Apollo Theater facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Apollo Theater

Marquee in 2019
Location	253 West 125th Street Manhattan, New York
Public transit	Subway: 125th Street
Operator	Apollo Theater Foundation
Type	Indoor theater
Seating type	fixed
Capacity	1,500 (approximate)
Apollo Theater
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	253 West 125th Street Manhattan, New York
Built	1913–1914
Architect	George Keister
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	83004059
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 17, 1983
Construction
Broke ground	1913
Opened	1914
Renovated	1934, 1978, 1982–1988, 2002–2005
Expanded	2024 (planned)

The Apollo Theater is a super famous theater at 253 West 125th Street in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It's known as a really important place for black American performers. It's also the home of the TV show Showtime at the Apollo. The theater has about 1,500 seats on three levels. It was designed by George Keister in a neoclassical style. Both the outside and inside of the theater are special New York City designated landmarks. They are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A group called the Apollo Theater Foundation (ATF) runs the theater. They also manage two smaller stages at the Victoria Theater and a recording studio.

The Apollo first opened in 1913. Back then, it was a place for variety shows and only white people were allowed inside. In 1934, Sidney Cohen bought the theater. He changed it into a place where black performers could shine. Frank Schiffman and his family ran the theater for many years, from 1935 to 1976. After some changes in ownership, Percy Sutton bought it in 1981. The Apollo reopened in 1985 after a big makeover. This included building new recording studios. In 1991, the New York State Urban Development Corporation bought the Apollo. They gave its management to the Apollo Theater Foundation. More updates happened in the mid-2000s. The theater also started expanding in the 2020s.

One of the Apollo's most famous events is Amateur Night. This is a weekly show where new performers try to impress the audience. Many famous performers who started at the Apollo are honored in the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame. The theater also supports new artistic works and runs educational programs. Over the years, the Apollo has hosted many types of shows. These include music, dance, plays, and comedy. It has also shown movies, hosted recordings, and held important speeches and tributes. The Apollo has had a huge impact on African-American culture. It has been featured in many books and TV shows.

Where is the Apollo Theater Located?

The Apollo Theater is at 253 West 125th Street. This is between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue). It's in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. The theater building has entrances on both 125th Street and 126th Street. The whole area is about 17,454 square feet. The front of the theater on 125th Street is 50 feet wide.

The Victoria Theater is right next to the Apollo on its west side. Many bus routes stop outside the theater. The New York City Subway's 125th Street/St. Nicholas Avenue subway station is just one block away.

What Does the Apollo Theater Look Like?

The theater was designed by George Keister. He used a style called neoclassical. This style was popular for many theaters Keister designed.

The Outside of the Theater

The main front of the theater faces 125th Street. It is three stories tall. The ground floor has been updated several times. It now has a ticket office and a store. The current look of the ground floor was finished in 2005. The store side has a modern glass and steel design. The ticket office is a round steel structure that sticks out.

The second and third stories are made of white shiny terracotta. This part of the building has been there since the theater opened in 1914. A decorative ledge with small blocks runs across the facade below the second floor. The windows on the second and third stories are in four vertical sections. These sections are separated by decorative columns called pilasters. These columns have fancy tops called capitals in the Ionic order.

A steel sign, called a marquee, was added above the ground floor in the 1940s. It showed the name "Apollo" and the names of the performers. In 2005, a new marquee with LED lights was installed. It looks like the old one. At the same time, the tall "Apollo" sign on the side was replaced with a new yellow and red sign.

Inside the Theater

The theater has an L-shaped layout. A long, narrow lobby leads from 125th Street to the main stage area at the back. Even though the inside was changed a few times, many of the original decorations from the 1910s are still there. These original features were carefully kept during a big renovation in the mid-1980s.

The Lobby

The main lobby is long and narrow. It has been changed a lot over the years. In 2006, the famous Tree of Hope was moved to the lobby. This is a tree stump that performers rub for good luck.

The lobby is on the western half of the ground floor facing 125th Street. The eastern half has a store. The original lobby had murals. By the 1970s, it was decorated with pictures of famous entertainers. There was also a ticket office. Today's lobby has two staircases that lead to the balconies. Four large chandeliers light up the space. There is also a gift shop. A cafe is planned for the lobby and should open in 2025.

The Auditorium

The main performance area, called the auditorium, is at the back of the building. It has a rectangular shape with curved walls and a domed ceiling. There are two balcony levels above the main floor, called the orchestra level. The Apollo Theater has about 1,500 seats. The seats were updated in the 1980s and again in 2006. They are now wide and cranberry-colored. Each row of seats has lights underneath. There is also a special seating area for people with disabilities.

The back of the orchestra level has a standing rail. Decorative designs are also around the doorways. Columns on the orchestra level support the first balcony. The orchestra floor slopes down towards the stage. The stage has a flat opening in the center.

