Groundbreaking comics joined the Apollo Walk of Fame in a first for the legendary theater.
Richard Pryor, "Moms" Mabley and Redd Foxx become the first non-musical acts ever to be honored.
The ceremony also kicked off the "Apollo Comedy Club" series for up-and-coming comedians.
Pryor's children attended the event on behalf of the late comedian and talked about about the theatre's comedy tradition.
"My dad was ahead of his time, and to perform, he always talked about performing at the Apollo because he felt it was home," said Rain Pryor, Richard Pryor's daughter.
"Whenever I do interviews and talk about comedy and people want to know how it started, it really, really started right here at the Apollo Theater," said Bob Sumner, curator of the Apollo Comedy Club.
The Apollo Comedy Club series will feature three comedians on the first Thursday of each month.