Some 600 fans crowded into the Apollo Theater for each of the services that began shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday. The last crowd of fans were in high spirits despite standing in line for hours in the rain.

Apollo historian Billy Mitchell welcomed them by asking, "Who are we here for, family?" The response was a deafening roar: "Michael!"

At the final tribute service, Mitchell told fans: "I don't think we're ever going to get Michael Jackson out of our system. And we shouldn't."

The crowd of fans waved white flags with Jackson's image printed on them, held up photographs of the star at different stages of his career and cheered and danced to his many hits, including "Thriller," and "Billie Jean."

A video tribute resembled home movies, starting with Jackson's cherubic childhood pictures and morphing into clips from his videos.

Reflections of disco light patterns swirled over the crystal chandelier anchored in the centre of the landmark theatre's plaster ceiling.

A black fedora with a white glove draped across its brim sat on a lone stool on the theatre's stage, flanked by arrangements of white lilies.

At one of the services, the Rev. Al Sharpton told fans: "Michael made young men and women all over the world imitate us."

Sharpton led the crowd in a moment of silence at 5:26 p.m., the time East Coast fans learned of Jackson's death.