In 1965, a Western writer helped launch an unexpected science fiction phenomenon. Samuel A. Peeples (1917-1991) was an American screenwriter and novelist whose career spanned genres and mediums, leaving a lasting impact on both Westerns and science fiction.

Samuel’s career is mostly focused within the Western genre, but he was a science fiction enthusiast and fan first. However, Peeples wasn’t just a fan, he was a professional writer, and he made his own impact on the sci-fi genre. The American Heritage Center preserves his collection of scripts, records, and memorabilia, showcasing his incredible multifaceted career.

Peeples began his writing journey in 1949 with the novel The Dream Ends in Fury (later re-titled Outlaw Vengeance). To expand his literary career, he adopted the pen name Brad Ward, under which he published six Western novels during the 1950s, including The Hanging Hills (1952) and The Man from Andersonville (1956). Before moving away from novels, Peeples also published five more titles under his own name, some of which include The Lobo Horseman (1955) and Doc Colt (1957). By the late 1950s, Peeples transitioned from novels to screenwriting, creating a new chapter in his career.

As a television writer, Peeples made his mark by creating three Western series: The Tall Man (1960), Custer (1967), and Lancer (1968). Before these successes, he wrote for popular Western series like Tales of Wells Fargo, Bonanza, and Wanted: Dead or Alive.

In the 1960s, Peeples also began to explore his first love—science fiction. At first, Samuel mostly offered advice and reference material to his good friend and science fiction giant, Gene Roddenberry. It just so happened that most of that advice was given while Roddenberry was creating the American science-fiction television series Star Trek.

While Gene worked on that project, Samuel was working on his own western television masterpieces. Then Roddenberry selected Peeples and two other authors to write a proposed second pilot for Star Trek. That moment changed the course of the series. “Where No Man Has Gone Before” was the 1965 pilot that Peeples wrote, which ultimately sold the series.

“Where No Man Has Gone Before” is the third episode of the first season of Star Trek. Written by Peeples and directed by James Goldstone, it first aired on September 22, 1966. The episode was the second pilot, produced in 1965 after the first pilot, “The Cage,” was rejected by NBC. Reportedly, Lucille Ball, who owned the studio where the pilot was produced, persuaded NBC management to consider a second pilot, because she liked Gene Roddenberry and believed in the project. It was the first episode to feature William Shatner as Captain Kirk and James Doohan as Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott. Its title also became the final phrase in one of the most iconic opening voice-overs in television history.

Samuel’s success with the script, and his friend Roddenberry’s tenaciousness, propelled the Star Trek series into television fame, and created a pop culture phenomenon. The episode title’s appearance in the voice over has propelled it to the popular culture vernacular.

Peeples’ success with the Star Trek pilot set the stage for further collaborations with Roddenberry. In 1973, Peeples wrote “Beyond the Furthest Star,” the pilot episode for the animated Star Trek series. Later, in 1977, the two worked on the television movie Spectre, based on an unsuccessful pilot. Peeples also contributed to other science fiction projects, including writing the first six episodes of Jason of Star Command in 1976 and the 1982 television movie Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All.

Peeples continued to write novels and scripts into the late 1970s, including Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977). And over the course of his career, he amassed an extensive collection of memorabilia spanning Western and science fiction genres, which he donated to the American Heritage Center between 1958 and 1990. This collection includes Peeples’ personal film and phonograph records, comic books, correspondence, artifacts, and a treasure trove of scripts. The highlights include multiple drafts of “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” offering a glimpse into the creative process that helped shape Star Trek into a cultural phenomenon.

Samuel A. Peeples’ legacy as a storyteller, fan, and visionary continues to resonate. His unique contributions to both the Western and science fiction genres reflect a creative mind that pushed boundaries and brought timeless stories to life. The American Heritage Center is proud to preserve his collection and celebrate his indelible impact on popular culture.

Post contributed by AHC Processing Archivist Brittany Heye.