Live Documentaries

What sets the Live Documentary apart from the typical speech/lecture/presentation is the unique combination of documentary narrative and storytelling that captures the drama and emotion of  our stories, taking from the style of Ken Burns or the “American Experience.”

We have two documentaries available: “From Vision to Icon: Building the Golden Gate Bridge” and “The American Emperor: the Life and Times of San Francisco’s Most Colorful Character-Joshua Abraham Norton.”

We offer these documentaries at no cost for community organizations, non-profits, museums, and schools.  Each documentary is $195 for convention groups and business meeting.  Please call 415-317-8687 or email us to arrange a documentary.

The two documentaries we currently offer have been presented at the Commonwealth Club of California, the nation’s oldest and largest public affairs forum, and the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society.

Our Documentaries

“From Vision to Icon: Building the Golden Gate Bridge”

The American Society of Civil Engineers ranks it one of the seven wonders of the United States. It is one of the most recognized structures and one of the most visited destinations in the world. It is a welcoming portal to America on the Pacific, as is the Statue of Liberty on the Atlantic.  Although there are now eight longer suspension bridges with more advanced technology, only the Golden Gate Bridge is a world icon.

In 1987, 800,000 people descended upon San Francisco for the 50thAnniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. By 9 a.m., 250,000 had walked on the bridge. They didn’t come to honor a president, a pope, a prince or a King; they came to honor a bridge!

Yet it took nearly two decades to overcome political, financial, engineering, and construction challenges never before faced by any project of this magnitude. It took the work of the finest theoreticians and designers of bridge building, fearless engineers and construction workers, led by a visionary with an unstoppable desire to achieve a monumental achievement of a lifetime.

We are excited to have been selected to present our documentary as part of the official ceremonies honoring the 75th anniversary of opening bridge on May 27.  If your organization is sponsoring a tribute, please feel free to have us present our program as part of your events at no cost.

Testimonials

“Mr. Moylan’s documentary about the Golden Gate Bridge is fascinating and very well researched.  He weaves together stories of the personalities responsible for the Bridge with insights into the political, geological, and financial challenges of building it.  The program helps audience members understand the true significance of the Golden Gate Bridge: as an amazing technological achievement that changed both San Francisco and the workers who planned and built it.”
- Katy O.

“Peter Moylan donned his skills as a historian and speaker to the Mill Valley Historical Society on May 2, 2012. The Golden Gate Bridge: From Vision to Icon was the show. The Creekside room at the Mill Valley library was filled to the max and each guest was engaged in his slide show, accompanied by his “live documentary”. The facts, photos and presentation were all first class. It was a night our guests will not soon forget.
- Tim Amyx, President, Mill Valley Historical Society.

“History is the most amazing gift.  Your presentation on the GG Bridge allowed me to reflect on how attainable one’s dreams are and because of that to never give up on them no matter what.  Thank you for bringing that into fruition.”
- Karla A., San Francisco, Community Health Worker

Peter’s passion for history and biography is infectious! It’s amazing all the different stories and lives he is able to weave together into one cohesive narrative. It definitely adds a new depth to my understanding of the city and I’d imagine it will do the same for all visitors, transplants, and SF natives alike!
-  Scott Reed, San Francisco

“The presentation reminded me of the style and quality of “The American Experience” documentaries.”
- Aaron, San Francisco

“The American Emperor”

The Life and Times of San Francisco’s Most Colorful Character

This is the charming story of a remarkable 19th century character who set the tone for San Francisco’s unique, fun-loving, and often wacky personality.  Joshua Abraham Norton was a successful and leading businessman of San Francisco.  He lost it all in a series of bad business deals.  After a couple of years of obscurity, he suddenly reappeared, declaring himself the “Emperor of the United States.”  For nearly two decades, he “ruled” with the acceptance of the people of San Francisco.  Remarkably, the funeral of the beloved “Mad Monarch of Montgomery Street” was attended by 30,000 and was reported in newspapers throughout the nation.

Testimonials

“I loved Peter’s documentary on Emperor Norton. This was a part of San Francisco history that I didn’t know much about.  He has a way of bringing in historical facts and giving you an inside look at who the key players are, in a way that is funny, insightful and thought-provoking.  This is the best way to learn about our city’s past!” – Nancy Frappier, Social Worker, Pacifica, CA

“Many of these are too long.  But this was just the right length.  I feel like I got to know Emperor Norton completely in less than an hour.” – Audience Member – Café Royale

Coming in 2012 …

“The Summer of Love”  

Hippies, War, Music and Social Change in the Haight Ashbury of the 60s

2012 will be the 45^th anniversary of the Human Be-in/Gathering of the Tribes Festival in Golden Gate Park in 1967 that inspired the “Summer of Love.”  This was the turning point of an era in which college students from San Francisco State College and the University of California, Berkeley, rose up to demand academic freedom and to protest the war in Vietnam; youngsters came to Haight Ashbury in search of a life of peace and love, sex, drugs and rock music that would be called “The San Francisco Sound” came together to change the nation forever, for better and for worse.