Guide to the Thomas Seller papers, 1948-1978 M0303

Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1999, modified 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Thomas Seller Papers
Creator: Seller, Thomas
Identifier/Call Number: M0303
Identifier/Call Number: 475
Physical Description: 3.75 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1948-1978

Scope and Content

Scripts, screenplays, novel typescripts, correspondence, notes, publicity and photo albums, programs and journals.

Biographical Note

American screenwriter for motion pictures and television.

Preferred Citation:

[Identification of item] Thomas Seller Papers , M0303, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Provenance

Gift, 1978 and 1986.

Publication Rights

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Materials must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

 

Individually catalogued items 155241

Processing Information

These books were separated and catalogued individually as as part of the Screenplay collection.
 

THE TALL BOY 155967

 

Script: Big Sam's boy 155993 12/23/60

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: A scheme of hearts 155991 2/10/61

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: A kind of courage 155989 2/20/61

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The leopards spots 155987 8/29/61

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The property of the crown 155985 1/8/62

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Quarantine 155983 2/1/62

 

Script: The four queens 155981 1/29/62

 

Script: The four queens 155979 2/1/62

 

Outline: Return of the prodigal (Alternate title for Big Sam's boy) 155977 12/14/60

 

Outline: The leopards spots 155975 1/30/60

 

Treatment: The property of the crown 155973 1/10/62

 

Treatment: The property of the crown 155971 1/11/62

 

Treatment: The four queens 155969

 

RIVERBOAT 155933

 

Script: Cargo for canyon creek (Earlier title for the unforgiven) 155965 3/20/59

 

Script: The unforgiven (Earlier title for the Barrier) 155963 4/3/59

 

Script: The barrier 155961 6/4/59

 

Script: Jessie Quinn 155959 9/15/59

 

ScriptJessie Quinn 155957 2/7/62

 

Script: Sailors on horseback 155955 11/15/69

 

Script: Sailors on horseback 155953 11/25/59

 

Script: The river makers (formerly the ditch diggers) 155951 1/4/60

 

Treatment: The patriot (earlier title to lady from texas) 155949 8/24/59

 

Treatment: The lady from texas (earlier title to Jessie Quinn) 155947 8/24/59

 

Treatment: Sailors on horseback 155945 10/26/59

 

Treatment: The ditch diggers 155943 11/16/59

 

Outline: The landlubbers (earlier title to sailors on horseback) 155941 10/20/59

 

Outline: Saliors on horseback 155939 10/27/59

 

Treatment: Sailors on horseback 155937 10/28/59

 

Outline: The ditch diggers 155935 11/11/59

 

THE LONE RANGER 155779

 

Script: Legion of old timers 155931 5/10/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Rustlers hideout 155929 5/25/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Pete and Pedro 155927 9/2/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Old Joe's sister 155925 10/17/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The masked rider 155923 10/22/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The mystery of cannonball McKay 155921 5/13/49

 

Script: Gredd for gold 155919 12/1/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Man of the house 155917 12/8/49

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Jim Tylers Past 155915 12/20/49

 

Script: The man with two faces 155913 1/4/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Buried treasure 155911 1/16/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Billie the great 155909 2/1/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Never say die 155907 2/7/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Death trap 155905 2/20/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Bullets for Ballots 155903 3/14/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Devils pass 155901 3/24/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Damsels in distress 155899 4/7/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Eye for an eye 155897 4/21/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Trouble for Tonto 155895 5/3/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The silent voice 155893 8/15/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Two gold lockets 155891 9/6/50

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Through the wall 155889 4/5/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Outlaws son 155887 4/18/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The map 155885 5/2/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Ranger in danger 155883 6/23/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The godless men 155881 6/11/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Colorado gold 155879 5/25/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Wanted: the lone ranger 155877 7/2/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The cross of santo domingo 155875 3/19/56

 

Script: The cross of santo domingo 155873 2/24/56

 

Script: The return of dom Pedro O'Sullivan 155871 3/14/56

 

Script: The return of dom Pedro O'Sullivan 155869 3/29/56

 

Script: Mission for Tonto 155867 4/30/56

 

Script: Outlaws in grease paint 155865 6/18/56

 

Script: Outlaws in grease paint 155863 6/21/56

 

Script: Decision for Chris McKeever 155861 6/13/56

 

