Apollo Theater Chicago

The Apollo Theater, an iconic venue located in Harlem, New York City, is a beacon of African American culture and performing arts. Known for its pivotal role in the emergence of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, and soul, the Apollo has been a cornerstone of American music history since its inception. The theater, with its neo-classical design by George Keister, first opened its doors in 1914 as Hurtig and Seamon's New Burlesque Theater, which, like many theaters of the era, excluded African American patrons and performers. The transformation of the Apollo began in 1934 when Sidney Cohen and his partner Morris Sussman reopened the building as the 125th Street Apollo Theatre, shifting the focus from burlesque to variety revues and targeting the growing African American community in Harlem. This change marked the beginning of the Apollo's rise as a cultural powerhouse. Under the management of Frank Schiffman and Leo Brecher from 1935, the theater became renowned for its Amateur Night contests, which launched the careers of legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Throughout the decades, the Apollo continued to be a platform for African American artists, hosting performances by Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, and many more. The theater's influence extended beyond music, with the Showtime at the Apollo television broadcast in 1955, bringing its unique brand of entertainment to a wider audience. The Apollo faced challenges in the 1970s, closing and reopening under new management. In 1981, Percy Sutton's Inner City Broadcasting Corporation purchased the theater, and in 1983, the Apollo received landmark status. The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1991 to manage and program the venue, ensuring its legacy would continue. In recent years, the Apollo has expanded its mission to include a broader range of arts and educational programs, while still honoring its roots in music. The Apollo Walk of Fame, unveiled in 2010, pays homage to the legends who have graced its stage. The theater has also embraced the digital age, launching the Apollo Digital Stage in 2020 to connect with audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the Apollo Theater remains a vital part of Harlem's cultural landscape, committed to nurturing new artists and celebrating the contributions of the African diaspora to the performing arts. Its vision of a new American canon centered on these contributions ensures that the Apollo will continue to be a creative catalyst for generations to come.