Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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POM POM
TWO GOALS ARE SET UP. ONE PERSON IS IT. ALL THE PLAYERS
STAND BEHIND A GOAL EXCEPT FOR IT, WHO STANDS BETWEEN
THE TWO GOALS. IT CALLS POM-POM AND THE PLAYERS RUN TO
GET TO THE OTHER GOAL. IT TRIES TO TAG THE PLAYERS.
ANYBODY THAT IS CAUGHT IS ALSO IT. THIS IS DONE UNTIL
EVERYBODY IS CAUGHT.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Song: Game, Pastime, Sport |
Date learned: 11-25-1970
CHASE
THERE ARE TWO TEAMS. ONE TEAM STANDS AROUND A POLE.
THE OTHER TEAM GOES AND HIDES. THE TEAM AROUND THE
POLE COUNTS TO TWENTY AND GOES TO TRY TO FIND THEM.
TO CATCH A GUY, THEY HAVE TO HOLD HIM FOR FIVE
SECONDS. IF THEY CATCH HIM, HE HAS TO STAY AT THE POLE.
IF A PLAYER WHO IS NOT CAUGHT SEES ANYBODY AT THE
POLE HE CAN GO AND FREE HIM BY TAGGING HIM. WHEN
EVERYBODY IS CAUGHT THE TEAMS CHANGE ROLES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Racing Chasing Fighting |
Date learned: 11-25-1970
PEG AND STICK
A STICK ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG IS WHITTLED DOWN TO A
POINT ON EACH END. IT IS CALLED A PEG. THE STICK
WAS ABOUT TWELVE INCHES LONG. IT IS USED TO TAP
THE PEG ON EITHER END AND AS THE PEG ROSE IN THE AIR
TO STRIKE IT TOWARDS THE OPPONENT'S GOAL. THE GAME
IS PLAYED ON THE STREET, USING THE CURBS AS A SIDELINE
BOUNDARY. THE GOALS ARE USUALLY SET APART FOR THE
DISTANCE OF FIVE OR SIX HOUSES. MANHOLE COVERS WERE
LOCATED ON EACH END. EACH MAN TOOK HIS TURN AT THE
PEG. IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE POSITION IT LANDED RE-
GARDLESS WHERE--EVEN UP AGAINST A CURB. WHEN A
PLAYER FELT HE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO A PLAYER'S GOAL,
HE WOULD TRY TO THROW THE PEG AT HIS OPPONENT'S
STICK WHICH WAS PLACED IN A ROUND HOLE CARVED JUST IN
FRONT OF THE MANHOLE COVER, IF HE HITS THE STICK
HE RECEIVES A POINT. WHEN A PLAYER RECEIVES A SET
NUMBER OF POINTS, HE IS THE WINNER.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-29-1970
BOMBARDMENT
THERE ARE TWO TEAMS. EACH TEAM HAS THE SAME AMOUNT
OF BALLS. THE TEAMS STAND A CERTAIN DISTANCE APART.
EACH TEAM THROWS THE BALLS AT THE OTHER TEAM. IF
A BALL IS CAUGHT, THE GUY WHO THREW IT IS OUT OR IF
A GUY GETS HIT WITH A BALL WITHOUT CATCHING IT, THEN
HE IS OUT. IF A GUY WHO GOT SOMEBODY OUT IS HIT,
THEN THE GUYS HE HAD KNOCKED OUT GET TO COME BACK IN.
THE FIRST TEAM THAT IS COMPLETELY OUT LOSES.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-25-1970
KEEP AWAY
YOU HAVE TWO TEAMS. A BALL IS THROWN UP IN THE AIR
AND THE TEAM THAT GETS IT TRIES TO KEEP IT AWAY
FROM THE OTHER TEAM. ANY MEANS OF KEEPING THE BALL
AND OF GETTING THE BALL ARE PERMITTED. WHEN THE
TEAM THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE BALL GETS IT, THEN THEY
TRY TO KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE TEAM THAT DID.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-25-1970
PEGI-MOVE-UP
THE GAME IS USUALLY PLAYED WITH THREE PEOPLE. ONE
PLAYER IS AT BAT, ONE IS THE PITCHER AND THE OTHER
PLAYS THE FIELD. PITCHER'S HANDS IS OUT. AFTER
THE BATTER GETS THREE OUTS, THEN HE PLAYS THE FIELD,
THE FIELDER PITCHES AND THE PITCHER BATS. EACH
PLAYER KEEPS HIS OWN SCORE. OTHERWISE, THE SAME RULES
OF BASEBALL APPLY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-30-1970
STREET BASKETBALL
AFTER A BASKET IS MADE IN STREET BASKETBALL, THE
TEAM WHICH HAS JUST BEEN SCORED AGAINST GETS
THE BALL OUT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 11-05-1970
WHILE EATING DINNER AT YOUR KITCHEN TABLE, IF YOU DROP
A TEASPOON YOU WILL HAVE A YOUNG VISITOR. IF YOU DROP
A KNIFE YOU WILL HAVE AN ADULT MALE VISITOR. IF YOU
DROP A FORK, YOU WILL HAVE AN ADULT FEMALE VISITOR.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object Domestic object, wax, needle, dishware |
Date learned: 11-29-1970
KRAKOWIAK (POLISH DANCE)
LIKE THE AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE.
