coffee concerts

678 st. nicholas avenue
new york 30
au 1-4200

August 17, 1959

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Thanks for becoming a SPONSOR.

Here is your receipt and ticket will follow when
the printing is done.

directors: raoul abdul & theodore r. stent m.d.

samuel l. m. barlow      langston hughes
margaret bonds         hall johnson
oliver daniel         dr. john h. johnson
nora holt            c. cameron white

harold jackman, subscription chairman

29

coffee concerts

GRAND CENTRAL

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

30

coffee concerts

August 30, 1959

Dear Mr. Hughes,

As you know, I plan to be in Europe, leaving on
Thursday evening on the BREMEN.

Would you please address all correspondance to
Coffee Concerts to Dr. Theodore R. Stent at the
above address.

Thanks much.

P.S. His home address is 676 Riverside Drive
and the phone number is TO 2-7526.

margaret bonds hall johnson

nora holt c. cameron white

12 OKTOBER 1959

Dear Mr. Hughes, et al,

Please forgive my long silence--a new development which has carried
over into my speech, too, because I find it somewhat painful to
communicate in German fast enough--but I have been very busy trying
to get organized in Vienna. This is very difficult because the
Viennese surely must be a direct descendent from the Negroes in
Amerika. Nothing is ever done on time or on schedule.

I arrived here on a nice sunny afternoon to be greeted by a charming
sight in a window of a candy store--a little black baby sitting on
a banana titled "Neger im Shiffe." I toyed with idea of sending you
one, but I was afraid it might melt.

But, now I am happily settled in a two-room studio in the home of a
very friendly family, the Radovonovics. Mutti, pappi und Tochter
(the latter about my age). I have to wash in COLD water daily, but
they do have a hot water tank over the bathtub which must be lit
a half hour before time. So, I bath once a week, in true Viennese
style. They are very funny people (the Viennese) in that they clean
and polish everything all day long--everything but themselves.

Today is my final Prüfung (audition). This is for the Vocalschule
which is separate from the Liedschule, which I am now happily enrolled
in. The tuition is so very low--about $40 per semester for full-time
first year college course. So, when I return, I will have completed
my first year of college.

I have already developed a small circle of friends which includes only
one American--a pianist from New York. This is very good for the
Speech and I am learning to communicate quickly.

One is deeply impressed by the great respect that European students
have for the Professor, something we have forgotten in Amerika.

Most of the Amerikan students speak almost no German which is very
comical in the Lectures. But, the school offers a satisfactory
elementary course free, in the German language.

I saw Muriel Rahn in a little restaurant under the Opera recently and
she sends her love to Mr and Mrs Harper as well as you. She is looking
forward to THE BARRIER, and her Grand Return to Amerika.

At first I tried to seek out some of the Negroes here, but I've made
so many mistakes by walking up to people and speaking English only to
find out that they are Afrikan or who knows what and speak only
German. So, I've given up.

Please let me know how the whole family is: Mr & Mrs Harper, George,
Signi and my rubber plant.

NOTE: This letter is for the entire family. Postage is very high.

For Langston Hughes

WIEN

A selection of exerpts from the critiques of "Negro Melodies," a program of songs and poems of the American Negro, which played from May 18-24 to sold out houses in Theater im Zentrum in Vienna, Austria.

Neues Österreich: (May 20, 1962)

"A poetically rich folks sermon about "The Creation" (the translations were of high quality) and Hughes' dark rolling verse "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" were the shining moments of the spoken section........." F.K.

Express: (May 21, 1962)

"Besides there are some magical poems by Langston Hughes..." (G.O.)

Wiener Zeitung: (May 20, 1962)

"....the deepest impression was made by a folk sermon about the "Creation" with its child-like poetry and Langston Hughes' darkly beautiful poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." p.s.

Österreichische Neue Tageszeitung: (May 20, 1962)

"As especially valuable one can sight the wonderfully beautiful poems of Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen and a naive, moving folk sermon." r.z.

About Raoul Abdul:

Neues Österreich: "The elegant dark-skinned baritone Raoul Abdul....intensive feeling..."

Express: "A soft, not too large baritone."

