Apollo Theatre National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

Apollo Theatre National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form

A scanned nomination form from 1983 for the Apollo Theater to the National Park Service to be recognized as a registered Historic Place. This follows after the Apollo was forced to close in 1976 due to the degradation of the facility, lack of attendance due to mediascape changes and financial hardship.

Destinee Rouse

National Park Service, & Hesch, M., National Register of Historic Places Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: New York; National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records, Records of the National Park Service, Record Group 79, National Archives at College Park - Electronic Records, College Park, MD. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75319263

NPS Form 10-900
(7-81)

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service

For NPS use only
received OCT - 4 1983
date entered

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form

See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms
Type all entries-complete applicable sections

1. Name
historic Apollo Theater
and/or common

2. Location
street & number 253 West 125th Street __not for publication
city, town New York
vicinity of
congressional district
state New York
code 36
county New York
code 061

3. Classification
Category
__district
[x] building(s)
__structure
__site
__object

Ownership
__public
[x] private
__both

Status
[x]occupied
__unoccupied
__work in progress

Present Use
__agriculture
__commercial
__educational
[x]entertainment
__government
__industrial
__military
__museum
__park
__private residence
__religious
__scientific
__transportation
__other:

Public Acquisition
[NA] in progress
[NA] being considered

Accessible
[X] yes: restricted
__yes: unrestricted
__no

4. Owner of Property
name Inner City Broadcasting Corporation c/o Percy Sutton
street & number 802 Second Avenue
city, town New York __vicinity of state New York

5. Location of Legal Description
courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Surrogates Court / Hall of Records
street & number 31 Chambers Street
city, town New York
state New York

6. Representation in Existing Surveys
title Landmarks Preservation Commission Urban Cultural Resources Surveys 1/6/83
has this property been determined eligible? X yes __no
date 1983
__federal
__state
__county
[x]local
depository for survey records 20 Vesey Street
city, town New York
state New York 10007

7. Description
Condition
__excellent
[x] good
__fair
__deteriorated
__ruins
__unexposed

Check one
__unaltered
[x] altered

Check one
[x] original site
__moved date NA

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance
The Apollo Theater is located in the heart of Harlem on the north side of 125th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, a large and busy com-
mercial street containing a variety of 19th and 20th century build-
ings. The three-story building, measuring four bays wide on its principal street facade, has been altered over the years but retains most of its early 20th century character. Originally the building contained a cafe and cabaret in the basement, a burlesque theater and store on the main floor, a restaurant on the second floor, and loft and meeting rooms on the third floor. Today the second and third floors above the lobby are divided into small rooms and serve as offices and storage space.

The south and principal facade is clad with white terra-cotta. The first floor incorporates several remodeling campaigns and the addition of a contemporary storefront with modern windows and doors. Above, the original ashlar coursed white glazed terra-cotta embellished with a denticulated cornice extends the width of the building. Five colossal pilasters divide the upper facade into four bays. These pilasters on the ends are panelled, with stylized Tuscan capitals. The three central pilasters are fluted with Ionic capitals. A heavy modillioned metal cornice is surmounted by three parapet-like pedestals placed above the central pilasters.

The bays are filled with large square windows with terra-cotta spandrels. The spandrels above the second story are decorated with fluted heraldic panels bearing shields. Narrow spandrels above the third story are decorated with Greek fretwork. The windows consist of both paired double-hung sash and a single-pane pivot type with a single transom in the two upper eastern bays and three lower western bays.

A heavy marquee above the entrance that bears the word "Apollo" on the two sides, extends across half the building, covering the width of the sidewalk. A large vertical two-sided sign also bearing the name "Apollo" rises above and perpendicular to the building, supported by metal framework. Both signs date from the 1940's.

The theater's original L-shape plan remains intact, retaining its entry sequence through a vestibule and lobby and into the main auditorium. The front portion of the building is divided into two equal sections: the western half consisting of the vestibule and lobby to the Apollo and the eastern half a separate store. The rear of the structure consists of a three-tiered auditorium. The theater is oriented on a perpendicular axis to the entrance with the stage at the east wall of the building.

The lobby, separated from the street by a small vestibule, retains its original volume and rectangular shape plan, although its finishes were removed in the 1960's. A large mural portraying black artists who have performed at the Apollo has been installed along the lobby walls leading to the auditorium.

