Jun 30, 2009 11:51 am US/Pacific
Thousands Gather At Apollo To Honor King Of Pop
Fans Flock To Famous Harlem Theater For Public Memorial
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A Michael Jackson imitator displays the moonwalk outside the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Thousands have gathered outside the famous New York City theater to honor the King of Pop.
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images
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Minders escort the veiled children of Michael Jackson as they visit the Berlin zoo November 20, 2002, in Berlin, Germany.
Sadek Hamaiel/Getty Images
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Joe Jackson (R), the father of Michael Jackson, and the Rev. Al Sharpton speak at a news conference in front of the Jackson family compound in Encino, Calif., on June 29, 2009.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
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Singer Michael Jackson appears at the balcony of the Adlon Hotel with an unidentified child November 19, 2002, in Berlin, Germany.
Olaf Selchow/Getty Images
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Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, leaves the Jackson family compound in Encino, California on June 29, 2009.
Robyn Beck/Getty Images
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Fans are paying tribute to Michael Jackson at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater, CBS station WCBS-TV reports. More than 40 years ago, the Jackson Five launched their career at the venue.
Thousands lined up along West 125th Street Tuesday with many adorned in large black sunglasses and fedora hats while dressed in multicolored sequined vests.
The memorial featured a eulogy by the Rev. Al Sharpton and a moment of silence at 5:26 p.m., the time East Coast fans learned that Jackson had died.
Shenia Rudolph, a fan from the Bronx, joined many who have been waiting for more than 12 hours outside the theater just to honor the King of Pop.
"He has made history. He is a legend in our own times," Rudolph says. "As from now, he is going to be remembered from here till tomorrow."
Many brought beloved scrapbooks and memorabilia while some were decked out in Jackson attire.
Elizabeth, N.J. resident Jasmine Silvestro is one of many to dress like the King of Pop.
"He has inspired me to be who I am today. He is phenomenal and he will always be in our hearts," Silvestro said.
Victoria Campomanes traveled from Vermont to pay tribute to Jackson and performed the moonwalk for all of her fellow fans.
"I just watched him and slowed down the film. I mean it's really just watching," Campomanes says.
Campomanes wore black high-water pants, black jacket, and a black fedora with the shiny, snow white shoes that Jackson wore in the Billie Jean music video.
"He was really inspirational to me. I'm into singing because of him and just the things he went through really helped me in some of the things I went through," Campomanes said.
Apollo ambassador Billy Mitchell was there that magical night in 1967 when the Jackson Five first performed at amateur night.
"To see young kids with that type of stage presence and that type of choreography, people would be able to come express their love for Michael," Mitchell says. "They'll be able to leave their memorabilia on the Apollo stage because, after all, this is where their career started."
Jackson was last at the Apollo in 2002 when former President Bill Clinton invited him for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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