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 Just two years earlier San Francisco's cable car system was on the brink of being shut down by Mayor Lapham who wanted to replace them with buses. Friedel Klussmann's successful campaign to save them received national attention. Life magazine did a photo spread on the gripmen. They were celebrities in the spotlight - the last of a kind. Chicago's own cable car system had shut down in 1906. Their last running cars required police protection from mobs trying to strip off souvenirs. It wasn't until 1955 that another contest took place. In his 1954 election campaign, Mayor Elmer Robinson had promised a festival to promote cable cars as a visitor attraction. Ironically, he was also responsible for cutbacks in the service. Traditionally held in July in Union Square, the contest has become an annual event that San Franciscans and visitors alike look forward to. It's an opportunity to come out, have a good time and appreciate our unique historic cable cars and the crews that keep them (us) safe. The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 48th Annual Bell Ringing Competition In Union Square at Noon September 28, 2010 This year’s competition was limited to local media celebrities and unfortunately included no members from the Cable Car Division. Roberta Gonzales from KPIX-TV came in at 2nd place accompanied by Mariachi Mexicanismo, Marcus D from Alice 97.3 placed 3rd place with his magic show and Scotty Bastable & his crew from KOIT-FM put up quite a fight and took 1st place! More Photos  MTA chief Nathaniel Ford and Gilberto Godoy from the Cable Car Museum present the champ, Scotty Bastable, with his award.The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 47th Annual Bell Ringing Competition In Union Square at Noon June 9, 2009  Frank Ware (2nd place), Howard Woo (3rd place) and the 2009 Bell-Ringing Champion is Leonard Oats! The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 46th Annual Bell Ringing Competition In Union Square at Noon June 3, 2008  Ken Lunardi (2nd place), Byron Cobb (3rd place) and the 2008 Bell-Ringing Champion is Leonard Oats!  2008 Finalists Byron Cobb, Trini Whittaker, Frank Ware, Leonard Oats, Ken Lunardi, Thomas Leal and Patrick Ledbetter Sr. The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 45th Annual Bell Ringing Competition In Union Square at Noon July 12, 2007 Leonard Oats - 2007 Bell-Ringing Champ  Frank Ware (3rd place), Ken Lunardi (2nd place), and the 2007 Bell-Ringing Champion is Leonard Oats! The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 44th Annual Bell Ringing Competition In Union Square at Noon July 13, 2006  Warren Robinson III (3rd place), Byron Cobb (2nd place), and the 2006 Bell-Ringing Champion is Ken Lunardi! The preliminary bell ringing contest was held June 28th at the Washinton-Mason cable car barn.The finalists will be competing atUnion Square.  2006 Finalists Ken Lunardi, Patrick Ledbetter Sr., Walter Scott III, Warren Robinson III, Howard Woo, Leonard Oats The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 43nd Annual Bell Ringing Competition In Union Square at Noon July 14, 2005  Howard Woo (3rd place), Frank Ware (2nd place), and the 2005 Bell-Ringing Champion is Byron Cobb! The preliminary bell ringing contest was held June 30th at the Washinton-Mason cable car barn.ÊThe finalists will be competing at Union Square.  2005 Finalists Byron Cobb, Patrick Ledbetter Sr., Frank Ware, Water Scott III, Howard Woo, Jimmy Chau, Leonard Oats The San Francisco Municipal Railway's 42nd Annual Bell Ringing Competition July 8, 2004 
The winners in the division for non-profit organizations were:
The MC for the event was Debi Durst, and musical entertainment was provided by the Cable Car Blues Band. Muni's 42nd annual Cable Car Bell-Ringing Contest was sponsored by Muni, the Union Square Association, the Friends of the Cable Car Museum, and ING Financial. |
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Bell Ringing
Contests |
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Cable Car Museum - 1201 Mason Street - San Francisco © 2004-2017 Friends of the Cable Car Museum