Script: Decision for Chris McKeever 155859 6/22/56

 

Script: The law and Miss Aggie 155857 7/27/56

 

Script: The law and Miss Aggie 155855 7/31/56

 

Script: Two against two 155853 9/25/56

 

Script: Two againdt two 155851 10/1/56

 

Script: The prince of buffalo gap 155849 10/4/56

 

Script: The prince of buffalo gap 155847 10/11/56

 

Alterations of Outlaws in grease paint 155845 7/4/56

 

Lone Ranger do's and don'ts 155843

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Lone Ranger Episodes (List) 155841

 

Lone Ranger story costs (week of 155839 6/22/50)

 

Tom Seller background and credits 155837

 

Letter: comments on scripts 155835 6/22/49

 

Letter: comments on script revisions. 155833 5/22/49

 

Letter: comments on script 155831 5/9/50

 

Letter; comments on script 155829 5/9/50

 

Letter; comments on film 155827 10/8/50

 

Letter: comments on script 155825 8/9/50

 

Letter: comments on script 155823 8/9/50

 

Letter: comments on script 155821 9/21/50

 

Letter: comments on script revisions 155819 9/21/50

 

Comments on script Sherrif of gunstock 155817

 

Comments on script White man's magic 155815

 

Memo: Lone Ranger scripts 155813 4/30/52

 

Memo: Lone Ranger scripts 155811 5/19/52

 

Memo: Script length 155809 7/2/52

 

Memo: Show length 155807 7/8/52

 

Memo: Script endings. 155805 7/31/52

 

Release schedual second series Lone Ranger 155803 10/13/52

 

Memo: The leads and their horses 155801

 

Description of the leads 155799

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Standards and background: the Lone Ranger 155797

 

Lone Ranger Episodes 155795

 

Shooting schedual: Wanted the Lone Ranger 155793

 

Notes:Lone Ranger gimmicks 155791

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Descriptions: semi- regular characters 155789

 

Cast lists for various episodes 155787

Container Summary: (21)
 

Treatment: The hostages 155785

 

Treatment: The last Holdup 155783

 

Back to Haunt me Article by Tom Seller 155781

 

WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY 155743

 

Treatment: Pancho a dog of the plain 155777 12/19/66

 

Treatment: Pancho a dog of the plain 155775 1/3/67

 

Treatment: Pancho (Formerly Pancho a dog of the plain) 155773 2/2/67

 

Treatment (Revised) Pancho 155771 2/22/67

 

Third draft Treatment: Barry of the great St. Bernard 155769 11/28/66

 

Revised Treatment: Barry of the great St. Bernard 155767 6/10/67

 

Interoffice communication: Analysis of Barry 155765 11/5/66

 

Letter: on Barry 155763

 

Comments on suggestions 155761 6/26/67

 

Second Revised Treatment: Barry of the great St. Bernard 155759 10/23/67

 

Third Revised Treatment: Barry of the great St. Bernard 155757 1/4/68

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Outline: Snow bear 155755 2/20/68

 

Step Sheet: Snow bear 155753 2/15/68

 

Notes on Polar Bears 155751

Container Summary: 24 pages
 

Revised Treatment: Snow bear 155749

 

Final Draft narration: Snow bear 155747

 

Final draft narration and continuity- theatrical: Snow bear 155745 3/17/70

 

RAWHIDE 155713

 

Script: The blue spy 155741 7/11/61

 

Script: The blue spy 155739 7/31/61

 

Script: The greedy town 155737 8/21/61

 

Script: The hasty marriage 155735 4/10/62

 

Script: The custodians (First draft) 155733 2/17/65

 

Script: The custodians (Second draft) 155731 2/22/65

 

Treatment: Incident of the blue spy (with comments) 155729 6/16/61

 

Treatment: Incident of the greedy town 155727 7/26/61

 

Treatment: The hasty marriage 155725 2/15/62

 

Treatment: The custodians 155723 2/2/65

 

Treatment: The custodians 155721 2/8/65

 

Outline: The hasty marriage 155719 2/12/62

 

Outline: The hasty marriage 155717 3/10/62

 

Shooting script: The greedy town 155715 10/11/61

 

PLAYHOUSE OF STARS 155689

 

Script: Kinsman 155711 6/25/58

 

Script; Kinsman 155709 7/1/58

 

Script: Fourth son 155707 7/25/58

 

