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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Jackson fans celebrate at Apollo | Jackson fans celebrate at Apollo |
| (2 days later) | |
| Thousands of fans queued for hours outside the theatre | Thousands of fans queued for hours outside the theatre |
| By Claire Prentice BBC News, New York | By Claire Prentice BBC News, New York |
| The streets outside New York's legendary Apollo Theater buzzed with the music and memories of Michael Jackson on Tuesday. | The streets outside New York's legendary Apollo Theater buzzed with the music and memories of Michael Jackson on Tuesday. |
| Thousands of fans flocked from all over the globe to pay their respects to the singer who had numerous hits worldwide, including Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It. | Thousands of fans flocked from all over the globe to pay their respects to the singer who had numerous hits worldwide, including Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It. |
| They were there to see film director Spike Lee and the Reverend Al Sharpton kick off a two-day memorial event in honour of the star, who died last Thursday. | They were there to see film director Spike Lee and the Reverend Al Sharpton kick off a two-day memorial event in honour of the star, who died last Thursday. |
| Many fans began queuing before daybreak. They sang, danced and told stories about the man dubbed the "King of Pop" while they waited for the doors to open. | Many fans began queuing before daybreak. They sang, danced and told stories about the man dubbed the "King of Pop" while they waited for the doors to open. |
| They were greeted by Apollo historian Billy Mitchell who asked: "Who are we here for, family?" | They were greeted by Apollo historian Billy Mitchell who asked: "Who are we here for, family?" |
| "Michael," came the deafening response. | "Michael," came the deafening response. |
| Jackson merchandise | Jackson merchandise |
| All along 125th Street, vendors selling Michael Jackson T-shirts, DVDs, CDs, badges, photos and posters were doing brisk business. | All along 125th Street, vendors selling Michael Jackson T-shirts, DVDs, CDs, badges, photos and posters were doing brisk business. |
| Their yelled sales pitches merged with the sound of Michael Jackson's hits, which blared out from ghetto blasters dotted along the pavement. | Their yelled sales pitches merged with the sound of Michael Jackson's hits, which blared out from ghetto blasters dotted along the pavement. |
| Dean Powell had already sold out of hastily printed T-shirts and planned to do without sleep so he could spend the following night printing Jackson bandanas. | Dean Powell had already sold out of hastily printed T-shirts and planned to do without sleep so he could spend the following night printing Jackson bandanas. |
| "Everything is selling like hot cakes," said Mr Powell. | "Everything is selling like hot cakes," said Mr Powell. |
| "I can't print enough of the stuff." | "I can't print enough of the stuff." |
| Local entrepreneurs saw a boom in demand for Jackson merchandise | Local entrepreneurs saw a boom in demand for Jackson merchandise |
| Michael Jackson began his career at the Apollo and so it seemed a fitting place to say farewell. | Michael Jackson began his career at the Apollo and so it seemed a fitting place to say farewell. |
| He first appeared at the fabled Harlem theatre with his brothers as The Jackson Five in 1967, when they won the Apollo's Amateur Night contest. | He first appeared at the fabled Harlem theatre with his brothers as The Jackson Five in 1967, when they won the Apollo's Amateur Night contest. |
| The appearance is credited with launching their career. | The appearance is credited with launching their career. |
| Despite the long wait, the mood on the street on Tuesday was festive, even when the skies opened and the rain began bucketing down. | Despite the long wait, the mood on the street on Tuesday was festive, even when the skies opened and the rain began bucketing down. |
| "We came to pay our respects to Michael," said Junko Kitagawa who had travelled from Tokyo and waited in line for four hours. | "We came to pay our respects to Michael," said Junko Kitagawa who had travelled from Tokyo and waited in line for four hours. |
| Next to her, Sharone Tremain wore a single white glove as a tribute to the star. She had called in sick to her store job and was entertaining the crowds with some impromptu dancing Thriller-style. | Next to her, Sharone Tremain wore a single white glove as a tribute to the star. She had called in sick to her store job and was entertaining the crowds with some impromptu dancing Thriller-style. |
| "I ain't gonna miss this for nobody," said Ms Tremain. "I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I just had to be here to say goodbye." | "I ain't gonna miss this for nobody," said Ms Tremain. "I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. I just had to be here to say goodbye." |
| It was a sentiment echoed by many. | It was a sentiment echoed by many. |
| Party atmosphere | Party atmosphere |
| Inside the auditorium of the Apollo, the mood similarly upbeat. | Inside the auditorium of the Apollo, the mood similarly upbeat. |
