The Apollo Theater Educational Resource Guide takes an integrated approach to the history of the Theater, its connection to the Harlem community and its important role in the development of American arts and entertainment, while also considering the connection to and impact of world events at the time. Extension activities to history, English Language Arts and the arts use the past as a jumping off -point for students to consider the times in which they live and the community where they reside and attend school.

The Guide focuses on:

• The Apollo Theater: Its history, performers, influence of American and African American music; its relationship to the Harlem community.
• African American music:  The role that the Apollo Theater played in the development of African American music, arts and entertainment during the 20th century.
• Harlem: How the community has served in the creation of cultural and artistic styles and how it has affected and been affected by the social fabric of national and international influences.

The Resource Guide is based in three general overarching questions:

1. How do the arts reflect cultural identity and social circumstances?
2. What can we learn from the history of the Apollo and the history of neighborhoods like Harlem, where the Apollo is located, about the way in which communities are formed and identified?
3. What can we learn from music, song lyrics, poetry and other forms of arts and entertainment about the events of and the people who live during a particular time or in a particular place?

Excerpts:

• Module 1: The 1930’s
• Module 2: The 1940’s
• Module 3: The 1950’s

The Apollo Theater Educator Resource Guide is currently not available for distribution at this time.