Where learned: CHILDHOOD ; NOT GIVEN ; HOME ; PENNSYLVANIA ; MICHIGAN ; LETTER ; OHIO ; NEW JERSEY ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; AUTOGRAPH BOOK ; GROSSE POINTE ; HARPER WOODS ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS ; WARREN ; JAPAN ; RUSSIA ; GRAND RAPIDS ; SHIPLE HALL ; GARDEN CITY ; ROYAL OAK ; TOLEDO ; TRENTON ; FARMINGTON ; KALAMAZOO ; CANADA ; ONTARIO ; MARYGROVE COLLEGE ; DETROIT ; MAIL ; INDIANA ; DETROIT, ASSUMED ; TOLD AT HOME ; FERNDALE ; SOUTHFIELD ; TENNESSEE ; MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL ; HAMTRAMCK ; DEARBORN ; MINNESOTA ; ILLINOIS ; NEW YORK ; FLORIDA ; KOREA ; WISCONSIN ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; STUDENT UNION ; READING ; AUSTRALIA ; Sylvania ; Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; OAK PARK ; SOUTHGATE ; STURGEON LAKE ; REDFORD ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA ; ROSEVILLE ; LINCOLN PARK ; TRAVERSE CITY ; HUNTINGTON WOODS ; PONTIAC ; TROY ; PORT CHESTER ; SOUTH AMERICA ; BROOKVILLE ; MONTREAL ; SEOUL ; NORTH OLMSTED ; EASTOWN THEATER ; ERIE ; University of Notre Dame ; FRANKLINVILLE ; TORONTO ; TOLD AT ; TOLD BY ; TOLD IN ; SCRANTON ; MONROE ; GLENVIEW ; MOSCOW ; GULLEY ; FINLAND ; HARBOR BEACH ; HOUGHTON LAKE ; Hudson Lake ; INDIANAPOLIS ; JONESBORO ; KANSASVILLE ; LEXINGTON ; MASSILLON ; MAUCH CHUNK ; MELVINDALE ; MILFORD ; NEW ROCHELLE ; NIAGARA FALLS ; PANAMA CITY ; PATAGONIA ; ARGENTINA ; RESIDENCE HALL ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES ; TOLD AT HONORS HOUSE ; AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dance |
BABY BUMBLEBEE
I'M BRING HOME MY BABY BUMBLEBEE, WON'T MY MOMMY BE
SO PROUD OF ME. I'M BRINGING HOME MY BABY BUMBLEBEE,
OW, IT STUNG ME. I SMUSHING UP MY BABY BUMBLEBEE,
WON'T MY MOMMY BE SO PROUD OF ME, I'M SMUSHING UP MY
BABY BUMBLEBEE, UGH WHAT A MESS! I'M LICKING UP MY
BABY BUMBLEBEE, WON'T MY MOMMY BE SO PROUD OF ME.
I'M SMUSHING UP MY BABY BUMBLEBEE, OH, TUMMY ACHE!
I'M BARFING UP MY BABY BUMBLEBEE, WON'T MY MOMMY BE SO
SO PROUD OF ME. I'M BARFING UP BABY BUMBLEBEE,
ALL BETTER!
Submitter comment: WHEN SMUSHING THE BEE PUT HANDS TOGETHER AND PRETEND TO SMUSH.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; RIVERSIDE
Keyword(s): HUMOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001970S ; 00001970S
BABY JOKE
WHAT IS BLUE ALL OVER AND SITS IN A CORNER?