[page break]

NPS Form 10-900-a
(7-81)

United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service

For NPS use only
received
date entered

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form
Continuation Sheet Apollo Theater 253 W. 125th St. N.Y.
Item number 7
Page 2
The auditorium is rectangular in plan and three stories in height. The floor of the orchestra is raked toward the stage, divided by two center aisles. The rows of seating are tiered and placed on a curve to provide for the best possible views. Monumental arches flank the proscenium and frame two levels of double-tiered boxes. The entablature and arches are decorated with classically inspired plaster ornament, including foliation and circle motifs.

The Apollo is one of the few theaters remaining in New York City with two balconies. The balconies, each reached by a separate set of stairs, curve around the back of the auditorium. They are supported on the orchestra level by fluted columns (stripped on the lower portions) and on the first balcony level by square columns with simple molded capitals. The balconies have brass handrails and the front panels retain much original classically inspired plaster ornament, including Greek fretwork, shields, wreaths, garlands, and rope moldings.

The interior of the Apollo Theater has retained much of its original character despite several minor renovations from the 1930's-1970's. These interior alterations include: replacement of the original seating and carpeting, stripping of the ornamental plaster from the lower boxes, and removal of the scagliola fluting from the columns supporting the balcony on the orchestra level.

8. Significance
Period
__prehistoric
__1400-1499
__1500-1599
__1600-1699
__1700-1799
__1800-1899
[x] 1900--

Areas of Significance--Check and justify below
__archeology-prehistoric
__archeology-historic
__agriculture
[x]architecture
__art
__commerce
__communications
__community planning
__conservation
__economics
__education
__engineering
__exploration/settlement
__industry
__invention
__landscape architecture
__law
__literature
__military
[x] music
__philosophy
__politics/government
__religion
__science
__sculpture
__social/humanitarian
[x] theater
__transportation
__other (specify

Specific dates 1913
Builder/Architect George Keister

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)
The Apollo Theater is historically and architecturally significant for its role as one of New York City's and the nation's leading entertainment centers for over four decades. Completed in 1914 as a burlesque house, it
later became the premier performance hall for black American performers and a symbol of the movement to promote black cultural awareness in the 1930s. Its contribution as a nuturing force and a showcase of black talent ranks it as one of this country's most significant cultural resources. The Apollo's interior, with its classically inspired ornament, retains much of its original character, providing associations with its history as a theater.

During much of the nineteenth century, Harlem was a fashionable suburb for wealthy and upper-middle class white Manhattan residents. At the turn of the century, following the completion of subway routes, speculative overbuilding of rowhouses and apartment buildings resulted in a real estate bust in 1904. At this time, major black neighborhoods, (the west side, streets 20s-60s), were experiencing redevelopment and the residents were being displaced. The combination of available real estate in Harlem and displacement from other neighborhoods made Harlem attractive to New York City blacks, who began to move into Harlem around 1910.

This migration increased during the 1920s as blacks moved to Harlem from the American south and the West Indies. During these years, Harlem
became the urban cultural capital of black America. The "center" of Harlem was then considered to be around 135th Street, between Lenox and Seventh Avenues. By the 1930s, as the black population moved southward, 125th Street, already a major shopping and entertainment throughfare, became the "Main Street" of black Harlem.

Built as Hurtig and Seamon's New (Burlesque) Theater, the Apollo originally catered to a primarily white clientele and presented the popular entertainment of the day: burlesque. The New Theater was in operation until 1934, when a crackdown on burlesque shows was undertaken by Mayor La Guardia's administration. In 1935 Frank Schiffman and Leo Brecher, two white businessmen, purchased the building and renamed it the Apollo Theater. Under their direction, the theater presented a permanent variety show format which featured leading black entertainers.

9. Major Bibliographical References
Apollo Theater. The Apollo Theater Story. New York: Apollo Operations, Inc. 1966.
Schiffman, Jack. Uptown: The Story of Harlem's Apollo Theater. New York: Cowles Book Co., Inc., 1971.
Shockley, Jay. Apollo Theater-Designation Report. New York: Landmarks Preservation Commission, 1983.

10. Geographical Data
Acreage of nominated property Approximately 2/5 of an acre
Quadrangle name Central Park, N.Y. - N.J.
Quadrangle scale 1:24000
UT M References
A. Zone 18 Easting 588550 Northing 4517990
B Zone__ Easting______ Northing_______
C
D
E
F
G
H

Verbal boundary description and justification
The boundary of the Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, is shown as the bold line on the accompanying plot map.

