Wildwood Tramcar Lawsuit Filed Over “Watch the Tramcar Please” Phrase

Wildwood Tramcar Lawsuit Filed Over “Watch the Tramcar Please” Phrase

A familiar voice that’s been echoing down the Wildwood Boardwalk since 1971 is now at the center of a legal battle.

Floss Stingel, the woman behind the iconic “Watch the tramcar, please!” announcement, has officially filed a lawsuit against the Wildwood Tramcar Operators.

For over five decades, Stingel’s voice has warned millions of visitors to step aside as the famous yellow and blue tramcar shuttles up and down the boardwalk.

The five-word phrase has not only become synonymous with summer in Wildwood, but it’s also appeared in various forms of media, including television documentaries, apparel, and even toys.

But now, Stingel claims that the Wildwood Tramcar Operators have used her voice without her explicit consent, a practice her legal team says has unfairly benefited the company without providing her with proper compensation.

“Wildwood Tram Car Operators has gained significant commercial benefits from its usage without providing her any compensation,” her attorney stated in a press release.

Stingel originally recorded the message on a simple tape recorder back in 1971, not knowing that her voice would go on to become one of the most famous sounds in Wildwood’s history.

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However, as the tramcar has become a commercial success and her voice is featured across different merchandise, Stingel and her team believe it’s time for her to be properly compensated for her contribution.

In the lawsuit, that was filed on October 21st, Stingel is going after not only the operators of the tramcar but also the city of Wildwood, the Wildwood business Improvement District, Wildwoods Boardwalk Special Improvement District, Wildwood Historical Society, Morey’s Piers and St. George’s Stores.

The lawsuit says that “Ms. Stingel requests relief for misappropriation of likeness pursuant to New Jersey common law, unjust enrichment, and violation of right of publicity pursuant to New Jersey common law.”

The legal filing outlines several demands, including:

Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial for the unauthorized use of Ms. Stingel’s voice recording.
An accounting of all profits and revenues received by the defendants attributable to the use of Ms. Stingel’s voice recording.
Restitution and disgorgement of all wrongful gains obtained by the defendants through the unauthorized use of Ms. Stingel’s voice.
Injunctive relief, enjoining the defendants from further use of Ms. Stingel’s voice recording without obtaining proper authorization and compensation.
Reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and expenses incurred in this action.
Any other relief that the Court deems just and proper.

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The lawsuit could have a ripple effect not only on the operators of the tramcar but also on the boardwalk itself.

With the tramcar being such an integral part of the Wildwood experience, any changes or potential settlements could affect how the tramcar is marketed or operated in the future.

The tramcars are currently tucked away in storage for the off-season. The Wildwood Video Archive recently got an exclusive look at how the iconic tramcars are stored during the winter months.