. >> perhaps no one knows more about city hall weddings than ellen schumer. >> how glorious it must be to walk through city hall and surrounded by this. >> by weddings and look you're also surrounded by children who participate in family weddings. the main thing it's truly a sign of love, love of each other in a building that promotes love. >> when mayor james sunny first opened the doors in 1915 he envisioned it as a palace for the people. a county clerk at the time, issued tens of thousands of marriage licenses over the course of his career. he was known for not standing in the way of a wedding, no matter what concerns were raised. in 1921 a vocal instructor ray youngman claimed he was forced to marry a former student at gunpoint. according to the "san francisco chronicle". >> the father pointed a revolver at him, told him he ruined his daughter and demanded he marry her. youngman says he was too stunned by fear to say he was already married and followed the lead in a chance. the judge noted nothing unusual in the ceremony although youngman appeared pale. >> weddings fill open spaces

. >> as well as ellen schumer. >> part of what i love is watching the amazement on people's faces. >> since 1999 -- >> this was part of the treasurer. >> humor filled the minds of visitors with the history of city hall. >> joe dimaggio and marilyn monroe. >> which opened 100 years ago. >> married in the dark dirty, dingy courtroom. >> opened in 1915. the same year as the panama pacific exhibition. it was part of the city's resurrection from the 1906 earthquake and fire. >> that was the mayor's reception room. >> the construction of city hall was shepherded by san francisco's larger than life mayor sonny jim wall. >> he said we have to court the world and how you court the world is you build a palace. >> when he later left to become california's golf rolf left behind a memento. >> they had the stone masons carve his name and date. i hope you're giving them added information. >> schumer tells her visitors about a day in the '60s when city hall hosted hearings by the house on american activities committee sneemt host demonstrators down the grand staircase. >> she tells them about that ka