The balconies also slope down. They have similar decorations to the orchestra level. The fronts of the balconies have brass handrails and decorative plasterwork. Square columns on the first balcony support the second balcony. On each side of the stage opening, there are two special box seats on each balcony level. These boxes have their own staircases. The ceiling is slightly curved at its edges. In the center of the ceiling is a round dome with a special design. The theater was very advanced for its time. It had a system to remove smoke and electric lights. This ventilation system was rebuilt in the 1980s.

Other Areas in the Theater

Besides the main auditorium, the ground floor had a store. There was also a cafe and cabaret in the basement. This area was used for rehearsals and later became a staff room. There were also lounges for men and women. The second floor originally had a dining room, and the third floor had meeting rooms. By the 1980s, the upper floors were used for storage and offices. The third floor also has a sound stage. Its windows were covered in 1985 for this use.

The dressing rooms are in a separate building. They are simple but have showers and baths. There is a wall in the dressing room covered in signatures. The Apollo's historian said that almost everyone who has performed there in the last 20 years has signed the wall. This includes famous people like Pee-wee Herman and even a president.

A special studio for TV and video was built on top of a nearby wing in the 1980s. This studio is about 3,500 to 4,000 square feet. It can record many sounds at once. It has been used by companies like Saatchi & Saatchi and Black Entertainment Television.

A Look at the Apollo Theater's History

In the late 1800s, Harlem was a fancy neighborhood for white people in New York City. But in the early 1900s, black residents started moving to Harlem. This was helped by new homes and the city's first subway line. By the early 1900s, 125th Street in Harlem had many theaters. These included places for vaudeville (variety shows), movies, and plays. This area became known as "Harlem's 42nd Street." Jules Hurtig and Harry Seamon were theater owners in this area. They leased the Harlem Music Hall in 1897. They put on shows with black superstars like Bert Williams and George Walker. The Music Hall later became a place for variety shows around 1911.

Early Years as a Theater

In 1911 or 1912, C. J. Stumpf and H. J. Langhoff bought land on 125th and 126th Street. In June 1912, they announced plans for a three-story building. It would have a large theater in the back with 2,500 seats. Hurtig and Seamon wanted a bigger place for their shows. They planned to lease the new theater for 30 years. The theater itself would cost $200,000. Work started in January 1913. The theater was first called Hurtig & Seamon's New (Burlesque) Theater. A local magazine said the theater would "add in no small degree to the appearance and prosperity of this locality."

The theater opened on December 17, 1913. Hurtig & Seamon first hired female ushers. They also did not allow black patrons inside. At first, the theater also showed movies in the summer. It also hosted other events like benefits. A group of Broadway performers started a variety show company at the theater in 1917.

In the 1920s, more black people moved to Harlem. This made many theater owners start letting black patrons in. However, some people said that black patrons at the New Theatre were always given worse seats. The New Theatre started having shows with mixed-race casts. Hurtig & Seamon also planned to have shows with all-black casts. In August 1925, the theater building was sold to Benenson Realty Company. But Hurtig & Seamon still ran the theater. That year, the theater's orchestra area was made bigger.

The Minsky Years

After Hurtig died in 1928, the Minsky brothers leased the New Theater. They had been putting on shows at a smaller theater called the Apollo. So, the New Theater was renamed Hurtig & Seamon's Apollo. The Minsky brothers updated the lobby and painted the auditorium.

The Apollo reopened in August 1928. Performers often spent more time on stage than before. In 1929, the Minsky brothers changed how they ran the shows. In March 1930, Billy Minsky said he would stop presenting certain shows. The next month, he started putting on shows with both black and white casts. Bessie Smith was one of the first black entertainers to perform at the Apollo.

The Minsky brothers focused on their new theater in Times Square. So, shows at the Apollo started to decline in 1930. After Billy Minsky died in 1932, his younger brother Herbert took over. The theater briefly had different types of shows in late 1932. It also started showing black vaudeville that year. The Apollo closed for seven months in May 1933. It reopened in December 1933. But the new mayor, Fiorello La Guardia, started to crack down on these types of theaters.

The Cohen and Schiffman Era

Sidney Cohen, who owned other theaters, took over the Apollo in January 1934. Many popular black theaters in Harlem were on 125th Street. The Apollo was changed into a place for black entertainers. It had an all-black staff. Most of the old show elements were removed. The theater was renamed the 125th Street Apollo Theatre. It reopened on January 26, 1934, for the black community of Harlem. Cohen hired Clarence Robinson as producer and Morris Sussman as manager. He also hired talent scout John Hammond to book shows. The theater quickly became popular with working-class and young audiences.

