Cable Cars - Revision history

Ccarlsson: added links

2022-11-02T18:54:14Z

added links

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:54, 2 November 2022
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	Again in the mid-1970's there was a move to replace the cable cars with far more efficient electric busses but public outcry led instead to a major overhaul of the existing system in the early 1980s. Today the cars run on only three routes and mostly for the benefit of tourists. Despite these setbacks, however, all but the most cynical city-dweller has a soft spot in their heart for these rolling pieces of history.		Again in the mid-1970's there was a move to replace the cable cars with far more efficient electric busses but public outcry led instead to a major overhaul of the existing system in the early 1980s. Today the cars run on only three routes and mostly for the benefit of tourists. Despite these setbacks, however, all but the most cynical city-dweller has a soft spot in their heart for these rolling pieces of history.

	''~~-- James~~ Sederberg ''		''—James Sederberg ''

	[[Image:Klussman 1948 AAC-8086.jpg]]		[[Image:Klussman 1948 AAC-8086.jpg]]
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	<font size=4>'''Cable Cars Saved in 1947'''</font>		<font size=4>'''Cable Cars Saved in 1947'''</font>

	In January, 1947, [[Mayor Roger Lapham\|Mayor Roger Lapham]] announced that the cable cars running on Powell Street would soon be shut down as part of a city-wide modernization plan. Across the country, urban rail systems were being phased out in favor of the more modern bus systems touted by the large automobile manufacturers and their allies among the tire and oil industries. San Francisco's famous cable cars, already seven decades old, were targeted, along with the Key System which was [[~~INTRODUCTION~~\|running trains across the lower deck]] of the Bay Bridge into the Transbay Terminal at Mission and First Streets. But the cable cars were not so easily dismissed. A number of San Francisco's wealthier citizens retained a romantic attachment to the charming vehicles. Two months after Mayor Lapham's announcement, on March 4, 1947, Friedel Klussmann founded the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars. Klussman was a member of the SF Federation of the Arts as well as the California Spring Blossom and Wildflowers Association, and became the visible head of a local revolt. A popular movement to save the cable cars soon swung into action, forcing the Board of Supervisors to place the issue on the November ballot in 1947. The cable cars were saved when 77 percent voted in favor of a city charter amendment to preserve the cable cars.		In January, 1947, [[Mayor Roger Lapham\|Mayor Roger Lapham]] announced that the cable cars running on Powell Street would soon be shut down as part of a city-wide modernization plan. Across the country, urban rail systems were being phased out in favor of the more modern bus systems touted by the large automobile manufacturers and their allies among the tire and oil industries. San Francisco's famous cable cars, already seven decades old, were targeted, along with the Key System which was [[Key System and March of Progress\|running trains across the lower deck]] of the Bay Bridge into the [[Transbay Terminal\|Transbay Terminal]] at Mission and First Streets. But the cable cars were not so easily dismissed. A number of San Francisco's wealthier citizens retained a romantic attachment to the charming vehicles. Two months after Mayor Lapham's announcement, on March 4, 1947, Friedel Klussmann founded the Citizens' Committee to Save the Cable Cars. Klussman was a member of the SF Federation of the Arts as well as the California Spring Blossom and Wildflowers Association, and became the visible head of a local revolt. A popular movement to save the cable cars soon swung into action, forcing the Board of Supervisors to place the issue on the November ballot in 1947. The cable cars were saved when 77 percent voted in favor of a city charter amendment to preserve the cable cars.

	''~~-- Chris~~ Carlsson''		''—Chris Carlsson''

	<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/PowellStreetScenesC1920s" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>		<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/PowellStreetScenesC1920s" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Ccarlsson: moving photos to new page

