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Crosscurrents

Long Live The Emperor: The Weird Tale Of San Francisco’s Most Beloved Eccentric

Published February 20, 2020 at 5:44 PM PST
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Norton's Bridge
Jeremy Fish
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Portrait of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, also known as Joshua A. Norton
Public Domain
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Joshua A. Norton (1819-1880), self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico
Public Domain
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Emperor Norton on a bicycle
Public Domain
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Joseph Amster as Emperor Norton
Courtesy of Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine
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Joseph Amster as Emperor Norton
Courtesy of Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine
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Joseph Amster as Emperor Norton
Courtesy of Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine
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Bar counter at Emperor Norton's Boozeland
Kevin DeMattia / Emperor Norton's Boozeland
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A color fit for an emperor at Emperor Norton's Boozeland
Courtesy of Emperor Norton's Boozeland
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Back patio of Emperor Norton's Boozeland
Courtsey of of Emperor Norton's Boozeland
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Kevin DeMattia behind the bar at Emperor Norton's Boozeland
Courtesy of Emperor Norton's Boozeland
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Emperor Norton's monetary note
Kevin DeMattia
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Detail of Emperor Norton's monetary note
Kevin DeMattia
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Jeremy Fish at Caffe Trieste
Christopher Michel
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Jeremy Fish outside his studio
Christopher Michel
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Jeremy Fish at his studio
Christopher Michel
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Jeremy Fish monetary note
Jeremy Fish
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The interior at Caffee Trieste
Chrisopher Michel
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The interior at Caffee Trieste
Chrisopher Michel
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Aaron Peskin at Caffee Trieste
Chrisopher Michel
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John Lumea in front of the Bay Bridge
Kevin N. Hume / SF Examiner
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Rick Shelton in drag
Courtesy of Drag Me Along Tours
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The Emperor and Rick Shelton
Judi Leff
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A young José Julio Sarria"
Courtesy of the International Court System
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José Julio Sarria performing at the Black Cat Cafe"
Courtesy of the International Court System
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Crowning of King Father I of the America's Terry Sidie
Courtesy of the International Court System
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50th anniversary of the Imperial Court at San Francisco City Hall
Courtesy of the International Court System
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Imperial Court's pilgrimage to Emperor Norton's grave
Courtesy of San Francisco Historical Society
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The Widow Norton and the funeral procession at Emperor Norton's grave
Courtesy of the International Court System
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Judi Leff at Emperor Norton's cenotaph
Courtesy of Judi Leff
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Rick Shelton, Joseph Amster, and Judi Leff at Emperor Norton's cenotaph
Courtesy of Home of Peace Cemetery
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José Julio Sarria and Emperor Norton tombstones"
Judi Leff

Once upon a time in Gold Rush-era San Francisco a businessman amassed a fortune, then lost it all and went insane. His next move? He declared himself Emperor of the United States. 

But here’s where the story gets stranger than fiction: almost everyone in San Francisco went along with it in what probably amounted to the greatest city-wide inside joke of all time. Just like that, Emperor Norton was born. In this original documentary, "Long Live the Emperor: The Weird Tale of San Francisco’s Most Beloved Eccentric" we learn about one of San Francisco’s most iconic oddballs and meet some of the strange and quirky people who carry on his legacy today.

Click the play button above to listen to the full story.

The annual Widow Norton Pilgrimage to Emperor Norton’s grave in Woodlawn Cemetary in Colma is on Sunday, February 23, 2020.

Special thanks to Billy Clift for providing audio from a procession to Emperor Norton’s grave.

Tags
Crosscurrents HistorySan FranciscoCrosscurrents Podcast