2022-05-12 Guide to the John A. Flory Film Production Papers, 1939-1985 SPEC.TRI.0089 Finding aid prepared by Audrey Wimbiscus Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2022 May This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2022-05-12T09:54-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard John A. Flory Film Production Papers SPEC.TRI.0089 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 2.0 Cubic feet 1939-1985 John A. Flory (1910-1987) was a film producer, writer, and director of non-theatrical films; in his later career, he founded Spacefilms, Inc., a film production company that focused on science fiction films. The John A. Flory Film Production Papers, 1939-1985, consist of materials he used in the course of his film production career, most notably development and pre-production materials such as screenplays, shot lists, and research materials for two science fiction films. It also contains other materials such as professional organization newsletters and reference materials about the film industry in general. (5) 5" letter document boxes English Flory, John A. Arrangement of Materials

The John A. Flory Film Production Papers is arranged in 3 series:

Series 1: A Life for the Stars Series 2: Welcome to Mars Series 3: Other Professional Papers

 Acquisitions Information

Unknown.

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], John A. Flory Film Production Papers, SPEC.TRI.0089, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2022 May; Finding aid written by: Audrey Wimbiscus, 2022 May

 Biographical Note

John A. Flory (1910-1987) was a film producer, writer, and director of non-theatrical films from Cleveland, Ohio. From 1941-1948, he was a partner at Grant, Flory, and Williams, Inc., which produced and distributed corporate and educational films. Flory established his own production company, Flory Films, Inc., in 1948, and in 1950 began working at Eastman Kodak Co., where he worked as an advisor on non-theatrical films until his retirement in 1971. Following his retirement, Flory founded the production company Spacefilms, Inc., which focused on the production of realistic science fiction films.

 Scope and Contents

The John A. Flory Film Production Papers, 1939-1985, consist of materials he used in the course of his film production career, most notably development and pre-production materials such as screenplays, shot lists, and research materials for the science fiction films A Life for the Stars and Welcome to Mars. Both films would have been based on science fiction stories by author James Blish; neither of them ultimately made it into production. The collection also contains other professional papers such as professional organization newsletters, reference materials about the film industry, and a company summary of Flory's production company, Flory Films, Inc.

 Blish, James Flory, John A. Spacefilms, Inc. A life for the stars Educational films--United States--20th century Instructional films--United States--20th century Motion picture producers and directors--United States--20th century Motion pictures--Production and direction--United States--20th century Motion pictures--Research--United States--20th century Science fiction films--United States--Production and direction--20th century Screenplays Screenwriters--United States--20th century Welcome to Mars A Life for the Stars Series 1 1953-1985 Scope and Contents

A Life for the Stars was a science fiction novel written by James Blish originally published in 1962; John Flory and Blish unsuccessfully attempted to produce a film version of the novel through Flory's production company, Spacefilms, Inc. This series is arranged in alphabetical order by folder title, which were taken from Flory's original folder titles. Materials in this series reflect development and pre-production film materials, such as background research, location research, potential film sequences, draft manuscript screenplays and storyboards.

 Doodle boards 1 1 1967-1969 Draft manuscript screenplay 1 2-5 2 1-2 1966 July 15 Location research 2 3 1953-1984 Research clippings 2 4 1976, 1985 Miniatures 2 5 1967 April 3 "New York in Photographs" booklet 2 6 1961 Props research, shot list 2 7 1967 Research clippings 2 8 1964-1984 Sequences E, F, G 2 9 1960s Sequence G 2 10 1960s Sequence H 2 11 1960s Series synopsis draft, correspondence 3 1 1967 May 21 Storyboard 3 2 1966 November - 1967 May Welcome to Mars Series 2 1941-1985 Scope and Contents

Welcome to Mars was a science fiction novel written by James Blish originally published in 1967; John Flory and Blish unsuccessfully attempted to produce a film version of the novel through Flory's production company, Spacefilms, Inc. This series is arranged in alphabetical order by folder title, which were taken from Flory's original folder titles. Materials in this series reflect development and pre-production film materials, such as background and location research on Mars, an annotated screenplay, shot lists, and copies of the science-fiction periodical Worlds of IF, where Welcome to Mars was initially published in serial form.

 Annotated work copy screenplay 3 3 1969 January 14 Astronomy - Mars research 3 4 1941-1985 Astronomy - Mars research 3 5 1955-1985 Astronomy - Mars research 3 6-7 1960-1985 January 14, 1969 budget version 4 1 1975 October 1 Life on Mars research 4 2 1966-1977 Mars data research clippings 4 3 1955-1977 Mars data research clippings 4 4 1973-1976 Mars research 4 5 1963-1983 Partial shot list 4 6 1960s Shot lists 4 7 1969, 1975 "Welcome to Mars!" screenplay 4 8 1969 January 14 Worlds of IF science fiction 4 9 5 1 1966 July Worlds of IF science fiction 5 2 1966 August Worlds of IF science fiction 5 3 1966 September Other Professional Papers Series 3 1939-1940s Scope and Contents

The Other Professional Papers series contains booklets, publications, and general research materials used by Flory during his film production career; materials are arranged in chronological order.

 New York Directory of Motion Picture Theatres 5 4 1939 Selling to and thru the Movies 5 5 1939 The Stereograph and the Lantern Slide in Education booklet 5 6 1939 How to Make Handmade Lantern Slides booklet 5 7 1940 National Theatre Conference Quarterly Bulletin 5 8 1941 April Negro films research 5 9-10 1942-1947 "Motion Picture Letter" newsletter 5 11 1944-1947 New Movies: The National Board of Review Magazine 5 12 1945 April Audience reaction opinion meter 5 13 1946-1947 Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. pamphlets 5 14 1946-1948 Flory Films, Inc. company summary 5 15 1949 May "Movie Star News: Journal of Movie Still Collector's Club," Things to Come movie stills 5 16 1940s