Apollo Theatre

Jose 1 Janelle Jose Professor Pappas AAS 254 16 April 2008 Our study The Hey Dey of the Apollo Theatre Apollo was the Greek beau ideal of music, Poetry and the arts. His temple was at Delphi and was cognize to be a household of purification. on that point is a temple of a varied that bears the name of the Greek god and its at 253 West 125th Street Harlem in red-hot York City. The Apollo Theater would become as noted as the temple at Delphi. The Apollo Theaters home was in Harlem. Harlem is known worldwide as a major Afro-American cultural and business neighborhood.It wasnt always the Harlem we know today. Harlem didnt become an African American neighborhood until the Great Migration. During the initiatory decade of the 20th century, Growing un betrothal and change magnitude racial violence encouraged blues to supply the South. The way they came up north was by working for northern patchufacturers who had recruited the southern baleful workers to fill factory jobs. S o from 1910 to 1930 in the center of 1. 5 gazillion and 2 million African Americans left the South for the industrial cities of the North.By 1930 more than 200,000 grims had moved to New York. As contra rophy communities in Northern cities grew, dreary working people became the patrons for an expanding faint schoolmaster and business class, gaining in policy-making and sparing power. As more and more enlightened and soci each(prenominal)y conscious ignominiouss settled in New Yorks neighborhood of Harlem, it essential into the political and cultural center of black America. During the 1910s a Jose 2 new political agenda advocating racial equality arose in the African American connection, particularly in its growing spunk class.A black middle class had developed by the issue of the century, fostered by increased education and employment opportunities. There was something emerging in the midst of social and intellectual up uprise in the African American community in t he early 20th century. Harlem renascence was the name of the African American cultural movement of the 1920s and early thirties that was centered in the Harlem. The Apollo Theater has been the most lasting legacy of the Harlem rebirth. The Apollo grew to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance of the pre-World War II years.By the time the Apollo had sluttish its doors the Harlem Renaissance was coming to a close. The Apollo Theater that we know today didnt gen erate out that way. It began as a all white-hot music hall and antic theatre. It gained fame a Hurtig and Seamons Burlesque in the twenties and early thirties. The 125th driveway Apollo Theater didnt open until January 1934. This is when they deviateed immortalisecasing black entertainment. The Apollo theatre was originally owned by Sidney Cohen. After Sydney S. Cohens death, Morris Sussman and Frank Schiffman got together.Schiffman ran the Harlem opera house shack and a merger between the deuce theatres was formed . Schiffman is credited with guiding the Apollo Theater to greatness. Schiffmans motive for featuring black talents and entertainment was not only because the neighborhood had become black over a two century year period of gradual migration, unless because black entertainers were cheaper to charter, and Schiffman could offer quality shows for level-headed rates. For some(prenominal) years Apollo was the only theater in New York City to hire black talent. Jose 3With black performers as the important entertainment in the Apollo came an important view of American life that has been dominated by blacks. That is love. In void the black man stands supreme. The products of his creative energies atomic spell 18 sought after by musicians and listeners of every background. Jazz didnt start in the Apollo theatre. It didnt start in Harlem either. The grow of jazz trickery muddy in the history of New Orleans, Kansas City, lucre, and New York. The true ancestral roots are buried e ven deep in the music traditions of West Africa and Latin countries.But the Apollo was maven of the places that provided a home and a receptive atmosphere in which jazz practiti iodinrs felt at ease, where their art could expatiate and flourish. Although jazz was a true American genre of music it was formerly held in relatively low class by certain intellectual. Many believe the savvy for the low appraisal of jazz rate was made because most of the jazz practitioners were black and the critics were white. Although the Apollo Theater was essentially a black theater, the main interest was always in quality rather than color.Even though jazz was predominantly the creation of black musicians, the bill of interracial jazz was relatively delicate thought the history of early jazz. It wasnt because of discrimination from the performers but rather the performers were safekeeping up with the climate of the times. Many white musicians were accepted with respectfulness and affection by A pollo audience. The first show was called Jazz a la Carte. All the payoff of this show were donated to the Harlem Childrens Fresh Air Fund. Since then the Apollo Theater is known for starting careers of many music pioneers. In 1934, it introduced its regular volunteer(a) Night shows.Billing itself as a place where stars are born and legends are made, the Apollo became famous for launching the careers of artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie vacation, crowd together Brown, Diana Ross The Supremes, Gladys Knight The Pips, The Jackson 5, Patti LaBelle, Marvin Gaye, Luther Jose 4 Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Ben E. King, Mariah Carey, The Isley Brothers, Lauryn Hill, and Sarah Vaughan. The Apollo too featured the performances of old-time vaudeville favorites handle Tim Moore, Stepin Fetchit, Godfrey Cambridge, Dewey Pigmeat Markham, Moms Mabley, Marshall Garbage Rogers, and Johnny Lee.The Apollo didnt only make careers but they excessively had big name artist. By the mid-thirties, the era of the big anchor ring was in expert swing. Of all the personalities we ever compete at the Apollo, none were as vibrant as Fats Waller. There was never any principal about Fats bleeding the Apollo. It was a semi-annual engagement, which he never missed. The Luis Russell Band was a band that was put together to showcase the talent of Louis Armstrong. They contend a 1937 engagement at the Apollo without Louis, who had left the band by then.They band did include clarinetist Barney Bigard, who later feature with Ellington Big Sid Catlett, who also play with Hines, on drums and trumpeter Henry Red Allen. Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong are probably two of the most influential men in the history of jazz. Louis Armstrong played with them all because they all precious to play with the master. In 1949, Louis band in an Apollo show included such legendary figures as trombonist and vocalist Jack Teagarden, drummer close-fitting Cole, clarinetist Barney Bi gard, pianist Earl Hines, and bassist Arvel Shaw.A jazz rooter could only be at amazement at this line up. Louis influences everyone, even the singers. Billie Holiday once spoke about how she wanted to sing exactly as Louis played his horn. The fun-loving psyche had vocal trick of culture his songs with Oh Yeah. In 1939 Duke Ellington played the Apollo. He had played there and at the Harlem Opera House and the Lafayette and, of course, was legendary figure at the old Cotton Club. He played the Apollo again, again, and again. He was one of the Jose 5 giants and one of the transcending figures in jazz history.You cant talk about Duke Ellington musical genius without talking about the incredible form of compositions that he penned. Probably in the unit history of music no one has composed more songs the Ellington. There is express to be over two gm songs. Women were also very popular in the Apollo Theater. Most of the women were singers, the major exceptions being pianists blood y shame Lou Williams and Hazel Scott. They were the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Another knowing jazzwoman was Blanche Calloway, sister of jade Calloway.Although she frequently copied Cabs style as a leader, she was a serious musician. Later Blanche ran a club in Washington and brought us Ruth Brown, who became a major Apollo attraction. In addition to introducing a vast number of rising stars, the Apollo quickly became a indispensable stop for any black entertainer, and around every major African American musical act performed there at least once as did some(prenominal) white acts, who often were booked because they were false to be black. The management maintained a policy of alternating live dot shows with B celluloids.The Apollo was the pinnacle of the classic circuit of venues including the Regal Theater in Chicago and the Howard Theater in Washington, D. C. that catered to African American audiences. As a show of respect for its legacy, the building was left u ntouched during the riots of the 1960s. In 1977 the shows were discontinued, and the theatre was operated as a movie theatre. A year later the building was closed. Purchased by investors in 1981, the Apollo received verge status in 1983, was renovated, and was reopened to the public in 1985.