Script: Third son (Formerly Fourth son) 155705 9/23/58

 

Script: No answer 155703 10/23/58

 

Script: No answer 155701 10/24/58

 

Script: The man who had no friends 155699 12/9/58

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Outline: The man who had no friends 155697 11/17/58

 

The man who had no friends story by Hugh Pentecost 155695

 

No answer story by Theodore Sturgeon 155693

 

Fourth son story by Ernest Haycox 155691

 

CAVALCADE OF AMERICA 155675

 

Script: No greater love 155687 2/28/51

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The Zenger story 155685 3/1/51

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Teddy of the badlands 155683 2/20/53

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The Baron and the rose 155681 10/20/53

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Father Serra 155679 2/15/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Format/Theme statement: Cavalcade of America 155677 4/28/53

 

PRIVATE SECRETARY 155535

 

Script: Private secretary 155673 9/2/52

 

Script: Femme fatale 155671 9/19/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Old flame 155669 12/5/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Lady from Paris 155667 12/8/52

 

Script: Dark stranger 155665 3/2/53

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Friend in need 155663 10/8/53

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Good neighbor 155661 1/9/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Where, oh where 155659 1/23/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Susie for President 155657 3/15/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Whistlers dayghter 155655 7/15/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Finders keepers 155653 1/25/55

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Slow curve 155651 3/4/55

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: In darkest Manhattan 155649 5/5/55

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Private secretary 155647 6/2/52 also 3/20/52

 

Script: Private secretary 155645 8/18/52

 

Treatment: opening episode 155643 2/28/52

 

Treatment: Private secretary 155641 3/3/52

 

Treatment: Femme fatale 155639 9/9/52

 

Treatment: Lend lease 155637 12/11/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: Good neighbors 155635

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: Where, oh where by Arthur Hoffe 155633 1/4/54

 

Treatment: Susie for President 155631 3/1/54

 

Treatment: The rich full life 155629 6/16/54

 

Treatment: Finders Keepers 155627 9/28/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: Slow curve 155625 2/15/55

 

Treatment: Rear echelon 155623 3/7/55

 

Treatment: Easy come, easy go 155621 2/18/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: Wedding bells 155619 2/19/54

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: The awkward age 155617 2/20/54

 

Treatment: A ripe old age 155615 3/7/55

 

Treatment: The athletic type 155613 12/9/52

 

Treatment: Audition 155611 2/11/55

 

Treatment: A young man's fancy 155609 6/7/54

 

Treatment: The Carnoustie prophecy 155607 8/5/55

 

Treatment: Clothes horse 155605 1/9/53

 

Treatment: Competition 155603 8/26/53

 

Treatment: Most likely to succeed 155601 10/6/53

 

Treatment Namesake 155599 8/26/53

 

Treatment: Return to yesterday 155597 8/24/55

 

Treatment: Sob sister Susie 155595 10/9/53

 

Treatment: Sob sister Susie 155593 10/13/53

 

Treatment: Three loves has Susie 155591 8/23/55

 

Treatment: Turnabout 155589 8/26/53

 

Treatment: Uncle Shelly 155587 3/1/55

 

Treatment: Younger than springtime 155585 7/18/55

 

Outline: Old flame 155583 11/10/52

 

Outline: Spring fever (Earlier title to Old flame) 155581 11/10/52

 

Outline: Heart trouble 155579 4/17/53

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Outline: Legacy 155577 8/26/53

 

Outline: Reunion 155575 3/26/53

 

Shooting schedual: Good neighbor 155573

 

Shooting schedual: Susie for President 155571

 

Shooting schedual: Whistler's daughter 155569

 

Shooting schedual: In darkest Manhattan 155567

 

Notes: comments on Femme fatale and The eyes have it 155565

 

List: Episodes of Private Secretary 155563

 

Private secretary: background and characters 155561

 

Story synopses; Private secretary, Femme fatale, Old flame, Lady from Paris 155559

 

Story ideas 155557

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Memo: story ideas 155555

 

Format statements 155553

 

Memo: belivability and character 155551

 

Call sheet: Private secretary 155549

 

List of story ideas 155547

 

Call sheet: Femme fatale 155545

 

Plot notes (Hand written) 155543

 

Notes; Private Secretary ideas 155541 3/19/53

 

