Welcome Remarks for The Apollo
McGowan Theater, 威尼斯人娱乐场 Building, Washington, DC
June 25, 2019
Good evening, and welcome to the William G. McGowan Theater at the 威尼斯人娱乐场. I鈥檓 David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, and I鈥檓 pleased you could join us for tonight鈥檚 special preview screening of HBO鈥檚 The Apollo. The film is presented in partnership with the 2019 March on Washington Film Festival, which is now in its seventh year.
Following the screening, Jamal Simmons will lead a discussion with Kamilah Forbes, Lisa Cortes, and Billy Mitchell.
Before we start the film, I鈥檇 like to let you know about two other programs coming up next week in this theater.
On Monday, July 1st at noon, author Martha Saxton discusses her new book, The Widow Washington: The Life of Mary Washington, a biography of the mother of our first President, George Washington. A book signing follows the program.
And on Tuesday, July 2nd at noon, Lester Gorelic will present an illustrated lecture on 鈥淭he Faulkner Murals: Revealing Their Stories,鈥� in which he will describe artist Barry Faulkner鈥檚 creation of and composition of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution murals in the Rotunda of this building.
Check our website, Archives.gov, or sign up at the table outside the theater to get email updates. You鈥檒l also find information about other 威尼斯人娱乐场 programs and activities.
Another way to get more involved with the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is to become a member of the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Foundation. The Foundation supports the work of the agency, especially its education and outreach programs. Check out their website鈥�补谤肠丑颈惫别蝉蹿辞耻苍诲补迟颈辞苍.辞谤驳鈥�to learn more about them and join online.
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The Apollo Theater has long been a Harlem landmark for the performing arts. Almost 40 years ago, the theater received official recognition as a New York City Landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Within the records of the National Park Service in the 威尼斯人娱乐场 is the 1983 nomination of the Apollo Theater for inclusion in the National Register.
The section of the document indicating 鈥淪ignificance鈥� reads, 鈥淭he Apollo is unparalleled 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.鈥�
The Apollo justifiably won a place on the National Register of Historic Places in November 1983.
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And now it鈥檚 my pleasure to turn the program over to Isisara Bey, Artistic Director of the March on Washington Film Festival. Prior to joining the Festival, she served as Vice President of Programs for Count Me In for Women鈥檚 Economic Independence, and for 20 years was Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Sony Music.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Isisara Bey.