June 1, 1954

Dear Raul,

Since I can't seem to get you on the phone at all these
days, I might as well drop you a note to tell you again
how wonderful I thought your Evening of Negro Playwrights
at the library was! Really excellent indeed! And something
that you might well repeat (for profit) at some of the
Negro colleges and elsewhere next season, I should think.
I've written Arna Bontemps at Fisk about it (where they
recently had Bill Marshall's "Othello" group) and also I
wrote Mrs. Jelliffe how you-all did her and Karamu proud.

Come by and talk to me about it when you have time--
especially I'd like to make a point about "Soul Gene Home"
and have a few other suggestions that might be helpful.
Your talk was very good—but maybe a little long if you
should repeat it. And there were a couple of factual
errors (not serious) only one of which I recall just now:
"BIG WHITE FOG" was not done in New York at the Lafayette,
but at the Lincoln on 135th Street.

Did you ever hear John Mason Brown talk about the theatre?
Your humor reminded me a bit of him. If you've never
heard him, do so sometime. He's most entertaining.

My best to Dick, and phone me when you have a chance.
I'll be away all this weekend out at Lincoln's Centennial
Commencement through the 8th.

Continued good wishes,

30 July 1955

Raoul Abduł
Calle Taxco #5
Col. Vista Hermosa
Cuernavaca, Mor.

Dear Langston:

I hope that you didn't think that we were lost
in the wilds of Mexico, perhaps devoured by some
tropical beast. Well, it isn't so.

We've settled down in an extremely charming
little house in Cuernavaca--two bedrooms, large
living and dining room, full kitchen and bath. No
swimming pool. The house with a maid costs us
around $64 per month.

Fortunately, for Dick, we are just outside of
the Central area; so, it's quiet and there are no
houses within an acre or two. He has begun a writing
schedule which I hope will not be broken.

I've been a little sick--a whole week of intense
pain in my face first diagnosed as Neuritis, found to
be an abcess tooth. At last, some relief. So I
have done very little of anything.

Last night we went to a party (our first) in
Mexico City where everyone you met was introduced
as Mexico's best architect, best movie producer,
best everything--even a Princess (Polish)--so many
bests we both got a little tired of the works and
left.

The Katherine Dunham troop has been here for
some time and we've enjoyed many moments with them
during their off hours. They have not been especially
successful, the discerning viewers are unmoved by
their dancing. Same dances they play in the States.

We met Willard Motley, who has a lovely house,
and who greeted us warmly.

Why don't you come down?

August 17, 1955

Dear Raoul:

It was certainly nice to hear that you and
Dick are enjoying Mexico so much. A friend
of mine, a photographer, Marion Palfi, and
her husband have just returned from there
and came by to see me yesterday afternoon.
It was their first trip to Mexico and they
were so entranced with the country that they
want to go back again and again.

When are you planning to return to New York?
When you do please come by and tell me all
about the trip.

My very best regards to you and Dick.

P. S. My very best regards to Willard Motley
if you should see him again.

Senor Raoul Abdul
Calle Taxco # 5
Col. Vista Hermosa
Cuernavaca, Mor. Mexico

Abdul
256 West 73 Street
N.YC.

AN
ST

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 120 Street
New York City

December 15, 1955

Dear Mrs. Hughes:

I've just finished reading and viewing "The Sweet Fly Paper of Life" and all I can say is what a wonderful, wonderful book!

And it came at a perfect time of the year - my Christmas gift problem is solved.

I hope that you have completed that biography that you were scheduled to give your publisher. And that all is well with you.

There are a couple of projects in the offing that I'd like to discuss with you, so I hope we can get together soon.

By the way, we heard the new cycle by Irving Mopper at Carol Brice's recital - an excellent work, I think.

New Address:
256 West 73 Street
NYC

8

February 10, 1957

Mr. Raul Abdul,
c/o Fred Thomas,
250 West 47th St.,
New York City.

Dear Raul:

Are you free to do some part-time typing? If so, call me up any late afternoon: AT. 9-6559. I've tried your phone several times and found no one in.

I'm busy with Negro History Week talks right through now.

Langston Hughes

May 21, 1957

Dear Mr. Hughes:

You have written such a wonderful play full
of rich humour, very touching at times, very
funny at times and always very simple and honest.

I just can't imagine it being anything else
but a success.

Please know that my very best wishes go with
you tonight.

RA: 1

13

coffee concerts

237 east 60th street
new york 22, n. y.

GRA

RAL

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 E. 127th Street
New York 27, N.Y.

coffee concerts

237 east 60th street

new york 22, n. y.

GRAND

STA

Mr Langston Hughes

20 East 127 Street

New York City

COFFEE CONCERTS

237 East 60 Street
New York City

Dear Subscriber,

Our concluding program, next Friday evening (February 20), features Betty Allen, described by the World Telegram & Sun as "the most sumptuously gifted mezzo soprano in America today" together with a group of four outstanding instrumentalists in an extraordinary program of music by Bach, Handel, Franz and Ravel.

With the end of our first season close at hand, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your part in making Coffee Concerts a reality.

From the many kind letters and comments of our subscribers and the editorial comment in our community papers, it is clear that we had a genuine artistic success.

But we did not sell out our season subscriptions and unfortunately we are now confronted with a small deficit. Rather than solicit contributions from our friends who have already supported the project by their subscriptions, we are asking each of you to purchase an additional ticket for the final program to give (or sell) to a friend. Single tickets at $2.00 may be obtained at the concert or reserved in advance by phoning me at TE 2-8293.

I am especially anxious to see all of our subscribers at the closing program so that we can talk over together at the coffee hour plans and suggestions for the next season of Coffee Concerts.

With all best wishes.

LENOX -
STAT.

Langston Hughes, Esq.
20 East 127 Street
New York 35, New York

(2)

coffee concerts

237 east 60th street
new york 22, n. y.
te 2-8293

March 1, 1959

Dear Mr. Hughes,

It is hardly necessary for me to send
you the usual form letter we are sending the Board
of Advisors. So, I am just sending you a copy of
the SUMMARY OF INCOME AND EXPENSES which shows the
financial state of affairs.

I really appreciate your having lent
your name to the project and all the extra things
you have done to encourage us, particularly the
column in the Defender.

You will be happy to know that we <u>do</u>
plan to continue because the series fulfills a
definite need in the community.

I hope that you will be with us next
season.

Encl.

advisory committee:

margaret bonds hall johnson
nora holt john h. johnson
langston hughes c. cameron white

raoul abdul, director

27

coffee concerts

678 st. nicholas avenue
new york 30

GRAND C
STAT

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127 Street
New York 35, New York