--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once, when we were playing at the Apollo…" description: "\"Once, when we were playing at the Apollo Theater, Holiday was working a block away at the Harlem Opera House. Some of us went over between shows to cat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/ella-fitzgerald-13294_apollo_once-when-we-were-playing-at-the-apollo_968547.jpg" --- # Once, when we were playing at the Apollo Theater, Holiday… ![“Once, when we were playing at the Apollo Theater, Holiday was working a block away at the Harlem Opera House. Some of us went over between shows to catch her, and afterwards we went backstage. I did something then, and I still don't know if it was the right thing to do—I asked her for her autograph.” quote by Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/ella-fitzgerald-13294_apollo_once-when-we-were-playing-at-the-apollo_968547.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/ella-fitzgerald-13294_apollo_once-when-we-were-playing-at-the-apollo_968547.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/ella-fitzgerald-13294_apollo_once-when-we-were-playing-at-the-apollo_968547.jpg) > “Once, when we were playing at the Apollo Theater, Holiday was working a block away at the Harlem Opera House. Some of us went over between shows to catch her, and afterwards we went backstage. I did something then, and I still don't know if it was the right thing to do—I asked her for her autograph.” [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recounts a personal anecdote about meeting Billie Holiday and asking for an autograph, reflecting on uncertainty of propriety. **In simple terms:** She asked Billie Holiday for an autograph, unsure if it was appropriate. Key Takeaway Reflect on the ethics of seeking personal mementos from public figures. Themes music celebrity ethics Mood nostalgic contemplative Type anecdotal reflective When to use this quote - concerts - backstage encounters - collecting memorabilia Key Concepts personal boundaries celebration historical memory Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to seek tangible connections with icons? - How do you balance admiration with respect for privacy? A Different Perspective The act may be seen as intrusive or exploitative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Backstage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backstage/) [Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem/) [Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiday/) [Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera/) [Opera house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera-house/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) ## Related quotes > [Recently, I went up to Casino Rama to see Martin Short's show, just to see how he put it all together. And after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-stratus/recently-i-went-up-to-casino-rama-to-see-martin-short-s-show-just-to/) [Trish Stratus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-stratus/) > [A couple of years ago, I went to see a production of Wicked in San Francisco with a friend of mine, one that Patty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/a-couple-of-years-ago-i-went-to-see-a-production-of-wicked-in-san/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [We heard about people who went backstage at dog shows with scissors and cut parts of a poodle's hair off to sabotage the dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/we-heard-about-people-who-went-backstage-at-dog-shows-with-scissors/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [When I was on 'The View,' I went backstage to Whoopi Goldberg's dressing room, and she told me, 'People are going to love what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/when-i-was-on-the-view-i-went-backstage-to-whoopi-goldberg-s-dressing/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [“What is a play? A public holiday? A lesson? A pastime? In the first place it might seem that a play ought to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jarry/what-is-a-play-a-public-holiday-a-lesson-a-pastime-in-the-first-place/) [Alfred Jarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jarry/) > [I got my Equity card from an audition out of Backstage. We did 'Guys and Dolls' and 'Kismet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-mcginley/i-got-my-equity-card-from-an-audition-out-of-backstage-we-did-guys/) [John C. McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-mcginley/) > [When we were at the Apollo, Holiday was a block away. I asked her for her autograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/when-we-were-at-the-apollo-holiday-was-a-block-away-i-asked-her-for/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [I say to the young blokes, when you get asked for an autograph, don't knock it back because there'll be a time where no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kenny/i-say-to-the-young-blokes-when-you-get-asked-for-an-autograph-don-t/) Brett Kenny > [When I was first asked for an autograph, I felt so uncomfortable that I just wrote, 'Tig's Autograph,' and from then on, that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-was-first-asked-for-an-autograph-i-felt-so-uncomfortable-that/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I was shocked when four Arlington girls at a track meet this spring asked me for my autograph. I told them, 'Don't think I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/i-was-shocked-when-four-arlington-girls-at-a-track-meet-this-spring/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [To be honest, I still feel like I haven't scratched the surface of where I want to be. If someone asked me for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/to-be-honest-i-still-feel-like-i-haven-t-scratched-the-surface-of/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [I was with a famous comedian when a young fan walked up and asked for an autograph. The comedian blew him off. I'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/i-was-with-a-famous-comedian-when-a-young-fan-walked-up-and-asked-for/) [Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/) > [The first time someone asked us for an autograph was the moment we realized we were doing something that most people spend their teenage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/the-first-time-someone-asked-us-for-an-autograph-was-the-moment-we/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [One time I was