The Apollo was a special place for black performers. In the early 1900s, many other places did not allow them to perform. The theater was a key venue on the "Chitlin' Circuit" (a group of venues that welcomed black entertainers). It featured many kinds of music, like R&B, jazz, blues, and gospel. Early shows were variety shows. They quickly changed to a mix of dance, comedy, music, and new acts. These shows were like vaudeville. Six to eight acts would perform for a week. They would do up to seven shows a day. New performers often started as opening acts. They hoped to become the main performer. The Apollo did not have rich supporters. So, its success depended on each week's show. To save money, the Apollo paid performers low salaries. Most new performers were happy to agree.

The Apollo became a black theater at the end of the Harlem Renaissance. It was so respected by local black residents that it was not damaged during the Harlem riots in 1935, 1943, or 1964. The theater was a source of pride for Harlem's black community. It was often used as a meeting place during protests. Even though the Schiffman family was white, local residents called the Apollo "our theater."

The 1930s and 1940s

Adelaide Hall, a jazz singer, was the first major performer at the Apollo in February 1934. Her shows were highly praised. This helped make the Apollo famous. Sussman hosted amateur competitions on Wednesday nights. He also had "kiddie hours" on Sundays. The Apollo had strong competition from other theaters. Cohen advertised and broadcast shows on local radio. This led to similar efforts from other theater owners. Cohen, Schiffman, and Brecher made a deal in May 1935. Cohen leased the theater to Duane Theater Corporation. Ralph Cooper became the emcee (host) that same year.

After Cohen died in late 1935, the Apollo continued to have live shows. It was called "The Only Stage Show in Harlem." At first, the Apollo attracted blues and ragtime performers. It also had comedians and big bands. Early shows included a group of 16 chorus girls. The New York Amsterdam News said in 1939 that the Apollo was "the only theatre in the country where Negro performers are predominantly featured." The Apollo closed for updates in mid-1940. It reopened that September. The theater started showing musical comedies in February 1941. Jazz and bebop were popular in the 1940s. Gospel music was also sometimes hosted.

The Apollo attracted mixed-race audiences in the 1940s. On Sundays, up to 80% of the audience was white. During World War II, the theater gave free tickets to U.S. soldiers. Entertainers also performed at a nearby recreation center. Schiffman closed the theater for renovations in August 1945. The project cost $45,000. It included new sound systems, a remodeled orchestra pit, and new lounges. After the war, the theater sometimes had a chorus line. By 1946, Schiffman planned to make the theater wider and add air conditioning. The theater was sold in 1949 to the Harlem Apollo Realty Corporation. But Schiffman and Brecher still ran it. That year, they started trying to stage Broadway-style shows. Schiffman's sons, Jack and Robert, started working at the theater in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

The 1950s and 1960s

Over the years, variety shows became less common. The Apollo started hosting rock music concerts. Big bands were replaced by R&B performances. The theater also started hosting different music styles like mambo and gospel. There were often two shows a day if a main performer was there. At other times, it showed movies. The theater closed for two weeks every August for updates. A large CinemaScope screen was installed in 1955. A typical booking meant five or six performances per day for seven days. The Apollo was one of the few places for black entertainers in Harlem. Other venues had started allowing black performers. Still, many popular black artists like Eartha Kitt and Sammy Davis Jr. often returned to the Apollo.

Robert Schiffman took over managing the theater in 1960 or 1961. He kept ticket prices low for the local community. He tried to find new talent by talking to DJs and listening to music in bars. The 1960s saw R&B become very popular at the Apollo. The theater was slightly renovated in 1960. New sound and lighting equipment were added in August 1961. During the 1964 Harlem riots, the Apollo only showed movies because fewer people were coming. The lobby and auditorium were renovated in 1967. This project cost $50,000.

Business started to decline after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. This law allowed black entertainers to perform in more places. The Apollo was smaller than other venues. Harlem's economy was also declining. The Apollo was not near other popular places. There were also worries about rising crime and a lack of parking. The theater's manager said in 1967 that white audiences avoided the Apollo. The Apollo continued to decline through the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The Schiffman family wanted to sell the Apollo to black business owners in the 1960s. There was also growing support for local performances at the theater. During this time, the Apollo still had variety shows every night. It was often sold out on weekends. Many of these live shows were shown with films. In 1972, a group of investors wanted to buy the theater. But the deal was canceled when interest rates went up. As late as 1973, the Apollo had 42 to 45 weeks of live shows each year. Its main performers earned a lot of money. The theater had moved away from comedy and drama. It was mostly showing recording groups. Frank Schiffman remembered that the audience was mostly black and local residents.

Decline and Closure

The Apollo had some successful shows between 1970 and 1974. But its offerings dropped sharply after that. By the 1970s, the Apollo was the only black vaudeville theater left in the U.S. Other such theaters had closed. The Apollo Theater was struggling financially by early 1975. Its owners had to lay off over 100 staff members. The Apollo had cut its live show schedule to 20–22 weeks per year. This was less than half of its peak. Management could not raise prices. This would drive away the local residents who came often. Also, the area around the theater was empty at night. The Apollo could not pay performers the high rates they wanted. People preferred to watch main performers instead of multi-act shows.

