Apollo Theater

The story

When the Apollo opened in 1913, Black performers were not allowed inside — it was a whites-only burlesque house developed by Jules Hurtig and Harry Seamon. That changed in 1934, when Sydney Cohen acquired the theater and opened its stage to Black performers. Frank Schiffman and his family then ran it for four decades, from 1935 to 1976. Designed by George Keister in neoclassical style, the 1,500-seat Harlem landmark now operates as a nonprofit and remains the home of Showtime at the Apollo, its facade and interior protected as New York City landmarks.