Ralph Cooper

The Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center is announcing the full lineup of rare cinema and special guests to be featured at the inaugural Library of Congress Festival of Film and Sound. The new four-day film festival will be held June 15-18 in association with the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center at the American Film Institute's beautifully restored 1938 art deco theater in Silver Spring, Maryland.

New York City performer Joe Gray, a mainstay of the iconic Apollo Theater for nearly 30 years, has found a new home as production manager at the Sacred Heart University Community Theatre.

THE APOLLO, directed by Oscar® and Emmy® winner Roger Ross Williams, chronicles the legacy of New York City's landmark Apollo Theater, covering the rich history of the storied performance space over its 85 years. What began as a refuge for marginalized artists emerged as a hallowed hall of black excellence and empowerment. In the film, Williams reflects on the struggle of black lives in America, the role that art plays in that struggle, and the part the Apollo Theater continues to play in the cultural conversation.

In honor of Apollo's 75th Anniversary there will be a Kick-Off Amateur Night's 75th Birth Day Party with Special Guest Ron Browz. The Party will be held Wednesday, January 28th, 7:30PM Anniversary Special - The First 750 tickets, only $7.50! The night will honor the starting place for some of our most famous and treasured artists like Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, George Clinton and Stevie Wonder. The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization established in 1991, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the legendary Apollo Theater through the Apollo Experience of world-class live performances and education programs that: Honor the influence and advance the contributions of African-American artists; and Advance emerging creative voices across cultural and artistic media. 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. In 1934: Ralph Cooper, Sr. decided to do a live version of his already popular radio show, Amateur Nite Hour at the ApolloTM, at the Apollo Theater, then owned by the Schiffman family. Ella Fitzgerald, who invented the vocal technique known as 'SCAT', was one of the first Amateur Night winners. That same year, Cooper, Benny Carter and '16 Gorgeous Hot Steppers' dazzled the crowds with the theater's first 'Colored Revue.'

In honor of Apollo's 75th Anniversary there will be a Kick-Off Amateur Night's 75th Birth Day Party with Special Guest Ron Browz. The Party will be held Wednesday, January 28th, 7:30PM Anniversary Special - The First 750 tickets, only $7.50! The night will honor the starting place for some of our most famous and treasured artists like Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, George Clinton and Stevie Wonder. The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization established in 1991, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the legendary Apollo Theater through the Apollo Experience of world-class live performances and education programs that: Honor the influence and advance the contributions of African-American artists; and Advance emerging creative voices across cultural and artistic media. 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. In 1934: Ralph Cooper, Sr. decided to do a live version of his already popular radio show, Amateur Nite Hour at the ApolloTM, at the Apollo Theater, then owned by the Schiffman family. Ella Fitzgerald, who invented the vocal technique known as 'SCAT', was one of the first Amateur Night winners. That same year, Cooper, Benny Carter and '16 Gorgeous Hot Steppers' dazzled the crowds with the theater's first 'Colored Revue.'