Michael Jackson: Fans gathered for memorial at Apollo Theater

Michael Jackson: Fans gathered for memorial at Apollo Theater

Thousands of Michael Jackson fans gave the late pop star a loud  yet respectful send-off during six hours of public memorial services . It was held at Harlem's Apollo Theater.

Sources have thrown light on this news of Michael Jackson. According to them nearly six hundred fans gathered into the Apollo Theater for each of the services that started shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The last crowd of fans were in high spirits in spite standing in line for hours in the rain.

Apollo historian Billy Mitchell welcomed them by saying, "Who are we here for, family?" The response was a deafening roar: "Michael!"

At the final tribute service, Mitchell told fans, "I don't think we're ever going to get Michael Jackson out of our system. And we shouldn't."

The crowd of fans waved white flags with the image of Michael Jackson printed on them, held up photographs of the star at different stages of his career and cheered and danced to his many hits, including "Thriller," and "Billie Jean."

A video tribute resembled home movies by starting with Jackson's cherubic childhood pictures and morphing into clips from his videos.

The reflections of disco light patterns swirled over the crystal chandelier anchored in the center of the landmark theater's plaster ceiling.

A black fedora with a white glove draped across its brim who sat on a lone stool on the theater's stage, flanked by arrangements of white lilies.

At one of the services, the Rev. Al Sharpton told the fans, "Michael made young men and women all over the world imitate us."

Sharpton led the crowd in a moment of silence at 5:26 p.m., the time East Coast fans learned of the death of Michael Jackson.

The film director Spike Lee joined Sharpton on stage and urged the crowd to remember Jackson's accomplishments and not what he characterized as past negative news coverage.

Lee said, "Let's not wallow in the negativity that they're trying to drag us down into. We're not having it," "It's all about the love."

"He knew he was loved, but he didn't know he was this loved," added fifty nine year old  Rosiland Sargent of West Orange, N.J.

At the end of each tribute, fans placed their gifts on the stage. These included balloons, homemade posters, small stuffed teddy bears,  a hand-knitted baby blanket and letters, including one addressed to "The Man who moved like no other."

Fans started assembling at the Apollo soon after Jackson died on Thursday in Los Angeles. His ties to the theater went  back as early as  1967, when The Jackson 5 won the Apollo's Amateur Night contest.

Michael Jackson last appeared at the Apollo in the year 2002, who received invitation by former President Bill Clinton for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser.