Norton I, America’s Emperor

Norton I, Emperor of America, Protector of Mexico, was an immigrant, a tycoon, a bankrupt, a fantasist, a mascot, a campaigner, a visionary and monarch.

This film explores Norton’s legend, in his own time and ours.

One hundred and thirty years ago a true visionary walked the streets of San Francisco…

Emperor Norton, Norton I, was America’s one and only monarch. He ruled from the Bay Area, conversed with monarchs and politicians, issued his own banknotes and addressed the California state senate. When he died, 20,000 people lined up to see his funeral cortege. 

An immigrant himself, Norton spoke out against slavery and racism; he campaigned for rights and tolerance. He designed everything from a safer railroad brake to a bridge and tunnel connecting Oakland and San Francisco, six decades before we got around to building it. 

Norton was also a bankrupt failed businessman, who begged free meals and drinks. He wore a ludicrous and increasingly threadbare uniform. When he died, his pitiful belongings couldn’t even cover the cost of a pauper’s funeral.

It wasn’t just that these were one and the same man; each of them could only exist because they were the same man.

This is a film about history, set in the modern day.

Following the progress of two extraordinary characters, we reveal both the twisted tale that carried Norton to imperial greatness, and the themes of his life that still resonate today.

We’ll learn the full story of Norton’s success in San Francisco, his crippling failure, his rebirth as the Emperor and his glorious imperial rule. We’ll also explore the themes of boom and bust, mental health, progressive politics, creative acceptance and generosity that mark out the Bay Area to this day.

California is a land of the future, but also has a dramatic past. We reveal how the two are intertwined. The city of the Barbary Coast still lives on in modern San Francisco; the struggles we face today were just as real in Norton’s life.

March with your Emperor!

This is a film rooted in San Francisco, the Bay Area, NorCal and all who love them. We need your love and dollars to make this film - pledge your allegiance and support to Norton I.

Learn More at www.emperornortonfilm.org and at this short film.

A film by Jesse Chandler and James Buchanan