Author Archives: Alex Gaspar

How did the chicken cross the road?

Text: “How did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.”

Context: This narrative joke was shared by the informant, who recalls hearing it as a young child. The joke was a staple of their childhood, passed down through their family and peers as a simple, classic form of humor. The informant remembers hearing it over and over, often in moments when the goal was not to get a laugh from a punchline but to enjoy the lightheartedness of the joke itself.

The informant’s experience with this joke was part of a broader cultural exposure to humor, specifically American humor, as they were not born in the United States. Upon learning English and becoming familiar with American culture, they encountered this joke in school and among friends, and it quickly became a part of their repertoire. The informant reflects that this particular joke stood out because it was so basic yet somehow funny in its simplicity.

Analysis: The “How did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side” joke is a perfect example of a narrative joke. What makes this joke work is its simplicity—there’s no complex setup or twist, just a straightforward question and answer. The humor comes from the fact that it should be more elaborate or have a surprise twist, but instead, it’s just a basic, logical answer. That kind of anti-humor, where you’re expecting something more and get something totally simple instead, is what makes it funny.

This joke has become an iconic part of American culture, and it’s one of those pieces of folklore that gets passed around for generations. The way this narrative joke is shared—over and over again—highlights how jokes can be a kind of cultural glue, bringing people together. It doesn’t matter if you’ve heard it 100 times, it still has a kind of nostalgic value, and it’s part of how humor is passed along in a community. The fact that it’s so straightforward also reflects how humor doesn’t always need to be complicated or fancy. Sometimes, it’s the simple things, like a chicken crossing a road, that make us smile and connect with others.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 63

Occupation: Talent Acquisition Manager

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 5, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): Hungarian, German

Relationship: Parent

The Ghost of Avalon

Text: “In the summer of 1987, right after I graduated from high school, my family rented an old beach house on the 200s block Claressa Street in Avalon on Catalina Island. For those who know Avalon, it was founded in the late 1800s and became an upscale vacation destination in the early 1900s. My great-grandparents had a long-sold off house there and once the iconic Art Deco casino was built in the 1920s, the big bands would come and host their national radio programs from there while dressed-up couples danced the night away overlooking the bay. 

The old beach houses (and Casino) are known for being haunted with spirits from vacations past, but there wasn’t any reason for me to believe it since I’d never seen anything myself in all the years my family had vacationed there. That changed that summer of 1987. 

The original Avalon beach houses all had a similar design with the bedrooms often opening up from each other rather than a hall. In other words you had to walk through one bedroom to get to another, train car style. I was in the bedroom that you could only reach from the one my parents were in, and I had to walk through their room to get to the bathroom.

We would spend the days on the beach and in the sun, and go to bed fairly early since almost all activity takes place there around the ocean. Not much happens at night in Avalon. So after dinner we’d play board games or cards, then go to bed so we could get up early for another day of surf and sun. 

I had gone to sleep that night as always and was awakened by a man standing at the end of the bed looking at me. He was dressed in a dated-style suit with a freshly starched dress shirt with crisp collar points that came up higher on his neck than was the style during the Reagan administration. He was wearing a tie and had a brown hat, rounded bowler style, on his head. He just stood at the foot of the bed looking at me. 

At first I thought I was still asleep, dreaming, or in the confused state between wakefulness and deep sleep. But once I sat up and knew I was 1000% awake and was scared even though he was just standing there looking at me with a benign expression on his face. 

I screamed thinking someone had broken into my bedroom and my mom came running out of her bedroom. She also saw him but knew immediately he wasn’t ‘real’, or flesh and blood like we were. 

She explained to him that he didn’t belong there, that we were in the house now for a visit and that he needed to move along. Just a few seconds later he disappeared into the air. No walking through walls or talking, just dissolved into the air at the foot of my bed. 

I was rattled the whole rest of our vacation but he didn’t appear again. The house is still standing as it was 40 years ago. I’ve walked by it on subsequent trips and thought of the tall, thin man in the suit that visited me.”

Context: This story was shared by the informant, who was a young child at the time of the experience. The event marked a significant moment in the informant’s life, as it was the catalyst for their belief in the supernatural. Prior to this encounter, the informant had not paid much attention to stories of ghosts or spirits, but the vivid and unsettling experience that summer changed their perspective. The informant interprets this as the beginning of their belief in such phenomena, as it was the first time they had directly encountered something they couldn’t explain through logic or reason.

