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<table><thead><tr><th>SIGNS</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>DL = Day Letter</td></tr><tr><td>NM = Night Message</td></tr><tr><td>NL = Night Letter</td></tr><tr><td>LCO = Deferred Cable</td></tr><tr><td>NLT = Cable Letter</td></tr><tr><td>WLT = Week-End Letter</td></tr></tbody></table>

MAY 15 AM 6 19

1450 BROADWAY

NEWCOMB CARLTON, PRESIDENT

J. C. WILLEVER, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT

This is a full-rate Telegram or Cable-gram unless its de-ferred character is indicated by a suitable sign above or preceding the address.

The filing time as shown in the date line on full-rate telegrams and day letters, and the time of receipt at destination as shown on all messages, is STANDARD TIME.

Received at

SB76 44 DL=LOS ANGELES CALIF 15 216A

1929 MAY 15 AM 5 33

WILLIAM JORDAN RAPP=

322 WEST 72 ST NEWYORK NY=

SEE NEWYORK AGE MAY ELEVENTH HAVE BLATT AND ERSKIN TAKE
ACTION SUCH BALDERDASH SHOULD BE STOPPED AM QUITE
DISGUSTED ABOUT WHOLE MATTER COURT ACTION WILL CURE THIS
DISEASE MAILED LONG LETTER TODAY ANGER HAS REVIVIFIED
CREATIVE URGE WILL WILLINGLY HELP IN ANY LIBEL SUIT=
WALLIE.

THE QUICKEST, SUREST AND SAFEST WAY TO SEND MONEY IS BY TELEGRAPH OR CABLE

Dear Bill:

Before I had a chance to mail the foregoing lugubrious
notes and lamentations, something did happen to arouse me from my
lethargic state. You could never guess what it was. A meeting
and a hundred mile train journey with my erstwhile spouse. Catch
your breath. Came a telegram addressed to my grandmother announcing
that she (Louise) had been called east because her mother was seri-
ously ill. She was to pass thru Ogden at noon that day. Ogden is
some thirty six miles away. No one could go from here except me.
I went. Was greeted by tears and a request to ride up the road away
at her expense. Which of course I did. Nothing of significance
happened. I was impersonal and wary. The thought of all my money
having been wasted and me here in exile dying to return to New York
was sufficient to hold my emotions in check. I don't know what is
to be done now. She of course loses the money payed to the Reno
lawyer so she said, and she also said that she did not expect to
be able to return as she would have to go to work and take care of
her mother now down with cancer of the stomach. What is more she
suggested that I might lend her some money or get some for her.

Which I considered a rank display of crust. Howsomever that's
what happened. What does one do now, having staved off a reconcilia-
tion which was angled for most subtly? If I had the money I would
put in for the divorce right here in Salt Lake and have no trouble
getting it at all. And god knows I wish it could be over.

I went as far as Green River Wyoming with her and remained
there five hourse waiting for a return train. It was some town.
A typical wide open western town, with saloons, gambling halls,
dan e halls, and bordelloes running at full sway. It is a railraod
deviation point town, populated largely by greeks and mexicans with
a smattering of whites and Negroes, of the latter being the underworld
czar of the town. His name is Cat-eye. And his joint is a joy to
behold. Whores of all races, white, black, mulatto, mexican, and what

have you. A bar almost a half block long. A dance hall. A hotel (?)
Poker, dice and blackjack, roulette and fan tan. I spent a
glorious five hourse exploring and almost missed my train. I arrived
back in Salt Lake full of pep and set to work.

I am also mailing you, for better or for worse, Harlem.
The typist was delayed because in the interim she had a baby. Her
bill, for Harlem not the baby, is fifteen dollars, which, I dont
happen to know, may be reasonable or expensive. Her name is LaVelle
Jones, if you wish to make the check out to her. Having received
this typed copy I am amzed at its shortness. Mayhap, I expect, to
be ordered by Czar Rapp to write about twenty thousand more words.
God forbid. But it is too short. In condenscing the first half so
that it would not drag or suffer by comparison with the last, taken
wholly from the play, I have only 82 typewritten sheets. I await
your verdict, keeping the original and the carbon, ready to set
to immediately upon receiving a suggestion from you as to how it
can be lengthened if need be. Of course it could be padded, the
book I mean, with pictures. Its too racy now to pad with words,
but of course new episodes might be added. Let me know about this
immediately so we can get it off our hands. I am heartily sick of
"Harlem" and all things Harlemes. Which does not mean however
that I am not willing to do my damndest to make this latest offspring
an acceptable reality.

The Bookman arrived this morning. Many thanks. You'r an angel.
And there seems to be nothing else to say. Its raining like hell.
I am all alome in the house. My grandfather hav ing gone to Nevada,
and my grandmother having gone to the hospital. I, the dog, and
three canaries, eke out a lonely existance. It seems strange not to
have had a letter from you for so long a time. But I know you are
busy, and keep my peace.

Best regards,

Tuesday

May 7

Dear Bill:

Here you are for better or for worse. I am not as enthusiastic as I was when the first burst of creation was upon me. After reading and revising left me dubious. There is only one item which grants satisfaction. As bad as this is it is far superior to other versions. At last I have made the people a little human. I hope you can work with this. If there are any scenes you want me to build, just say the word and I'll get too.

After one hectic week in Los Angeles and Hollywood I retired to the sheltering and quiet roof of my paternal grandfather. And for the first time in my life was accepted by my father's family. They run a beach hotel and I wired for reservations without announcing who

I was. They greeted me with open arms, excoriated my father who I find is not dead but paralysed and still living in Los Angeles, and have made me most welcome. It seems they had read the Literary Digest and being assured that I was not after any of my grandfather's money decided it would be quite all right to let me retain the name of Thurman. Anyway its nice down here. I take two dips a day in the ocena, sun baths on the beach and spend the rest of the time reading and writing. I have started my authobiography and am mailing a couple of my &quot;autobiographical&quot; sketches away.

The vagaries of the show business intrigue me. Hollywood is much more mad than Broadway. I was introduced around the studios. M.G.M. officials immediately decided that perhaps I could do a story suitable for Nina May Makinney, star of Halleluliah. Then they got cold feet and decided to do nothing until the box office returns on Halleluliah were known. Pathe has a couple of Negro comedians under contract now starring on some of Hugh Wiley's stories. They asked me could I do something on the same order making it more authentic.

