Finding Aids to Collections Organized by Topic in the Archive of Folk Culture

STREET CRIES, AUCTION CHANTS, AND CARNIVAL PITCHES AND ROUTINES
IN THE RECORDED COLLECTIONS OF THE ARCHIVE OF FOLK CULTURE

Compiled by: Amanda Dargan
Series Editor: Joseph C. Hickerson

Publication Date: March 1983
Series Number: LCFAFA No. 1
ISSN 0736-4903

Sound Recordings

Note:
fl = first line

AFS 878-944: Sixty-seven discs recorded by John A. Lomax in various Southern states, 1937.

AFS 891 A2: Calo vendor's street cry (French) recorded in Louisiana, performer and date unknown.

AFS 2735-3153: Four hundred and nineteen 12-inch discs recorded by Herbert Halpert in various Southern states, March through June 1939, under the joint sponsorship of the Library of Congress and the Folk Arts Commission of the W.P.A.

AFS 3147 B1: Peter Reed performing street cry for shrimp. fl: "Shrimps, ten cents a plate." Recorded in Edisto Island, South Carolina, date unknown.

AFS 3147 B2: Peter Reed performing street cry for shrimp. fl: "Shrimps, five a plate."
Recorded in Edisto Island, South Carolina, date unknown.

AFS 3147 B3: Peter Reed performing street cry for shrimp. fl: "Shrimps and roe."
Recorded in Edisto Island, South Carolina, date unknown.

AFS 3147 B4: Peter Reed performing street cry for fish. Recorded in Edisto Island, date unknown.

AFS 3624-3672: Thirty-eight 12-inch discs recorded by Herbert Halpert for the W.P.A. Arts Program in New York City, 1938-1939, and ten 12-inch discs recorded by Herbert Halpert in New York City, 1937-1938.

AFS 3642 A3: Street cry for newspaper by unknown performer. Recorded October 25, 1939.

AFS 3654 A1: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Hi de hi de ho fishman." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 A2: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for shad. fl: "Now I got shad, ain't you glad." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 A3: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Fish man, fish man, five cents a pound." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 A4: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith and Henry Drayer talk about street cries. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 B1: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Well come one folks I got fish today." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 B2: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Can't go home till all my fish is gone, stormy weather." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 B3: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Bei mir bist du schoen." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3654 B4: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Now folks I'm going to tell you about the jumping jive." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 A1: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "A tisket a tasket, I sell them by the basket." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 A2: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Don't you feel my hand 'cause I'm that old fish man." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 A3: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish and vegetables. fl: "Now folks I'm going to sing you a little song." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 A4: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Whoa fish man, bring down your dish pan." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 A5: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for crabs. fl: "Now come on folks I got crabs." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 B1: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish. fl: "Yeah fish man, bring down your dish pan." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 B2: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry to tease ice man. fl: "Hey ice man, have you got ice today?" Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 B4: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith talks about how he makes his rhymes. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3655 B5: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing song about the recording. fl: "Now I sing all these songs for Mr. Halpert and Hatch. " Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3656 A2: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for fish in Spanish. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3656 A3: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith talks about how he uses different rhymes for different neighborhoods. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3656 A4: Ninevah Whitley performing street cry for fish. fl: "Hi hi ho fish man." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3656 A5: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for coal. fl: "I got coal so get your gold." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3656 A6: Clyde "Kingfish" Smith assisted by Henry Drayer performing street cry for vegetables. fl: "I got vegetables today." Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3660 A1: Harry Meiner barking for Gayety Follies. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3660 A2: Harry Meiner barking. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3660 B: George Cohen performing newspaper street cries. Recorded November 1939.

AFS 3661 A1: Irving Epstein talks about why he is a barker. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 A2: Irving Epstein barking for fruits and vegetables. fl: "Come on girls a little alive today." Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 A3: Irving Epstein barking for vegetables. fl: "Hey cauliflower cheap today." Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 A4: Irving Epstein barking for vegetables. fl: "Come on we got tomatoes today girls." Recorded in 1939.

AFS 3661 A5: Irving Epstein barking for fruit, partly in Yiddish. fl: "How many, lady, how many" Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 A6: Irving Epstein barking for fruit and vegetables. fl: What do you say today" Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 A7: Irving Epstein demonstrates talking to his boss. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 A8: Irving Epstein demonstrates talking to a customer. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 B3: Irving Epstein talks about why he is a barker. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 B4: Irving Epstein barking. fl: "Hey step lively today girls." Recorded 1939.

AFS 3661 B5: Irving Epstein talks about how he handles customers who try to talk him down on prices. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3662 A1: Irving Epstein and Eddy Socol have a conversation about barking. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3662 A2: Irving Epstein and Eddy Socol barking for honey. fl: "Come on get some honey for your money." Recorded 1939.

