The A. S. Fleischman papers span the years 1954 to 1997 and encompass five linear feet. The collection consists of production files (produced and unproduced), television files (produced and unproduced), and subject files. The collection covers Fleischman’s work as a writer for film and television. There is very little material on his work as an author of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books, except as it relates to script adaptations of his novels.

The production files (produced) consist almost entirely of script material. There are numerous drafts of the screenplays for his first three films, BLOOD ALLEY (1955), adapted from his novel of the same name, GOOD-BYE, MY LADY (1956), and LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE (1958), all written for William Wellman. There is also a small amount of production material for LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE, including correspondence and storyboards. Of interest is a 1919 program for the dedication ceremony of Baylies Square honoring United States Lieutenant Frank Leaman Baylies, which was used as research for the film. There are several drafts of the script for DEADLY COMPANIONS (1961), adapted from his novel of the same name, as well as a shooting schedule and publicity booklet. The largest amount of script material covers SCALAWAG (1973), a loose adaptation of “Treasure Island” credited to Fleischman and Albert Maltz, which includes a draft written by Fleischman and Kirk Douglas, the film’s director, producer, and lead actor. There is also material on THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN (1967), the film adaptation of Fleischman’s popular children’s novel “By the Great Horn Spoon!”, adapted by Lowell S. Hawley, including a draft of Hawley’s script and a comic book adaptation of the film.

The production files (unproduced) contain script material and some correspondence for seven unproduced projects. There is a screenplay for EARTHQUAKE MCGOON, co-written with Corey Ford, and numerous drafts of a script titled HARK, based on earlier material written by Philip Dunne and William Roberts. Fleischman also worked on adapting two more of his novels for film and there are over a dozen drafts for THE LAZARUS GAME, from his 1963 novel “The Venetian Blonde,” and a few scripts for SINGAPORE EAST, from his novel “Malay Woman.” There is substantial material for two projects involving producer Frank P. Rosenberg. The first, PIECES OF EIGHT, is represented by several step outlines by Fleischman, as well as a script co-written with the writing team Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, from a story by Fleischman and Rosenberg. The second, ROPATI, is represented by treatments, story notes, and scripts.

The television files (produced) consist of material for THE WHIPPING BOY (1994), Fleischman’s adaptation of his novel of the same name. Much of it is script material, including story notes from early meetings with the Disney Channel, as well as step outlines and several drafts of the script. There is also a project proposal which includes casting ideas. The television files (unproduced) consist of material for Fleischman’s adaptation of his 1971 children’s novel “Jingo Django,” which he worked on for over two decades, including script notes from Norton W. Wright of the Children’s Television Workshop and producer Norman Siderow.

The subject files are the smallest series in the collection and consists of copies of Fleischman’s books “The Abracadabra Kid” and “Mr. Mysterious and Company” as well as a few clippings files. Of interest are the clippings regarding Carousel Productions, the production company founded by Fleischman, Maureen O’Hara, and O’Hara’s brother, Charles B. Fitzsimons, to produce THE DEADLY COMPANIONS.

A.S. Fleischman was born Avrom Zalmon Fleischman in Brooklyn on March 16, 1920. His mother anglicized his name to Albert Sidney and he often alternated between crediting himself as Sid Fleischman on his work as a children’s author and A. S. Fleischman on his screenplays and novels for adults. Fleischman grew up in San Diego and from an early age became fascinated with magic, a topic that would be the subject of several of his published works, including his first book,” Between Cocktails,” a collection of magic tricks published when he was 19. He joined the United States Navy in 1941 and served in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from San Diego State University in 1949 and began reporting for a local newspaper, the “San Diego Daily Journal,” before focusing on writing fiction full-time. From the late 1940s to the early 1960s, he published several suspense novels for adults.

Fleischman entered the film industry with his screenplay for BLOOD ALLEY (1955), an adaptation of his novel of the same name. The film’s director, William Wellman, then hired Fleischman to script two more films for him, GOOD-BYE, MY LADY (1956) and LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE (1958). He adapted his novel “Yellowleg” for THE DEADLY COMPANIONS (1961), which became Sam Peckinpah’s first credit as a film director. He later co-wrote SCALAWAG (1973), an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” with Albert Maltz. Fleischman’s fiction work also provided the source material for several film projects written by other screenwriters. His novel “Counterspy Express” was adapted for SPY IN THE SKY! (1958) while GHOST IN THE NOONDAY SUN (1973) was adapted from his children’s novel of the same name. One of his most enduring children’s novels, “By the Great Horn Spoon!” was brought to the screen in 1967 as THE ADVENTURES OF BULLWHIP GRIFFIN. Fleischman’s final credit in the film industry came with his teleplay for THE WHIPPING BOY (1994), adapted from his children’s novel of the same name.

Though he experienced success with both film and fiction for adults, Fleischman is best remembered as a children’s author. He wrote over 50 books for children, crafting stories often rooted in American history. He also wrote biographies of Harry Houdini, Mark Twain, and Charlie Chaplin intended for young readers. His work was highly regarded in the field; “Humbug Mountain” was awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, “The Whipping Boy” was awarded the Newbery Medal, and “The Entertainer and the Dybbuk” was awarded the Sydney Taylor Book Award. Fleischman was a founding member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and in 2003 the society created the Sid Fleischman Humor Award in his honor.