I told them that there was nothing authentic whatsoever in Hugh / Wiley's

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work, that there was good authentic Negro comedy available without resorting to caricature and that the Harlem scene was more intriguing than any plantation. Thereby, I think, talking myself out of a nice contract. I was even told that I was too intellectual. They had expected me to be like their Negro actors and were a little surprised at my line of talk. However there is still a slender chance that I may do something for Pathe, and now Fox wants another picture for Clarence Muse., who was in Hearts of Dixie. All however depends on the success of Halleluliah. Moran and Mack are making a Harlem picture. Another company is filming "Rent Party" also laid in Harlem. And I can't get inside dope on it to save me. I was told all around that all were eager to see a script of Harlem. They had had good reports but no approach from the producer or agent.

Speaking of producers. I hope you are keeping a close watch on friend Blatt. Either he is cheating on us or observers are easily fooled. I had many reports from Detroit, one from a boy whose brother worked as porter in the Shubert Lafayette. His report of the full houses certainly belied the reported grosses. I know of course how easily a laymen can be fooled or exaggerate. But it pays to keep one's eyes open.

Hope Harlem in New York can last thru May. And that number two lasts forever. What about the road chances of number one in the east? What are plans if it closes for the summer?

Thanks for keeping me in touch with things and for taking hold of my alimony et al. As long as New York company continues send me that check and deposit number two, letting me know what you have done about the matter. I do wish you would send Adelaide Schulkind, League for Mutual Aid, $100 out of number two check this week, thereby closing out a long indebtedness to them, and leaving me owing no one but my grandmother whose $1100 is about paid. Then use your own discretion about payment of lawyers fees. You know how

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to handle that much better than I do. Just manage if possible to let
me have a little stake in the bank. I am, I understand, to pay Louises
fare to Reno and a $300 lawyer fee there. I will not under any cir-
stances stand for more. I couldnt. She'll pay her own living ex-
penses while there out of the $50 per week and she will get back as
best she can. One moment. The summer rates are on until September
. If she wishes to buy a round trip ticket that way, o.k., because
dollars
it will be only a few cents more.

Now for the scandal. In 1925 a young colored lad anxious
to enter a literary career came to New York. He had a little stake
which was soon gone. He found no job. He owed room rent and was
hungry.(not offered in extenuation of what is to follow but merely
a statement of facts). One night he got a job as relief elevator
operator, just for one night. He worked. The next night he returned
hoping to work again. Failing he returned homeward. At 135th St
he got off the subway, and feeling nature's call went into the toilet.
There was a man loitering in there. The man spoke. He did more than
speak, making me know what his game was. I laughed. He offered me
two dollars. I accepted. Two plain clothes men, hidden in the porter's
mop closet rushed out and took the two of us to jail. Night court.
I was fined twenty five dollars or three days. The man got six months.
He was a Fifth avenue hair dresser. He had been picked up before, and
always of course as the aggressor. I gave a false name and address,
then sent a special delivery letter to the only friend I had in New
York. He borrowed the money, gave it to a minister friend, who came
down and got me out after I had soent 48 hours in jail. Only two
people thus knew it. This minister took a great interest in me. And
to my surprise I discovered that he too belonged to the male sister-
hood and was demanding his pound of flesh to keep silence. I cursed
him out, told him he could print it in the papers if he dared and

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saw him no more. Meanwhile of course he had told his scandal. By some
quirk of fate it reached Louise just at the time she was fighting me for
money settlement. She told Ernst. He verified the story, and they
threatened to make charges at I was homosexual, and knowing this
and that I was incapable of keeping up my marital relationship had
no business marrying. All of which Louise knew was a lie. The inci-
dent was true, but there was certainly no evidence therein that I was
homosexual and Louise also knew that tho there had been sexual in-
compatibility it had been her fault, not mine. She had to have an
operation while I was in Salt Lake...remember....in order to make
an entry possible, and because by that time I had lost all sexual
feeling for her and tho there was a consummation of the sexual act
I was blackmailed thusly. The alibi being that she had been so upset
by this vile disclosure that it had ruined her life. And such is my
tale of woe. Doesnt it read like a novel? You can understand now
what a mental state I was in during those last few weeks in New York,
and why I had to get away. And you can also imagine with what relish
a certain group of Negroes in Harlem received and relayed the news
that I was a homo. No evidence is needed of course beyond the intial
rumor. Such is life.

I am anxious to hear what you have to say about musical comedy
From Variety I glean that those now coming into New York are not so
hot and are flopping right and left, which makes me eager to do some-
thing new and entirely out of the beaten path. What shall it be?
And Jeremiah? What news of my most beloved work?

How is Virginia's opus coming along? And how is Harl. Give
him my regards. And it will take you a whole day to answer all my
questions, so for the moment I close.

So long,

Thursday

Dear Bill:

Thanks for the fifty. I carelessly had not kept track
of my checking account and had overdrawn it. As I said in night
letter I sent my grandmother five hundred dollars of the money I had
to hold until fall, which she is doing so well, she refused to send
me even fifty to run me over until I had received another check from
you. Have been having all sorts of difficulties. Caught a chill
while in swimming and have been considerably under the weather for the
past ten days. The local doctor claims my left lung is infected, and
from the cough I have you would imagine I was in the last stages of
t. b. I despise this climate. One hot day, six cold ones, all damp.
As soon as things can be brought to some conclusion in Hollywood I
will leave for Salt Lake, I hope, no later than this time next week.

The syndicate interested in doing Harlem out here all
seem to have disappeared. Have they perchance communicated with
Blatt as I told them too. If not he might get in touch with Harry
Wurtzel, 1509 Vine Street, Hollywood. He was the guiding spirit.
They ran me to death for about a week, then all at once seem to have
lost interest. Chaimed price was too high. Then the manager of the
Layfayette players heard of their interest and said he wanted to
do it. I have heard no more from him either since I made terms known.
Enclosed is letter from Pathe. Block was gone on the play, but evi-
dently sub-officials have dissauded him. And since this letter came
I have been unable to even get into Pathe studios to see anyone.

M. G. M. alone has given no answer. Cruze claims he could not possibly
gamble on getting past the censors and he would not risk ruining the
play to appease them. He then asked me to do him an original story
so that he might star Evelyn Preer. This I have undertaken to do, real-
izing that a skeleton is all any movie director wants. I am trying
now to get to Universal and submit the play to them. Sent a copy
to Famous Players Lasky this morning. And thus it goes.