| Spike Lee danced on stage to Rockin' Robin and ABC and told the crowd to celebrate Jackson's life and his contribution to African-American culture. | Spike Lee danced on stage to Rockin' Robin and ABC and told the crowd to celebrate Jackson's life and his contribution to African-American culture. |
| "It's all about the love," said Lee to roars from the crowd. | "It's all about the love," said Lee to roars from the crowd. |
| On stage sat a black fedora and a white glove on a stool, bathed in light and surrounded by elaborate arrangements of white lilies. | On stage sat a black fedora and a white glove on a stool, bathed in light and surrounded by elaborate arrangements of white lilies. |
| A huge screen showed a video montage spanning Jackson's musical career. | A huge screen showed a video montage spanning Jackson's musical career. |
| Reverend Al Sharpton and Spike Lee took to the stage | Reverend Al Sharpton and Spike Lee took to the stage |
| Six hundred fans at a time were allowed inside for a series of 45-minute memorial services. | Six hundred fans at a time were allowed inside for a series of 45-minute memorial services. |
| They listened to Jackson's music and lay tribute notes, teddy bears and homemade posters at the foot of the stage where Jackson first performed as a boy. | They listened to Jackson's music and lay tribute notes, teddy bears and homemade posters at the foot of the stage where Jackson first performed as a boy. |
| Some wept. Many sang and danced in the aisles. | Some wept. Many sang and danced in the aisles. |
| Mr Sharpton announced a minute's silence, at 1726 EDT (2226 BST) - the time fans on America's east coast learned of the star's death. | Mr Sharpton announced a minute's silence, at 1726 EDT (2226 BST) - the time fans on America's east coast learned of the star's death. |
| Fans held hands with friends, neighbours and strangers. | Fans held hands with friends, neighbours and strangers. |
| Outside, thousands waited patiently in a queue which snaked all the way up from 125th Street to 132nd Street. | Outside, thousands waited patiently in a queue which snaked all the way up from 125th Street to 132nd Street. |
| Traci Lewin, 22, arrived early in the morning with her friends to make sure she got inside. | Traci Lewin, 22, arrived early in the morning with her friends to make sure she got inside. |
| "It was like a party inside," she said afterwards. | "It was like a party inside," she said afterwards. |
| "Everyone was singing and dancing and screaming, 'go Michael'. | "Everyone was singing and dancing and screaming, 'go Michael'. |
| "When Al Sharpton spoke, it became very quiet and sad." | "When Al Sharpton spoke, it became very quiet and sad." |
| She added: "I still can't quite believe he has died." | She added: "I still can't quite believe he has died." |
| "True Apollo legend" | "True Apollo legend" |
| Fans began converging on the Apollo as soon as news broke of Jackson's death on Thursday. | Fans began converging on the Apollo as soon as news broke of Jackson's death on Thursday. |
| In the days since, thousands have flocked to sign a tribute wall, so thick in signatures that a third, and in some places fourth or fifth, sheet of paper or plastic has been put up. | In the days since, thousands have flocked to sign a tribute wall, so thick in signatures that a third, and in some places fourth or fifth, sheet of paper or plastic has been put up. |
| "He stole America's heart at a very young age," said Abhishek Patel, 23. "He is the king of our generation of music. He influenced so many people." | "He stole America's heart at a very young age," said Abhishek Patel, 23. "He is the king of our generation of music. He influenced so many people." |
| Jackson's famous hat and jewelled glove sat at the front of the stage | Jackson's famous hat and jewelled glove sat at the front of the stage |
| Monica Harley stood in line with her 70-year-old mother. | Monica Harley stood in line with her 70-year-old mother. |
| "He was a genius," she said. | "He was a genius," she said. |
| "He really loved people and that came through in his music. May he rest in peace." | "He really loved people and that came through in his music. May he rest in peace." |
| On Wednesday, the weekly Amateur Night at the Apollo is to be dedicated to Jackson. | On Wednesday, the weekly Amateur Night at the Apollo is to be dedicated to Jackson. |
| The sold-out event will feature a moonwalking competition. | The sold-out event will feature a moonwalking competition. |
| In a statement, Jonelle Procope, president of the Apollo Theater Foundation, said: "We will always remember Michael in our hearts as a true Apollo legend, known for his professionalism and grace. | In a statement, Jonelle Procope, president of the Apollo Theater Foundation, said: "We will always remember Michael in our hearts as a true Apollo legend, known for his professionalism and grace. |
| "Our sympathy goes out to his entire family. He will be deeply missed." | "Our sympathy goes out to his entire family. He will be deeply missed." |
| Michael Jackson last appeared at the Apollo in 2002 at the request of former President Bill Clinton, for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser. | Michael Jackson last appeared at the Apollo in 2002 at the request of former President Bill Clinton, for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser. |