Greg Ellis, my personal favorite in the 38th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing Contest, connected with the bell like a true jazz man in this year's competition at Fisherman's Wharf. The ringing of the bells is a great tradition unfortunately held on weekday afternoons. Perhaps the cable cars are best geared toward tourists PR-wise, but a lot of locals dig Hallidie's lumbering cars, too. It was good to see Fannie Barnes taking in the scene, as well as Dave Streich and Lynne Newton. For dyed-in-the-wool tourists presumably from places where wool is dyed, Ronald McDonald was present to peddle corporate chow. Ellis finished in third place. The winner of the bell ringing contest again this year was Byron Cobb. - Hank Donat

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