Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for OAK PARK returned 88 results.
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND"
Submitter comment:
AS YOU SAY THE GREETING YOU GRAB THE AIR AND MISS THE PERSON'S
HAND TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE YOU ARE BLIND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
SISSY TEST
RUBBING THE TOP OF A PERSON'S HAND UNTIL THEY CAN NO
LONGER STAND THE PAIN OR THEY START TO BLEED
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS SORT OF A DARE TO SEE IF THE BOYS IN
OUR GRADESCHOOL WERE TOUGH
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 00001970S
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE UNITED SCREW CORPORATION"
Submitter comment:
AS YOU ARE SHAKING THE PERSON'S HAND
YOU ROTATE YOUR OWN HAND TO SIMULATE THE TURNING OF A SCREW
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): ENDURANCE TEST
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE NATIONAL DAIRY ASSOCIATION"
Submitter comment:
AS YOU ARE SHAKING THE PERSON'S HAND YOU GRAB TWO OF
HIS FINGERS AND TUG ON THEM, TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE
YOU ARE MILKING A COW.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE NATIONAL DEAF ASSOCIATION"
Submitter comment: AS YOU SHAKE THE PERSON'S HAND YOU SCREAM THE GREETING
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
HANDSHAKE
"HOW DO YOU DO, I'M FROM THE NATIONAL HEART ASSOCIATION".
Submitter comment:
AS YOU ARE SHAKING THE PERSON'S HAND YOU SQUEEZE AND RELEASE
IT SEVERAL TIMES TO GIVE THE IDEA OF A HEARTBEAT
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00001970S
GREETING
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT?
THAT'S WHAT
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS DONE GENERALLY TO GET ON PEOPLE'S NERVES.
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESIST REPLYING "WHAT"? AND IT MADE A FOOL
OF YOU BECAUSE EVERYONE KNEW THE JOKE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 00001970S
COLLEGE
THE BOYS WOULD LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL AND THE GIRLS WOULD LINE UP
IN SINGLE FILE AND STARTING WITH THE FIRST BOY WOULD BEGIN
TO KISS EACH BOY. THE BOY COULD EITHER PASS OR FAIL THE GIRL
ACCORDING TO HOW HE THOUGHT SHE KISSED.
IF YOU FAILED YOU HAD TO KISS THE PERSON
AGAIN UNTIL HE PASSED YOU.
AFTER EACH BOY WAS KISSED AT LEAST ONCE THE ROLES WERE SWITCHED.
THE GIRLS THEN LINE UP AND WERE KISSED BY THE BOY.
Submitter comment:
THE OBJECT OF THIS GAME WAS TO FAIL THE BOY OR GIRL THAT YOU
LIKED, THEREFORE LETTING HIM OR HER KNOW YOU LIKED THEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
MARY WORTH
STAND IN THE BATHROOM WITH THE DOOR CLOSED AND THE LIGHTS OFF,
LOOK DIRECTLY IN THE MIRROR AND REPEAT THREE TIMES
"I BELIEVE IN MARY WORTH"
THE FACE OF THE FAMOUS SALEM WITCH, MARY WORTH, IS SUPPOSED TO APPEAR
IN THE MIRROR.
IN THE MIRROR
Submitter comment:
THERE WERE ALL SORTS OF STORIES ABOUT GIRLS THAT DID THIS AND
CAME OUT OF THE BATHROOM WITH BURNS AND SCRATCHES ON THEIR FACES
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURATION
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites BELIEF -- Witch Shaman |
Date learned: 00001970S
DARE
THE THIRD GIRL TO LIGHT HER CIGARETTE ON THE SAME MATCH IS A WHORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 00-00-1973
PRANK
THE SENIORS IN MY JUNIOR HIGHSCHOOL WOULD TELL THE
FRESHMEN ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THAT THEY MUST
GET ELEVATOR PASSES TO GET TO THE SECOND FLOOR, BECAUSE
THE STAIRS WERE RESERVED FOR UPPER CLASSMEN.
Submitter comment:
OF COURSE THERE WERE NO ELEVATORS IN THE BUILDING AND MANY FRESHMEN
WOULD SPEND ALL DAY LOOKING FOR THEM
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
COMMON WORD
THANKS BOB
Submitter comment: A REMARK FOR WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING OF THE OBVIOUS
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Common Word |
JEWISH BELIEF
WHEN YOU COME BACK HOME FROM A CEMETERY, YOU MUST WASH YOUR HANDS
BEFORE ENTERING THE HOUSE SO THAT YOU SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM DEATH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-20-1977
HEART TROUBLE
THERE IS A CUSTOM IN THE OLD COUNTRY: YOU GET AN ORANGE AND PUT PINS
IN IT, REAL CLOSE TOGETHER. WHILE YOU DO THIS SAY,
"AS I PUT THESE PINS IN THIS ORANGE MAY SOME PERSON'S HEART SHRIVEL
UP AS THIS ORANGE WILL DO". WHEN THE ORANGE ROTS THE PERSON WILL DIE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD STORIES OF THIS HAPPENING IN ITALY (CALABRIA),
BUT NEVER SAW IT DONE PERSONALLY. INFORMANT UNSURE IF THIS IS
POSSIBLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Curse BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 01-21-1972
EGG SOUP
I MAKE A SOUP CALL SOUPA FOR STOMACH ACHES, MADE FROM EGGS.
YOU TAKE AN EGG AND ADD SUGAR, BEAT UNTIL REAL STIFF. ADD
SOME VANILLA AND BOILED MILK, PUT CRACKERS IN IT TOO. YOU
HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT'S FOAMY AND FLUFFY.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID THAT SHE USED TO PREPARE THIS FOR HER CHILDREN
ALL OF THE TIME BECAUSE IT TASTED SO GOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Mixed preparation in liquid |
Date learned: 01-21-1972
MENSTRUAL BELIEF-WINE PREPARATION
WHEN WE MADE WINE IN THE OLD COUNTRY, IF A WOMAN
WHO HAD HER MENSTRUAL PERIOD CAME AROUND OR WAS NEAR THE PLACE
WHERE THE WINE WAS BEING MADE, THE WINE WOULD ALWAYS GO SOUR.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT WAS A FIRM BELIEVER IN THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 01-24-1972
STORY
ELEPHANTS HAD NO TRUNKS, AND ONE DAY WHILE IT WAS GETTING A
DRINK OF WATER A CROCODILE WAS SWIMMING CLOSE TO THE SHORE
& IT GRABBED THE ELEPHANT BY HIS SHORT NOSE & STARTED TO
PULL & PULL & PULL TILL IT LOOKS AS IT IS TODAY.
Submitter comment: PROBABLY TOLD TO CLASS BY LOWER GRADE TEACHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Characteristics of Animals |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
KING OF THE MOUNTAIN
THIS WAS PLAYED ON A BIG HILL.
Submitter comment: PLAYED IN SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
SUPERSTITION
STEP ON A CRACK & YOU WILL BREAK YOUR BACK.
Submitter comment: SAID AS A KID GOING TO SCHOOL NO ORIGIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00-00-1974
COMMON WORD
YOU'RE OUT
Submitter comment: A REMARK MADE AFTER SOMEONE SAYS OR DOES SOMETHING DUMB
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Common Word |