Apollo Theater

Apollo Theater is a concert hall in the Manhattan quarter of Harlem, which played a significant role in the development of African-American musical culture. Apollo Hall was founded in the middle of the XIX century as a hall for ballroom dancing. Upon expiration of the lease in 1872, the building was transformed into a theater, which was closed shortly before the beginning of the new century. Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Jackson 5ive, Patti Label, Marvin Gay, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Isley Brothers, Lorin Hill and Sarah Won performed at Apollo at various times. One of the theater’s unique features was the “executioner” – a man with a broom who swept the performers off the stage if the audience asked to remove them.