AFS 3662 A3: Irving Epstein and Eddy Socol have a conversation about barking. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3662 A4: Irving Epstein and Eddy Socol barking for potatoes. fl: "Thirteen pound potatoes for a quarter."

AFS 3662 A5: Irving Epstein and Eddy Socol have a conversation about barking. Recorded 1939.

AFS 3662 A6: Irving Epstein and Eddy Socol barking for fruit. fl: "Come on, Vava, juicy oranges." Recorded 1939.

AFS 3942-4087: One hundred forty-six 12-inch discs recorded by John A. Lomax in various Southern states, 1940.

AFS 3994 A3: Austin Bartlett performing street cry for newspaper. fl: "Journal paper." Recorded in Shreveport, Louisiana, October 1940.

AFS 3995 B5: Hetsil Stewart performing street cry for newspaper. fl: "Get your journal paper." Recorded in Shreveport, Louisiana, October 1940.

AFS 4699-4705: Seven 16-inch discs recorded by Charles Harrell and the Library of Congress Radio Research Project at the James E. Strates Carnival in Washington, D.C., Spring 1941.

AFS 4699 A1: Sounds of the Carnival Midway.

AFS 4699 A2: Zola Spencer performing pitch for fortune teller. fl: "Come in, have your fortune told."

AFS 4699 A3: Conversation between fortune teller Jean Stoals and her customer.

AFS 4699 A4: Zola Spencer performing pitch for fortune teller. fl: "These are those gifted, noted readers that can absolutely call you by name."

AFS 4699 A5: Pitch for entire carnival. Performer unknown.

AFS 4699 A6: Zola Spencer performing pitch for fortune teller. fl: "Come in, have a reading of your life."

AFS 4699 A7: Interview with fortune teller Jean Stoals.

AFS 4699 A8: Interview with fortune teller pitchman Zola Spencer.

AFS 4699 A9: Interview with fortune teller pitchman Lois [Filisee].

AFS 4699 B1: Pitch for entire carnival. Performer unknown.

AFS 4699 B2: Pitch for fat woman and thin man. fl: "Look at the crowd in there." Performer unknown.

AFS 4699 B3: Bertha Quinby ("Big Bertha Quinby") and Robert Curtis ("Slim Jim") performing routine of fat woman and thin man.

AFS 4699 B4: Interview with thin man Robert Curtis.

AFS 4700 A1: Interview with fat woman Bertha Quinby.

AFS 4700 A2: Pitch for two-headed baby. fl: "The James E. Strates' show presents a real two-headed baby." Performer unknown.

AFS 4700 A3: Inside lecture by the "nurse" with the two-headed baby. fl: "Those are the Mathis babies folks." Performed by Mrs. W. E. Egerman.

AFS 4700 A4: Interview with Mrs. W. E. Egerman, the "nurse."

AFS 4700 A5: Interview with unknown "uncle" of the baby.

AFS 4700 A6: Pitch of the weight guesser. Performer unknown.

AFS 4700 A7: Interview with Herbie Wilkins, roustabout.

AFS 4701 A1: Pitch for Vanities Burlesque Show. fl: "In just a few moments, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to bring a whole flock of these glamour girls out and we'll have them entertain you." Performer unknown.

AFS 4701 A2: Pitch for candy at the Vanities. fl: "... good value with their compliments, absolutely free of charge." Performer unknown.

AFS 4701 B1: Continuation of candy pitch. Performer unknown.

AFS 4701 B2: Introduction by master of ceremonies J. C. mason of ceremonies, music, and sounds of dancing.

AFS 4702 A1: Introduction by master of ceremonies J. C. mason of ceremonies, music, and sounds of dancing.

AFS 4702 A2: Interviews with master of ceremonies J. C. Mason at the Vanities.

AFS 4703 A1: Pitch for mind-reading act. fl: "Now, ladies and gentlemen, at this time we want to introduce something unique and novel in carnival entertainment: a young lady with a remarkable mentality." Performer unknown.

AFS 4703 A2: Routine of pitchman and mind-reader. Performers unknown.

AFS 4703 A3: Pitch for knife-throwing act. fl: "Introducing the next featured attraction on this center platform, Tex and Margie King from the Panhandle of Texas with their sensational impalement act called novelty knife throwing." Performer unknown.

AFS 4703 A4: Routine of knife-thrower Tex King.

AFS 4703 B1: Pitch for giant and half-woman. fl: "... center platform are the featured attractions of the circus sideshow, Mr. and Mrs. Al [Tomainey], the strangest married couple on earth. Performer unknown.