Since then, the informant has experienced several other supernatural encounters, reinforcing their belief in the paranormal. The informant’s perspective is further shaped by the fact that their mother had similar beliefs and, before she passed, shared other stories of her own supernatural experiences. This shared experience between the informant and their mother helped to strengthen their connection to the supernatural world and solidified the informant’s conviction that these types of encounters are real.

Analysis: The figure in the story—a man dressed in an old-fashioned suit—seems to reflect a historical presence tied to the location, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the old beach house. The figure’s benign, non-threatening demeanor contrasts with the fear that the informant felt, suggesting that the supernatural can be perceived as both unsettling and intriguing, rather than immediately harmful.

The way the informant handled the experience—by accepting the figure’s presence and interpreting it as part of a larger, supernatural world—illustrates how personal beliefs can be shaped by direct experiences. This encounter became a touchstone for the informant’s worldview, influencing how they view similar occurrences in the years that followed.

This story also underscores the broader cultural theme of haunted locations, especially in areas with long histories like Avalon. The idea of spirits lingering in places with significant pasts is a common motif in folklore. The informant’s ongoing belief in the supernatural and the continuation of similar experiences suggest that such encounters are seen not as anomalies but as part of a larger, unexplainable reality that transcends time and space.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 55

Occupation: Mother

Residence: Westlake Village, CA

Date of Performance: April 3, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Parent

Legend of Skinwalkers in Joshua Tree

Text: Skinwalkers are these figures from Native American folklore, especially in Navajo culture. Basically, they’re witches or shamans who can change into animals—wolves, coyotes, even bears—and they use that power to mess with people. It’s not just about shape-shifting, though. They’re supposed to be able to control animals, and sometimes they trick people into dangerous situations. Definitely the kind of thing that makes you think twice when you’re out in the woods or desert and you hear something weird.

And yeah, as someone from California, the whole skinwalker thing is really big in places like Joshua Tree. The desert out there is super quiet and pretty isolated, so I get why people start linking weird stuff to the legend. The vibe of Joshua Tree with its emptiness and quiet makes it easy to believe something might be out there. People tell stories about hearing things or getting that feeling like they’re being watched. And a lot of the time, they chalk it up to skinwalkers.”

Context: The informant grew up in California and has always heard about skinwalkers from friends who’ve spent time out in Joshua Tree. These stories came up a lot when people would talk about their trips to the desert, especially if something strange or unexplainable happened. The informant never had a direct encounter with one, but growing up in California, the idea of skinwalkers became a part of the stories shared by people who had visited places like Joshua Tree. When the desert feels empty and still, it’s easy to understand why these kinds of spooky legends get passed around.

Analysis: The skinwalker legend is a great example of how people create and spread scary stories, especially when they’re in places that feel eerie and empty, like Joshua Tree. These kinds of legends often come from the need to explain the unexplainable—strange sounds in the night, weird shadows, or that feeling of being watched when you’re completely alone. In isolated places like the desert, where things can feel unnervingly quiet, our minds naturally start looking for explanations, and sometimes those explanations become legends.

Legends like the skinwalker are also a way for people to share their fear. The more someone tells a story about seeing something strange, the more likely others will start feeling like they’re seeing the same thing too. It’s almost like a shared experience that grows with each telling. The more these stories are passed down, the more they shape the way people experience those places. In a way, the desert doesn’t even need real skinwalkers—just the belief in them is enough to make the experience feel more intense and real. It’s this mix of fear, imagination, and the desire for stories to explain the unknown that keeps these legends alive.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 1, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Friend

The Legend of Bigfoot

Text: “So, I’ve definitely heard a lot about Bigfoot, mostly in places like Washington and Oregon, but also in California. Apparently, this huge, hairy creature just roams around the forests, and people have been talking about it for ages. It’s like this big, ape-like thing that’s supposedly always there, but no one ever really sees it. You hear stories about people finding giant footprints in the woods, or about hearing weird noises late at night, and they swear it’s Bigfoot, but there’s never any proof.

