Photograph by
Unidentified
Subject of
Apollo Theater, American, founded 1934
Basie, Count, American, 1904 - 1984
Carter, Benny, American, 1907 - 2003
Green, Lil, American, 1919 - 1954
Date
1945
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (Sheet): 8 × 10 in. (20.3 × 25.4 cm)
H x W (Image): 7 5/8 × 9 1/2 in. (19.4 × 24.1 cm)
Description
A black and white photograph of a crowd at the Apollo Theater.
At the top left corner of the image is a marquee reading [HERE COMES ANOTHER GREAT SHOW! / COUND BASIE / AND HIS BAND AND REVUE / FRIDAY / DEC. 28 / BENNIE CARTER and his BAND and REVUE]. At the bottom left are three men, two of them dressed in Apollo Theater uniforms consisting of dark colored double-breasted overcoats with decorative braid and trim at the collars, and dark colored caps reading [APOLLO] with braided trim along the brims. Another uniformed attendant is visible in the bottom center of the image, turned away from the camera. The crowd forms a line several people deep to the right of the attendants and stretching back past the marquee. Behind the crowd is a wall with images of performers and framed advertisements for upcoming performances, including one for Lil Green and two for Count Basie. The image has been captured from above the crowd, with many looking towards the camera and smiling.
THere are two inscriptions on the back of the image, both handwritten in graphite: [MIDNIGHT SHOW] and [(APOLLO THEATRE)].
Place depicted
Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
Jazz (Music)
Music
Nightlife
Photography
Theatre
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.97.38.33
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f4d05c4d-430f-4d5e-85a2-7332e31328cf

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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