Entertainment & Religion

Harlem’s long history began in 1658 when it was established by Director Peter Stuyvesant. This neighborhood has experienced many changes that transformed it to what it is today. Harlem attracted people of different backgrounds due to its housing affordability (A Walk Through History). In the 1880’s, a large group of Jewish and Italian immigrants moved into different parts of Harlem. After the Civil War, many African Americans moved North and settled into Harlem for new opportunities. In the early 1910’s, whites began moving out of Harlem, while the African American population (from the South and West Indies) rapidly increased. Then, many Puerto Ricans and Latin Americans migrated into Harlem post the World War (New York City Guide, p. 256).

Harlem became a true melting pot of cultures and traditions in a small, crowded area. Harlem’s community gathered in different areas according to their cultures. The northern part of Harlem became Black Harlem, the eastern side (near the Harlem River) was known as Italian Harlem, and the more south (near Central Park) was Spanish Harlem.

For the Harlemites, religion and entertainment were important activities that were part of their lifestyle. Since Harlem’s property prices were cheap, many churches decided to make the move as a financial opportunity- as well as to follow some of their members that had moved to Harlem. St. Philip’s Protestant Episcopal Church moved in 1914, then Abyssinian Baptist Church followed by settling in 1923. Black churches helped transform the area to Black Harlem as they were able to heavily invest in land and homes. St. Philip P.E. Church was a key player as they were the most “actively engaged” in buying property in Harlem (Osofsky, 115).

On the Italian side, the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, settled in the late 1880s when parishioners built it on East 115th Street. The church started a traditional annual pageant that honored the Lady of Mount Carmel, a saint who was important in the Italian community. The tradition, that involved the whole community, included flags, banners, colored streamers, and even fireworks/firecrackers (Gill, 144). On the Italian/Spanish Harlem area, St. Cecilia was built as a Roman Catholic Church in the 1880s. Fr. Flattery, the founding pastor, died in 1879, then Reverend Flannelly took over and secured the property at 106th Street as the St. Cecilia’s location (St. Cecilia Parish NYC).

Apollo Theater and Teatro Latino both served as entertainment for the community of Harlem in their own ways. During the Harlem Renaissance, the Apollo Theater served as a platform for art expression. Apollo was an integrated theater, meaning that Blacks and Whites could sit together and enjoy performances (Jackson et. al, 574). Teatro Latino offered Spanish-language films for residents looking for cheap but fun entertainment. Apollo Theater became an important venue for Spanish-language drama for the Latin community. Starting in the 1920s, Apollo would host “one-shot works” in Spanish, but then added all-day Sunday shows that included Latin entertainers, such as Ramon Reynado and company (Gill, 265).

For Harlem, religion and entertainment served as a pause from everyday routine and as a distraction from political, social, economic problems the neighborhood faced. Harlem’s mixture of cultures and traditions brought life to the neighborhood. According to the New York City Guide, the racial groups “introduced native flavors into the aging buildings of the district” and proved that a blend of cultures could reside together.

(Bibliography available under the Tour locations).