<table><tr><td>CLASS OF SERVICE</td></tr><tr><td>This is a full-rate Telegram or Cable-gram unless its deferred character is indicated by a suitable symbol above or preceding the address.</td></tr></table>

WESTERN
UNION

A. N. WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT

1201

<table><tr><td>SYMBOLS</td></tr><tr><td>DL=Day Letter</td></tr><tr><td>NL=Night Letter</td></tr><tr><td>LC=Deferred Cable</td></tr><tr><td>NLT=Cable Night Letter</td></tr><tr><td>Ship Radiogram</td></tr></table>

(20)

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

N264 15=MV NEWYORK NY 5 444P

LANGSTON HUGHES=

634 STNICHOLAS AVE=

1945 MAY 5 PM 5 24

IMMEDIATELY AFTER OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF VE DAY WILL YOU
WIRE COLLECT STATEMENT GIVING YOUR REACTION=

AMSTERDAM NEWS

THE COMPANY WILL APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SERVICE

NEW YORK
Amsterdam News

Member Audit Bureau of Circulations

2340 EIGHTH AVENUE
NEW YORK 27 · N · Y.
TELEPHONE ACADEMY 2-7800

C. B. POWELL, President and Editor

P. M. H. SAVORY, Secretary-Treasurer

November 7, 1946

Mr. Langston Hughes
634 St. Nicholas Ave.
New York, N. Y.

Dear Langston:

The Tenth Annual AMSTERDAM NEWS Welfare Fund Midnight Benefit Show will be staged on December 6, 1946, a Friday night, at the Apollo Theatre. As in the past, every nickel of the proceeds will go to recognized worthy charities in the New York area, but principally in the highly underprivileged communities that include Harlem, the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, the Lower East Side, San Juan Hill and others.

Over the years this benefit show has won the unanimous endorsement of everyone, social organizations, professional groups, police, welfare and charitable organizations, as well as the unqualified approval of the general public. The theatrical, nightlife and amusement world has been 100% behind this annual event each year and without them we could not have gone along as we have. Theatrical talent is completely volunteer. We pay transportation, to and from the Apollo Theatre on West 125th St., but make no other commitments.

We would count it an honor to have you as a working member of our entertainment committee, a voluntary group that is charged with the high responsibility of securing entertainment for the midnight show. This is no "name" committee; instead, it is composed of persons who are sincerely interested in the success of the show. They interview and contact actors, actresses, orchestras, musical combinations, dancers, nightclub owners, agents, talent scouts and others to cull a representative group of performers for the show.

Can we count on you this year? If so, return the enclosed post card immediately and then you can begin contacting "name" attractions for the show.

Thanks a million!

DB:lc

2340 EIGHTH AVENUE
NEW YORK 27·N·Y.
TELEPHONE ACADEMY 2-7800

November 29, 1946

Dear Committee Member:

The Tenth Annual Midnight Benefit Show seems to be shaping up pretty nicely, thanks to your interest. It is extremely important, however, that we keep tabs on all prospective performers and celebrities who are to appear. This is, of course, to keep our schedule-makers on the ball insofar as arranging the program on the night of Dec. 6 is concerned.

As you know, the show is for the AMSTERDAM NEWS Welfare Fund of which every nickel of the net proceeds goes to the aid of worthwhile charities, social service organizations, and needy individuals; an example of which is $500.00 given each to Mrs. Mildred Hunter, widow of Patrolman George Hunter who was slain by a thief while in the performance of his duty; and to Mrs. Minnie Ferguson, widow of Pfc. Charles R. Ferguson of Freeport, L. I., who was slain by a policeman. Other details about such disbursements will be sent to you from time to time.

Enclosed are cards which I hope you will distribute to the talent you contact. These are to be mailed back to me.

P. S. - Please get as many pictures and advance publicity notes on people you have been able to contact and send them to me in order that we may give them proper publicity in the paper.

March 13, 1947

Mr. Bill Chase
New York Amsterdam News
2340 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York

Dear Bill:

Under separate cover, I am sending you a new photograph of
mine since the old ones the paper has been using is somewhat
outdated.

I have been enjoying your reminiscences of Harlem very much
and follow your work way down here since I can buy the
"Amsterdam News" right at the corner of the campus.

Have you heard the Benny Goodman and Johnny Mercer "Moon-
faced, Starry-eyed" from "Street Scene"? Teddy Wilson and
Teddy Martin have also recorded it, and further recordings
are in the offing.

There also seems to be a revived interest in my old play,
"Mulatto" since it is scheduled for production this spring
in such widely-distanced points as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
Milan, Italy, and Marshall, Texas - this latter production
by Melvin Tolson's Log-Cabin Players.

You probably know that my new book of poems, *Fields of Wonder*, is being published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. on March 20, 1947.

This semester I am Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at
Atlanta University. I have always been aware of the
undeveloped writing talent among southern Negro youth, and I
am delighted to have this opportunity to help a portion of
this talent, as evidenced on the Atlanta University campus,
to achieve development.

With all good wishes to your paper.

LH: wmb

C—O—P—Y

NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS-2340 EIGHTH AVENUE

May 14, 1953

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

Dear Langston:

I have never enjoyed a book any more than I have enjoyed "Simple Takes A Wife", which I completed on Sunday. I have read the chapter, "Joyce Objects" at least eight times to different groups of people, and have reread the chapters on "That Powerful Drop" and "That Word Black". I think Simple's letter to Dr. Butts is terrific.

Incidentally, I have already bought three copies of the book and sent to friends.

I hope this book will have a sale even larger than "Simple Speaks His Mind".

Copy by rh

C--O--P--Y

May 14, 1953

Dear Langston:

Copy by rh

October 15th 1957

Dr. C.B. Powell
Amsterdam News
2340 Eighth Avenue
New York City

Dear Dr. Powell,

My play, SIMPLY HEAVENLY, as you probably have heard, closed at the Playhouse on Broadway Saturday after an eight week run. The continued hot weather, plus the flu epidemic (so the producers think) caused it to run slightly under the required $12000 weekly needed to keep it going. Now the rights have reverted to the original producers, Stella Holt and the Greenwich News, who have plans to again take it off-Broadway—where it had been doing very well until the Fire Department stepped in, and seemed headed for a considerable run.

Miss Holt has secured a new off-Broadway theatre in Second Avenue that will be ready for occupancy on November 1st. The cost of moving the show intact will be about $5,000 including a reserve for publicity and the first two weeks. A third of this amount has been raised. John Hammond and friends being investors. The cast and authors have invested (or will) $1,000.

Miss Holt would welcome a few more investors to make up the remaining amount needed. So, if you know anyone who might like to help this show get started again in a small theatre (where it is felt it might have a run of several months) I would appreciate it immensely if you would put them in touch with its producer:

Miss Stella Holt
325 West 37th Street
New York City
En 2-7414

Incidentally, Roger Stevens and Laurence Harvey have been discussing a London production, and there is Los Angeles interest in a West Coast company. Columbia Records has made an album of the show.

With cordial regards, and thanks,

LH:ra