2022-11-02T05:59:11Z

moving photos to new page

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:59, 1 November 2022
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	Perhaps the weirdest accident story transpired in 1964, when a woman who had been involved in a minor cable car mishap sued the City. The only injury she suffered was a purely psychological one: She claimed that the accident had turned her into a nymphomaniac, for which she wanted half a million dollars in compensation. An expert witness, Dr. Louis K. Boswell, a specialist in electronically-induced hypnosis, played tapes of his 44 sessions with the nymphomanical victim. Dr. Boswell, who had been barred from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis due to his unorthodox methods, had his office on the ninth floor of the [[Satanist Curses High-Rise \| Fox Plaza]] building—a building allegedly crawling with bad vibes since it was cursed by Satanist Anton LaVey. The jury heard the case, kept a straight face, and awarded the nymphomaniac $50,000.		Perhaps the weirdest accident story transpired in 1964, when a woman who had been involved in a minor cable car mishap sued the City. The only injury she suffered was a purely psychological one: She claimed that the accident had turned her into a nymphomaniac, for which she wanted half a million dollars in compensation. An expert witness, Dr. Louis K. Boswell, a specialist in electronically-induced hypnosis, played tapes of his 44 sessions with the nymphomanical victim. Dr. Boswell, who had been barred from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis due to his unorthodox methods, had his office on the ninth floor of the [[Satanist Curses High-Rise \| Fox Plaza]] building—a building allegedly crawling with bad vibes since it was cursed by Satanist Anton LaVey. The jury heard the case, kept a straight face, and awarded the nymphomaniac $50,000.

	''~~--Dr~~. Weirde ''		''—Dr. Weirde ''

	~~[[Image:Cable-car-museum-outside 0137.jpg]]~~

	~~'''Cable Car Museum, 1201 Mason at Washington Street.'''~~

	~~''Photo: Chris Carlsson''~~

	~~[[Image:Cable-car-museum-wheels 0138.jpg]]~~

	~~'''Cable Car Museum, cable wheels running inside.'''~~

	~~''Photo: Chris Carlsson''~~

Ccarlsson: added photos

2020-06-28T05:58:50Z

added photos

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:58, 27 June 2020
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	''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

			[[Image:Cablecar-on-California SF-HD grab2.jpg]]

			'''Cable Car on California Street in this outtake from a Hollywood film.'''

			''Courtesy Prelinger Archives''

	Within ten years of the initial Clay Street voyage, cable cars were running along Sutter, Geary, Market, Ellis, O'Farrell, Post, Powell, Sacramento, Washington, Jackson and Union Streets. The cable cars were more than just a practical transportation device, they quickly became the sentimental property of all San Franciscans. People would gather at the turntables to help the gripman turn the cars around, a ride on the cable car was compared to a ride on a roller coaster or a ferris wheel, and the image of the little cars cresting the impossible peaks became the poetic image of San Francisco. Tony Bennett's hit "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," with its famous line about the little cable cars climbing "halfway to the stars," sealed this symbol into the minds of the nation. This didn't stop the city government from planning their removal in 1947, but they were defeated by citizens' opposition.		Within ten years of the initial Clay Street voyage, cable cars were running along Sutter, Geary, Market, Ellis, O'Farrell, Post, Powell, Sacramento, Washington, Jackson and Union Streets. The cable cars were more than just a practical transportation device, they quickly became the sentimental property of all San Franciscans. People would gather at the turntables to help the gripman turn the cars around, a ride on the cable car was compared to a ride on a roller coaster or a ferris wheel, and the image of the little cars cresting the impossible peaks became the poetic image of San Francisco. Tony Bennett's hit "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," with its famous line about the little cable cars climbing "halfway to the stars," sealed this symbol into the minds of the nation. This didn't stop the city government from planning their removal in 1947, but they were defeated by citizens' opposition.
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	''Photo: C.R. collection''		''Photo: C.R. collection''

			[[Image:Castro-street-Dinky-Cable-Car.jpg]]

			'''Castro Street dinky cable car, c. 1930s.'''

			''Photo: Private Collector''

	[[Image:Save-Cable-Cars-demo.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Save-Cable-Cars-demo.jpg\|720px]]

Ccarlsson: added abstract

2019-03-27T22:48:54Z

added abstract

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 27 March 2019
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	''[http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cushman/ Charles Cushman Collection: Indiana University Archives (P07281)'']		''[http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cushman/ Charles Cushman Collection: Indiana University Archives (P07281)'']

			{\| style="color: black; background-color: #F5DA81;"
			\| colspan="2" \|'''Since their first installation on Clay Street in 1873, cable cars have been an enduring icon of San Francisco. A feat of engineering driven by steam-power, the cable cars have come to represent more than their original purpose to San Franciscans. They have made residency possible in neighborhoods previously inaccessible because of hills, escaped potential elimination in 1947 when the then-mayor proposed they be replaced by more modern buses, and survived numerous bizarre accidents, not to mention acting as "rolling pieces of history." '''
			\|}

	[[Image:California-Street-cable-car-at-apx-Grant-c-early-1930s-courtesy-Jimmie-Shein.jpg]]		[[Image:California-Street-cable-car-at-apx-Grant-c-early-1930s-courtesy-Jimmie-Shein.jpg]]

Lisaruth at 18:10, 9 July 2018

2018-07-09T18:10:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:10, 9 July 2018
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	'''Clay Street Railroad.'''		'''Clay Street Railroad.'''