AFS 4703 B2: Pitch of the giant Al [Tomainey]. fl: "Notice the stretch of the arms."

AFS 4703 B3: Pitch for smoke and tattoo artist. fl: "At this time, Mr. Pete Holmes, the artist on the show, Mr. Holmes, draws beautiful pictures on that piece of white porcelain using nothing but smoke" Performer unknown.

AFS 4703 B4: Pitch for whip act. fl: "... on the center platform, Tex and Margie King, brother and sister from the Panhandle of Texas manipulating those long Australian bull whips. Performer unknown.

AFS 4703 B5: Card reading performed by [Jerri].

AFS 4703 B6: Interview with [Jerri], card reader.

AFS 4703 B7: Card reading performed by [Jerri].

AFS 4704 A1: Pitch for the motordrome act. fl: "Where they race, ride, and drive." Performed by unknown.

AFS 4704 A2: Interview with motordrome rider Ed Hamilton.

AFS 4704 A3: Interview with motordrome rider Speedy Hayes.

AFS 4704 A4: Interview with unknown motordrome driver.

AFS 4704 A5: Interview with young boys on the midway.

AFS 4704 A6: Sound of motorcycles racing.

AFS 4704 A7: Interview with [Zarcanni], member of human cannonball act.

AFS 4705 A1: Interview continued.

AFS 4705 A2: Calliope music.

AFS 7764-7860: Ninety-seven 12-inch discs of folksongs of Brazil recorded by Luis Heitor Correa de Azevedo and E. Silva Novo in Minas Gerais, Brazil, January and February 1944.

AFS 7822 A1: Street cry of unknown lollipop vendor.

AFS 8362-8473: One hundred twelve 12-inch records of folk music of Wisconsin under the direction of Leland A. Coon of the University of Wisconsin, 1946.

AFS 8449 B3: Street cry of Holland scissors grinder. (from performer's memory of hearing it as a child in Holland) Performed by Rika Tuinstra Enhoff. Recorded in Kenasha, Wisconsin, August 1946.

AFS 8935: One 16-inch disc of American folksongs recorded by Frank M. Warner in the Recording Laboratory of the Library of Congress, 1947.

AFS 8935 B5: Street cry for peanuts. (from performer's memory of hearing it from a Joseph Henry Johnson, a peanut vendor from Suffolk, Virginia) fl: "Fresh peanuts is the best of all." Performed by Frank M. Warner.

AFS 9076-9098: Twenty-three 12-inch records of folk music and folkore material from the New York City area recorded by Charles Hoffman and Ruth Rubin for the New York Public Library Recording Project. Accessioned November 1948.

AFS 9083 A2: Edgar Clark assisted by Lawrence King performing street cry for rags. fl: "Rag, any old rag." Recorded June 1947.

AFS 9083 A4: Edgar Clark assisted by Lawrence King performing street cry for fish. fl: "Fish man." Recorded June 1947.

AFS 9739-9766: Twenty-eight 12-inch recording of Kentucky folklore recorded by Herbert Halpert for the Murray State College Folklore Archive. Accessioned June 1950.

AFS 9746 A1: Harold McLean talks about different kinds of auction sales. Recorded Murray, Kentucky, October 1948.

AFS 9746 A2: Harold McLean performs auction chant for furniture sale. Recorded in Murray, Kentucky, October 1948.

AFS 9746 A3: Harold McLean performs auction chant for livestock sale. Recorded in Murray, Kentucky, October 1948.

AFS 9746 A4: Harold McLean talks about how he learned to be an auctioneer. Recorded in Murray, Kentucky, October 1948.

AFS 9746 B1: Harold McLean performs auction chant for tobacco sale. Recorded in Murray, Kentucky, October 1948.

AFS 9746 B2: Harold McLean talks about tobacco sales, differences between Northern and Southern auction chants, and auctioneers he has admired. Recorded in Murray, Kentucky, October 1948.

AFS 11,475: One 10-inch reel of Gullah tales, spirituals, and street cries from Charleston, South Carolina. From material loaned by Harold Reeves and Russell Wood. Accessioned June 1959

AFS 11,475 A9: Street cry for blackberries and strawberries. fl: "Blackberry, black." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A10: Street cry for flowers. fl: "Yes m'am I got flowers." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A11: Street cry for vegetables. fl: "Oh we got [plow] beans and green corn." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A12: Street cry for fish. Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A13: Street cry for roe crabs. fl: "Come get roe crabs." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A14: Street cry for roe crabs. fl: "Roe, crab, crab, crab." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A15: Street cry for catfish. fl: "Catfishes." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A16: Street cry for fish. fl: "Shark's head don't need no gravy." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A17: Street cry for fish. fl: "I've got [whitey]." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A18: Street cry for roe crab. fl: "Get your roe crab." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A19: Street cry for catfish. fl: "Catfishes." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A20: Street cry for blackberries and strawberries. fl: Blackberry, black." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A21: Street cry for flowers. fl: "Yes ma'am I got flowers." Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,475 A22: Street cry for vegetables. Performer, place, and date unknown.

