Apollo Theater: Its Showtime

The world famous Apollo Theater was first constructed in 1914 as Hurtig and Seamon’s New Burlesque Theater. Despite the fact that the theater was in Harlem, NY, a predominately African-American neighborhood, only whites were allowed to perform and sit in the audience.  In 1934, as the burlesque theater was facing being closed down, its original owner Sidney Cohen reopened the building as the 125th Street Apollo Theatre and changed the setup of the shows from burlesque to variety shows and geared their marketing attention to the growing African-American community in Harlem, according to its website ApolloTheater.org.

Then history began.

That same year Ralph Cooper started a radio show, “Amateur Nite Hour at the Apollo” where vocal legend Ella Fitzgerald won one of the first Amateur Nights with her signature scatting. Shortly after, R&B Jazz greats like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday mesmerized the Apollo stage with their undeniable talents. But it doesn’t stop there. The Apollo Theater went on to spark the careers of musical icons like James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Aside from music the Apollo also showcased comedy and dance. Legendary Comedian Richard Pryor did some of his first stand-up comedy routines on the infamous stage.

In 1987, “Showtime At The Apollo” was brought to television and showcased even more music comedy and dance, but this time with an audience-interactive twist. During a performance, if the audience did not like an artist they could “Boo” a person off stage. If enough “Boos” were shouted, Howard “The Sandman” Simms would jump on stage and dance the amateur performer off stage. Now that was good television! At 13 years old, Singer/Rapper Lauryn Hill was booed off of the stage during her performance, luckily she didn’t let that stop her.

Aside from The Sandman, the hosts of the show also made watching “Showtime At The Apollo” enjoyable. Originally hosted by actor and comedian Rick Aviles, other hosts throughout the years have been Actors/Comedians Sinbad, Mark Curry, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Harvey, and Mo’nique.

In a matter of decades the Apollo Theater went from a segregated burlesque theater to a landmark in the state of New York and the city of Harlem. It is a stage that literally transcends generations. My grandmother watched James Brown perform on that stage,  my mother watched Aretha Franklin and I remember begging my mother to let me stay up every Thursday night to see what the fabulous co-host KiKi Shepherd would be wearing on “Showtime At The Apollo.” According to Biography.com.The Apollo Theater will always be important to the African-American community because it launched the careers of so many of today’s greatest entertainers of all time.

“It birthed many artists but it never left the neighborhood,” Rev. Al Sharpton told TheGrio.com. “I’m glad the city and others have done what is necessary to keep it here because it’s a neighborhood theater that roared and the whole world heard its roar.”

-Alexandria Richard