List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries [NA]
state code county code
state code county code

11. Form Prepared By
name/title Contact: Merrill Hesch
organization NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
date September 1983
street & number E.S.P. Agency Bldg. 1
telephone 518 474-0479
city or town Albany
state New York 12238

12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification
The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:
[X] national __state __local
As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature
title Commissioner
date 9-22-83

For NPS use only
I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register
[illegible signature], Keeper of the National Register
date 11/17/83
Attest:
date
Chief of Registration
GPO 894-785

[page break]

NPS Form 10-900-a
(3-82)

OMB No. 1024-0018
Exp. 10-31-84

United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service

For NPS use only
received
date entered

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form
Apollo Theater
Continuation Sheet Apollo Theater 253 W. 125th St., New York, New York Co.
Item number 8
Page 2

The Apollo became the center for Harlem's popular entertainment and one of the nation's most important arenas for the display of leading black performing talent for a period of four decades. "Harlem recognized no popular entertainer until he or she had appeared or excelled at the Apollo. "1 Throughout its history, it displayed every form of popular black entertainment, including comedy, drama, dance, gospel, blues, jazz, swing, bebop, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and soul music. In programing such a variety of black entertainers, the Apollo's management contributed to the development of Harlem into the major urban cultural and intellectural center for blacks in the United States.

"The Apollo," according to former New York City Landmarks Preservation
Commission Chairman Kent L. Barwick, "is unparelleled in shaping both
the careers of major black performers and a variety of forms of American
entertainment. Nearly every black American performer has played the
Apollo, from blues singer Bessie Smith in the 1930s, to jazz great Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, to Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, and the Supremes, through soul singer Aretha Franklin and James Brown in the 1970s. It is no wonder that the Apollo, aside from having had an extraordinary impact on our culture, has become synonymous with Harlem itself."2

Designed by architect George Keister in the neoclassical style, the Apollo retains much of its original character. The 1700-seat theater auditorium features a proscenium arch with flanking boxes and elaborate classically inspired plaster ornament. The Apollo is one of the few theaters remaining in New York City with two balconies. The Apollo's exterior, faced in white terra cotta, handsomely displays five colossal pilasters capped by stylized Tuscan and Ionic capitals decorated with anthemion motifs. Keister was one of the most prominent theater architects in practice at the turn of the century. He worked throughout the metropolitan area designing the Sewlyn and the Belasco Theaters in Times Square, the Colonial Theater at 68th Street and Broadway, Loew's Yorkville (demolished), and the Bronx's Opera House.

1. Jervis Anderson, This was Harlem; A. Cultural Portrait,
1900-1950 (New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1982) p. 238.
2. "Landmark News" (New York City Landmarks Preservation
Commission), June 29, 1983.

[page break]

NPS Form 10-900-a
(3-82)

OMB No. 1024-0018
Exp. 10-31-84

United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service

For NPS use only
received
date entered

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form
Apollo Theater
Continuation Sheet Apollo Theater 253 W. 125th St., New York, New York Co.
Item number 8
Page 3

The Apollo Theater's continuous tradition of live entertainment since the 1910s (which featured leading black performers since the 1930s) came to an end in the mid-1970s. A number of factors are usually cited for the Apollo's decline, including dwindling audiences, higher ticket prices, the opening of other arenas to black patronage, the decline of stage shows in the recording era, the ease with which top-name black performers could earn more money elsewhere, and the decline of 125th Street as a healthy commercial center. The building has subsequently had a mixed history: as a movie theater with occasional shows, a short-lived attempt to revive live entertainment without top names, years of standing vacant, and the sale to the Harlem Urban Development Corporation. The Apollo Theater remains, however, as a building of great significance in the history of American culture, representing the contribution of Harlem and black Americans to the entertainment of New York City and the nation.

FHR-8-300 (11-78)
United States Department of the Interior
Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service

For HCRS use only
received
date entered

National Register of Historic Places
Inventory-Nomination Form

Continuation Sheet Apollo Theater 253 W. 125th St., N.Y. Co. New York
Item number 11
Page 2

Form Prepared By: Michael May, Graduate Research Assistant
Carol Clark, Associate Director
Elizabeth Igleheart, Reasearch Consultant

Organization: New York Landmarks Conservancy
330 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: (212) 736- 7575

Date: August 19, 1983

[page break]

Apollo Theater
253 West 125th St.
New York, New York Co., NY
General Plot Plan 1929
Manhattan Land Book
Updated March 1974
Scale 1200'=1"

BUILDING ZONE RESTRICTIONS
HEIGHT ZONES
All properties in this plate are in zone 1 ½ and the height of the buildings is restricted to 1 ½ times the width of the Street or Avenue on which they front