Wiener Zeitung: "The baritone Raoul Abdul possesses as well as his fine, well-handled voice, a rich knowledge of the history of American Negro music and literature which he acquired as assistant to the famous Negro writer Langston Hughes."

Das Kleine Volksblatt: "Raoul Abdul offers his lovely timbered baritone to help make the evening a success."

Volkstimme: "...Raoul Abdul, who uses a trained and controlled baritone..."

Österreichische Neue Tageszeitung: "His attractive, cultivated baritone contrasted well to the full, dark soprano of his colleague Gwendolyn Sims...."

WIEN

Kurier

Monday, May 21, 1962

Roots as Candied Fruit
"Zentrum": "Negro Melodies",
A Matinee Program at Evening

Do you like porridge, honey rolls and cocoa? Of course.
But not as an evening meal? Of course not. Just as
little as one likes morning exercises at evening.

Typical matinee character had "Negermelodie," that short,
but interesting, but somewhat too missionary program that
two colored and two white young artists offer each evening
in Theater im Zentrum: Spirituals, Songs and Poems from
slavery times to modern. From the roots of jazz at the
time when the blues were still in a distant part of the
earth, to art songs of a more complicated type.

The artists are Gwendolyn Sims, an attractive girl in a
torquoise evening dress who is an Oberlin and Mozarteum
student with a somewhat hard, but still developing
soprano; Raoul Abdul, who offers his knowledge of folklore,
his small high baritone and simple guitar playing; the
British pianist Brian Lamport, a graduate of the Vienna
Academy with a fine-nerved discreat touch. And Gerald
Florian Messner from the Volkstheater (Recitation), whom
the difficult modern "black" lyrics suited him less than the
somewhat naive and simple poetic Negro version of the
Genesis.

Most of the material offered was already well known.
Through a not understandable night club type lighting,
and through the efforts of the sympathetic young people
to give out folkloristic simplicity as art at any price,
the whole friendly received thing worked somewhat
unnaturally.

The roots of jazz as spicy, candied fruit. (RUK).

18. September 1962

Dear Uncle Langston,

I shall be returning to New York on the 3rd of
Oktober with the MAASDAM (Holland-Amerika) and
would enjoy hearing from you either that evening
(as late as you please) at TE 2-8293.

Thanks so much for the highly interesting book
on the NAACP which I have already begun and will
finish on the train to Rotterdam.

Love to Aunt Toy and Uncle Emerson.

RAOUL: One to each of poets marked in red X.

SINGLE SPACE----carbons on first six, please

May 4, 1964

Dear Robert Abrahams:

In honor of NEW NEGRO POETS: U. S. A.
eighteen
and the poets included therein who reside in
afternoon,
the New York area, on Sunday, May 24, 1964,
from 5 to 7 the Market Place Gallery at 248
West 139th Street will hold an autographing
party at which the book will be sold. Please
let us know if you can be present to greet
your public, 500 volumes
NEGRO POETS and sign your books for purchasers.
We very much hope that you will be able to
come. If you will let me know how many

invitations you would like to have to send your
relatives and personal
NEGRO POETS friends, please come and sign your
posters to
they will be sent to you soon. I look forward
with pleasure to seeing you then.

With cordial regards,

May 5th 1964

Dear James A. Emanuel:

In honor of NEW NEGRO POETS: U. S. A., and the eighteen poets included therein who reside in the New York area, on Sunday afternoon, May 24th from 5 to 7, the Market Place Gallery at 248 West 138th Street will hold an autographing party at which the book will be sold. Please let us know if you can be present to greet your public, read a couple of your poems, and sign volumes for purchasers. We very much hope that you will be able to come. If you will let me know how many invitations you would like to have to send to relatives and personal friends, they will be posted to you soon. I look forward with pleasure to seeing you then.

