The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE PURPLE GORILLA

A MAN LIVES ON THE 30TH FLOOR OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING.
WHEN HE MOVED IN HE WAS TOLD THAT HE COULDN'T GO DOWN
INTO THE BASEMENT. AND, BEING THE CURIOUS FELLOW THAT
HE WAS, HE JUST HAD TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS IN THE BASE-
MENT. SO HE PLANNED AND SCHEMED ON HOW TO GET TO THE
BASEMENT WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT. AND ONE MORNING HE
DECIDED HE WOULD GO TO THE BASEMENT, SO HE DID. WHEN HE
GOT TO THE BASEMENT, IT WAS VERY DARK AND HE HAD MUCH
DIFFICULTY SEEING AROUND. AFTER LOOKING AROUND THE
BASEMENT, HE FOUND A CAGE IN THE CORNER. WHEN HE LOOKED
IN THE CAGE, HE SAW A PURPLE GORILLA. HE REACHED INTO
THE CAGE TO TOUCH THE GORILLA. AS SOON AS HE TOUCHED
THE GORILLA, THE ANIMAL JUMPED UP AND DOWN WITH RAGE
AND BROKE OUT OF HIS CAGE. HE CHASED THE MAN AROUND THE
ROOM. THE MAN RAN UP TO THE FIRST FLOOR. THE GORILLA
CHASED THE MAN AROUND THE FIRST FLOOR, SO THE MAN RAN UP
TO THE SECOND FLOOR (...ON UP TO THIRTY). THE GORILLA
CHASED THE MAN AROUND THE THIRTIETH FLOOR, THEN THE MAN
RAN BACK DOWN TO THE BASEMENT. THE STAIRWAY FELL DOWN
SO HE COULDN'T GET BACK UP. THE GORILLA CORNERED THE
THE MAN AND CHARGED AT HIM. HE TOUCHED THE MAN AND SAID
"YOU'RE IT!"

Where learned: HOME ; TOLD AT

Date learned: 11-18-1970