To make money, Robert Schiffman wanted to show new films with black actors. But he faced competition from other Manhattan theaters. The Apollo's managers started advertising it for sale in 1975. The area had also become unsafe. For example, a young person was killed at the theater that year. The Apollo was used only for movies and gospel shows in the mid-1970s. It closed in January 1976. The theater had broken stage equipment and falling-apart facilities. Many of the Apollo's former main performers refused to play there. Less famous acts did not bring in enough people to make money. The Apollo had closed by 1977. Robert Schiffman thought about replacing the theater with a new, larger one. There were also calls to renovate the Apollo. During the Apollo's closure, the already damaged seats and decorations continued to decay. Broken water pipes destroyed the stage.

Robert Schiffman sold the Apollo in early 1978 to a group of black businessmen. They were the first black owners of the theater. The group spent $250,000 renovating the Apollo. This included replacing the sound system and fixing backstage areas. The theater reopened on May 6, 1978. It hosted many acts and was somewhat successful.

The Sutton Era

Inner City Broadcasting, a company owned by Percy E. Sutton, agreed to buy the theater in late 1981. Sutton paid about $220,000 or $225,000. Sutton remembered that the flooded basement had "roaches, dead rats, swimming rats." Inner City bought most of the theater's legal owner, the Apollo Theatre Investor Group. Sutton owned the rest. Sutton said the purchase price was "the cheapest part of bringing the Apollo back." The theater needed huge renovations.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) started thinking about making the Apollo Theater a city landmark in early 1982. The Apollo's outside and inside were named New York City landmarks in June 1983. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in November 1983.

First Renovation

Sutton first planned to spend $5.7 million to renovate the Apollo. He wanted to host and broadcast live shows from the theater. The Apollo Entertainment TV Network was created in mid-1982 to broadcast shows from the theater's studios. The Harlem Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) announced a $1 million grant for the theater in May 1982. The original reopening date was delayed because the project was so complicated. The state government worried that Sutton could not pay for the rising renovation costs. That September, the U.S. government gave a $1.5 million grant to the city. The city then lent the money to the Apollo's operators. The city also gave $2.8 million in bonds to build a recording studio. Percy Sutton and his brother Oliver wanted to raise the rest of the $6.8 million themselves.

The Suttons announced in December 1982 that they would stop the project. This was after a state agency said no to their request for insurance help. But the mayor, Ed Koch, was still hopeful the renovation would continue. The renovation started again in May 1983. This was after the state UDC agreed to give the theater $2.5 million. Without this money, the Apollo Theatre Investor Group would have stopped the project. Sutton gave the theater building and land to the New York state government. He wanted to get a $9 million state grant. He then leased the theater for 99 years. Sutton eventually got $10 million from different lenders. The renovation had more delays.

The renovated theater included a studio for TV broadcasts and video productions. It also had a new hall of fame with items from the theater's history. Air conditioning and an elevator were added. The theater also got new lights, sound systems, and dressing rooms. The inside was restored. By late 1983 and early 1984, the Apollo was expected to open in late 1984. To promote the Apollo's return, Sutton briefly reopened the theater for some events during its renovation. These included an Amateur Night in December 1983. Sutton estimated it cost $72,000 just to open the theater once a month. At the end of 1984, a bank agreed to insure most of a $2.9 million loan for the theater. The first phase of the renovation cost $5.5 million in total. Local residents hoped the Apollo's renovation would help revive 125th Street.

Reopening and Late 1980s

The first shows at the newly renovated theater were on May 22, 1985. At that time, the recording studio was not finished. Sutton wanted to have many different types of shows. For example, jazz and rock on Friday and Saturday nights, gospel on Sunday mornings, and Amateur Nights on Wednesday nights. The revived theater also had a dance company with mixed-race dancers. Sutton said this was to "send a message that everyone is welcome here." By October 1985, the theater closed temporarily to finish the recording studio. Showtime at the Apollo, a TV series showing Amateur Night performers, started in 1987. All the facilities were not finished until mid-1988. The renovation ended up costing $20 million.

Sutton's lenders let him delay loan payments until 1992. He tried to make money by selling recordings of shows. He also tried to create TV shows from the theater. He planned to earn money from Showtime at the Apollo and other deals. But the theater still lost money. The theater was only used 50% of the time. The studio was used 30% of the time. The Apollo was losing $2.4 million a year by 1990. The theater still faced competition from bigger venues. It was also affected by worries about high crime. The Apollo Theatre Investor Group was behind on payments by early 1991.