Notes: Private Secretary ideas 155539 6/14/54

 

Background material: Private Secretary 155537

 

WHISPERING SMITH 155529

 

Script: The blind gun 155533 10/29/59

 

Script: Prayer of a chance 155531 12/30/59

 

CASEY JONES 155523

 

Script: The track walker: 155527 7/15/57

 

Script: Roaring Camp 155525 7/18/57

 

DEATH VALLEY DAYS 155515

 

Script: The gladiator 155521

 

Script: The gambler and the lady 155519

 

Show description 155517

 

TROUBLE WITH FATHER 155499

 

Script: Father knows best 155513 12/20/48

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Father Knows best 155511 11/8/50

 

Script revisions for Father knows best 155509 12/23/48 and 1/5/49

 

Script: A helping hand 155507 11/8/50

 

All in the Family (Synopsis for a television series) 155505

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Letter/contracr 155503 1949

 

The Trimmed Lamp (Telecast script) 155501

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

SKY KING 155491

 

Script: Two gun Penny 155497 1/16/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Desperate character 155495 2/9/52

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Sky King list of episodes 155493

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

STEVE DONOVAN, WESTERN MARSHAL 155483

 

Script: Mystery canyon 155489 2/14/55

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: The peoples choice 155487 2/14/55

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Character sketches: Steve Donovan and Rusty 155485 2/7/55

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

THE ANN SOUTHERN SHOW 155475

 

Script: Three loves has Katy 155481

Container Summary: 3 copies
 

Treatment: Three loves has Katy 155479

 

Treatment: Three loves has Katy 155477

 

BONANZA 155461

 

Script: Bullet for a bride 155473 8/27/63

 

Script: Bullet for a bride 155471 10/14/63

 

Treatment: The Parasites (earlier title for Bullet for a bride) 155469 7/5/63

 

Treatment: The Parasites 155467 10/14/63

 

Outline: Bullet for a bride 155465 8/8/63

 

Bonanza information 155463 7/17/63

 

COMBAT 155439

 

Script: The man between (formerly The Wall) 155459 3/13/64

 

Treatment: The wall 155457 1/14/64

 

Treatment: Man on a pedestal (Formerly The Golden Fingers) 155455 5/7/62

 

Treatment: The wall 155453 L/13/64

 

Treatment: The man between 155451 3/13/64

 

Outline: The wall 155449 1/14/64

 

Character outline 155447

 

Code Names 155445

 

Memo: Fictional unit designations 155443

 

Idea: The golden fingers 155441 4/26/62

 

THE F.B.I. 155401

 

Script: Pound of flesh 155437 5/17/65

 

Script: Pound of flesh 155435 9/29/65

 

Treatment: Pound of flesh 155433 4/9/65

 

Story idea Pound of flesh 155431

 

Idea: The wanted 155429

 

Idea: The long lost 155427

 

Idea: The hard choice 155425

 

Idea: ...How you play the game 155423

 

Idea: The guilty (Handwritten) 155421

 

Story ideas 155419

Container Summary: (three pages)
 

Format: The F.B.I. 155417

 

Case file pertaining to the murder of an F.B.I. agent 155415

 

Phaphlet: The story of the F.B.I. 155413

 

Phamphlet: Know your F.B.I. 155411

 

Information concerning the postiton of special agent in the F.B.I. (Xerox) 155409

 

F.B.I.-I.C. Numbers list 155407

 

The F.B.I.-Jurisdiction and program format information 155405

 

Areas of F.B.I. involvement (handwritten) 155403

 

CIMARRON CITY 155393

 

Script: Return of the dead 155399 1/6/59

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Script: Have sword will duel 155397 1/30/59

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Outline: Have sword will duel 155395 1/7/59

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

THE VIRGINIAN 155383

 

Script: My old man 155391 6/23/64

 

Treatment: Chip off the old block 155389 1/2/64

 

Treatment: My old man (formerly Chip off the old block) 155387 2/10/64

 

Treatment: My old man 155385 2/27/64

 

DESTRY 155373

 

Treatment: It's a wild, wild, wild, wild west 155381 11/29/63

 

Treatment: It's a wild, wild, wild, wild west 155379 12/19/63

 

Outline: It's a wild, wild, wild, wild west 155377 12/15/63

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Suggestions for changes: It's a wild, wild, wild, wild west 155375 12/4/63

 

