Columbia Center for Oral History Portal > Oral history interview with Bobby Schiffman, 2009Biographical NoteOwner and manager of Apollo Theater from 1961 to 1974
Scope and ContentsSon of Frank Schiffman, the Apollo's first owner who established its reputation for great Black music and entertainment; Bobby Schiffman took over the theater in 1961. Describes shift from early vaudeville days under his father through its turn to jazz, R&B and on to rock crossover; maps changes in music industry including power shift to record companies, unprecedented audience numbers and performer's desires to "do it themselves" as analogy for changes in culture more generally. Numerous colorful anecdotes about performers from generous to difficult, Miles Davis to Marvin Gaye. Explains philosophy on music i.e.-whatever brings them in- but also support of and friendship with performers themselves, despite tensions amid growing race consciousness and resentment over long history of whites exploiting Black talent
SubjectsAccess ConditionsCopyright by the Trustees of Columbia University of the City of New York and the Apollo Theater Foundation, 2009
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