Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for DETROIT returned 16887 results.
EASTER CUSTOM
ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER EASTER THE BOYS IN THE CITY WOULD SPRINKLE
THE GIRLS WITH PERFUME BUT IN THE VILLAGE THE BOYS WOULD THROW
PAILS FULL OF WATER AT
THE GIRLS AS THEY WOULD BE GOING TO CHURCH. THE GIRLS WOULD
SPLASH THEM BACK WITH A CUPFUL OF WATER.
Submitter comment:
THIS TOOK PLACE IN POLAND.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS DETROIT, A LADY SAID THAT BOYS
WOULD HIT GIRLS THE DAY
AFTER EASTER AND THE GIRLS COULDN'T HIT BACK. THE OPPOSITE HELD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; POLAND ; Sterling Heights ; GOWARCZOW
Date learned: 11-00-1973
PROVERB
IF YOU DANCE, YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FIDDLER.
Submitter comment: NONE
Data entry tech comment: YOU CAN'T GET ANYTHING FOR FREE, SO YOU PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
Where learned: HOME ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT
Keyword(s): COMPENSATION ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 02-20-1970
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, BEFORE PLAYING A BASEBALL GAME WE WOULD CHOOSE UP
TEAMS.THE WAY IT WAS DONE WAS RATHER UNUSUAL.TWO CAPTAINS WERE CHOSEN
BY THE GROUP OF PLAYERS, USUALLY THEY WERE THE TWO BEST PLAYERS IN
THE GROUP.ONE OF THESE CAPTAINS WOULD THROW THE BAT TO THE OTHER AND
WOULD CATCH IT APPROXIMATELY IN THE MIDDLE.THE PLAYER WHO HAD THROWN
THE BAT WOULD NOW PUT HIS HAND JUST ABOVE THE FIRST PLAYERS HAND.THIS
HAND ACTION WOULD ALTERNATELY CONTINUE UNTILL THERE WAS NO LONGER
ROOM FOR ANOTHER HAND ON THE BAT.THE PLAYER WHOOSE HAND WAS AT THE
TOP WOULD THEN HAVE TO HOLD OUT THE THE OTHER GUY TO KICK OUT OF HIS
HAND.IF THE KICKER WAS SUCESSFUL IN REMOVING THE BAT FROM THE HAND
HE WOULD GET FIRST CHOICE OF PLAYERS.BUT, IF THE HOLDER DID NOT LET
THE BAT COME OUT OF HIS HAND, HE WOULD GET HIS FIRST CHOICE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
DEATH
IN ANY EVIL SPIRITS THAT MAY BE THERE.
James Callow comment:
INCOMPLETE ITEM: SOME KEYPUNCH CARDS MISSING
CN[ FOERSTNER, SCOTT 701049
C1[ 16714 FISCHER RD
C2[ LAKEWOOD, OHIO 14410
DNC[ 1,409
******************** C FILE 1 ********************
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-24-1973
TONGUE TWISTER
MOSES SUPPOSES HIS TOES ARE ROSES BUT MOSES SUPPOSES ERRONEOUSLY
FOR NOBODY'S TOESES ARE POSIES OF ROSES AS MOSES SUPPOSES HIS TOESES
TO BE.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech |
Date learned: 11-24-1973
CHEER
OXYDOL, OXYDOL, GRANULATED SOAP, WE ARE GOING TO BEAT
I HOPE, I HOPE, I HOPE.
James Callow comment:
OXYDOL=BRAND NAME OF SOAP POWDER
CN[ FOERSTNER, SCOTT 701049
C1[ 16714 FISCHER RD
C2[ LAKEWOOD, OHIO 14410
DNC[ 1,401
******************** C FILE 1 ********************
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival |
Date learned: 11-24-1973
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
PRANK
FILL AN ENVELOPE WITH SHAVING CREAM AND SEAL IT. TEAR OFF ONE OF THE
ENDS AND PUSH ALL THE SHAVE CREAM TO THE OPPOSITE END. SLIDE THE OPEN
END UNDER THE DOOR. STAMP FOOT ON THE END OF THE ENVELOPE WITH SHAVE
CREAM IN IT, SENDING THE SHAVE CREAM SPRAYING INTO THE ROOM.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY BROTHER IN 1970. I USED IT ALSO IN 1970.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion |
Date learned: 11-24-1973
DEATH
SHOOTING STARS MEAN THAT SOMEONE HAS JUST DIED.
