![]() Jive” Smalls brings the idea of the Rhythm and Blues Revue to Apollo manager Bobby Schiffman. Amateur Night contestants include the Esquires, Dionne Warwick, Joe Tex, and James Brown.In 1955, Thurman Ruth’s Gospel Caravan debuts at the Apollo featuring such as The Dixie Hummingbirds, Shirley Caesar, Alex Bradford, Clara Ward & the Soul Stirrers.“The Detective Story,” with Sidney Poitier is the first dramatic play to be shown on the stage.Comedy acts like “Harlem’s Son of Fun,” Nipsey Russell, Timmie Rogers & James “Stump” Cross and Harold “Stumpy” Cromer are a major draw.“Mambo Shows” are a big Apollo attraction with stars like Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria & the Mambo Aces. ![]() The week before Christmas 1951, Josephine Baker, makes her Apollo debut.The Johnny Otis Rhythm & Blues Caravan come to Apollo featuring 13-year old Little Esther Phillips.In 2005, their story is recounted in the documentary “Been Rich All My Life.” The Apollo Chorus Girls are considered to be the best line in NYC.Billie Holiday, Lena Horne & the Count Basie Orchestra make their debut.In 1935, Bessie Smith’s four weeks at the Apollo are her sole live performances that year.By 1937 the Apollo is the largest employer of black theatrical workers in the US, according to Frank Schiffman, and the only theater in NYC hiring blacks in backstage positions.Amateur Night winners include Ella Fitzgerald and Pearl Bailey.Tap Dancers like the Nicholas Brothers, Berry Brothers, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Buck and Bubbles are the top dance acts.Dewey “Pigmeat” Markham, Jackie “Moms” Mabley and Dusty Fletcher are among the comedians who appear regularly on stage.The Apollo becomes the premiere showplace for live, theatrical entertainment in Harlem.On January 26, 1934, the 125th Street Apollo Theater opens with the show “Jazz a la Carte” headlined by Benny Carter and his Orchestra, Ralph Cooper and Aida Ward.The Apollo’s Victoria Theater’s will provide vibrant, year-round artistic, educational, and community programs that build on the cultural heritage of Harlem and celebrate the enormous well of creativity found in our neighborhood. Soon, the Apollo will embark on expanding its physical footprint, becoming the operator and manager for the cultural space located a few doors down within the Victoria Theater Redevelopment Project. Today, the Apollo, which functions under the guidance of a Board of Directors, presents concerts, performing arts, education and community outreach programs. In 1983, the Apollo received state and city landmark status and in 1991, Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., was established as a private, not-for-profit organization to manage, fund and oversee programming for the Apollo Theater. Under Sutton’s ownership, the Theater was equipped with a recording and television studio. In 1981, it was purchased by Percy Sutton, a prominent lawyer, politician, media and technology executive, and a group of private investors. The Schiffman and Brecher families would operate the Theater until the late 1970s.The Apollo reopened briefly in 1978 under new management then closed again in November 1979. Cohen and Sussman changed the format of the shows from burlesque to variety revues and redirected their marketing attention to the growing African-American community in Harlem.įrank Schiffman and Leo Brecher took over the Apollo in 1935. Cohen reopened the building as the 125th Street Apollo Theatre in 1934 with his partner, Morris Sussman serving as manager. In 1933 Fiorello La Guardia, who would later become New York City’s Mayor, began a campaign against burlesque and Hurtig & Seamon’s was one of many theaters that would close down. Like many American theaters during this time, African-Americans were not allowed to attend as patrons or to perform. In 1914, Benjamin Hurtig and Harry Seamon obtained a thirty-year lease on the newly constructed theater calling it Hurtig and Seamon’s New Burlesque Theater. The neo-classical theater known today as the Apollo’s HistoricTheater was designed by George Keister and first owned by Sidney Cohen. Today, the Apollo is a respected not-for-profit, presenting concerts, theatrical and dance performances, film screenings, education and community outreach programs. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo stage. Since opening its doors in 1914 and introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo has played a major role in the emergence of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, and soul - all quintessentially American music genres.
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