harlemrenaissance:

An Apollo Hall was founded in the mid-1800s by former Civil War General Edward Ferrero as a dance hall and ballroom. Upon the expiration of his lease in 1872, the building was converted to a theater, which closed shortly before the turn of the century.

However, the name “Apollo Theater” lived on. In 1913^[2] or 1914,^[3] a new building, designed by the architect George Keister,^[4]and who also patterned the First Baptist Church in the City of New York, opened at 253 West 125th Street as Hurtig and Seamon’s New (Burlesque) Theater,^[2] operated by noted burlesque producers Jules Hurtig and Harry Seamon, who obtained a 30-year lease.^[4] It remained in operation until 1928, when Bill Minsky took over.^{[citation needed]} The song “I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful)” by Harry Sullivan and Harry Ruskin, written in 1929, became the theme song of the theater.