Located on Norfolk’s historic Church Street, one of the oldest thoroughfares in the city, the Attucks Theatre was originally known as the “Apollo of the South.”
Designed by African-American architect Harvey Johnson, the theatre opened in 1919, and showcased a host of legendary performers such as Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Mamie Smith, Nat King Cole, and Redd Foxx. The Attucks Theatre is named in honor of African-American Crispus Attucks, the first American patriot to lose his life in the 1770 Boston Massacre. For 34 years, the theatre remained a vibrant performing arts facility, but ceased functioning in 1953. In 1977, the United States Congress deemed The Attucks Theatre a National Historic Landmark, and after a restoration period of three years, the theatre was reopened in 2004 by a partnership between the City of Norfolk’s Department of Cultural Facilities and the Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, Inc.
On August 8, 2020, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented WHRO Public Media’s talented team of producers an Emmy® Award Award for their work on the documentary, The Historic Attucks Theater: Apollo of the South. One of Hampton Roads’ most beloved treasures, the legendary Attucks Theatre celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2019. Commissioned by the City of Norfolk and produced by WHRO, The Historic Attucks Theater: Apollo of the South premiered at the Attucks Theatre in February 2019 to rave reviews and subsequent airings on WHRO TV. It was produced with support from major contributors including the Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk State University, the City of Norfolk and SevenVenues.