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Suppose Louise is in Reno by now. That's goodness. And again let me tell you how much I appreciate your guiding and interest in this messy business. Received a letter from Swerling along with a Confession of Judgement which I am returning all signed to him today. From his letter I gleaned that he does not think very highly of me. He said

"Mrs. Thurman will leave for Nevada in a few days. I might add that the whole deal went through only because Bill Rapp came to the rescue and advanced $600. to finance the trip to Nevada and legal expenses there. He has been exceedingly nice about the whole business and has afforded the most indisputable proof of genuine friendship".

Therein praising you and Spanking me. I chucked.

Have done quite a deal of the novel, altho I have kept so busy dashing about Hollywood, waiting all day in studios to see such and such a person that I have not had much time to spend on it. Two weeks in Salt Lake should see it finished, as I will drop everything else once the opportunity presents itself.

That's all for the nonce. Best regards to Virginia. Will wire you any new developments, and hope Blatt comes thru with royalty checks in time for me to have train fare to Salt Lake next week.

Sent my essay on Douglass to Hersey's Famous Lives. Mencken returned his two finally saying "They have interested me a great deal, but unfortunately, I have so many articles in type dealing with the situation of the Negro in America that I can't take them". Blah, blah. However undaunted I shipped them to other magazines. May yet have to call upon your aid in disposing of them. And may I ask: where is Harlem?

Saturday

Dear Bill:

No need to certify checks. I deposit them to account
anyhow. The one fourth cut is o. k. by me. When does it begin.
On the fourth week? Hope things will work out all right with
number two. Meanwhile I am heartily sick of the publicity
attendent upon closing of number one. I am deluged with clipping
and letters. It seems as if I" offered no objection to my
white partman firing the cast, treating them like children", etc
It is all very annoying.

Have been working like mad for the past week. As I said
in a wire to you I got angry over those stories and was thus
roused from my apathy. All biographical sketches finished and
on way to magazines. Duplicates going to Macauleys for publi-
cation in book form. Will include articles from New Republic,
Bookman and Independent also in this volume. Doing two more
essays, one on the Negro in the South, another on the Negro problem for
same book. It will thus cover a great deal of ground and have a
unifying note too. Dance Life article will also be included.
Am polishing up those which have appeared in magazines. And
have managed to get considerable done on novel.

Have been nowhere recently except to spend an evening
with Ransome Rideout (who wrote Going Home, and is here with M. G. M.)
Anxiously awaiting copies of Harlem. Do not entirely agree
with American Playwrights decision that since Harlem was not a
smash it would not be good business to do Jeremiah first. Consid-\der the differences in the play. And Jeremiah should to my idea
be done early in the season. Of course there is a lot to be said
on the other side. My view is probably colored by personal
interests. Let me know what show you get hold of and all other

details of your progress. Awaiting novel and second act
outline of *Cinderella*. Will take especial pains to make it
long enough this time. And will work on novel to exclusion
of everything else once it arrives.

I sent agreement back to Swerling. Aeno trip out of
question. I have commuted with Louise to this effect.
And considering the dwindling of my income when one fourth
cut goes into effect how can fifty a week payments continue?
There will undoubtedly have to be a compromise. I can figure
on this of course when I know just what average weekly income
will be when cut takes effect. I am not going to release
the little money I have on hand and thus risk being broke
immediately upon my return to New York...agreement or no agree-
ment. To all intents and purposes I have not a penny on hand
and any payments will be based on what I earn, the total sum
of course to be paid as agreed, but perhaps not as quickly.

Are you not going to take a vacation this summer?
Where do you plan to go? Why not consider California?

That's all for this time,

So long,

Sunday midnight

Dear Bill:

I am rather in the dumps tonight so I write to you as an antidote, not that I have anything to say but because in writing you I can well imagine how you would bustle me back into good humor and thus effect a vicarious cure. So be it.

Things are rather sad around here. My grandmother refused to remain in the hospital any longer and came home today. Her eyes are still bandaged and it is still doubtful if she will ever be able to see again. She feels quite pessimistic about the matter, and it is hard for me to see the one person in the family who seemed immune from neuroticism finally giving in. She even talks wildly about committing suicide should her sight really be gone. My mother has moved in to look after her. I am of course of no use whatsoever, having gone to the hospital to visit her once and becoming so nauseated that I almost had to remain as a patient. The doctor is vague but hopeful. If we can keep her spirits up I think she will pull thru. I hope so. I could never bear seeing her blind. Thus I stand poised ready to take flight on a moments notice. I only await to hear from Furman. If he will advance me some money so that I can eat and sleep once in New York, I'm on my way.

The line between tragedy and comedy is both variable and thinest ce pas? A humorous thing occured today. Naturally having heard that my grandmother was home all her brothers and sisters in God as manifested in the Baptist Church flocked in. Even the minister, a typical oleogenous and pompous illiterate. Of course he had to pray and being an apt inflamer of the emotions reached eloquent heights, so much so that he infected my grandmother especially when he asked mercy for the blind and afflicted. The dolt. Well I exploded and interrupted the dear brother's prayer. "veryone

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was aghast but the suave man of God. He tried to squelch me. I ordered him out of the house and while my mother hastened my grandmother out of the room told him some profane facts. Had it not been for the presence of the good sisters he no doubt would have knocked me down, anyhow, I got him out, and silenced the sisters when they protested. My ostracisation among polite colored circles in Salt Lake will now be complete. But I have dared that praying hypocrite to return to this house until my grandmother is more emotionally and physically stable. She of course is quite peeved at me, but being peeved at me has taken her mind off herself. So be it.

Before my grandfather went away he fixed up the screen porch on the rear of the house for me. I have my bed, my books and all out in the open. Hence I can type without disturbing anyone all night if I wish and I am sleeping and writing in the open. I feel like a million dollar McFadden disciple.

I finished the first draft of my novel about five A. M, yesterday morning. Writing it has been an adventure. I stood as one apart and watched it issuing forth from "allace Thurman. It is the first thing I have ever let write itself, playing amanuensis to some inner urge. This sounds like hooey but its true. Parts of it I shall not have to retouch. They are surprising even to the author. Other portions need lots of work. They shall have it. To have done this much gives me more inspiration to continue writing than anything else. I only hope I havent mesmerized myself.