			''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:CABLe-car-on-Clay-1878.jpg]]		[[Image:CABLe-car-on-Clay-1878.jpg]]
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	'''Early San Francisco Cable Car on Clay Street, 1878.'''		'''Early San Francisco Cable Car on Clay Street, 1878.'''

	''~~Photos~~: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	On August 1, 1873 as dawn broke over the foggy city, Hallidie and his crew stood at the intersection of Clay and Leavenworth. The foot of Clay Street, some 500 feet below, lay shrouded in fog. The workman who had been chosen to make the first test run had lost his nerve at the last moment. Hallidie himself jumped on board, seized the grip and made a successful descent down to Kearny. As impressive as this short ride was, the true test was yet to come. Hallidie and the workers turned the car around on the turntable and, with Hallidie in command, the little car made its way back to the top of the hill as planned. Later that week the public was invited to ride the cable cars for free. On some runs as many as ninety passengers crammed aboard the car that was designed to carry 26. There were relatively few problems, however, and the new invention was deemed a success. Cable Cars had come to San Francisco.		On August 1, 1873 as dawn broke over the foggy city, Hallidie and his crew stood at the intersection of Clay and Leavenworth. The foot of Clay Street, some 500 feet below, lay shrouded in fog. The workman who had been chosen to make the first test run had lost his nerve at the last moment. Hallidie himself jumped on board, seized the grip and made a successful descent down to Kearny. As impressive as this short ride was, the true test was yet to come. Hallidie and the workers turned the car around on the turntable and, with Hallidie in command, the little car made its way back to the top of the hill as planned. Later that week the public was invited to ride the cable cars for free. On some runs as many as ninety passengers crammed aboard the car that was designed to carry 26. There were relatively few problems, however, and the new invention was deemed a success. Cable Cars had come to San Francisco.
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	'''Cable car on California Street, 1879.'''		'''Cable car on California Street, 1879.'''

	''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	Within ten years of the initial Clay Street voyage, cable cars were running along Sutter, Geary, Market, Ellis, O'Farrell, Post, Powell, Sacramento, Washington, Jackson and Union Streets. The cable cars were more than just a practical transportation device, they quickly became the sentimental property of all San Franciscans. People would gather at the turntables to help the gripman turn the cars around, a ride on the cable car was compared to a ride on a roller coaster or a ferris wheel, and the image of the little cars cresting the impossible peaks became the poetic image of San Francisco. Tony Bennett's hit "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," with its famous line about the little cable cars climbing "halfway to the stars," sealed this symbol into the minds of the nation. This didn't stop the city government from planning their removal in 1947, but they were defeated by citizens' opposition.		Within ten years of the initial Clay Street voyage, cable cars were running along Sutter, Geary, Market, Ellis, O'Farrell, Post, Powell, Sacramento, Washington, Jackson and Union Streets. The cable cars were more than just a practical transportation device, they quickly became the sentimental property of all San Franciscans. People would gather at the turntables to help the gripman turn the cars around, a ride on the cable car was compared to a ride on a roller coaster or a ferris wheel, and the image of the little cars cresting the impossible peaks became the poetic image of San Francisco. Tony Bennett's hit "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," with its famous line about the little cable cars climbing "halfway to the stars," sealed this symbol into the minds of the nation. This didn't stop the city government from planning their removal in 1947, but they were defeated by citizens' opposition.
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	'''Friedel Klussman, to whom any move to abolish San Francisco cable cars is a call to arms, receives a handsomely decorated testimonial letter from grateful employees of the California St Cable Railroad Co. Ernest Thompson and A. J. Wall (right) make the presentation in behalf of their fellow employees, two of whom are looking on, as is Mrs. Carl Eastman (1948).'''		'''Friedel Klussman, to whom any move to abolish San Francisco cable cars is a call to arms, receives a handsomely decorated testimonial letter from grateful employees of the California St Cable Railroad Co. Ernest Thompson and A. J. Wall (right) make the presentation in behalf of their fellow employees, two of whom are looking on, as is Mrs. Carl Eastman (1948).'''