IRONSIDE 155363

 

Script: The laying on of hands 155371 9/8/70

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: The laying on of hands 155369 3/19/70

 

Treatment: The laying on of hands 155367 4/7/70

 

Treatment: The laying on of hands 155365 4/22/70

 

ROADBLOCK 155359

 

Script: Hostage 155361

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

KENTUCKY JONES 155353

 

Script: The big shot 155357 11/23/64

 

Treatment: The big shot 155355

 

ROBERT TAYLOR SHOW 155347

 

Script: Hiram 155351 6/67/63

 

Treatment: Irresistable force, Immovable object 155349

 

LARAMIE 155335

 

Script: Indian giver 155345 8/7/61

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Treatment: Private property (Alternate title for Indian giver) 155343 6/26/61

 

Treatment: Private property 155341

 

Treatment: The debt 155339

 

Treatment: Private property) 155337 6/19/61

 

T.V. FORMATS 155249

 

Tevevision Quarterly (Magazine) vol 10. #4 155333 summer '73

 

Resume of Adventures of Jim Bowie and synopses of purchesed stories. 155331

 

The Alaskans (Format) 155329

 

The Bob Cummings Show (format) 155327

 

Bringing Up Buddy Cast of characters and direction & motivation of program 155325

 

Format- Bringing Up Buddy 155323

Container Summary: (1 page)
 

Broken Arrow Series first year plot synopses. 155321

 

Channing (Format) 155319

 

Checkmate (Format) 155317

Container Summary: 2 different copies
 

Circus Boy titles and themes 155315

 

Colt.45 (Format) 155313

 

Summary of Death Valley Days T.V. films 155311

 

Information for Dr. Kildare writers 155309

 

Memo to Flipper writers 155307

 

Frontier Circus (format) 155305

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

The Great Adventure: Notes to writers 155303

 

Notes: The Greatest Show on Earth 155301

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Greatest Show on Earth format and story synopses 155299

 

Arena floor plan Greatest Show on Earth 155297

Container Summary: 2 copies
 

Gunslinger (format) 155295

 

The Investigators (format) 155293

 

The Young Ones (Format) 155291

 

Laramie (format 155289 `61- `62 season)

 

Lassie script problem analysis 155287

 

Description: Love American Style 155285

 

Man With a Camera exerpts from format 155283

 

Description: Man Without a Gun 155281

 

Crisis (format) 155279

 

Description; Maverik 155277

 

My Friend Flika (format) 155275

 

The Canons of The Outer Limits 155273

 

Rawhide story and character guide 155271

 

Redigo (Format) 155269

Container Summary: 2 pages
 

Riverboat presentation to writers 155267

 

Information to writers concerning the T.V. serise Riverboat 155265

 

Road Block presentation to writers 155263

 

Description: Sugerfoot 155261

 

Tales of the Plainsman (writers guide) 155259

 

Twelve O'clock High story prospects 155257

 

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (format material) 155255

 

Whirlybirds story assignments 155253

 

Zane Grey Theator (format material) 155251

 

TOM SELLER GIFT

Box 1

Script: Gun for a Brother

Box 1

Script: DEAR ANCESTOR (2 copies)

Box 1

Typescript: Home Sweet Hollywood (2 copies)

Box 1

Script: Whistler's Daughter, Susie for President, Where, Oh Where?, Good Neighbor

Box 1

Script: Friend in Need, Dark Stranger, Lady from Paris, Femme Fatale

Box 2

ANDY HARDY MEETS DEBUTANTE publicity

Box 2

ANDY HARDY MEETS DEBUTANTE screenplay

Box 2

publicity

Box 2

Typescript: A YEAR AND A DAY

Box 3

Typescript: A YEAR AND A DAY (2 copies)

Box 3

Typescript: PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME

Box 4

PLAYBILLS 155243

 

sheet music, film photo, letter

 

Miscellaneous playbills and theater annoucements 155245

Container Summary: (31 items)
 

Performing Arts (magazine) 18 issues 155247 may '76 - apr'78

 

PHOTO ALBUMS

Box 5

Europe trip, 1952

Box 6

Europe trip, 1959

Box 7, folder 1-2

Europe cruise, 1965-1966

Box 7, folder 3

Europe trip, 1969

Box 8

photo albums, 1974-1975

Box 9

Mediterranean cruise