Apollo Theater

This theatre once contained WurliTzer theatre organ Opus #1419, installed in 1926 and removed c. 196?. Most of this organ has been preserved and it is hoped will eventually be installed into Baltimore's Parkway Theatre. (See www.parkwaytheatre.com)

The address above is wrong it should read 263 W. 125th Street.

I erred in noting that WurliTzer Opus #1419 was installed in the 125th Street Apollo theatre. It was actually installed in a different Apollo theatre at 126 Clinton Street, NYC. There is likewise no information on the status of this theatre that I can find.

The Lower East Side Apollo was a 1,788-seat independent theatre near bustling Delancey Street that Loew's took over in the 1930s and ran for about ten years before closing it as a substantial loser. I don't think it ever re-opened under another management. Several years ago, I tried to find the Apollo but couldn't. It has either been demolished or converted beyond recognition as a theatre.

This is one of the most famous theatres in the world, the "live" musical mecca of Harlem for seven or eight decades and still operating, according to a big story in the March 30, 2004 issue of The New York Times, page E1. But I don't know why the Apollo is listed at "Cinema Treasures," because it was never a movie house. It originally housed burlesque and then switched to vaudeville during the Depression. Admittedly, movies were sometimes shown to fill time between the stage shows, but they were short "B" features and usually not even mentioned in the Apollo's advertising. Some were so terrible that I think that they were deliberately chosen to empty the house before the next stage show started.

The Apollo claims the address of 253 West 125th Street at its website (www.apollotheater.com)...The theatre first opened in 1913 as Hurtig & Seamon's Music Hall, and had George Keister as architect.
The Adamesque decor is rather plain, and it seems likely that the Apollo would never have been declared an architectural landmark without its global fame as a showcase and launching pad for black entertainers. Stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and James Brown got their starts there by winning one of the Apollo's legendary "Amateur Nights," which started in 1935 and became a weekly tradition.

See a 1949 photo of yhe Apollo and other 125th St theaters by link below.

This is a photo of theaters.

Seems in 1971 the Apollo was showing films again.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/BlackJesus.jpg

Also status on here should not show demolished since this is a live venue.

This cheapie kids matinee was really an Italian film called "Sette Nani Alla Riscossa, I". It was relased here in 1970 as "The 7 Dwarfs to the Rescue". It's only Manhattan booking was the 125th St. Apollo.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/572384a1.jpg

my first trip to the apollo was inthe early 1940s when my father took me there. in the 40s most of the big time black bands played a week or more there. billy eskstine's band was there alot also louis jordan and count basie and duke ellington. in the mid 50s they featured a lot of jazz artist like sonny stitt sonny rollins,monk.miles davis jerry mulligan and maynard ferguson.

The 1970 matinee re-issue of "Wizard of Oz" played here

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/WizardofOz1970re-issue.jpg

In today's NY Times, they talked about (in the MTA strike article) Bloomberg attending a celebration for the newly refurbished facade.

As late as 1976 the Apollo still ran occasional films.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/PipeDreams.jpg

I find it amazing that a theater as famous as the Apollo, perhaps one of the most famous theater in the world, and even though it only was a film house briefly, it's unimaginable that there is absolutely no opening paragraph or intruduction above.

You could write a description for this theater if you want to Bway. The address needs to be updated. The correct address is 253 W 125th St.

This is a recent photo of the Apollo Theater.

I think this has been photoshopped - the signs are a little too neat and crisp, and unless there has been a development that I missed, marquee letters don't come in upper and lower case. It might be a computer generated rendering from a sign company.

I don't know if the photo was edited Dave. This is another photo taken by a different person. Here is one more for comparison also taken by another person. Could this theater have an LED marquee?

Yes, the marquee has an LED display.

Thanks Ken. That should explain why the marquee has upper and lower case letters.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983

Apollo Theater *** (added 1983 - Building - #83004059)
253 W. 125th St., New York
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Keister,George
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Restaurant, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

In 2002 the entire tour of the Theatre Historical Society , more than 150 people, sang along with the Apollo Stage Manager ,"America The Beautiful",so I guess you could say we played the Apollo! Thanks to Bobby the stage manager.

They have certainly smartened the place up since i was there in the late 90s to see the Broadway show 'Harlem Nights'. Beautiful auditorium.