A BABY PLAYING WITH A PLASTIC BAG.
Where learned: HOME ; ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 11-27-1970
MICKEY MOUSE BUILT A HOUSE,
HOW MANY BRICKS DID HE USE?
Submitter comment:
WE USED TO USE THIS VERSE TO DETERMINE WHO WOULD BE
IT FOR A GAME BY COUNTING THE PLAYER'S FEET.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
A GIRL WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECUASE IT MAKES THE BLESSED
VIRGIN CRY WHENEVER THEY DO IT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER
CHILDHOOD BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER TELLS THIS TO HER DAUGHTERS.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
James Callow Keyword(s): VANITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 10-10-1967
A GIRL WHISTLING
GIRLS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO WHISTLE BECUASE IT MAKES THE BLESSED
VIRGIN CRY WHENEVER THEY DO IT.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT IS MY MOTHER, AND SHE REMEMBERS THIS FROM HER
CHILDHOOD BECAUSE MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO TELL THIS TO HER DAUGHTERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): BLESSED VIRGIN ; Female ; Feminine ; Girl ; Ladylike ; Whistle
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Religious hero |
Date learned: EARLY CHILDHOOD
(sung to the tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic")
Glory, glory, halleluia
Teacher hit me with a ruler.
So I hit her in the bean
With a rotten tangerine
And that's the end of school!
Submitter comment:
I learned this same song in Cincinnati, Ohio during the
1950's, and when I asked people to recall the silly
school songs of their youth, this was usually the first one
they would sing.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): parody, humor, mock violence
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
Date learned: 00001950S
Every old crow
Thinks its baby white as snow.
Submitter comment:
This proverb was told to Maryann by her Italian father,
as a way of dismissing praise given to children by
their own parents.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): sarcasm, humor, parental pride
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL METAPHOR ; BIRD ; COLOR
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Proverb PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001960S
Pictures of counselors, dead on the floor,
Killed by the campers, one and all.
Blood on their shoulders,
Blood on their shirts,
Great big globs of blood on the dirt. MM
When counselors die
When counselors die
Don't bury their bones
Don't bury their bones
Just leave them lie
Just leave them lie
Among the stones
Among the stones
And paint a sign
And paint a sign
In letters green
In letters green
Here lie the bones of the losing team!
Here lie the bones of the losing team!
Submitter comment:
The repeating lines in the second stanza are sung
by two groups who alternate singing. Maryann states
that she was taught this song by her counselors while
attending Maskokie Day Camp in 1967.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): death, decomposition, humor
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Children |
On Halloween night, put a bucket of sand or a broom
outside your door. If a soul comes by and wants to
harm you, it will have to count every grain of sand
or broom bristle first. By the time that the spirit
has done this, it would be daytime and it would have
to go back where it came from.
Submitter comment:
This story was told to Maryann by her Italian father,
who heard it from his grandfather.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): ghost, precaution, All Souls' Day
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Number Counting beliefs BELIEF -- Good luck Broom Sweeping BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection |
Date learned: 00001930S
"Certain people have the power to give the evil eye.
Some would give it to you to make you sick, bring you
bad luck, etc. or they would say not to look in their
eyes so you would not get the evil eye (they could not
help themselves from giving the evil eye --- it was
beyond their control). Mr. DiSantis had the power. He
told my Dad and others about it when he was young,
(maybe age seven)."
Submitter comment:
This is a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner detailing
a story told many times by her Italian father, Mr. Phillip
Melone. Mr. Melone believes this to be true.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Curse, magic, harm
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Bad luck Body parts and functions |
Date learned: 00001930S
"A townswoman was suspected of being a witch. Papa's
sister was sick and no doctor could cure her. They found
a cat in her room. Papa took the cat, put it in a bag,
beat it and threw it in the river. The next morning, they
found the woman (who was thought to be a witch) all
beaten by the side of the river, and Papa's sister got
well. The woman was obviously a witch. (Papa is my father's
father).
Submitter comment:
This a verbatim account from Maryann Leisner which quotes
a story that her father, Phillip Melone, tells frequently.
He heard it from his father (in Italian) as he was growing
up, and believes it to be a true story.
Where learned: ILLINOIS ; SKOKIE
Keyword(s): Occult
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Method of Curing BELIEF -- Conversions Animals BELIEF -- Control Prevention Provocation Protection P892.1 |
Date learned: 00001930S