No letter this week at all from New York. But I have F.P.A. and the rest of The World. And some kind anonymous soul mails me bundles of Winchell and the New Yorker. And my newsdealer saves me Variety. By the way how goes Mr. Blatts Murder in the Subway? Expect a wire announcing my arrival at anytime. All I want is protection against starvation and from doing a Bruce by having an address "In the gutter in front of the Provincetown Theatre".

Regards to all, Wallace

June 1, 1929

Dear Bill:

I hardly know what to say about this Louise business. There
is only one thing about which I am certain and that is: I will succumb
to no more sentimental pleas that " we discuss matters between ourselves
in an adult way". That the reason I frankly stated my position to her
and told her that I could not see the way clear at present to pay her
expenses to Reno. I am tired now of submitting passively to her demands
as if I had no side at all. I will not pay her way to Reno and if she
will not sign the agreement I will not make her another payment. This
may be foolhardy in view of the fact that she may be able to soke me for
more in the future, but as I figure it out, Ernst will act immediately,
probably advising her to start suit for separate maintanence in New York.
Which will of course avail them nothing. I have the trump cards. She
cannot get any judge to grant her that which I have not. We have our
agreement drawn up to prove that I tried to do my share. If she brings
up this homo-sexual business , she will get no where. She has already
admitted to Swerling that after her operation all was well sexually
between us and neither can she bring up that knowledge of that one inci-
dent in my life disgusted her so that she was unable to have further
intercourse with me, for she did, on the very day I left New York, April
the sixth. If she will sign the agreement I will do my darndest to
keep up those payments with the proviso that as soon as the shows begin
their road tour I will furnish the necessary lucre for a divorce, and
if she , at that time, is bound to some certain place because of a job,
will see that she has the grounds to get her divorce where she may. If
she wont sign the agreement..to hell with her. I take this stand because
the whole affair has degenerated into a case of pure extortion. She
has written me asking that if I cant send her to Reno I pay her expenses
to Berkeley California so that she can have a vacation. I wonder why

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she thinks I would do what she asks when I am unable to do what had
been originally planned. Moreover why $600 to go to Reno? ...plus
fifty per week? Nothing doing.

I too realize the importance of getting the divorce as soon as
possible, but I won't be a softie in every respect. You might have
Swerling deliver my ultimatum, then plan our action from their next
move.

Met James Cruze, who is quite anxious to see script of Harlem.
Has long wanted to do a first class colored movie and showed me count-
less stories he has considered. He wants to star Evelyn Preer, which
is alright by me so long as he buys the movie rights. Will wire you
immediately any developments. Bowman is also here and he likes her,
so I made a grand little sales talk on how he could make use of both
of them in Harlem. Believe it or not I still have conferences on the
average of once a week with various Pathe officials. I have come to
the conclusion that they must like to talk to me, or that they ~~are~~ be
trying to gain some knowledge. I thus talk quite guardedly, for fear should
I be led into a discussion of Negro life, a dictaphone might be around
which could really my talk to a voracious scenario hound. This may
sound fanciful, but you don't know Hollywood.

All my biographical sketches are finished and on their way to
various magazines, also a couple of other essays. The novel too is
coming along fine. You cannot imagine how *nice* it is to be isolated
for a time, reading and writing as the mood hits you, far away from
the wrangling mob.

Had a dramatic meeting with my father last Sunday. He did not
know I was any where around. He came down to visit his father. I
opened the door. Mutual recognition. I almost feinted from the
sight of him..he is paralyzed and has tuberculosis of the throat and
I do not know what all. The most pitiful albeit nauseating sight I
have seen in many a day. He was more than shocked to see me, in
fact he almost dropped in his tracks but recovered sufficiently to

3

to deny knowing me when someone asked him the question. The effrontery of this after all the emotion he had displayed and from a man in his condition shocked everyone into silence. He shifted about uncomfortably for a moment, then asked me was I not from Salt Lake. I answered in the affirmative. He then asked me my mother's name. I got up and started from the room. He then said. Oh yes, he knew me, I continued out. Before he left he came to my room and asked me to visit him as he was anxious to talk to me. I assented to get rid of him, but I hope I never lay eyes on him again, and I won't on my own volition. All in all I would say that my life is one hell of a mess. How xan one have any respect for one's fellow human beings? It might also interest you to know that I have lost most of my New York friends. Speculations about my income have urged any number of them to write me for money. Refusal has made enemies out of them, which is what I expected and for which I am glad. Even bruce wrote me from London asking me to cable him $100!!! As Walter Winchell would say...I gave vent to a huge belly laugh.

I am completely out of debt..even to my grandmother, and I now have on deposit here almost seven hundred dollars to which I shall hold tenaciously. I will however finance no Reno trip until we know something definite about the Chicago company. If it stops I will need all I have and what is due to see me thru the summer, return to N? Y. and live until road tour starts. If movie rights are sold...o.k. or if Pathe officials should finally cease talking so much and produce a contract. They are congenial fellows, but oh so dumb, and it is only their money in which I am interested, not their company and gin.

That's about all for this time.

So long,

Dear Bill:

And that briefly is what I have had in mind. Is it any
wonder progress has been so slow? Cruze wants a part as I have said
for "velyn Freer, where she can wear clothes, dance, sing, and generally
occupy the spotlight. This story by the way is simply a slightly
camouflaged life story of one Norah Holt Ray, who is one of Negro
"merica's most interesting characters. She however has had one more
husband than the Nannie, he too was wealthy, being of all things
an executive secretary at the Bethelem Steel Plant. And the lovely
Norah got beaucoup deargent from both wealthy husbands. She is now
the rage of "onte Carlo, singing there in an exclusive night club.

She was the original for Lasca in 'an Vechtens Nigger Heaven, but
he only caught her on the fly as it were. Should one give a faithful
depiction of the 'ady the censors would all die of apoplexy so astounding
and a-moral are her escapades. She has figured in innumerable dupe and
alienation affectio

suits, all with prominent and wealthy Negro men, and she has
a whole slew of white suitors. While in New York she resides at the
Ritz or Plaza and makes all the first nights with Carl Van Vechten!!

