America’s Emperor, San Francisco’s Treasure: Who Was Emperor Norton?

Bay Curious

KQED

History, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.9 • 999 Ratings

🗓️ 1 March 2018

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Almost 140 years after his death, the beloved eccentric is still celebrated and revered in San Francisco. So who was he? Reported by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From K-QED.
0:05.0	Last month reporter Ryan Levy and Bay Curious listener Jennifer Jacobs went to somebody's 200th birthday party in San Francisco. Many of the guests were wearing
0:15.0	interesting clothing but there was one guy who definitely stood out.
0:19.5	Looks like a military uniform on all kinds of metals and then amazing feathers coming
0:25.0	out of this huge hat.
0:27.2	Lots of peacock feathers and multi-colored feathers.
0:30.5	And he looks like, you know, maybe something like what the emperor could look like.
0:34.0	I want to go try and chat with him, just you know? Why not?
0:38.0	Do you mind introducing yourself for us?
0:40.0	I'm Norton the first, Emperor of the United States and protector of Mexico.
0:45.0	I'm Olivia Allen Price joined this week by reporter Ryan Levy.
0:53.0	Hey, hey.
0:53.8	And this is Bay Curious, where each week we answer a question
0:56.7	about the Bay Area submitted by someone from our audience.
1:00.0	This week we celebrate one of San Francisco's greatest characters.
1:04.0	Emperor Norton.
1:08.0	Support for Bay Curius is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company,
1:12.0	still family owned, operated, and argued over.
1:16.0	Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.
1:22.3	Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.
1:27.4	So Ryan, you went to this birthday bash
1:29.2	with one of our listeners, right?
	...

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