Sutton announced in April 1991 that he would close the theater on June 1. This would happen unless his lenders changed the loans. After Sutton made a payment, a bank agreed to stop further loan payments for six months. Sutton thought about giving the theater's operation to a new nonprofit group. He asked entertainers like Bill Cosby to perform to raise money. A TV special and benefit shows were organized. Many celebrities formed a group called Save the Apollo Film Committee. Three hundred black churches also donated to the Apollo. By July 1991, the Apollo Theatre Investor Group was creating a nonprofit to take over.

Apollo Theater Foundation Operation

In September 1991, the New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC) bought the Apollo. They gave its operation to the nonprofit Apollo Theater Foundation (ATF). As part of the deal, a bank forgave $2.9 million in unpaid loan payments. The state UDC also agreed to restructure a $7.67 million grant. Performers like Natalie Cole continued to host shows to raise money. Sutton stayed involved with the theater as a volunteer. Inner City provided $500,000 per year in radio advertising for the Apollo.

The 1990s

The ATF took over the theater in September 1992. A plaque celebrating the Apollo's listing on the National Register of Historic Places was added. Leon Denmark was named the foundation's director. The foundation wanted to attract famous black performers. It also wanted to reduce the theater's debts. In its first year, the ATF helped pay for performances. It also started the Community Arts Program for less experienced entertainers. Local TV station WPIX started broadcasting events from the Apollo. The ATF also created a public museum. The Apollo Theater's revival led to more people visiting 125th Street. The theater itself had 12 events per month. It attracted 17,000 guests.

Grace Blake became the ATF's director in 1996. The next year, money was given for a gift shop next to the theater. The ATF started raising $30 million for the theater in the late 1990s. But the city and state governments refused to give grants. This was because the foundation could not provide financial statements. At the time, there was a disagreement over how much Inner City owed the ATF. The Apollo was mostly empty by 1998, except on Amateur Nights. It was also falling apart. The only other major show was Showtime at the Apollo. The Apollo was rented out for other events the rest of the time. Many black performers avoided the theater. This was because it was small. Also, larger venues were no longer segregated.

In 1998, the Attorney General of New York's office started investigating if Inner City was underpaying the ATF. The attorney general accused the foundation's board of directors of bad management. He sued six members of the board. These included chairman Charles Rangel. Rangel and Sutton denied the accusations. The next attorney general, Eliot Spitzer, calculated that Inner City owed the ATF only $1 million. By early 1999, Time Warner was thinking about taking over the Apollo's board. The state government was willing to drop the lawsuits if Time Warner took over. That August, Time Warner donated $500,000. They also made the ATF's board bigger. Ossie Davis was eventually named the new chairman that September. Spitzer dropped his office's lawsuits in late 1999. Governor George Pataki approved a $750,000 grant for the Apollo. Time Warner planned to host events like TV specials and concerts there.

The 2000s

By 2000, Time Warner planned to fully renovate the Apollo. But this was delayed by disagreements. The ATF's board hired architects to design the renovation. The New York Landmarks Conservancy made a report on the theater's condition. Time Warner executive Derek Q. Johnson was named the ATF's president in early 2001. At that time, 115,000 people visited annually. Plans for the renovation were announced that May. The budget was about $6 million. The ATF also wanted to lease the nearby Victoria Theater. This would expand the Apollo. But this was expected to make the renovation cost almost $200 million. The Coca-Cola Company signed a ten-year sponsorship deal with the ATF that August. The Dance Theatre of Harlem also partnered with the Apollo that year. Between 2001 and 2003, the theater's yearly budget grew. The theater started hosting events like musicals and fundraisers.

The first part of the renovation involved fixing the outside and the marquee. This was happening by 2002. It was expected to cost $12 million. That July, the ATF announced it would close the theater for eight months. Architects were hired for the restoration. Johnson resigned in September 2002. This was after the ATF's board canceled plans to lease the Victoria. They approved a smaller renovation costing $53–54 million. Jonelle Procope was named the Apollo's director in 2003. The ATF was involved in another plan to renovate the Victoria in the mid-2000s. But this plan did not work out. The ATF started an annual spring benefit in 2005 to raise money. The renovation of the outside was finished that December. The ATF installed wider seats in early 2006. This first phase also included replacing the stage and dressing rooms. By then, the theater had 1.3 million visitors each year. Many tourists visited just to tour it. But the Apollo still hosted events and performances. It remained an important gathering place for Harlem's residents.

The ceilings, walls, and other inside decorations were to be restored in the second phase of renovations. By early 2008, the ATF had raised $51.5 million for the first phase. They planned to raise another $44.5 million for the second phase. The lobby would be made 4,000 square feet bigger. This would have required the theater to close for several months in 2009. The work also included fixing the lobby and auditorium decorations. A walk of fame would also be added. A multi-purpose space would have been created on the second floor. The ATF delayed the inside renovation and paused its fundraising in 2009. The Apollo was getting many small donations. Procope decided to focus on having more shows. It sold 400,000 tickets per year at the time.

