PAUL C. BRYNAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 07/29/1980 - HFSID 315196

PAUL C. BRYNAN
Harry Belafonte's agent signs on his behalf apologizing for being unable to attend the Annual Theatre World Awards
Typed letter signed: "Paul C. Brynan", in blue ink, 1 page, 8½x11. July 29, 1980. New York City, New York. In full: "Dear Mr. Willis; Thank you for your letter of April 10th inviting Mr. Belafonte to the Awards Ceremony on May 22nd. Mr. Belafonte was out of the country and we only just received your letter (which you sent to his home) here at the office today. I know Mr. Belafonte would want me to apologize on his behalf. In the future if you will please mail all correspondence to the office we will be able to track Mr. Belafonte down and inform him. With all best wishes. Sincerely". Paul C. Brynan was an agent at Belafonte Enterprises, Inc., signing the latter of behalf of Harry Belafonte. Harry Belafonte, Jr. (b. 1927), the son of Jamaican immigrants, studied at the Actors Studio, the drama workshop at the New York School for Social Research and the American Negro Theater. After appearing on the New York stage and singing in cabarets, he made his film debut in Bright Road (1953). The following year, Belafonte won a Tony Award for John Murray Anderson's Almanac and starred in Carmen Jones, the second film in his string of hits. In 1956, he spearheaded the Calypso music craze with his album Calypso. The album was number one on the charts for an amazing 31 weeks. Belafonte, who also became television's first Black producer, won Emmy Awards in 1960 for his TV special, Tonight With Harry Belafonte, and in 1985 for initiating the all-star We Are the World video. John A. Willis (1916-2010), active in Theatre World from the beginning, became its chief editor in 1965, holding that position until 2008. Willis is regarded as one of the foremost theatre and film historians of the 20th century. While producing (and presenting) the annual Theatre World Awards, Willis also served on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards. Theatre World, which received its own Tony for Excellence in Theatre in 2001, continues under chief editor Ben Hodges. Surface creases. Corners lightly worn and creased. Normal mailing folds. Lightly toned. Pencil scribbles on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.