[page break]

83004059
WASO Form 177
("R" June 1984)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET

Apollo Theater
New York County
NEW YORK

Substantive Review
Working No. OCT 4 1983
Fed. Reg. Date: 2/5/83
Date Due: 11/3/83 - 11/18/83
Action:
[x] ACCEPT 11/17/83
__ RETURN
__REJECT
__Federal Agency:

[ ] resubmission
[ ] nomination by person or local government
[ ] owner objection
[ ] appeal
Substantive Review: [ ] sample [ ] request [ ] appeal [ ] NR decision

Reviewer's comments:
The Apollo Theater is significant for its historical associations with the development of Harlem into the nation's major black cultural and intellectual center. The statement of significance does not provide adequate justification for architectural significance but mini-
mally established the exceptional importance of the theater to American history.

Recom./Criteria Accept A
Reviewer Bushay
Discipline Historian
Date 11/17/83
____see continuation sheet

Nomination returned for:
___technical corrections cited below
___substantive reasons discussed below
1. Name
2. Location
3. Classification
Category
Ownership
Status
Present Use
Public Acquisition
Accessible
4. Owner of Property
5. Location of Legal Description
6. Representation in Existing Surveys
Has this property been determined eligible? [ ] yes [ ] no
7. Description
Condition
[ ] excellent
[ ] good
[ ] fair
[ ]deteriorated
[ ] ruins
[ ] unexposed

Check one
[ ]unaltered
[ ]altered

Check one
[ ] original site
[ ] moved date__________

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance
[ ]summary paragraph
[ ]completeness
[ ]clarity
[ ]alterations/integrity
[ ]dates
[ ] boundary selection

8. Significance
Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below
Specific dates Builder/Architect

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)
[ ] summary paragraph
[ ] completeness
[ ] clarity
[ ] applicable criteria
The initial significance of the Apollo Theatre is its historical associations with the emergence of Harlem in the 1930s as a black cultural mecca. The direct role the theater played in the literary,
artistic and cultural lives of black Americans has not been discussed
justification of areas checked
at a national level of significance. In addition, events after 1935
relating significance to the resource
were not demonstrated to be exceptionally significant and lack
context
both geographic and thematic context. In this case the nomination
relationship of integrity to significance
was acceptable for its obvious local significance, but it did
justification of exception
not do justice to the resource.
other
9. Major Bibliographical References
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of nominated property
Quadrangle name
UTM References
Verbal boundary description and justification
11. Form Prepared By
12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification
The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:
national
state
local
State Historic Preservation Officer signature
title
date
13. Other
Maps
Photographs
Other
Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to
Signed
Date
Phone:
Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet

NEW YORK LANDMARKS CONSERVANCY
Apollo Theatre
253 West 125th Street
New York, New York County, N.Y.
photo 1
Photographer: Carl Forester
Date Taken: October 1981
Negative filed at: New York City
Landmarks Preservation Commission
View looking north along W. 125th St.