actually at the Grammys and a girl came up to me and asked for my autograph. And then she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/one-time-i-was-actually-at-the-grammys-and-a-girl-came-up-to-me-and/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) ## More by Ella Fitzgerald > [It isn't where you came from, its where you're going that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/it-isn-t-where-you-came-from-its-where-you-re-going-that-counts/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [The fabulous places I've been, wonderful things that've happened, great people I've met ought to make a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/the-fabulous-places-i-ve-been-wonderful-things-that-ve-happened-great/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [One of these mornings youre goin to rise up singing. Then youll spread your wings and youll take the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/one-of-these-mornings-youre-goin-to-rise-up-singing-then-youll-spread/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [Ella knows her way around her voice as very few people today. But there are times when she seems to be unaware there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/ella-knows-her-way-around-her-voice-as-very-few-people-today-but/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [Ome kids in Italy call me 'Mama Jazz; I thought that was so cute. As long as they don't call me 'Grandma Jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/ome-kids-in-italy-call-me-mama-jazz-i-thought-that-was-so-cute-as/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [Music is the universal language ... it brings people closer together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/music-is-the-universal-language-it-brings-people-closer-together/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [I will pour into that one note. All the love I feel for you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/i-will-pour-into-that-one-note-all-the-love-i-feel-for-you/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [I guess what everyone wants more than anything else is to be loved. And to know that you loved me for my singing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/i-guess-what-everyone-wants-more-than-anything-else-is-to-be-loved/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [“Won't you tell him please to put on some speed, follow my lead, oh how I need, someone to watch over me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/won-t-you-tell-him-please-to-put-on-some-speed-follow-my-lead-oh-how/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [ Nobody else even approaches the trumpet like \[Sweets Edison\] does: Never too much and always plenty. He's the greatest trumpet player to play along… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/nobody-else-even-approaches-the-trumpet-like-sweets-edison-does-never/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [“I have been rich, and I have been poor. Believe me baby, rich is better!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/i-have-been-rich-and-i-have-been-poor-believe-me-baby-rich-is-better/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/just-don-t-give-up-trying-to-do-what-you-really-want-to-do-where/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/just-don-t-give-up-trying-to-do-what-you-really-want-to-do/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [I think I do better when I sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/i-think-i-do-better-when-i-sing/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [I have used up all the scale I know and at the end I've come to nothing. I mean nothing So I come back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/i-have-used-up-all-the-scale-i-know-and-at-the-end-i-ve-come-to/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 51 Ella Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) ## More Apollo quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Kennedy had made a mess in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. He had to do something to look good. 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Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I think if you were between maybe 6 and 16, there was nothing like Apollo, and I wonder if there can be something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/i-think-if-you-were-between-maybe-6-and-16-there-was-nothing-like/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [Apollo was a big, unwieldy vehicle. I had a problem with the flight controllers over that. It would try to fare its way like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/apollo-was-a-big-unwieldy-vehicle-i-had-a-problem-with-the-flight/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [I used to be a street performer, and performances on Venice Beach, it's like playing the Apollo: They let you know if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/i-used-to-be-a-street-performer-and-performances-on-venice-beach-it-s/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [I owe much of my success to Seann Walsh. He kept recommending me for Live At The Apollo until eventually the producers offered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-owe-much-of-my-success-to-seann-walsh-he-kept-recommending-me-for/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [A typical smart phone has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed a man on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/a-typical-smart-phone-has-more-computing-power-than-apollo-11-when-it/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? 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Cooper Jr > [“He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-saw-her-eyes-bright-as-stars-he-saw-her-lips-and-was-not-satisfied/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Among the gods, there is a dispute as to which one of them originally thought of Christianity; or, as they call it, the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/among-the-gods-there-is-a-dispute-as-to-which-one-of-them-originally/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) [Browse all 382 Apollo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once, when we were playing at the Apollo Theater, Holiday was working a block away at the Harlem Opera House. Some of us went over between shows to catch her, and afterwards we went backstage. 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