But the story is partially ruined because Cruze wants only Negroes in
it. "However do you think we can inject novel drama into the skeleton
on the other page. ' have in mind a woman who seems utterly
ruthless once she gets going, but who is shown at the end to be
entirely the slave of the most worthless person with whom she has ever
come into contact. Thus getting sympathy for a rather hard character-
The morons should eat that up especially in the movies, if given
a deal of darky dancing, nigger comedy, and coon shouting. "nd I
would also like to give views of three different sectors of Negro society.
"the upper crust, the lower Pullman porter class, and the theatrical
group, centering largely around the latter, exposing the usual jealousies,
lack of talent (subtly of course), and the queer types which abound
in this milieu. "there is as you know nothing quite so interesting as
backstage among Negro actors. And our Negro strivers ! The movie of

2

course can only cover so much of this. I intend saving Nannie or Norah rather for a novel. She's a great character.

I realize now, Bill, that I should have explained fully about those essays in the beginning. I see you point of view. It's what I asked for of course... an editorial criticism. And I shall watch out for a surplus of invective.

You know I have been anxious to work on Sultan Smith for a long time, and think we can make a much better show out of it than we could out of Cinderella. ( And as an afterthought... Wouldn't Cinderella make a good movie story? The stage atmosphere could be brought in by having the ugly duckling, played by Miss

Preer find fame and fortune on the stage?...) And since I am now enthroned in the citadel of Mormonism, where all available records can be found there seems no better time than now. I shall hie myself to the library and the Mormon library and read all I can find on the subject. Then I shall make out a cast of characters and begin work.

I feel like a millions dollars this morning. Spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in the canyon, hiking, chopping wood, fishing, roughing it in general. Slept all day Wednesday, and awoke this morning fully determined to finish Harlem before the day is done, stopping only to get this letter off to you.

And while in the woods and mountains I wrote scads of poetry none of which however is worth a second look. These poetic fancies of mine are of value only in as much as they make me cultivate rhythms and excercise my vocabulary. I am by no means a poet. Note:

## Stars

Earth turns
Sun sinks westward into sea
And the night brings forth
Your terse banality.

Insensible to mental probing

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seems that they were to produce her show, but they could never
come to terms. She had imported her sweet patooties, a scene
designer, to do the sets. The Shuberts looked upon him and said
no. She would not let the show be produced unless said s. p. did
said sets, and unless Miller and Lysle were the stars. The
redoubtable freres had the two blackamoors under contract and would
not release them. 'Ame an impasse. The lady grew bitter, and oh
the tales she told. It seems as if the Shuberts were lecherous
creatures, insatiable satyrs, who kept assignation couches in their
office and before closing a deal with any actor, writer, or what
not, be they male or female, must subject them to the indignities
of this couch. She especially warned Langston and I against them
fond
saying Jake, I believe, was especially fond of colored youths, and
gave us an example of one poor Negro chap who got into his toils and
whose father came all the way from Georgia armed with a shot gun
then climbed to the roof garden apartment of said lecher and ran him
all the way to his yatch parked somewhere in the East river. You
cannot really appreciate this unless you hear it as originally told,
Swedish accent, European frankness, and blushing ellipses. The
lady repeated her tale of fifth to every comer, and gave them
examples to fit their own particular case just as she had to us.
There seemed to be no end to the Shubert's iniquities. And thus
I wonder not at their holding up our monies. I only hope you dont
have to risk rape in order to collect.

Enough of this foolishness. I now turn my typewriter to
better uses. I received the Times but no World as yet. Best
regards to votre famille.

As always,

Had a letter from Lyon in Paris.

Tuesday

Dear Bill:

I am somewhat despondent today. For the past week I have been unable to write a word, and those things on which I had worked before seem (seem nothing) are quite bad, no finish, no gusto. I do not know what can be wrong. I have torn up my 8,000-word Frederick Douglass essay, and will begin it again. I had one finished on DuBois and another on Garvey, but neither are worth the time and paper on which they were written. I have also written about 4,000 words on my autobiography, but they too are going into the waste paper basket. I lie on the beach all day in the sun waiting for the urge to return. It doesn't, so I come home and spend half the night forcing things out. The result is what might be expected. I am about ready to climb down off the water wagon and go on a spree for about ten days. But I know that dissipation will do no good either. Something is cold within me. I have no enthusiasms, no life. I would like nothing better than to go off into a trance and stay there indefinitely. Physically I am more fit than I have been in many a day. Maybe I am too bloody healthy for my creative powers to function.

Your letter and enclosures received yesterday. They make me reverse some of the things I said to you in my last letter. Continue sending me the checks minus payments to Louise. And do send the League for Mutual Aid that $100. I think that Louise is out of luck as far as Reno and a divorce is concerned. I simply cannot afford it. And unless some unexpected money appears she is out of luck. So please make no disbursements for railroad fare or anything else.

I will probably remain here thru the summer. I can live

2

quite cheaply. My room costs me five dollars per week. My board
is about one dollar per day. Laundry is negligible and my one
trip to Los Angeles per week to which I limit myself costs nothing.
Someone always drives me back and forth so I save the fity cents
per round trip fare. And I am always invited to dinners or else
entertained. And even if I decide to get off the wagon which is
unlikely for another month at least, all I have to do is visit
certain friends at the studios. Not only do they give you all you
can hold to drink, but also insist on giving you two or three
bottles to carry home. My daily dips cost nothing either, nor
the sunbaths or library. This is the promised land. All of
which is told you for the purpose of saying that I am soaking away
as much money as possible, my only outlay on this end being the
weekly checks I send home to my grandmother in order to clear up
my debts to her. So far, so good, maybe I wont have to court
starvation in New York next winter after all. And I will not risk
it under any circumstances to pay for Louise's trip and divorce.
I have already been bled enough or will be if the 2500 is paid.,
plus N. Y. counsel fees.

About my being western agent. I am willing to try and
will begin as soon as copies arrive. I have entry to two studios,
Pathe and M. G. M. and to a lesser extent to Fox. The rest are
harder to get into than heaven. But I will see the powers that
be in the three aforementioned and strive for an audience in others.
It is quite likely we will get a break. My only drawback is that
I have not the slightest idea how one bargains about such matters.
I'll merely get offers and wire them back, if any, awaiting instruc-
tions.

Cinderella went air mail special about three days after
telegram was sent. Its dealy was due to the fact that I dropped
it in an automobile while out on a drive and missed it not until
the people brought it back. Then I aied to postoffice, had it

3

weighted and sent on.

