# @thirteenwnet on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=Uez8gwbp-RE
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/71620758-thirteenwnet-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3fcd7b4757.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-10-09T20:00:10.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** THIRTEEN (@thirteenwnet) — https://gondola.cc/thirteenwnet

## Caption

Go backstage at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater in 1969 as contestants preaudition and perform at Amateur Night. The Apollo Theater on 125th Street has been associated with the history of Black music and entertainment in New York City since 1934. Beyond featuring top Black singers, musicians and performers, its “Amateur Night” offers aspiring talent a chance to perform before a live audience and compete for recognition at one of Harlem’s most influential cultural institutions.

Featuring star jazz singer Sarah Vaughan – who talks about her win at Amateur Night – and contestants Linda Jones and the Davenport group, this 1969 segment from “Black Journal” documents the excitement, pressure, and anticipation surrounding Amateur Night in Harlem. The Apollo’s stage has been a launching point for many Black performers.

This 1969 "Black Journal" segment, from the THIRTEEN Vault, was part of a monthly series of one-hour interconnected programs produced for, about, and — to a large extent — by Black Americans. The series reports on the achievements, concerns, and the attitudes of the nation’s Black citizens.

The Story of New York. Discover the stories that built New York City from a Dutch trading post into an iconic global powerhouse. The WNET Group explores defining events—from architectural triumphs and the arrival of the Statue of Liberty to the solemn 25th anniversary of 9/11—uncovering local history through rich archives and the extraordinary people who continue to inspire the future of this world hub.

Subscribe to THIRTEEN newsletters to stay informed: https://cloud.email.wnet.org/nyc-20260825?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=storyofnewyork&utm_id=story

#ApolloTheater #AmateurNight #Harlem #SarahVaughan #LindaJones #BlackHistory #BlackMusic #Jazz #NewYork #THIRTEEN #PBS #TheStoryOfNewYork

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THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.

## Stats

- **Views:** 790
- **Likes:** 19
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

lindajones, thestoryofnewyork, jazz, blackmusic, pbs, thirteen, harlem, amateurnight, sarahvaughan, newyork, blackhistory, apollotheater

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