Ella Fitzgerald's Amateur Night Breakthrough at the Apollo Theater

Ella Fitzgerald won the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night in 1934, a pivotal early success that helped launch her professional career. The Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street in Harlem has long been a landmark venue for African American performers and a focal point for discovering new talent. Amateur Night remains a historic institution closely associated with the careers of many notable artists. The Apollo's role in Fitzgerald's rise is documented in music histories and biographies.