<table><tr><td>CLASS OF SERVICE</td></tr><tr><td>This is a fast message</td></tr><tr><td>unless its deferred char-</td></tr><tr><td>acter is indicated by the</td></tr><tr><td>proper symbol.</td></tr></table>

WESTERN UNION
TELEGRAM

W. P. MARSHALL, PRESIDENT

1201 (4-60)

<table><tr><td colspan="2">SYMBOLS</td></tr><tr><td>DL</td><td>= Day Letter</td></tr><tr><td>NL</td><td>= Night Letter</td></tr><tr><td>LT</td><td>= International Letter Telegram</td></tr></table>

The filing time shown in the date line on domestic telegrams is LOCAL TIME at point of origin. Time of receipt is LOCAL TIME at point of destination

HBA024 NBA127

= (43) =

1964 MAR 28 PM 1 59

CDU360 =DH NEW YORK NY 28 =

RAOUL ABDUL CARE LANGSTON HUGHES =
20 EAST 127TH ST NYK =

YOUR CABLE SENT OVER THE PHONE MARCH 27TH (LJ2091)
TO LANGSTON =HUGHES EL CONVENTO HOTEL SANJUANPR
UNDELIVERED ADDS SEE CHECKOUT =BEFORE RECEIPT
OF THE CABLE PRESENT ADDRESS UNKNOWN =

WESTERN UNION INTERNATIONAL INC NEW YORK NY

THE COMPANY WILL APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE

September 20, 1964

To whom it may concern:

Raoul Abdul is at present employed by me as an editorial assistant and secretary. I have known him for over ten years and I find him to be an intelligent, efficient and honest young man.

RAOUL ABDUL - RAHIM

237 EAST 60 STREET
NEW YORK 22, N. Y.

56

January 31, 1965

Dear Mr. Hughes,

Thank you for your nice telegram
with good wishes for our Carnegie
Recital Hall concert of last
Friday evening. Knowing that we
have well-wishers among our close
friends give us the courage to
"keep rolling along."

(For Raoul, Toni & Larry)

57

LANGSTON HUGHES

20 EAST 127TH STREET
NEW YORK 35, N. Y.

May 30th 1965

Dear Mr. H----:

Enclosed are additional clipping regarding
the show. I mailed the original ones on
Friday right after the opening, being told
by the post office that they would not arrive
in Paris until at least Monday but more
likely Tuesday.

Thanks for the postcard.

My TV show came off last Thursday evening
and, according to the producers and the
station owners, it was extraordinary. The
director was from Channel 13 and he really
worked with us and did imaginative things.
All the papers listed it as "Today's High-
light" so we had good publicity. We were
invited for a re-appearance.

George's scripts have proven unsuitable for
the Negro Builder's series, so they are
looking for someone else.

Sandra has continued typing the short
stories and I have paid her out of my
check. Now, I am almost broke. Please
send $50.00 so I can continue to eat!!!

Edith Wilson blew in.

GOSSIP:

Langston Mickens was married on April 13th.

Mr. Robert Cooper died on April 1st.

Address: Mrs. Ida Cooper
615 West 145 Street
New York 31, N. Y.

Sid Walters is suing Stella for over 1500.00 and it looks as if arbitration will let him have it!

No SIMPLE at the Mews because of no money.

Josh Shelley would not direct it, nor

Ossie Davis because it's too uncle tom!

4. July 1966

Dear L. H.:

Now, to bring you up to date. The Harpers are
fine, Lindsay is back and on his high horse
because of his tremendous social success at
MacDowell, and I received a full tuition, full
expense scholarship to participate in a Seminar
in the Performance of Chamber Music at HARVARD,
not Howard! This means I shall be out of New
York until August 26th. I arranged with Lindsay
that he would be available to work in my place
during this period. I hope this will not in-
convince you too much, but it is a rare
opportunity. By the way, George got his full
tuition scholarship to Yale for the fall.

The following bills were paid by me by your
recent checks:

Check No. 6464 - $ 25.12 -Exchange Typewriter

Check No. 6464 - $ 25.12 -Exchange Typewriter
6465 - 34.63 -Telephone Co.
6466 - 37.55 -Affiliated Answering
6467 - 50.93 -Yale University
6468 - 166.45 -American Express Co.
(They were all made out and sent on June 20th.)

Do have a wonderful time in Paris and with Mme
Baker and a safe trip home. Thanks for the
lovely cards with attractive stamps, and I'll
see you soon.

