Smithsonian Institute
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Washington, DC
April 23 – August 29, 2010

The Smithsonian Institute unveiled a multi-media exhibition entitled Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment.

The exhibit traces the evolution of the Apollo Theater and explores its impact on American history and culture.   Visitors get to see a wide-range of materials including historic photographs, film, recordings, artist interviews and rarely seen artifacts from the Apollo Theater Archive, which is home to nearly 3,000 objects. 

When the exhibit concludes in Washington, it will make the first stop on its national tour at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit in fall 2010.   It will then move to the Museum of the City of New York in winter 2011.  

Michael Jackson's Stage Worn Fedora, Victory Tour, 1984
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Photograph by Shaan Kokin/Julien's Auctions

The co-curators of the exhibit are Tuliza Fleming of the Smithsonian and Guthrie Ramsey Jr., the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Music at the University of Pennsylvania.

Below are just a few of the items on display at the museum:

• James Brown’s cape and jumpsuit—Brown was an Apollo regular even after he reached superstar status.
• Michael Jackson’s fedora—Jackson won Amateur Night in 1967 with the Jackson 5.
• The Supremes’ dresses—The original trio first played the Apollo in 1962 as part of the dazzling Motown Revue.
• Cab Calloway’s baton—Calloway was one of the most popular swing era band leaders.
• Sammy Davis’ childhood tap shoes—Davis first appeared on the Apollo stage in 1947.
• Peg Leg Bates’ peg leg—Despite losing his left leg in an accident at age 12, Bates pursued his dream of tap dancing. By the mid-1930s, he was an Apollo regular.
• Duke Ellington’s score for Black and Tan Fantasy (1927)—The legendary jazz composer and bandleader wrote some of the best-known compositions in American music.
• Ella Fitzgerald’s dress—Fitzgerald made her Amateur Night debut at the age of 17.
• Miles Davis’ flugelhorn—Davis frequently headlined at the Apollo.
• LL Cool J’s jacket and hat—LL Cool J remains one of today’s best-known rappers.
• Celia Cruz’s dress—Known as the Queen of Salsa, Cruz was a symbol of Afro-Cuban music throughout the African diaspora.

Louis Armstrong's Selmer Trumpet, Paris, c. 1930
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

The National Museum of American History is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. in Washington, D.C. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Dec. 25. Admission is free. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu or call (202) 633-1000, (202) 633-5285 (TTY).

APOLLO A-LIST

Need to know what's NEXT at the Apollo? Sign up here for Apollo e-mail updates and you'll be the first to hear about the next great show at the legendary Apollo Theater. Who is on the APOLLO A-LIST? Members, supporters, producers, artists, educators and fans all around the world enjoy regular Apollo updates.

BACK TO THE TOP