NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.

A RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA SERVICE

RCA BUILDING • RADIO CITY
NEW YORK, N. Y.

Feb 17 1942

Mr Langston Hughes
c/o Knopf Publishing Co
501 Madison Ave
New York City

Dear Mr Hughes:

My work as a secretary in the National Broadcasting Com-
pany is only a small part of the vast Word that is Radio.
But as one who works in radio and one who listens much, I
wish to write you this unofficial note saying I hope you
will write and submit material to some of the network sta-
tions. I have just read an advance copy of your SHAKESPEARE
IN HARLEM - so strong and fine; it will speak to everyone
who reads it. And I believe many who listen to it speak
will then act....as I am acting.

Early this morning I read your book. Later this morning
a pamphlet came in our mail called "Speed the Day" put out
by the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties,
1123 Broadway, New York, from which I quote two items:

"Julius Ellsberry, a Negro mess attendant in the Navy, gave his life to man a crewless machine gun at Pearl Harbor - above and beyond the duty for which he was given training." - and -
"Joe Louis risked his heavyweight boxing championship to donate a champion's purse to the relief fund of the United States Navy. Then he reported to the Army for duty as a buck private. He and Ellsberry symbolize the power and the eagerness of twelve million Negro people to fight for American freedom."

As a listener who wants other listeners inspired to help in
this our national crisis, I'd like to hear your talent write
a broadcast using such examples as these above - and many other
un-named heros who are Negro - in the style of broadcast such
as Norman Corwin does on Columbia Broadcasting Workshop Sunday
nights 10:30-11, WABC. This suggestion may or may not appeal to
you. Please do not feel you need to acknowledge this letter; I
know how busy you must be. This is just on impulse that I write.

Yaddo,
Saratoga Springs,
New York,

August 20, 1943.

Mr. Max Gobberman,
NBC, Radio City,
New York, N. Y.

Dear Mr. Gobberman,

You will recall the song, WE'LL HAMMER IT OUT TOGETHER, by
myself and Earl Robinson, used on the CIO-LABOR FOR VICTORY
program several weeks ago?

copy---the original---

Earl Robinson told me he had given his only/to the program,
and asked me to get it back from you or Peter Lyon, put with
it the music for the verse which he has sent on from Holly-
wood, and have some copies made for various artists and pro-
grams that would like to use it, including the current Mayor's
series, UNITY AT HOME--VICTORY ABROAD.

More than a month ago I wrote Pete Lyon about it. He mistaken-
ly thought I wanted the script, and sent me that. I wrote a-
gain, but have not heard from him nor gotten the music. As the
Music War Bound has also asked for a copy of the song, and as
Earl Robinson would like to have one, too, sent to Hollywood,
if you or the music library at NBC has the original piano score,
(or a piano copy) would you be so kind as to send it to me here,
and I'll have it copied and immediately return it to you in case
you wish to keep it on file.

With very best regards to you,

WESTERN
UNION

(00)

A. N. WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT

NEWCOMB CARLTON
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

J. C. WILLEVER
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

The filing time shown in the date line on telegrams and day letters is STANDARD TIME at point of origin. Time of receipt is STANDARD TIME at point of destination

NA304 LG=NEWYORK NY 30 649P

LANGSTON HUGHES=

1943 NOV 30 PM 7 03

CARE MRS MOLLY LEE HARRISON BRANCH LIBRARY 122

E HARGETT ST RLGH=

NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY ANXIOUS YOU PRESENCE ON LAND
OF THE FREE PROGRAM SUNDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 12TH.

THEY WILL PREPARE SCRIPT FOR YOU AS NARRATOR AND USE ONE
OR TWO YOUR POEMS. FEE FIFTY DOLLARS. GENERAL LINE OF
PROGRAM EXCELLENT. CAN YOU TELEGRAPH REPLY DIRECT TO
ERIC BARNOUW NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY COLLECT=

WRITERS WAR BOARD NYC.

12TH BARNOUW.

WILL APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE

A SERVICE OF RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA

Merchandise Mart, Chicago 54, Illinois

SUPERIOR 7-8300

1173 Asbury Avenue
Winnetka, Illinois

March 2, 1953

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

Dear Langston Hughes:

The Watts told you, I am sure, of the message I received from NBC two
days before your broadcast was scheduled - that because of the complaints
they had received they could not use the show we had recorded when you
were in Chicago last fall.

I regret deeply this action, but because the program is a sustaining one
I was completely helpless. I was particularly eager to present your book
because it was such an objective approach to a subject often clouded
by emotions.

Another reason I regretted the withdrawal of the program was that the
panel discussion was one of the best we have ever had. The success of
the panel depends entirely upon the rapport the author establishes with
the children (and so often we have authors who say "yes", "no" and
"I think so.") Unless there is real conversation between the children
and the author, the panel lacks vitality, and it sounds as though every-
one is reading a poor script.

Again, I am sorry for the sudden and distressing decision. We have
already had letters saying "what happened?" and I am sure there will
be many more.

I hope you saw the wonderful review of your book in the Chicago Tribune
Magazine of Books, which Polly Goodwin had timed to coincide with the
broadcast. I'll enclose some copies of this.

RHH:hhe

RCA Building, Radio City, New York 20, N. Y.

CIRCLE 7-8300

June 7, 1961

Mr. Langston Hughes
c/o Harold Ober & Associates
40 East 49th Street
New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Hughes:

Let me first introduce myself: I am a film director and writer working on the NBC WHITE PAPER Series. In this series of hour-long documentaries, we attempt to examine in depth the important issues of today.

You may have seen, or heard about, our program "Sit-In" which dealt with the passive resistance movement and consequent success in desegregating the downtown Nashville lunch counters. "Sit-In", on which I was Director-Writer, was broadcast on the NBC Network December 20, 1960.

We are now thinking about next season and I am researching a film that would be made in Africa and it is for this reason that I am writing you. If it is not an imposition, I would sincerely appreciate the opportunity to talk with you on this subject, having read and enjoyed your book "An African Treasury." My telephone number is CI 7-8300, Extension 2167 or 2430.

I very much look forward to hearing from you.

Wise
Going to
Angela June 29,
1961 with
Dawkins

August 2, 1962

Miss Gene Barnes,
NBC, Radio City,
New York 26, N. Y.

Dear Miss Barnes:

I am just back from East and West Africa to find your
note of July 30 awaiting me. Thank you for your kind invi-
tation to be interviewed on FAMILY, which I am delighted to
accept.

Since my new book, FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, The Story of the
NAACP, is being published on Monday, August 27 (Norton &
Company, $4.50) I suggest we make the interview around that
date. Advance copies are now ready, so I suggest you ask
Norton's to send you one. And if you would like to set a
time for the interview, please let me know, and I will put
it on my calendar.

Meantime, I shall be working with the Theatre Guild
readying the script of my play, TAMBOURINES TO GLORY, for
fall rehearsals. It is a gospel singing show, like my
BLACK NATIVITY which recently closed at the Festival of Two
Worlds at Spoleto in Italy, and is now in Lodnon where it
is being televised, videotaped, for a Christmas showing in
England.