Here is a December 2007 photo of the Apollo Theater.

I wonder what they tore down next to the Apollo on the left. I don't remember a vacant lot last time I was by about a year ago.

This photo has a date of August 6, 2006. Compare it to the December 2007 photo. It looks like a small store was to the left of the theater.

Great news about the restoration of the World Famous Apollo. This item appeared in todays issue of the NY Times:

The Apollo Theater in Harlem is scheduled to close in January 2010 for a major expansion, which is scheduled to last nine months. After a bruising conflict that began in the late 1990s — in which a lawsuit against the Apollo by the state attorney general was narrowly averted — a new management team was installed in June 2003. The new leadership has successfully completed renovation of the lobby, the seats, the facade and the famous Apollo sign in front. The addition will add 4,000 square feet of usable space by moving offices elsewhere. Officials also plan a “Walk of Fame” out front. About $51.5 million of the needed $96 million has been raised, and public appeals are planned for the rest.

No doubt the news comes in time for MLK Day. A walk of fame? Awesome and appropriate.

Here is another news item from the Associated Press.

There were comments above questioning whether or not movies ever palyed at The Apollo and, as a result, whether it should be included on this site. Thankfully, other posters were able to show that films did indeed play the Apollo and therby insure this theater's inclusion as a Cinema Treasure.

I mention this because, for me (and I suspect a great many others who love this site) what makes a cinema treasure truly a treasure is the building itself. Virtually all of the most beloved theaters on this site are architectural marvels of their day with luxurious finishes and designs and the opportunity to see a film with not just hundreds, but sometimes thousands of others!

Many of these treasures (especially those before 1930) started out as legitimate playhouses which were subsequently changed to films as the times changed. As a result we have spectacular theaters like Radio City, The New Amsterdam and, of course, The World Famous Apollo (to name just a few) as Cinema Treasures because they were subsequently changed to film only policies. There are a great
many other spectacular theaters that are not present on CT because they have not shown films. Playhouses like the beautiful Cort and The Lyceum theaters in New York are not given their due.

I realize that this web site is called Cinema Trasaures and not Theater Treasures, but I think there a very few multiplex theaters
in this country that are truly "treasures". What makes a theater a treasure is the building itself and that contributes to the experience of seeing and enjoying a film. Back in the day I could see a terrible film at Loew's Valencia and at least be entertained watching the clouds rolling overhead and the stars twinkling. I can't do that the local 24 plex. Yet there are many, many bland, homogenous, uninspired multiplex theaters on this site.

I've rambled enough! :-)

HERE, HERE, I couldn't agree with you more LuisV, lets get those darn 'sheetrock palace' multiplexes outta here!!

Regarding movie palaces, these days, it would cost 5 times as much as it did then to replicate, so that's not going to happen. But what would be cool would be a movie palace replica in fiberglass and other cheap materials, resembling a movie palace. Vegas has some money. I think that's a great idea. Build a replica of an atmospheric.

I would never include the Apollo in a discussion of "movie palaces." It started out as a burlesque and vaudeville house in the plain architectural style of that time, and became famous for its stage shows with the cream of black entertainers. Movies were usually shown only as "fillers" between the stage shows.

ShoeShoe...I wholeheartedly agree! While I know that the old palaces could never be replicated in a financially viable way, I don't know why more of the multiplexes can't be constructed to at least pay some homage to the old palaces of the past.

One of my favorite multiplexes is the AMC 25 plex in Times Square due to its incorporation of the old Empire Theater into its lobby. I would have been much, much happier it they had just made the Empire one of the 24 screens. It was, in fact a small theater, and could have been spectacularly used. I'm sure they thought of it, but for some reason or another it wasn't financially viable.

My other favorite is the Loew's Lincoln Sqaure and only because they paid homage to the old Loew's movie palaces of the metropolitan New York area with each screening room dedicated to a former palace along with a small history. I only wish that each screening room was decorated to relate directly to the theater being honored. You would think that in this day of cheap faux decorations (of which Vegas is but the biggest example) this would be relatively easy to do.

Maybe not.

Warren, I respect your decision not to accept the Apollo. I, however do not accept almost any of the multiplexes as they are but simple boxes with no architectural distinctions. I stand by my comment that it is about the building. As such, I don't care if movies were shown simply as fillers between live acts or not. If they were a beautiful strucure and they showed a film, they should be listed on CT. I believe that even a relatively spartan Apollo theater is much more a cinema treasure than almost any of the multiplexes (and many of the single screens as well) on this website.

