(Sa. 2--1988)

January 2, 1950

Miss Lina Abarbanell,
Ritz Carlton Hotel,
Boston, Mass.

Dear Lina,

I'm posting you now two of the tunes I told you about on the
phone: BABY, WHAT'S YOUR ALIBI, and GRAB IT AND HOLD IT. Both are jump
numbers. And the GRAB IT AND HOLD IT can have an infinite number of
comedy verses. If they like either of them and wish additional choruses,
let me know. My phone number is at the top of this letter.

The other number, BE A LITTLE SAVAGE WITH ME, will come to you
tomorrow. I've just phoned the composer and asked for a lead sheet on it.
Perhaps we can also get a demonstration record made of it tomorrow, too.

The comedy sketch, MAD SCENE FROM WOOLWORTH'S, I will have typed
for you tomorrow, too, and so you should receive it by Wednesday. The
lyrics are sort of spoken against music, and may be done with or without
the sketch, as desired. It might suit Miss Lorne.

If any of this material merits attention and Dwight should wish
me to come to Boston, I can run up on Thursday or Friday, as I have to be in
New Haven Saturday anyhow for the opening of the James Weldon Johnson Memorial
Collection of Arts and Letters at Yale.

Happy New Year to you!

Sincerely,

LINA ABARBANELL

250 WEST 52ND STREET
NEW YORK 19, N. Y.

Alvin Theatre
Building

Telephone
Circle 6-2844

September 26, 1956

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th St.
New York 35, N.Y.

Dear Langston:

I was so very glad to hear from you because I also had tried several times during the summer and after I came back from Europe and I am looking forward already to really have you come by and see me for a cup of coffee and a sandwich whenever your time permits. But let me know first.

I would be very happy to read TAMBOURINES TO GLORY, so if you could instruct the Ober office to send me a copy, I will read it as quickly as possible. There seem to be so many interesting ingredients in it which I got from the synopsis that I am most anxious to look at it. I hope that you will then give me a chance to talk to you so that I can give you my reaction.

And, of course, I want to put my name down as a subscriber on the first edition for your second autobiography with the wonderful title I WONDER AS I WANDER.

Warmest regards,

October 16, 1956

Dear Lina,

I haven't forgotten that I promised
to send you some revue materila for
consideration, but I've been teriffically
BUSY this past week working our promotion
and publicity plans for my new two books
coming our in November: I WONDER AS I
WANDER, the autobiography, and A PICTORIAL
HISTORY OF THE NEGRO IN AMERICA, with
interviews and conferences and things.
But I'll have the songs and scripts down
to you soon as I can sort them out.

November 20, 1956

From: Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street,
New York 35, N. Y.

To: Lina Abarbanell,
250 West 52nd Street,
New York City.

REVUE MATERIAL BY LANGSTON HUGHES

SONGS---Music available on request:

NOT A THING TO WEAR

MADAM, HOW CAN I FALL IN LOVE

HARLEM DEBUTANTE

LYRIC SET TO MUSIC BY THE LATE KURT WEILL:

THE STREETLIGHT IS OUR MOONLIGHT

SONG FROM THE "STAGE DOOR CANTEEN SHOW":

THAT EAGLE

THREE BLUES SKETCHES to traditional blues:

THIRD FLOOR AIRSHAFT BLUES

BLUES IS WHAT'S DE MATTER

BIRTH OF THE BLUES (Incorporating
"The St. Louis Blues")

8

ANNA DEERE WIMAN
AND
LINA ABARBANELL

Alvin Theatre
Building

Telephone
Circle 6-2844

August 8,1957

Mr. Langston Hughes
20 East 127th Street
New York City

Dear Langston:

Congratulations! I enjoyed SIMPLE very,
very much and am going to see it <u>again!</u> at the Playhouse.

Someone told me that you had a new play, is it true? If so, <u>please</u> let me have a look at it, if it is not already optioned.

I am returning the sketches and lyrics, also
the ESTHER libretto, which by the way is perfectly
beautiful. I am sorry to have to report that THE REVUE
idea never materialized. I just could not, after months
of research, find enough <u>varied</u> material to put a really
brilliant scintillating full evening's entertainment together.

Hope this finds you in the best of health - and
that the summer is not too hard on you (what a heat) - but
I <u>love New York</u>.

With kindest greetings, I am

ans by
card

8

LINA ABARBANELL

ALVIN THEATRE BUILDING
250 WEST 52ND STREET
NEW YORK 19, N. Y.

Alvin Theatre
Building

Telephone
Circle 6-2844

September 6, 1957

Dear Langston:

I am delighted with the success of SIMPLY HEAVENLY at the Playhouse. Do let me know an evening you might be there. I want to see the play again and also, as you suggested, see you and perhaps have a little snack after the show and talk about your new play and "Esther".

I am returning the wonderful notice to you in case you need it.

With warmest regards, I am