The 2010s

In the early 2010s, the Apollo was mainly used for TV shows, parties, special events, and Amateur Nights. These included a luncheon called Dining with the Divas. A walk of fame was dedicated outside the theater in May 2010. It honored performers in the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame. That year, the ATF decided to make its board bigger. By 2011, the ATF wanted to expand into the empty site of the nearby Showman's Cafe club. They wanted to raise $12 million for this project. The foundation updated the Amateur Nights website. They put advertisements in the subway. They also made a mobile app for Amateur Nights. They invited more different types of performers. The ATF started the 21st Century Apollo Campaign in 2014. They wanted to raise $20 million. At the time, they had raised $10 million. Most of this money was for new shows.

By the mid-2010s, the ATF's money situation was stable. It had an annual budget of $13.2 million. The organization had 30 trustees. More tourists were visiting the Apollo. For example, Amateur Nights had 60,000 viewers in 2013. Almost half of them were tourists. The ATF had extra money in its budget for several years in the 2010s. The foundation announced in 2018 that it would build two new auditoriums. One would have 199 seats and the other 99 seats. These would be on the third and fourth stories of the Victoria Theater. These new stages were the first big expansion of the Apollo since 1934. They would host works by new artists. They would also let the ATF produce more types of content.

The 2020s Expansion

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Apollo Theater closed temporarily in March 2020. It did not reopen until August 2021. The ATF announced in late 2021 that they would open the auditoriums in the Victoria Theater the next year. This expansion into the Victoria Theater also included office space for the ATF. It happened as more people were interested in visiting Harlem. ATF officials announced in October 2022 that they would renovate the original theater in early 2024. This would mean the main auditorium would close for six months. The project included fixing the outside of the building. It also included making the lobby bigger. They would also upgrade the seating, lighting, sound systems, and restrooms. The theater had raised $63 million for its project. It was planned to be renamed the Apollo Performing Arts Center when the renovations were finished.

Procope announced in late 2022 that she would step down as the Apollo's director in June. The 99-seat performance space in the Apollo Victoria Theater was renamed after Procope in early 2023. That June, Michelle Ebanks was named the Apollo's director. The Apollo Stages at the Victoria opened in March 2024. It has a lobby, offices, and two extra stages.

Programs and Management

The Apollo Theater Foundation, a nonprofit organization started in 1991, runs the theater. As of 2023, Jonelle Procope is the president and CEO of the Apollo Theater Foundation. The ATF hosts programs like Amateur Night. It also holds events like concerts.

The theater's audience was often mixed. In the 1940s, about 40% of the audience during the week was white. This went up to 75% for weekend shows. Some performers like Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, and members of the Beatles sat in the audience. Bill Clinton visited the Apollo in 2005. The prime minister of Jamaica was the first Caribbean leader to visit the theater in 2002.

Amateur Night at the Apollo

Amateur Night first started in 1934 or 1935. It has been held almost every week since then, except for a break from the 1970s to 1985. Ralph Cooper hosted the event at the Apollo for fifty years. At the Apollo, Amateur Nights were held every Wednesday evening. They were broadcast on the radio. The shows attracted people of all races. Until the 1990s, Amateur Nights often lasted up to four hours. They had as many as 30 performers. After the ATF took over, they shortened Amateur Nights to about 12 performers per night. A mobile app for Amateur Nights was launched in 2011. Auditions were held online for the first time in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amateur Nights performances were shown in the TV series Showtime at the Apollo. This show ran from 1987 to 2008 and started again in 2018.

Traditionally, many contestants would rub a tree stump on the stage for good luck. This stump is called the Tree of Hope. It was originally planted in the middle of Seventh Avenue in Harlem. A winner and three runners-up are chosen after each show. First-place winners received money and were invited back to the Apollo. Early winners were invited to perform the next week. By the late 20th century, winners were invited to monthly "Show Off" shows and yearly "Top Dog" competitions.

The "executioner," holding a broom, would sweep Amateur Night performers off the stage if they were not doing well. The executioner might also use other objects. "Sandman" Sims played this role from the 1950s to 2000. C. P. Lacey also served as executioner for over 20 years. The performer might also be chased offstage with a toy gun and a siren sound. According to Showtime at the Apollo host Steve Harvey, some musicians' songs were off limits. Contestants were booed off stage if they missed a single note while performing these songs. Luther Vandross was booed off stage four times before he won. James Brown was also not successful in his first performance in 1952.

Amateur Night performers came from all over the U.S. Most performers have been young black artists. But there have also been older or white performers. Amateur Nights helped make young or unknown artists famous. Winners have included Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, The Jackson 5, Sarah Vaughan, Frankie Lymon, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, The Ronettes, The Isley Brothers, Sammy Davis Jr., Billie Holiday, and Dionne Warwick. One writer said in 2010 that "if there had been no Apollo Theater, many of these stars would never have been given their first chance."