ShoeShoe...I wholeheartedly agree! While I know that the old palaces could never be replicated in a financially viable way, I don't know why more of the multiplexes can't be constructed to at least pay some homage to the old palaces of the past.

One of my favorite multiplexes is the AMC 25 plex in Times Square due to its incorporation of the old Empire Theater into its lobby. I would have been much, much happier it they had just made the Empire one of the 24 screens. It was, in fact a small theater, and could have been spectacularly used. I'm sure they thought of it, but for some reason or another it wasn't financially viable.

My other favorite is the Loew's Lincoln Sqaure and only because they paid homage to the old Loew's movie palaces of the metropolitan New York area with each screening room dedicated to a former palace along with a small history. I only wish that each screening room was decorated to relate directly to the theater being honored. You would think that in this day of cheap faux decorations (of which Vegas is but the biggest example) this would be relatively easy to do.

Maybe not.

Warren, I respect your decision not to accept the Apollo. I, however do not accept almost any of the multiplexes as they are but simple boxes with no architectural distinctions. I stand by my comment that it is about the building. As such, I don't care if movies were shown simply as fillers between live acts or not. If they were a beautiful strucure and they showed a film, they should be listed on CT. I believe that even a relatively spartan Apollo theater is much more a cinema treasure than almost any of the multiplexes (and many of the single screens as well) on this website.

This is a January 16, 2008 article.

The year given for this photo is 1989.

Showtime at the Apollo TheatER.

Here's a rare Apollo ad from 1950 with a movie receiving almost as much attention as the stage bill: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/apollo50.jpg

In the 3/28 photo, what is the story with the marquee down the block? Is that another theater or former theater?

Photo of the Apollo at night.

That other marquee in the distance is of the old Loew's Victoria 125th Street theatre, which later became the Victoria 5 theatres.

If you look at this photo which I posted on another theater listing, you will see the Apollo, the Harlem, and the Loew's Victoria which is the other marquee as movie534 already pointed out.

Circa 1941 photo of Apollo from west of 8th Avenue:
http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-RAILROAD-PHOTO-F205-New-York-City-Trolley_W0QQitemZ370077726429QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item370077726429&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A2%7C66%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting

This is another photo of the Apollo.

The Apollo theater has just recieved another $1MM donation from one of its board members to be applied towards the completion of its renovation in time for its 75th Anniversary.

Too bad the Loew's Kings doesn't have this kind of support.

LM, which Harlem Theatre is that in the May 8 photo?

Al....Its the Harlem Opera House.

Thanks, LM! I was not aware it was still showing films that far into the forties.

The Harlem Opera House is listed in the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook so I assume it was still showing movies at least up to that year.

This view of the auditorium makes a welcome change from the seemingly endless and increasingly boring postings of exterior photos:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/nyregion/27debates.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=Timothy%20Williams&st=cse&oref=slogin

Yawn

Here is another photo of the Apollo Theater at night. When I find more, I'll be happy to post them.

I'll bet on that!

And you would be a winner!

Warren, there more then "about 100 people" in that picture from the NY Times.

William, I didn't write the caption. You should send your correction to The New York Times.

The "100" number refers only to those who were vocal.

Here is another exterior photo. View at your own risk.

YAWN!!! Anyone can find that photo-- and many more like it-- by simply doing a Google Images search.

Really. Then lets see you post some.

This photo is for you.

The Ink Spots were at the Apollo Theater in January of 1953.

Please don't post any photos of the Apollo for my sake, because I've probably seen them. But the best images are stored in my own memory (which is hardly "lost"). During the Apollo's heyday, I attended many performances there, and saw such great stars as Dinah Washington, Eartha Kitt, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, "Moms" Mabley, Redd Foxx, Sarah Vaughan, and Count Basie and Duke Ellington with their orchestras.

Speaking of photos, I have been watching this site announcement ever since I became a member in Oct. 2003:

"Add Photo is offline
Due to the enormous number of photo submissions we've received at Cinema Treasures (over 3500 photos!), it has become necessary for us to completely overhaul our photo submission system.

