Bobby Schiffman, who guided the Apollo Theater in Harlem through the cultural and musical changes of the 1960s and early ‘70s, cementing its place as a world-renowned showcase for Black music and entertainment, died on Sept. 6 at his home in Boynton Beach, FL. He was 94.

In 1961, Mr. Schiffman inherited the storied Apollo Theater on West 125th Street in Manhattan from his father, Frank Schiffman. During the younger Mr. Schiffman’s tenure, the Apollo served as a launching pad for artists like Smokey Robinson and James Brown, and a hangout for local politicians like Adam Clayton Powell and sports stars like Muhammad Ali.

By the 1970s, Harlem was buffeted by drugs and crime and economic decline, and Mr. Schiffman shuttered the theater. While the Apollo became famous for its stars and spectacle, Mr. Schiffman never forgot its unique role as a center for Harlem life.