Apollo Legends Hall of Fame

The Apollo Legends Hall of Fame was created in 1985. It first honored 25 performers who started at the Apollo before 1955. It also included items from the theater's history. Every year, up to ten people are added to the Hall of Fame. To be nominated, people must have performed at the Apollo. Or they must have created art inspired by Apollo performers. Some Hall of Fame members are honored in the Walk of Fame. This was created in 2010. The walk has bronze plaques on the sidewalk.

Educational Programs and New Works

The theater has had educational programs over the years. These include talks, like one by blues musician B.B. King in 1974. The ATF partnered with Verizon in 2007. They taught local students about the theater's history. They started the Master Class Series for performers in 2012. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATF had many education programs. They taught 20,000 children each year. In late 2022, the ATF created the Apollo Apprenticeship program. This offers internships in event management and production.

In 2010, playwright Keith Josef Adkins started New Black Fest at the Apollo. This is a yearly event that shows plays by black playwrights. The ATF started the Apollo New Works program in 2020. This was after getting grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Ford Foundation. Apollo New Works shows music, theater, or dance performances by black artists. A group of artists is chosen each year to work there. The ATF and the United Talent Agency made a deal in 2021. This allows the agency to promote films and TV shows made at the Apollo. As of 2023, the Apollo offers both online and in-person workshops. They reach over 20,000 people each year.

In 2008, the ATF worked with Columbia Center for Oral History Research. They put together an archive of historical documents and photos. They also started a project to record interviews. Many performers, including Smokey Robinson and Leslie Uggams, gave interviews. The archive includes a 100-foot-long plywood wall. Thousands of people signed it after Michael Jackson died.

Famous Performances and Performers

Music at the Apollo

Some of the first acts to play the Apollo were blues performers like Bessie Smith and Lead Belly Ledbetter. In the theater's first ten years, many famous jazz and big band musicians played there. Most were black, but some were white. In the mid-1950s, the theater started hosting mambo performances. The theater's first gospel acts appeared in 1955. The theater also started hosting gospel and rock and roll performers in the 1950s. Many DJs also hosted shows in the Apollo in the 1960s.

Famous performers from the 1930s to the 1960s include:

Bands like Parliament-Funkadelic and Sister Sledge performed at the Apollo when it briefly reopened in the late 1970s. The theater rarely hosted Latin music. After the Apollo was renovated in the 1980s, it hosted diverse acts. These included the New York Philharmonic, Hall & Oates, and Prince. In the 2000s, the Apollo also tried to start a Latin music series. It hosted performers like the band Gorillaz. The Apollo also partnered with Opera Philadelphia to create operas about black culture. Several rappers have performed at the Apollo. These include Ice Cube, Drake, and Lil Wayne. The Apollo's music offerings have also included competitions.

Special Concerts

Some of the theater's concerts have been very famous. For example, Aretha Franklin played to sold-out crowds in 1971. Bob Marley and The Wailers performed there in 1979. Pop star Michael Jackson played a free concert at the Apollo in 2002. This raised $2.5 million for the U.S. Democratic Party. This was his last performance at the Apollo.

The theater has hosted many benefit concerts. These included a fundraiser for the Scottsboro Boys in 1937. There was also a concert for Attica Prison riot victims' families in 1971. A gospel concert by Shirley Caesar and The Clark Sisters was held for the United Negro College Fund in 1986. Starting in 1993, the theater also hosted concerts to raise money for its Hall of Fame.

Dance Performances

The theater also featured tap dancers. These included the Berry Brothers, Nicholas Brothers, and Bojangles Robinson. The theater hosted dancers like Bunny Briggs and Babe Lawrence in the mid-1900s. Other dancers included Cholly Atkins and Bill Bailey. Other dancers at the Apollo have included Carmen De Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder. The theater hosted the Les Ballets Africains, Guinea's national dance company, for several years. Dancing continued at the Apollo in later years. For example, in 1990, the Apollo held a tap-dancing festival. Starting in 2011, the Ballet Hispanico performed at the Apollo regularly.

Plays and Revues

The Apollo has hosted many plays and revues (musical shows). These included a popular show with white and black performers in the 1930s. There was also a show honoring black soldiers during World War II. The Apollo's first musical comedy, Tan Manhattan, was staged in 1941. The Apollo also hosted plays like Anna Lucasta (1949). The theater started staging R&B revues in 1955. Each show had up to a dozen performers. The Jewel Box Revue, a show with female impersonators, was first shown at the Apollo in 1959. It was staged several times. The Motortown Revue was staged at the theater in 1962. It featured artists like Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, the Temptations, and Stevie Wonder. Other shows in the 1960s and 1970s included the musical drama Listen My Brother.

Harlem Song, a show about Harlem's history, opened at the Apollo in 2002. It was the Apollo's first show with no definite end date. The theater has also hosted other plays and musicals in the 21st century. These include The Jackie Wilson Story in 2003 and Apollo Club Harlem in 2013. James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, also in 2013, was the first show produced by the Apollo that went on tour internationally.