	''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:Cable-car-in-Pacific-Heights-Jackson-or-Washington-nd-c-1938.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Cable-car-in-Pacific-Heights-Jackson-or-Washington-nd-c-1938.jpg\|720px]]

Lisaruth at 18:08, 9 July 2018

2018-07-09T18:08:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:08, 9 July 2018
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	'''California Street cable car at approximately Grant Street, c. 1930s.'''		'''California Street cable car at approximately Grant Street, c. 1930s.'''

	''Photo: Courtesy of Jimmie ~~Shein~~''		''Photo: Courtesy of Jimmie Schein''

	Legend has it that Andrew Hallidie, a man who designed and produced heavy steel cable for industry, used to enjoy late night walks through foggy San Francisco. On a rainy winter's night in 1869, Hallidie, on one of his walks, watched a wooden cart being pulled up the Powell Street hill by four very tired, overworked horses. One of the horse's iron shoes slipped on the wet cobblestones, the driver's brake chain snapped and the cart slipped swiftly backwards down the hill, dragging the horses with it. When the cart reached the foot of the hill the four horses and the driver lay in a heap of broken bones and flesh. Hallidie, apparently moved by the inhumane treatment of the workhorses, decided to combine his humanitarian instincts with his industrial know-how in order to design a car that could be pulled up and down the imposing San Francisco hills by steam-power driven cables.		Legend has it that Andrew Hallidie, a man who designed and produced heavy steel cable for industry, used to enjoy late night walks through foggy San Francisco. On a rainy winter's night in 1869, Hallidie, on one of his walks, watched a wooden cart being pulled up the Powell Street hill by four very tired, overworked horses. One of the horse's iron shoes slipped on the wet cobblestones, the driver's brake chain snapped and the cart slipped swiftly backwards down the hill, dragging the horses with it. When the cart reached the foot of the hill the four horses and the driver lay in a heap of broken bones and flesh. Hallidie, apparently moved by the inhumane treatment of the workhorses, decided to combine his humanitarian instincts with his industrial know-how in order to design a car that could be pulled up and down the imposing San Francisco hills by steam-power driven cables.

Roryc: changed credit on''''Cable car in Pacific Heights, c. 1930s.'''photo which came from CR collection

2016-09-21T00:14:23Z

changed credit on''''Cable car in Pacific Heights, c. 1930s.'''photo which came from CR collection

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 20 September 2016
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	'''Cable car in Pacific Heights, c. 1930s.'''		'''Cable car in Pacific Heights, c. 1930s.'''

	''Photo: ~~Charles Ruiz~~ collection''		''Photo: C.R. collection''

	[[Image:Save-Cable-Cars-demo.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Save-Cable-Cars-demo.jpg\|720px]]

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2014-11-09T07:11:29Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:11, 9 November 2014
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	''Photo: Charles Ruiz collection''		''Photo: Charles Ruiz collection''

			[[Image:Save-Cable-Cars-demo.jpg\|720px]]

			'''Demonstrators clamor to save the cable cars, 1947.'''

			''Photo: Private collector''

	<font size=4>'''Cable Cars Saved in 1947'''</font>		<font size=4>'''Cable Cars Saved in 1947'''</font>

Ccarlsson: fixed video code and added photo

2014-10-05T03:41:18Z

fixed video code and added photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:41, 4 October 2014
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	''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

			[[Image:Cable-car-in-Pacific-Heights-Jackson-or-Washington-nd-c-1938.jpg\|720px]]

			'''Cable car in Pacific Heights, c. 1930s.'''

			''Photo: Charles Ruiz collection''


	<font size=4>'''Cable Cars Saved in 1947'''</font>		<font size=4>'''Cable Cars Saved in 1947'''</font>
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	''-- Chris Carlsson''		''-- Chris Carlsson''

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	'''Silent footage of cable cars turning around at Powell and Market, c. 1920s.'''		'''Silent footage of cable cars turning around at Powell and Market, c. 1920s.'''

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2012-08-01T06:50:45Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 31 July 2012
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	[[category:transit]] [[category:1870s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Nob Hill]] [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:Famous characters]]		[[category:transit]] [[category:1870s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Nob Hill]] [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1930s]]