The Hyperion Club was the brainchild of a pair of local Harlem businessmen. Looking to capitalize on the boom of the Roaring ‘20s and on the local Harlem Renaissance, the duo were interested in building a hall for music. Owing to their own diverse origins, both men pledged that the theater would not be segregated, unlike many other halls and theaters of the time. The theater opened in 1922 to immediate success, and quickly became a local hotspot. Its main theater boasted a 1,200-seat capacity, while its secondary theater boasted 400 seats.