST WAS CLEAR AND CAME OUT,
ONLY TO HEAR FROM THE TOP OF THE STAIRS, "I HOPE
YOUR TEAM WINS, LADY."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Woman |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
THERE'S A FORD IN YOUR FUTURE
A PROFESSOR AT MIT (MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY)
WENT HOME FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. AFTER HE LEFT,
THREE OF HIS STUDENTS DISASSEMBLED A 1929 FORD COUPE AND
PATIENTLY REASSEMBLED THE CAR IN THE PROFESSOR'S VACANT
APARTMENT. AFTER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, THE PROFESSOR
RETURNED TO HIS APARTMENT AND FOUND THE CAR, FULLY
ASSEMBLED AND WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING, IN HIS LIVING ROOM.
Submitter comment:
I FIRST HEARD THIS STORY FROM A FRIEND OF MY BROTHER'S
WHO WAS AT THE TIME A STUDENT AT MIT. A FEW YEARS LATER,
I HEARD THE SAME STORY (THE LOCATION WAS CALIFORNIA)
FROM A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. HE SAID
THAT HE HAD READ IT IN A COLLEGE HUMOR MAGAZINE.
Data entry tech comment: THIS USED TO BE THE SLOGAN OF THE FORD MOTOR CO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale |
Date learned: 00-00-1956
THE NEGRESS
A DETROIT COMPANY DECIDED TO HIRE A FEW NEGROES AS OFFICE
HELP. A VERY NEAT, WELL-DRESSED, COLORED GIRL CAME INTO
THE OFFICE AND FILLED OUT AN APPLICATION FOR WORK.
LATER, THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR LOOKED OVER THE APPLICATION
AND FOUND MANY MISSPELLED WORDS, INCLUDING THE APPLICANT'S
STREET. WHEN HE CAME TO THE ITEM "SEX," THE GIRL HAD
WRITTEN, "FIVE OR SIX TIMES A WEEK.:"
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT IN THIS CASE APPARENTLY LEARNED THIS STORY
IN DETROIT AS IT WAS MAKING THE ROUNDS OF THE VARIOUS
PERSONNEL OFFICES. IT MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT THAT
THE STORY WAS TOLD QUITE RECENTLY, PERHAPS IN THE WAKE
OF THE CIVIL-RIGHTS CONTROVERSY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote |
SUPERSTITION
ALWAYS TAKE A BIBLE, A BROOM, A SACK OF SALT, AND A SACK
OF FLOUR INTO A HOUSE FIRST BEFORE YOU MOVE INTO IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 02-24-1968
ILLNESS PREVENTING DRINK
GERMANS DRINK MAGENBITTER, FIGURING THAT ANYTHING
TASTING SO BAD MUST BE GOOD FOR YOU. THEY DO THIS
ESPECIALLY AFTER A NIGHT OF DRINKING, BEFORE THEY
GO TO BED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home Food Drink -- Drink BELIEF -- Custom |
Date learned: 01-22-1968
THE IRISH SAY THIS WHEN THEY ARE DRINKING:
IF THIS BE A GHOST THAT I SEE HERE IN MY HAND BEFORE
ME, I HOPE IT REAPPEARS SOON.
Submitter comment:
THE GHOST REFERS TO THE DRINK.
JUDY LEARNED THIS FROM AN IRISH INTERN VISITING IN THE
UNITED STATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-27-1965