The Lafayette players are here at the Lincoln Theatre
having quite a run. The management, connected with West Coast
Theatres want me to do a play. They have even gone so far as
to give me a copy of Paul Lawrence Dunbar's " The Sport of the
Gods" to consider dramatizing. There is great demand here for
colored show. Not one has appeared here, save these Lafayette
players who have a very large white and black following. The
proposition is that I'll get a third out of the show. If
successful in the neighborhood Lincoln it is to be taken downtown
and presented in other coast cities. I don't like Dunbar's novel.
It is quite bad, but there is the germ of a play in it. It seems
as if these people own the dramatic and movie rights to Dunbars
works. But I won't do this novel. It is dated for one thing,
occurring in the beginning of the century. That of course, since
I said it, is no drawback. It could easily be modernized,
but these people are soaked in the ordinary stock melodrama,
and already have suggested that I make the play as syrupy and
happy ending as possible. I doubt if it would be worthwhile
anyhow. And I am not enthused about writing a play for a stock
company where the casting would be a matter of expediency rather
than experrness. Outside of Bowman there is no one in the cast
worth a second look. Their weekly bills are amusing. Tenth
rate melodramas written for whites and how these Negro actors
do act in them. They did Jekyll and Hyde last week. I almost
had hysterics, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it. The week
before they did "Should a woman tell" and before that "Alias the
Deacon". Evylyn Preer, weighing twice as much as she did, does
all the leads: pure young girl, etc. Its immense.

No new news on my own possible tie-up with movies. Am to
go to M. G. M. again tomorrow. I don't know why. rite soon.

Thursday

Dear Bill:

There is a lot to be said in answer to you last two letters, but first let me get this off my chest. Its about the biographical sketches. I appreciate your criticism but am loathe to accept it en toto. Contrary to your appraisal, I think the DuBois one the best of the group with the Douglass as the least successful and interesting, thereby no doubt giving proof of my stubbornness and vanity. I purposely composed them as they stand, and do not believe I would be able to change the style. Should I make them replicas of the ordinary popular biographical sketch I would defeat my purpose in trying for the first time in the history of Negro writing to be critical, subjectively truthful, and unconventional in my appraisal of these men. Perhaps it is presumptious for one as little known as myself to speak excathedra, but someone has to do it, and to date no one else has. Considered as parts of the book I have in mind they seem to be adequate and necessary altho I would be the last to suggest that they could not be improved. The entire book, every essay, is more or less an expression of my own personality, and in it is formulated, rather immaturely I admit, premises for a new philosophy for a new generation of younger Negroes. Admitted that perhaps I am aiming too high, admitted that perhaps I am not yet ripe for such a task, but I had to do it, and do it in the way it now stands.

Thus while I am willing to rewrite in the interests of literary composition, I am not willing to do a volte face and produce interesting but commonplace sketches of Negroes who for the most part are immune to intellectual criticism or appraisal. I am expressing rather poorly perhaps what I have in mind, and of course I am not overlooking the possibility that I may be all wet. Nevertheless I think once you see the entire volume, preface and all, you will

understand why those sketches had to be written as they are. Shoot them back to me anyway. I already have notes for revision, and I am anxious to get the volume to Furman and get the reaction of you his readers. As I say, they may not do for magazine reproduction although I have had another letter from Mencken in which he again expressed regret for not being able to use them because he was overloaded with articles on Negro life, and wished to preserve a balance, adding that was I unable to find another market to re-submit them to him at a later date. He seemed to sense what I was trying to do and that it a necessary and good thing. I want you to see the entire volume, then once more send me your reaction. and understand I want you to understand that I do appreciate your criticism even if I do cavil and dissent.

I received your long letter, it following close on my heels from California. Coming as it did when I was striving to do what you did in the letter it meant a great deal to me. The curse of being the neurotic son of neurotic parents is that one is such a weakling and succumbs so easily to mental ills which soon become manifest in one's body. Had I not snapped out of it there is no doubt but what would have become in short order an incurable consumptive. As it is I keep my mind entirely out of such personal channels, foregoing the intense and pleasurable suffering of introspection, get plenty of fresh air, drink a quart of milk per day, eat plenty of fresh eggs, fruits and vegetables, and continue my codliver oil although I am certain it adds materially to my discomfort in this hot weather. I had planned a hiking and camping trip into a nearby canyon with a group of former school chums this week but the doctor advised against it. I shall however go next week, and, coincidental with your advice, I have a friend who has a fruit farm on the outskirts of town, and I intend to spend a week with him sometime next month....picking fruit. I fear for

3

for the trees, the pickled fruit and certain portions of my anatomy
which might suffer when the earth calls its own and I tumble
from rickety stepladders.

Of writing I have done little, almost nothing. And the
heaviest reading since my arrival in Salt Lake has been Alice in
Wonderland.

But I am beginning to feel the itch. I intend to finish up
Harlem before the week is out, hoping to get it to you by the
first of August.

There are days when I feel fine, followed by days when I am
too weak hardly to lift a fountain pen. The weather of course,
it is dmanably hot here, is in some degree to blame. But on the
whole I am improving rapidly, picking up flesh and getting a
sparkle in my eye to say nothing of a healthy outlook on life
in general and myself in particular.

Glad to hear about Harlem. Hope you get a good road company
together. And Blatts movie idea listens well, but I wonder just
how much success he will have. The Cruze story gets nowhere at all.
I shall type out a synopsis of what I have in mind and shoot it to
you sometime this week. And is there any truth in the rumor that
Robert Levy, manager of The Lafayette Players, has obtained the
coast rights for Harlem? Such is the information his star Evelyn
Preer writes to me. Anxiously awaiting all the numerous packets
I asked for, and repeating my request that you send me the sketches
as quickly as possible, and be as ruthless with the manuscript of
the entire volume as you were with these excerpts from My best regards
to la famille. I now retire to my porch hammock.

Dear Bill:

Herein is my first contribution to the beginnings
of Sultan Smith. Have immersed myself in Mormon history.
And am raring to go. Can send you any information you might
want. Just ask questions.

Also enclosed is the final word from M.G.M. The hig
mogul of the story department has finally said his peice.

Just had a letter from Miss Fishbein, asking me to
send her agents in Hollywoods information about to whom the
play has been submitted, etc. I don't know what to answer her
not having heard from you. I have had final "noes" from
M. G. M., Pathe, Fox and James Cruze, they are welcome, if
you say so, to go further. But what of Blatt's plan? I'll
send them a copy if you say so, but I have little hopes for
them unless they can interest some of the independents from
whom we would not get much of a price.

