got a chance to perform here. >> melba moore! ," the tv version of amateur night. >> okay, nancy, i've got to show you something. >> yeah. >> reporter: moore says this theater is something to be treasured. >> this is the very famous signature wall. >> oh, my god! i'm here. okay. let me find me. oh, here i am. there. look at that. wow. >> love, melba moore. aw. >> and this, that's prince. >> get real. >> reporter: tonight the apollo theater is awarded a prestigious kennedy center honor at a ceremony that we'll see later this month on cbs. >> this is the magic of art. the power of art. >> reporter: michelle ebanks, the president and ceo of the theater, says it's the first time an institution and not a person has received such recognition. >> the idea of the apollo opened up this whole just universe so everyone could see this is american culture too. ♪ erican culture too. >> reporter: this is also the year the theater begins its 90th season. and to smokey robinson the apollo is still a force to be reckoned with. >> you know, it's the

got a chance to perform here. >> melba moore! ime at the apollo," the tv version of amateur night. >> i've got to show you something. >> reporter: moore said this theater is something to be treasured. >> this is a very famous signature wall. >> reporter: oh, my god. >> i'm here. okay, let me find me. here i am. >> reporter: look at that! wow. love melba moore. and this -- >> that's prince. >> i'm in there with prince. >> reporter: tonight the apollo theater is awarded a prestigious kennedy center honor at a ceremony that we'll see later this month on cbs. >> this is the manual beginning of art, the power of the art. >> reporter: michelle ebanks says this is the first time an institution, not a person, has received such a recognition. >> the idea of the apollo opened up this whole just universe so everyone could see. this is american culture, too. ♪ >> reporter: this is also the year the theater begins its 90th season, and to smokey robinson, the apollo is still a force to be reckoned with. >> you know, it's the beginning. it's the