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Background
San Francisco has held a Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest more or less annually since 1955. Until some time in the 1970s, there was also a Miss Cable Car contest. Miss Cable Car's primary duty was to appear at the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest.
Why did they stop? Probably because of some combination of increasing awareness of women's rights and the contestants suffering from hypothermia.
Miss Cable Car 1968 - Jennifer (Foreman) de Grassi
In 2006, I received an email from Jennifer Williams, who had been Miss Cable in 1968. Jennifer kindly provided some photos and newspaper clippings, and told some interesting stories about her experiences in the contest. The Miss Cable Car contest was held that year at the end of the Hyde Street line. There was a reception after at the Haslett Warehouse, which was the proposed site of a history museum. I have narrowed the date the contest was held to mid- to late-August of that year.
Jennifer Williams went on to be Idaho Teacher of the Year in 2002.
"(I)t was an incredible experience for a young girl -- marching around Union Square, bikini-clad, in the fog. I was a student at a local modeling school and they entered me 'on a fluke'- not really believing I'd win. I had nobody there that even knew me. As another fluke, a dear family friend happened to be in SF snapping photos and didn't realize I was in the contest, until I won. In two weeks I celebrate my 60th birthday, but still have my Cable Car trophy, a few photos, and a place tucked away in my heart for the confidence that single event provided in my own life. I was actually offered an acting role in Hollywood because of the contest, but decided to continue my studies at the University of Hawaii. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, four accomplished children and am still teaching after 35 years. If there is ever an opportunity- maybe for the 'old Cable Car queens' to be a part of the festivities, I'd gladly come."
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| An undated clipping from the San Francisco Chronicle shows Jennifer (Foreman) de Grassi at the left in the right-hand photo, at a reception held at the Haslett Warehouse, which was the proposed site of a history museum. Jennifer Williams Collection. |
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An undated clipping from the San Francisco Chronicle shows Clarissa Williams (runner up), Jennifer de Grassi (winner), and Bonnie Graber (runner up), posing on car 62. Jennifer Williams Collection. |
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An undated clipping from a San Francisco newspaper shows Jennifer de Grassi posing on a cable car after winning the Miss Cable Car title. Jennifer Williams Collection. July, 2007 Picture of the Month. |
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An undated clipping from a San Francisco newspaper shows Jennifer de Grassi posing on a cable car after winning the Miss Cable Car title. Jennifer Williams Collection. |
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A publicity photo taken at Union Square shows Jennifer de Grassi posing on a ladder, next to the bell of car 62. Jennifer Williams Collection. |
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| A publicity photo taken at Union Square shows Jennifer de Grassi posing with various civic leaders at the Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest in Union Square. Jennifer Williams Collection. |
Miss Cable Car 1973 - Barbara Davies
I had the honor to have lunch with Barbara Davies Walsh at the 2007 Cable Car Division Senior Luncheon.
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The date is July 19, 1973, and Powell Street Cable Car No. 1 built as the "Centennial Car" has just been presented to the people of San Francisco. No. 1 was completed on May 2, 1973, with the roof and seats from first No. 506, a Carter Bros. car. In 1973 Powell Street cable cars were painted green and cream, the then standard Muni paint scheme. No. 1, however, was painted in the maroon and cream colors of the Powell Street Railway, the original operator in 1888 of the Powell Street cable cars. Pictured in front of No. 1 are Fred Stindt, Miss Garbo Wong "Miss Chinatown," Friedel Klussmann "The Cable Car Lady" and Miss Barbara Davies "Miss Cable Car 1973." |
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Barbara Davies Walsh, with the Superintendent of the Cable Car Division, Brendan Scanlan at the 2007 Cable Car Division Senior Luncheon. Photo by Val Lupiz. |
I hope Muni will make a place for Jennifer and other former Miss Cable Cars at the contest some year. I imagine some people worry about falling afoul of political correctness.
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