I actually went on this Bigfoot hiking tour once in Washington, hoping to see something, but of course, we didn’t. They showed us these footprint casts and told us some stories about people who claim they saw it. It’s kinda funny how people get so into it, but honestly, the mystery of it all is what makes it cool. Like, we didn’t see anything, but I still thought it was awesome to just walk through the woods, hearing these stories. I mean, it’s such a random thing to believe in, but it’s still fun to think about.”

Context: Growing up in the U.S., the informant was always aware of Bigfoot, especially through friends and stories they’d hear when talking about hiking or camping trips. It was something people joked about or brought up in passing, especially when out in the woods or forests. The informant didn’t grow up hearing personal stories or having any major connections to Bigfoot, but it was part of the overall cultural fabric—like something you’d hear about in TV shows or from people in areas like the Pacific Northwest. They got more curious about it after taking the Bigfoot tour, but ultimately, they don’t take it too seriously. It’s more of a fun legend, and something people like to talk about when they’re in the right setting.

Analysis: Bigfoot is one of those legends that sticks around, not because a majority of people truly believe in it, but because it’s fun to talk about. It’s a story that plays into the idea of the unknown, which is something people always seem to enjoy. Whether or not anyone actually thinks Bigfoot exists, it becomes part of the culture of the places where these stories are told—especially in areas like the Pacific Northwest, where there’s so much wild, untamed nature. Legends like this thrive because they add a layer of mystery to the world around us. It’s not necessarily about finding proof of Bigfoot, but more about having something to wonder about, something that sparks conversation and keeps a bit of the unknown alive. Even though it’s mostly just a fun story, it connects people to the land and to each other, whether it’s around a campfire or while hiking through the forest. And that’s what keeps it relevant—because as long as people keep telling these stories, they’ll keep Bigfoot alive, even if it’s just in spirit.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 21

Occupation: Student

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 1, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Friend

The Legend of Johnny Appleseed

Text: “I remember hearing stories about Johnny Appleseed when I was a kid, and people always talked about him like he was some kind of folk hero. I think the thing that stands out the most was how he was always described as this kind of wild, free spirit. He was a man on a mission, you know? He didn’t care much for stuff like owning land or having a lot of money—he just wandered around planting apple trees everywhere. They said he wore a pot on his head, too.
The real story, though, was about his apples. He planted apple orchards all across the Oregon trail to near Washington. And he didn’t charge people for the trees or anything. He just gave them away. I always heard he did it because he wanted people to have food and to be able to grow their own.
The way the story goes, though, it’s kind of like a legend. Some people say he could talk to animals, or that the trees he planted grew faster than normal. I don’t know how much of that’s true, but it’s definitely the kind of thing people love to exaggerate about a guy like Johnny.”

Context: This story was shared by the informant, who learned about Johnny Appleseed as a young child in school. The informant was not born in the United States, and hearing these stories was part of their introduction to American culture. As a child, the informant was fascinated by the figure of Johnny Appleseed, who was presented as a heroic figure in the classroom, a symbol of American frontier life. The informant recalls how Johnny Appleseed was portrayed as a wild, free spirit who traveled across the country planting apple trees, embodying selflessness and generosity. These stories, filled with admiration for Johnny Appleseed, shaped the informant’s early understanding of American folklore and culture.

Analysis: This story of Johnny Appleseed fits perfectly into the category of legend, blending real historical elements with exaggerations that elevate the figure to mythic status. The informant highlights the core aspects of the legend—Johnny’s wandering spirit, his selflessness in planting apple trees, and the generous nature of giving away those trees for free. These elements are characteristic of folklore heroes, who often represent ideals like community, altruism, and harmony with nature.

The details that are exaggerated—such as the ability to communicate with animals or the trees growing unnaturally fast—show how legends grow over time. Such embellishments serve to reinforce Johnny Appleseed’s larger-than-life status, making him a figure whose story transcends simple historical fact to become a symbol of something greater, such as the American frontier spirit.

In American folklore, figures like Johnny Appleseed represent the pioneering spirit, an idealized version of self-sufficiency and generosity. His legend embodies the ethos of the early frontier days, where individuals were seen as part of a larger effort to settle and cultivate the land. The informant’s story underscores how these legends are passed down, not just as historical accounts, but as narratives that shape cultural identity and values, focusing on ideals like giving, adventure, and the connection between humanity and the natural world.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 63

Occupation: Talent Acquisition Manager

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 1, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): Hungarian, German

Relationship: Parent