New York Landmarks Conservancy
Broadway
New York, New York 10004

LANDMARKS
Apollo Theatre
253 West 125th Street
CONSERVANCY
New York, New York County, N.Y.
photo 2
Photographer: Carl Forester
Date Taken: October 1981
Negative filed at: New York City
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Interior view of stage, looking east
New York Landmarks Conservancy
330 West® 42nd Street
330 W. 42nd Street
New York, New York 10036v York, New York 10036
212-736-7575
212-736-7575
UT
L
NEW YORK
Apollo Theater
LANDMARKS
253 West 125th Street
CONSERVANCY
New York, New York County, N.Y.
photo 3
Photographer: Carl Forester
Date Taken: October 1981
Negative filed at: New York City
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Side boxes
New York Landmarks Conservancy
Broadway
330 W. 42nd Street
York, New York 10004 New York, New York 10036
212-426-4085. 212-736-7575
UNITED STATES
X
CENTRAL PARK QUADRANGLE
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC)
74°,00'
ISADES.
585000m.E
YONKERS
HALL)
SW/4 HARLEM 15' QUADRANGLE
586
TE
7 MI
57'30"
588
40°52'30"
(YONKERS)
590
591
55
593
2030000 FEET (N.Y.)
73°52'30"
40°52'30"
4525000m.N
ENGI
Englewood
4525
Tubby Hook
Englewood
Sewage
Bedford
Cliffs
\Park
Yicht
NEW
740 000
LEONIA
Linwood
CRMAN
4524
L
AS
230 000 FEET
(N.Y.)
4523
Hazard
SHAN
Beach
4523
4
Hospital
FORT LEE
Point
Morris
Heights
Tremont
PALISADES PARK
Park.
Lcal
4522
B
MI.
PS
Playg
B
0
N
Club
4521
Bridge
95
.
50'
4
Monroe
Apollo Theater
253 West 125th Street
New York County, New York
UTM Reference:
dgewater
Central Park Quad
4520
All Zone 18
Seb
Easting
588550
Northing 4517990
CLIFFSIDE PARK
NEW
H90
M
H
4519
FAIRVIEW
Bronx
Fire Sta
Sch
Park
EDGE
Girlst
Monastery
WE
Hunts Point
FLUS
(FLUSHING)
6265
4518
Sewage
Disposal
Port
North Brother
Light
4517
Bron:
Barretto
FERRY
Hunts
4517
Harlem
Randalls
Island
Stony
Pt
V
PARK
Brother
4516
ME
47'30"
Leight
Lawrence
47'30"
Point
4516
ISLAND
GUTTENBERG
NEW YORK
RESERVOIR
THE
IN
BRONX
CO
02
RIKE
TORA
Hayden
CHANNEL
Substation
4515
Light
Gate
Historical
I
Light
Tidal Flat _
Hell
Hallets
Pot
Bowery
Bay
LA GUARD
Doctors
GEN
E
AIRPORT
200 000
190
Steinway
(N.
Com
ark
Ai
erminal
TUNNEL
4
Halles
Cove
#Fire
North
APS 83
4513
EME
#
U
E
N
S
OF
T
YORK
PS151
Heights
WEST
Long
4512000m.N
THE
700 000 FEET
(N.J.)
NATION
40°45'
74°00'
HOLLAND
TUNNEL
2010 000
FEET
(N
Y.)
57'30
589
(BROOKL
MIDTOWN
7.7
591
55'
2210000
FEE
593
40°45'
6265
Mapped edited and published by the Geological Survey
BRIDGE
594000m.E.
73°52'30"
GERREY CITY
SCALE 1:24000
Revised in cooperation with New York
MILE
Department of Transportation
ROAD CLASSIFICATION
1000
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000 FEET
Control by USGS, USC&GS, and New Jersey Geodetic Survey
Heavy duty
Light-duty
KILOMETER
Planimetry by photogrammetric methods and from USC&GS Charts T-4567,
Medium-duty
Unimproved dirt
T-5089 T-5264, T-5278, T-5448, T-5449, T-5451, T-5452, T-5453, T-5458,
213 MILS
CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 FEET
12 MILS
and T-5778. Topography by photogrammetric methods from aerial photographs
NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929
Interstate Route
U.S. Route
State Route
taken 1954 and planetable surveys 1956
DEPTH CURVES AND SOUNDINGS IN IS MEAN LOW WATER
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DATUMS IS VARIABLE
NEW YORK
Revised from aerial photographs taken 1966. Field checked 1966
UTM GRID AND 1979 NORTH
SHORELINE SHOWN REPRESENTS THE APPROXMATE LINE OF MEAN HIGH WATER
Selected hydrographic data compiled from USC&GS Charts 226, 274, 745,
DECLINATION AT CENTER OF SHEET
THE AVERAGE RANGE OF TIDE APPROXIMATELY FEET
CENTRAL PARK, N.Y.-N.J.
4 FEET IN THE HUDSON RIVER AND 5. FEET IN THF EAST RIVER
746, and 74 (1966). This information s'not intended for navigational purposes
QUADRANGLE LOCATION
SW/4 HARLEM 15' QUADRANOLE
Polyconic projection. 1927 North American datum
THIS MAP COMPLIES WITH NATIONAL MAP ACCURAGY STANDARDS
Revisions shown in purple compiled from aerial photographs
N4045-W7352.5/7.5
10,000 foot grids based on New York coordinate system, Long Island zone,
FOR SALE BY U. GEOLOGICAL SURIEY RESTON, VIRGINIA 22092
taken 1977 and other source data This information
and New Jersey coordinate system
A FOLDER DESCRIBING TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS AND SYMBOLS IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
1966
not field checked. Map edited 1979
PHOTOREVISED 1979
1000 meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid zone 18, shown in blue
There may be private inholdings within the boundaries of
AMS 6265 IV SW-SERIES V821
Red tint indicates areas in which only landmark buildings are shown
the National or State reservations shown