Before breakfast, October 11, 1966

DEAR L.H.-----

Push came to shove so I just got up early and came up
here to do some work on my piece for Lindsay (8:30a.m.
no less). Jack Aistrop from BBC called up around 10a.m.
and said that he had invited you to a cocktail party
today at 5:30p.m. at BBC offices at, which the whole
cast of THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE will be present,
plus Robert Lasty (London's biggest publishing firm
head and on board of BBC) and the president of
American Heritage. So, do you want to attend. Call
him, please. Meanwhile, I must leave at 11:30a.m. to
return at 1:00p.m. because I have a lesson with Mr.
Tinayre. Cheers! Top of the morning to you! And,
"where's my money?"---today's payday!!!!!!

RAOUL!

Oh, yes, the Electrician is coming at 1p.m., too!
I told you that one could find reliable dealers if
one only looked in the phone book!

a C a

associated concert artists

237 East 60 Street/New York, N. Y. 10022/TE 2-8293

Sunday

Dear L. H.:

What preceeded the opening of your "gospel song-play" THE PRODIGAL SON is so complicated and unbelievable that I shall not try to describe in a letter what happened. But, as you read in the reviews, it was a tremendous success. About all that is left of your script is the _Exhortation_ and _your_ songs, otherwise, pure Vinnette Carroll!

The other songs are almost _all_ new. And, so----on to JERICO on TV. It was excellent as you can see from this review. So well bridged was the scene, that FREEDOM LAND was not missed. Otherwise, than show-wise, all is well, too.

(68)

LANGSTON HUGHES

Today---May 6th, I think!

Dear L. H.:

All is well here at the house and your
cards have been a welcome sight when
they've come. Georgia Douglas Johnson
died at the age of 86. You knew that
Robert Cooper died, I suppose. The
weather here has just begun to be warm
and sunny. Mrs. Harper said to bring
here some refills for her lighter. Your
bank balance (according to the bank)
(not statements) is $ 2,633.93.
And, I am broke. Please, off please!
Lindsay is fine and bored at McDowell.
Have a good time for all of us.

VERY IMPORTANT!!!

(72)

HOTEL
# Manhattan

44TH TO 45TH STREETS AT EIGHTH AVENUE • NEW YORK 36, N. Y.

Saturday at 4:30p.m.

Dear LH:

I had the photostats made and gave each person just what you asked me to do. After this, I saw the first half of the show. Much to my surprise, the house was almost full and the folks were laughing all the time (in the right places). Lots of colored in the balcony, too!

Overheard someone say: "This show is a sleeper--it's going to catch on by word of mouth!" Do Jesus! Help us, Jesus!

There are a couple of weak spots in the acting--that is in ensemble playing--which should be cleared up as soon as possible. Otherwise, I think it's turning into a good show, in fact, a fine show!

PLEASE, OH, PLEASE DON'T FORGET THAT TOMORROW (SUNDAY) at 1p.m. you are due at the Testimonial for Miss Regina Andrews at the New York Hilton Hotel. Guests on the diaz are expected for cocktails at 12:30, AM, so please get up early. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THE 1920's to the 30's (one decade) with LESTER GRANGER--that means lots of recollections of the HARLEM RENAISSANCE (the Niggerati as one noted authority called it). All very informal, so DON'T PREPARE. JUST BE YOUR NATURAL SELF. Mrs. Andrews home phone number is WA 6-9543 in the event that you wish to call.

The Ed Sullivan thing is for *next* Sunday because this week he could not give it enough time, so next week he will *open* his show with HILDA AND CLARA AND THE SINGERS so they can get back to start our EQUITY BENEFIT.

Raoulito

* I'll be investigated by the NAACP and picketed by Anna Hedgeman for using that word!

RAOUL****

I didn't go to bed until 11 A. M.
this morning- --Adele and I worked all night
on the Folk Lore Book......So don't wake me up
unless I arouse myself.....Please ask Lawrence
to take these things to the Post Office---one
Registered, and one insured. Also take bottles
back to the grocery that are in truck downstairs.
Also dust book shelves (and behind the books
near the door) in Office. And habla español
con Lee Artiste. And go home, if I'm not awake.
Which I trust I'll be in time for DINNER, if
a little before six you'll be so kind as to call
me.

Happy New Year,