The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which oversees the Municipal Railway (Muni), will host the 47th annual Muni Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest Tuesday, June 9, at noon in Union Square.

“The cable car bell ringing contest is a great San Francisco tradition,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “The cable cars are National Landmarks that allow residents and visitors alike to experience the best of our city.”

“It is no surprise that this contest has been going on for almost half a century,” added SFMTA Executive Director/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “Our Gripmen and Conductors are remarkable performers and the community bell ringers put on a great show.”

The contest will feature two competitions, one for local media and community representatives and another for cable car gripmen and conductors.

In the first portion of the contest, the following community representatives will compete: Scotty Bastable from KOIT, Val Klein, director of integrated media from Clear Channel, Aaron Jones from KBLX, Janelle Wang from The View from the Bay - ABC Ch. 7 and Chip Conley, founder and CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, will also show off their bell ringing skills.

In the second portion of the contest, cable car crew members will face-off for the chance to be the World Champion Cable Car Bell Ringer. Defending champion Leonard Oats will compete against six challengers. The 2009 bell ringing finalists are Ken Lunardi, Frank Ware, Trini Whittaker, Howard Woo, Joseph Sue and Sullivan Phillips.

For both portions of the contest, the first place winners will receive a trophy and a Grand Prize Bell from Trophy Masters. There will also be prizes of hotel stays, dinners, and other gift certificates donated by the Union Square Association, Shanghai 1930, Ghirardelli Chocolates, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and Macy’s.

The mistress of ceremony duties will once again be graciously performed by comedienne Debi Durst. Entertainment will be provided by The Slot Blades band comprised of Cable Car grips and conductors and performers from the Epiphany Productions Sonic Dance Theater’s San Francisco Trolley Dances.

Muni's 47th annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest is presented by the SFMTA with the generous support of its long-time partners: the Union Square Association and the Friends of the Cable Car Museum.

The SFMTA also wishes to thank Ghirardelli Chocolates, Shanghai 1930, AAA, Uncle Vito’s Pizza and Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Company for their support.