#10978 • James Brown Apollo Notes (Others in Smithsonian)

Part of A-List Celebrity & Icons Memorabilia Auction (timed auction by GWS Auctions)

Starting at $1.00

Status: No sale

Est. $40,000-$50,000 James Brown Apollo Theater Show Notes in Museum Quality Framed Presentation (Only Others Known in Existance in Archives Center of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History) - This amazing piece contains (4) note cards with show notes from James Brown & The Flames performances at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. The notes begin on 12/11/1959, and end on 10/25-30/1974. The Apollo Theater was ran by the Schiffman family from 1934 to 1976, and In 1946, Frank Schiffman began keeping 5"x 8" index cards on each and every act he hired. It is said that there are some 1200 of these cards, including acts such as Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Berry, Diana Ross, and others. These show notes have never been previously offered at auction, as the only others known in existance are in the "Frank Schiffman Apollo Theatre Collection" in the Archives Center of the Smithsonian?s National Museum of American History. Each card lists the opening night of the booking (most bookings were for one week), the amount each was act was paid, and most interesting of all, Schiffman?s pithy comments on the act?s drawing power, polish, affordability, freshness or staleness, reception, attitude, and cooperativeness with management. All the comments are typewritten, making the cards completely legible and easy to read. The cards have notes such as "Has strange ideas for presenting himself but goes well with audience. Has improved in the costume department", "collapsed sat. midnight but continued performance", and "the usual dynamo, watered down a bit by lack of business plus tendency to over talk. Understandable but his people come to hear him sing and see him dance." This is a stunning chance to own a piece of American history, that truly belongs in a museum, as few American stages have produced as many music and comedic legends as Harlem?s landmark Apollo Theater. The cards are beautifully presented in a museum quality presentation, with a burgundy matting and textured wooden frame with gilt gold accents. The presentation also has a black and white photo of the Apollo marquee, as well as a gold toned plaque that reads, "James Brown at The Apollo Theater". The presentation measures 47"L x 21.5"W. Please see the following article about the collection in the Smithsonian: http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/2010/08/the-apollo-theater-its-in-the-cards.html