Seminar Schools

Curated teaching resource

Apollo Theater history (R&B revue format introduced 1955 by Tommy Dr. Jive Smalls)

By Apollo Theater Foundation

Collection
Teaching Activities
Subject
History
Grades
Grades 7-12
Format
Primary Source
Curriculum
Cross-curricular
Publisher or host
apollotheater.org

Why this resource is included

In 1955 DJ Tommy Dr. Jive Smalls brought the R&B Revue concept to Apollo manager Bobby Schiffman. By September 1958 the house was three years into this format with as many as a dozen vocal acts on one bill. Specific September 20 1958 booking not findable in free sources; the Smithsonian Frank Schiffman Collection contains the 5x8 cards that would resolve this. Free.

Open the resource on apollotheater.org

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