AFS 11,877-11,910: Twenty-four 10-inch tapes of folksongs and folklore recorded in and around Arkansas by Mary Celeste Parler and others for the University of Arkansas Duplication Project. Accession 1962.

AFS 11,906 B21: Auction chant performed by Mr. Gail Haught. Recorded in Pettigrew, Arkansas, January 1959.

AFS 15,667-15,726: Sixty discs. Laura Boulton Collection. Part I: Negro Folklore. Recorded by Walter Garwick in Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia, 1935-1937. Gift of Columbia University.

AFS 15,725 A1: Street cry for blackberries and strawberries. fl: "Blackberry." Performer unknown. Recorded in Charleston, South Carolina.

AFS 15,725 A2: Street cry for roe. fl: Anybody want roe." Performer unknown. Recorded in Charleston, South Carolina.

AFS 15,725 A3: Street cry for roe crabs. fl: "Roe, crab, crab, crab." Performer unknown. Recorded in Charleston, South Carolina.

AFS 15,725 B1: Street cry for fish. fl: "Catfishes" Performer unknown. Recorded in Charleston, South Carolina.

AFS 15,725 B2: Street cry for flowers. fl: "Yes m'am I got flowers." Performer unknown. Recorded in Charleston, South Carolina.

AFS 15,725 B3: Street cry for flowers. fl: "See me now, fresh and fine." Performer unknown. Recorded in Charleston, South Carolina.

AFS 17,485: One audiocassette. "How to Chant Like a Professional Auctioneer" by Col. George Beam, 1974. Copyright deposit.

AFS 18,849-18,871: Twenty-three 10-inch tapes containing interviews and examples of folk music and folklore in Pennsylvania recorded by Robert Doyle and others. Accessioned September 1976.

AFS 18,867 B: Auction chant and talk at a household goods sale, preformed by Ira Stolzfus and son. Recorded in Belleville, Pennsylvania, in August 1974.

AFS 18,868: Auction chant and talk at a household goods sale, performed by Robert Fleck. Recorded at State College, Pennsylvania, July 1974.

AFS 18,874-18,875: Two 5-inch tapes of a tobacco auction performed by Bob Cage. Recorded by Gerald E. Parsons and Edward Tittel in Wayson's Corners, Maryland, May 1976.

AFS 19,747-19,796: Fifty audiocassettes of folklore of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the United States collected by Peter Kennedy and others. Commercially released cassettes by the Center for Oral Traditions on the Folktracks label. Accessioned September 1979.

AFS 19,786A11: Street cry for fish (from performer's memory of street cry heard as a child, performed by Rowland Kellett. Recorded in Leeds England, 1963.

AFS 19,786A12: Street cry for mussels (from performer's memory of street cry heard as a child, performed by Rowland Kellett. Recorded in Leeds England, 1963.

AFS 19,786A13: Street cry for teacakes, pikelets, buns (from performer's memory of street cry heard as a child, performed by Rowland Kellett. Recorded in Leeds England, 1963.

AFS 19,786A14: Street cry for peas and pies (from performer's memory of street cry heard as a child, performed by Rowland Kellett. Recorded in Leeds England, 1963.

Terminology

This listing includes examples of oral poetry in the marketplace: street cries and barking, auction chants, and carnival pitches, all forms which use verbal artistry and stylized language to sell a product. It covers recordings in the Archive of Folk Culture up to AFS 19, 815 (accessioned October 1979).

Auction chant: The rhythmic chanting of bids by an auctioneer.

Barking: The technique of drawing customers by talking in a continual flow of repetitive lines and phrases. Also called a "grind pitch" by some professional talkers. Used primarily by vendors who sell from a stationary spot, such as a vegetable stand or the doorway to a show.

Inside lecture: A term used in the carnival business to refer to the lecture given inside the tent about the featured attractions. Its tone is more "scientific" than that of the pitch given on the outside to attract customers, and its purpose is to help audiences make the transition from the fantastic images of the outside pitch to an often disappointing reality.

Pitch: A persuasive sales talk. Professional talkers distinguish between the "high pitchman," who works from a stage or platform, and the "low pitchman," who works from the sidewalk or a box.

Street cry: Rhythmic songs and chants used by street vendors to call attention to their wares or services.