Where learned: DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Star BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-24-1973
EACH YEAR IN THE SPRING, MY MOTHER'S GRANDFATHER WOULD LINE UP
ALL THE SMALL CHILDREN AND HAVE THEM EACH LICK SOME POWDER(WHITE)
CALLED CALAMEL OFF HIS PEN KNIFE IN ORDER TO CLEAN OUT
THEIR BLOOD FOR SUMMER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; COLLECTORS HOME
Keyword(s): BLOOD ; PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
RIDDLE
WHAT'S GREEN AND FLIES?
SUPER TURTLE.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM HIS BROTHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
FORMULA SPEECH
IF SOMEPLACE SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND, YOU SAY, "THAT'S
DUCK SOUP."
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-21-1969
FORMULA SPEECH
IF YOU HAVE AN EASY POOL SHOT, YOU SAY, "THAT'S A LEAD
PIPE."
Data entry tech comment: SEE: LEAD PIPE CINCH.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-21-1969
WHEN GREEKS DANCE, THEY JOIN HANDS WITH THEIR HANDKERCHIEFS,
TO SHOW THAT EVERYONE IS FRIENDS AND WELCOME IN EACH
OTHER'S HOMES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Function Purpose Theme |
ARABIAN SAYING
MY BROTHER AND I FIGHT AGAINST OUR COUSIN;
OUR COUSIN AND WE FIGHT AGAINST OUR ENEMY.
Submitter comment:
EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ARAB NATIONS COULD UNITE AGAINST THE
ISRAELI PEOPLE DESPITE THEIR INTERNAL STRIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): MEDIAL ITERATION ; RELATIVES UNITE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
VEHICLE SOUNDS REPRESENTED IN THAI LANGUAGE (AMBULANCE)
"IN THAILAND THERE IS A JOKE ABOUT THE SOUND THE SIREN ON AN
AMBULANCE MAKES. THE THAIS JOKE ABOUT 'DAI-NEH, DAI-NEH!'
WHICH SOUNDS LIKE TTHE SIREN AND MEANS 'SURELY DEAD' OR THE
SOUND 'DAI-LAO, DAI-LAO!' WHICH MEANS 'DEAD ALREADY.'"
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
VEHICLE SOUNDS IMITATED WITH THAI LANGUAGE
"IN THAILAND, THERE IS A JOKE ABOUT THE SOUND THE OLD RIVERBOATS
MAKE. THE THAIS SAY THAT THE SOUND IS 'POO-POO-PAHNG-PAHNG,
POO-POO-PAHNG-PAHNG" WHICH MEANS ALMOST DEAD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force SPEECH -- Onomatopoeia |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
"TRAFFIC" (CHILDREN'S GAME WITH BICYCLES)
"WHEN WE WERE KIDS THE NEIGHBOR KIDS WOULD COME OVER TO OUR HOUSE
WITH THEIR BICYCLES TO PLAY 'TRAFFIC.' ONE PERSON WOULD BE THE
POLICEMAN WHICH WAS DETERMINED BY A RACE TO THE END OF THE DRIVE-
WAY. THERE WERE CERTAIN RULES TO THE GAME: YOU HAD TO STOP AT
ALL THE 'STOP SIGNS' AND YOU COULDN'T GO THE WRONG WAY ON THE
ONE-WAY SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAY. ALSO, YOU HAD TO USE HAND
SIGNALS TO SHOW STOPPING, TURNING, ETC. AND NO SPEEDING WAS
ALLOWED. IF YOU DISOBEYED ANY OF THESE RULES AND THE POLICEMAN
CAUGHT YOU THREE TIMES, YOU BECAME THE POLICEMAN."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 04-00-1984
CHINESE EATING CUSTOM (GOOSE)
"IN CHINA, ANYONE YOUNGER THAN 15 YEARS IS NOT ALLOWED TO EAT
GOOSE BECAUSE THE CHINESE BELIEVE THAT THEIR FINGERS WILL CURL
AND BLISTER."
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT BELIEVED SUCH BELIEFS WERE MADE UP BY ELDERS SO THAT
THEY WOULD BE THE ONLY ONES TO ENJOY GOOSE WHICH IS EXPENSIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
Date learned: 04-00-1984