Harlem has not yet returned from L. A. "I'll shoot it
to you so soon as it arrives."

Finally finished revising manuscript and sent
Aunt Hagar's Children to Macauley.

As a consequence of my recent flurry of work I am
a little worn out. I intend to rest a few days, then begin again.

Received sketches, Times and World. Many, many
thanks.

Curses on the Shuberts and that is all I suppose
until I hear from you,

Best regards,

Saturday

Dear Bill:

I announced in my letter to you the other day that I intended
to finish Harlem. I have. The entire thing has gone to my typist. You
shall have it soon as she finishes her work.

Having written or rather re-written the first half, i. e.
that portion which occurs before the actual opening of the play, and
having had it typed, I tore up the thing and rewrote it completely.
I had, you see, elaborated on Virginia's version, and as a result had
produced a long, windy, pedantic opening which by no means was interesting
or compatible with the latter half. This time I condensed both versions,
Virginia's and mine, having as little text as possible before the actual
opening of the play where Virginia has so woven in the dialogue that
it moves quickly and interestingly. My preamble has been made as short as
possible. It really is all that is necessary without courting repetition.

Having finished said novel I went downtown in search of a typist.
There are no colored stenographers about. Undaunted I found a public
stenographer in one of the downtown offices. Smilingly I presented her
with my manuscript. The lady took it not. With hostility she regarded
me. And icily informed me that she was much too busy to take any work.
Still smiling I departed, came home, packed up the manuscript, took it
to the postoffice and sent it to a girl friend of mine in Los Angeles.
She is a good typist, reasonable and speedy. And so much for Harlem.
Except...don't you think Virginia should get full credit? I really have
done very little, and I doubt if you will find much more to do. Out-
side of some condensing in the first quarter and the adding and cutting
of individual lines thruout the rest, I have done absolutely nothing. And
berate myself for not having had it done a long time ago.

I still feel fine and while awaiting your verdict on the Cruze

2

synopsis do some more work on my novel. I have also almost finished revising the sketches except the Harvey one of which I have no copy, and which I have not yet received from you. And I still spout poetry, but I will spare you any examples. They are all pretty terrible.

And my room is crowded with books on Joseph Smith and the early Mormons. I even have a book of Mormon, confessions of one of Brigham's wives and much other juicy material, both scandalous and serious. Some emancipated Mormons I know here have aided me in gathering material, and I have gone directly to the Church library for the rest. Give me a week and I will have a cast of characters and ideas enough to begin work or at least to transmit to you so we can develop a continuity.

That is all I suppose. Have you any definite idea when the road company of Harlem begins its activities? Or any new news concerning Jeremiah? And have you perchance heard of Hemsley Winfield's Negro art Theatre in Cherry Lane where he is presenting Palome with himself in the title role? I saw him essay this once before. It was immense. Just imagine our former Jimmie attired in vêts, and doing the famous dance, finally stepping to a g string. Variety had some amusing comment on the proceedings. And I notice that Bamboola closed, thirty grand in the red. Variety says that Cooper was associated with Blatt in the producing of Harlem. Who is Irving Cooper? I do not remember him.

That is all for this time. Best regards of course to the Rapp household.

Jubilantly, for a change,

Thursday

Dear Bill:

When I received your wire from Cavalier Beach I had my suspicions. Therefore your news did not surprise me. You know that I am a peak sincerely when I say that I am most glad the grand event occurred, and that I am bubbling over with good wishes. Heres luck and congratulations to you both.

The Reno business is o. k. As I figure things out Mr. Blatt owes us four weeks royalties which will more than cover the expense. I am glad that you took this matter under consideration and acted in a sensible manner. Nevertheless I would like to have a nice poke as the honorable Louise's jaw. She seems intent on making me as miserable as possible, writing ridiculous letters to my folks and doing all she can to alienate friends of mine from me. She flatters me. I could never be the villain she has tried to make some people believe existed. Her latest is to write to Miss Randolph (whom you will remember) who had asked her in all friendliness to lunch. Louise responded in a hysterical letter, alleging that I had flaunted my friendship with Jeannette &c&c&c to her during our married life, and striven hard to make her (Louise) believe that &c&c&c&c Miss Randolph and I were committing adultery. Fortunately, Jeannette had enough sense to know that I wasn't such a moronic cad. She dismissed the matter and renewed her invitation. Needless to say it was turned down.

On pins and needles awaiting word from Hollywood and Culver City. Things look favorable. I had to send for another copy of Harlem. Chet and Ed replied that it was on the way. Have an appointment at Fox tomorrow. Will see James Cruze next week. My only worry now is what to do if one responds and the others seems about to bite. Should first come be first served or should I play ball and wait for further developments? I am a poor salesman and a worse bargainer. I shall however call upon the shades of my Jewish ancestors to stand by.

2

The novel has not arrived yet, but I shall devote all my time to it once it is here. Is not Hearst a possible purchaser of serial and syndicate rights? To me he seems like the best bet. His papers run such things and Harlem would be a novelties as well as sufficiently sensational to intrigue his editors and readers.

My own novel is coming along nicely. I am now working on the last essay for my miscellany. And by the way please rush me a copy of Dance "ife containing my article. I have them all now but that. It is necessary that I receive it as soon as possible as Furman is waiting for the uncompleted volume. And by the way again may I not borrow " Color Parade" for a title? It fits and if we are not going to use it for our collection of three plays I would like to use it for this collection of articles on Aframericana. If you say no then get ye to work and suggest other possible titles. I'm stumped beyond that. The only other one I have in mind is Chiarascuro which is rather highbrow and obscure.

Mencken has had three of my bographical essays for over three weeks. Maybe he's going to take them. They return things fast at his office unless considered favorably. I have shot another to Harpers, and Plain Talk and The Bookman are also being bombarded.

The sun is shining for the first time in over two weeks.
So I think I'll celebrate by taking a day off on the beach.

Best regards to Virginia. Write soon, taking especial notice of various queries and requests.