Comedy Shows

Comedians have also appeared on the Apollo stage. In the theater's early years, these included Butterbeans and Susie, Moms Mabley, Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, and Flip Wilson. Among the theater's most popular comedy acts in the mid-20th century were Mabley, who made fun of unfair laws. Rogers performed song-and-dance routines. Russell, White, and Foxx also talked about social issues in their shows. By the 1960s, the theater hosted younger comedians. Bill Cosby made his debut at the theater in 1968. Pryor and Wilson also appeared often in the 1960s. Later, Chris Rock filmed a comedy show at the Apollo in 1999.

Other Events at the Apollo

Films Shown

The Apollo has screened some films throughout its history. When the theater was a popular place for black artists, it showed Take My Life in 1943. It also showed Sepia Cinderella in 1947 and Rockin' the Blues in 1956. As part of a program in 1965, a local group showed films to teach teenagers about cinema. During the same decade, the Apollo also hosted gospel films and a summer film festival.

The Apollo hosted the documentary Save the Children in 1973. It also showed new films like Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold in 1975. The documentary The Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II was also screened in 1992.

Recordings and TV Tapings

Many performances at the Apollo Theater have been recorded. A Night at the Apollo, a song released in 1957, had parts of performances from the theater. James Brown recorded a show at the theater in 1962. This became the album Live at the Apollo. This album stayed on the Billboard pop albums chart for 66 weeks. Brown went on to record other albums and a TV special at the theater. Gospel artist Byron Cage played at the Apollo for his album in 2007. Bruno Mars recorded a concert called Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo in 2017. Guns N' Roses also released "Live at the Apollo 2017" after visiting the theater.

Some of the Apollo's shows have also been filmed for TV. For example, in April 1976, two TV specials were made to help revive the theater. A TV special called "Motown Returns to the Apollo" was filmed in May 1985. NBC filmed the show A Hot Night in Harlem in 2004. This was to raise money for the theater's renovation.

Other Types of Events

When Schiffman ran the Apollo, he often rented the theater for meetings. These meetings were about topics important to black Americans. They included discussions about civil rights and jobs. Civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and Bayard Rustin gave speeches at the Apollo. Organizations like the NAACP also hosted events there. Between 20 and 25 civil rights events happened at the Apollo each year from 1966 to 1971. There have been some religious services. These include sermons by Jesse Jackson in 1969.

The Apollo has hosted memorial services. These include services for civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1972. There were also services for James Brown in 2007 and Michael Jackson in 2009. The theater has also hosted tribute shows. Several awards ceremonies have been held at the Apollo. These include the Caribbean Music Awards.

The theater hosted a poetry reading in 1994. It also held the first professional boxing match in its history in 1997. The theater hosted a debate between Al Gore and Bill Bradley in 2000. Then-U.S. senator Barack Obama campaigned at the theater in 2008. Events in the 21st century have included a fashion show in 2004. There was also a graduation ceremony for students. An annual skipping rope competition called the Double Dutch Holiday Classic is also held there.

The Apollo's Big Impact

The Apollo Theater was a symbol of success for many black performers. The Los Angeles Sentinel wrote in 1982 that "the Apollo has had a significant impact on the careers of virtually every black performer who has played there." The New York Amsterdam News said the next year that the theater "led the way in the presentation of swing, bebop, rhythm and blues, modern jazz, commercially produced gospel, soul and funk." The Wall Street Journal wrote in 2011: "You'd be hard-pressed to find a major African-American entertainer, singer, bandleader, dancer or comic who didn't appear there." Record producer Quincy Jones said in 2004: "The influence of the Apollo reaches beyond the shores of this country-it is truly the premiere platform for world music." Robert Schiffman himself said: "For years, you could write 'Apollo Theater' on a postcard, drop it into a mailbox anywhere and it would be delivered."

Books and Shows About the Theater

The Apollo was featured in a 90-minute episode of the David Frost Show in 1969. The Apollo ... It Was Just Like Magic, a musical play about the theater's history, was produced in 1981. The theater's history was told in the 1976 TV special Apollo. It was also in the 1980 NBC special Uptown. The 2019 documentary The Apollo also covered its history.

Several books have been written about the theater. These include Showtime at the Apollo: The Story of Harlem's World Famous Theater by Ted Fox. A graphic novel with the same name was published in 2019. The theater was also the subject of an exhibit called "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" in 2011. This was at the Museum of the City of New York. It was also part of a traveling exhibition at the National Museum of American History in 2010.

Images for kids

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  The 125th Street facade of the Apollo Theater as seen from the west

See Also

In Spanish: Teatro Apollo para niños

• African Americans in New York City
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan above 110th Street
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan above 110th Street
• Category:Albums recorded at the Apollo Theater