If you’ve been following our Concert Venue Series, then you know how excited we get to tell you about venues that music lovers should visit, no matter who is playing there. After all, sometimes it’s great to go to a concert to hear your favorite band or genre of music, but sometimes, you just want to sit in a historic venue and soak up the atmosphere. That’s what this month’s venue selection is all about. Our fourth addition to our list is the Apollo Theatre in New York. The neo-classical theatre, with its one of a kind ceiling, has become a launching point for many African American musical stars. In fact, it is widely known as the center for African American culture and artistry. The Apollo joins our distinguished list of venues that include the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Hollywood Bowl, and Fenway Park.
Get Tickets Now to the Apollo Theatre in New York
The Humble Beginnings of the Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre was first opened in 1914, and it was then called Hurtig and Seamon’s New Burlesque Theatre. This was at the time of segregation, and because of it, African Americans were not allowed to perform in the theatre or to enter as patrons to watch the performances. Then, in 1933 the major of New York City began a campaign against burlesque and the theatre was of many in the city to close down. One year later, the theatre was reopened under the name Apollo Theatre, and the new owners changed the format from burlesque to variety reviews. The owners also reversed the policy that didn’t allow African Americans to enter the theatre, and invited the community of Harlem to enjoy the shows.
The Apollo Theatre closed in the late 1970s, and was reopened in 1978, but quickly closed again in 1979. Then, in 1981, Percy Sutton, who was a lawyer and politician, bought the theatre and equipped it with a television and recording studio. The Apollo received both city and state landmark status in 1983, and a non-for-profit organization was created to manage, fund and oversee the programming for the theatre.
The Stars Who Were Born in the Apollo Theatre
Since then, many stars got their start in the theatre, including Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, The Famous Flames, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, The Jackson 5, Patti LaBelle, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Machine Gun Kelly. Although most of the performers were African American, some white acts performed in the theatre, with the first being Buddy Holly. It is said that after the promoter listened to Holly and the Crickets, he assumed he was black, and so he booked them at the theatre. Other white stars have graced the stage of Apollo, too such as John Lennon, The Arctic Monkeys, Blondie, and Metallica. Some famous stars won the coveted Amateur Night such as Jimi Hendrix, Gladys Night, and Ella Fitzgerald, who was so afraid after watching a dance group perform before her turn, she said she could only “sing a little.” In addition, the theatre became known for hosting Showtime at the Apollo, which was a nationally syndicated variety show that ran on television from 1987 to 2008. The show aired an astonishing 1093 episodes.
What’s New at the Apollo?
This year, the Apollo has their regular runs of amateur night, along with some special performances by Jamie Foxx, Amy Schumer, and Chromeo. The theatre is famous for the audiences who frequent the Amateur nights because it is said that don’t hold back letting a performer know how they feel. They either dance and swing to the music, or they boo them offstage.
Reserve Your Seats Now
Unlike some venues, the Apollo Theatre only has a limited amount of seats, and a limited number of performances. That means if you want to see an act there, you will have to reserve your seats before they’re sold out. Luckily, at ConcertBank, we currently have available tickets for the Apollo for all of their upcoming events.
And in addition to having the tickets for the seats you want, we also keep you current on all the latest happenings in the music world. We maintain a blog that informs readers about the latest news, gossip, and concert happenings, and we update it regularly. In addition, we keep our fans informed by staying current with all of our social media accounts. Check out our Facebook account, Twitter Feed, and our Google+ pages when you want to know what’s happening with your favorite group.
Stay tuned for our next installment in our Concert Venues Series, and if you have a favorite, contact us and let us know about it.