So long,

Friday

Dear Bill:

Talk about extremes. Physically I seem to vacillate from one to another. One month ago I was complaining about being too bloody healthy to work, and now, I seem to be shrinking away into skeleton. Gone are all my proudly gained pounds and zest for life. And meanwhile I wonder what it is all about. It seemed to have started when I caught a chill while cavorting in the Pacific. Then this damnable "unusual" weather aggravated the condition. The result is I have a nasty cough, frequent chills and fever and a suspicion of a spot on my left lung. I am certain that a change of altitude will take care of all that. Hence I go to Salt Lake soon as possible. It's not a matter of rest. I still get almost too much of that. Its the climate and of course mental attitudes.

Have Blatt get copies of Harlem to Tiffany- Stahl and R. K. O. and Asher and Green. The latter are about to do Black Boy with Paul Robeson. I don't know how to get in touch with any of them. And I will probably committ mayhem if I have to discuss Harlem with any more Isralite garment makers., Negro movies are at a complete standstill however. The fate of Halleluliah will decide all. And until this Equity business is straightened out there will be little experimenting or new production plans. Moreover there is actually a deal of resentment among the white movie contingent at the working of Negro actors. They want to black up. God save us. Can you imagine Colleen Moore playing Cordelia, or Douglas Fairbanks leaping around as Jeremiah? Or maybe John Barrymore since Ethel is going to black up and hoof in a dramatized version of Scarlet Sister Mary.

Another item: I was told at M. G. M. that were it possible for me to pass for white, i. e. should I have happened to be a mulatto, I could possibly have become connected with their staff. Such is the case with Jo Trent in the musical department. They did not mind my

2

being a Negro, oh, no, it was just that I was too obviously one.
And such are the things which add to the gaiety of Wallace Thurman.

I am also about ready to arm myself with hand grenades
and annihilate all magazine editors. I sent Frederick Douglass to
Harpers. They sent it back with the regular rejection slip, but
with the word "too long for our purposes" underlined. Heigh ho, said
I, it must have possibilities, so I sent it to Hersey's Famous Lives.
They have just returned it without even a printed rejection slip.
I told you that Mencken returned Garvey and DuBois with a rather
nice and encouraging little note. I sent DuBois to the Century.
Garvey to Plain Talk. The first was returned this morning and again
no rejection slip. The second is still away. And Booker T. Washington
is at Scribners. I am going to impose upon you (my occupation
for the past two or is it three, years?) and send them on to you for
editorial judgement, giving me your opinion as to what is wrong if
anything and how I could best improve them. My own theory is that
magazine editors being what they are and eternally accepting the
men I have dared to interpret and criticize as the only ones capable
of discussing Negro questions, dismiss me as a young upstart speaking
without authority. On the other hand, the things may not be as good
as I think they are. Hence I call upon you. You understand what I
want. No rewriting except as done by myself, but editorial criticism,
because they must be good before going into a book. The Douglass one
is biographical rather than interpretive like the other three., mainly
because so little is known of Douglass in comparison with DuBois,
"ashington and Garvey. But, if you think they are good or will be
with a little more revision, to the publisher they go despite magazine
rejection slips. Look for them under separate cover. As I aforesaid
two are now out.

I am following the Williamses relentlessly through their
adventures in Harlem, and, strangely, am interested once more in
them as human beings. About half finished. May have present portion

3

typed next week and send it on.

Does Harlem take to the road again in the fall or is it
definitely consigned to the storehouse?

Apropos of films, Present ground work may prove valuable in
case Halleluliah goes over and there is demand for colored features,
despite rumored blacklisting of Harlem by Czar Hayes. And I imagine
Jeremiah would be a riot in the movies. I am almost willing to bet
it could be sold now.

Had a glorious fourth of July. Remained in bed all day and
listened to the fireworks in the street and the detonation of
battleships moored in the harbor. A lead or rather reread a volume
of Swann's "ay by Proust, wrote a poem which is pretty awful, and
added about five hundred words to story I am doing to submit to
James Cruze.

Give my best regards to Virginia and Harl. I will be most
glad to see all of you once more. And perchance is Mrs. Thurman
in Reno?

As ever, your pestiferous collaborator,

2

of the month. Having ridden in luxury from L. A. here, and having
paid doctor bills both here and there, my reserve fund has dwindled
to the point where I barely have my return fare. And with things
critical here, my grandfather is planning to open up some sort of
business in Elko, Nevada, god alone knows what or why, I must
do a little bit toward keeping up with expenses. Of course they
own their home, and have all of their winter's fuel a d staple
foods put by, and I happen to know they are far from being poor,
but you know how elderly people cry wolf, being afraid that they
might go broke in their extreme old age. Thus I am at the mercy
of the Shuberts, for while I can stay here contentedly this
month so long as I keep busy working, it will be a hard job
to remain away from N. Y. much longer. Do you realize it has
been five months since I left Grand Central Station?

Am writing to Miss Fishbein's agents, telling them
the whole story. Be sure to let me know how Hallelujah is
received in N. Y. I believe it to be a superb picture, unless
it has been ruined in cutting, I saw eighteen reels, and parts
of it are far superior to the average movie.

That's all for the present. Look for Cordelia's demise
anytime after this arrives. My best regards to Virginia and Earl.

As always,

Dear Bill:

Thanks for the clippings which came this morning.
And the novel was mailed yesterday. I am indeed sorry that I have
delayed this so long, only to find when completely typed that it is
still inadequate. I can however do any necessary adding at a word
from you. It won't take me any time to lengthen any portion you
believe can stand it. I too hope we can have it out by the time
the road show goes out.

Hurrah for Halleluliah. Vvidently they did not
ruin it entirely in the cutting room. I had certainly expected
them to change the ending, for their were many murmurs against it.
Polyanina as it is they wanted the girl to reform and become a
missionary along with Zeke. Dont you like Nina Mae? Wouldnt she
make a good movie Cordelia?

I am resting content, doing a great deal of work on
my novel. I hope to have the first draft completed by the end of
next week. There will be months of rewriting, but the groundwork
will be laid, and revision can go on unhampered by minor worries
about story, character development, etc.

By the second week in September I hope to leave here.
My grandmother will be out of the hospital about the first. I will
stay one week with her and start towards Gotham. I still have
railroad fare, and hope to keep it. After that . . . . . . . maybe the
"huber's treasurer will have returned. I still am wondering what
can be done about my separation and divorce agreement. Feeling
fine. Will be completely up to par when I do get to N. Y. Other-
wise I would isolate myself, despite the misery, for another month.

Love to the happy cohorts,

From,