"As a result, this feature is offline until we develop a more scalable system. If you have photos to submit to Cinema Treasures, please be patient. This feature will eventually return.

"The new system—which will offer expanded photo galleries, more browsing options, and other improvements— is worth the wait, but given the size of this website, we must develop this feature carefully.

"(Please do not email us asking when this feature will return. Whenever we have news about this feature, we'll post it here first.)"

How long does this take? Really?

With all the images of the Apollo floating around in cyberspace, it's rather amusing that the CT introduction has a large, empty space marked "No Photo Available."

This is another recent photo of the Apollo.

I thought that one day they would make the photo feature operate again. There are MANY really historic or famous theaters that don't have a photo on the site!!

Here is a November 5, 2008 photo.

This is a small photo of the Apollo in 1963.

After all those boring views of marquees and vertical signs, here's a photo that really shows what it was like to attend a performance in the Apollo's heyday. It was taken in 1944 during one of the always packed "Amateur Nights." Note the clouds of tobacco smoke floating down from the balconies: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/apollo1944.jpg

Here is a nice recent interior photo.

Happy 75th birthday to the Apollo Theater. The Apollo website gives the year that the theater was built as 1914. The introduction above should be updated.

It's rather poignant that the Apollo is celebrating 75 years with a grand restoration and (if you look closely at the photo) in the background is the marquee for the Victoria which is currently in limbo.

The 75th birthday refers only to the 1934 launching of the Apollo's stage show policy, not to the actual construction of the theatre, which was originally known as Hurtig & Seamon's.

That's true but the building was built in 1914 according to their website so it couldn't have opened in 1913. "It all started in 1914 when the theater was constructed on 125th Street, the heart of Harlem. Originally, it was named Hurtig and Seamon’s New Burlesque Theatre and African-Americans were not allowed in the audience."

Some history books use a date of 1913. There sometimes can be a variance between building and opening dates. Construction could have started in 1913, with an opening in 1914. "The Movie Lover's Guide to New York" says "The Apollo was built in 1913 as Hurtig & Seamon's New Theater, which presented burlesque and vaudeville to a Harlem that was then predominantly white." I would debate the website's claim that "African-Americans were not allowed in the audience." I believe that they were admitted, but had to sit in a separate section of the balcony.

I haven't been able to find a source that gves the opening year as 1913. As you said, construction could have taken place in 1913 and the opening of the theater was in 1914. This is a Newsday story about the 75th year of Amateur Night.

According to the NYTimes, black patrons were admitted into the balcony area starting in 1934, concurrent with some black headliners and the amateur nights.

The Apollo shows up in Paramount Week ads as showing movies at least as early as 1919.

The date given for this photo is August 1953.

Here is a night view of the Apollo from 1964.

This is a view of 125th Street in 1935.

Thanks LM......In the photo, on the right side is "Weisbecker Markets". It looks like a marquee from a theater. Was this a theater that had already been closed and converted to retail by 1935?

Probably not Luis. Some stores also had a marquee. There was a furniture store about one block from the Ridgewood Theater that had a marquee and some people thought that building was a former theater. It wasn't a former theater, just a store.

The year given for this photo is 1991.

Yesterday, The New York Times devoted more than two full pages of text and photos to the Apollo's 75th anniversary celebration. Here's a link to what I think was the best article. You will also find a link there to the other Apollo-related material published yesterday: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/arts/music/27hist.html?ref=music

As per the related article, There is an open house with tours today and tomorrow.

Dang, beat me to it. Great pieces, though. They did postpone the lobby renovation, even though they raised just a bit more than half for the capital campaign.

Renewing link.

Here's a great video explaining why movies are so unimportant to the history of the Apollo Theatre: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/jazzdownloadv.php?id=4135

Well even though movies may have been a very unimportant part of it's history, it's nice that because of it's short run with movies, it's able to be listed on the site. So many "treasures" of theaters can't be because of course this is CINEMA treasures, but there's no website to preserve the history of non cinema theaters out there....

Here is a nice 2009 photo of the Apollo.

This is a June 2009 photo.

Here is an undated photo, possibly from the 1930s.

A September 2009 photo is here.

This is a recent shot of the Apollo at night.

According to the book series "HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA" (The Talkies, 1926-1931), the Harlem Apollo was briefly converted into a miniature golf location during the depression, known then as TOM THUMB GOLF.