Category Archives: science fiction

Samuel A. Peeples: From Western Frontiers to Sci-Fi Stardom

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 … Continue reading

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Mort Weisinger: The Man Behind Superman in Comics’ Silver Age

Ever wonder who gave Superman his Fortress of Solitude, or why kryptonite comes in so many colors? Meet Mortimer “Mort” Weisinger, the unsung architect of Superman’s expansive mythology during the Silver Age of Comics. Born in April 1915 in New … Continue reading

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Parallel Universes: Alternate Histories of Beloved Sci-Fi Franchises

Every writer and every producer can tell you that for every successful idea, a hundred more ended up lying in a wastepaper basket somewhere or scooped up into a folder to use later, only to languish, forgotten by all. While … Continue reading

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Titans of Terror: Godzilla and King Kong as Pop Culture Icons

As the film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire opens, we consider the history and legacy of the two most famous giant monsters in film history. Both monsters are represented in posters and stills from the collection of Forrest J. … Continue reading

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The Macabre Magic of Richard Matheson’s Stories -Part Two

In this blog series, we are celebrating the life and work of Richard Matheson, a master of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. His stories and novels have inspired countless films, TV shows, and writers, from The Twilight Zone to Steven … Continue reading

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The Macabre Magic of Richard Matheson’s Stories – Part One

Richard Matheson was a master of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. His stories and novels have inspired countless films, TV shows, and writers, from The Twilight Zone to Steven Spielberg, from Stephen King to George A. Romero. He wrote about … Continue reading

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Behind the Scenes at the Cone: Organizing and Processing History

Organizing and arranging historical documents can be difficult. And at a world-renowned archive like the one at the University of Wyoming, there are a select number of people who can manage it. One of them is AHC Processing Archivist Roger … Continue reading

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Star Trek: Creating the Cultural Phenomenon

The 1960’s television show Star Trek spawned a long lived and beloved cultural phenomenon. Here at the American Heritage Center, we are fortunate to have photographs, scripts, and music scores from some of the original seventy-nine Star Trek episodes that … Continue reading

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Time Warp: The Back to the Future Film Trilogy

Time travel behind the wheel of a nuclear-powered DeLorean is the premise of the 1985 hit movie Back to the Future. The film follows the comedic adventures of Marty McFly, a high school student who is accidentally transported back thirty … Continue reading

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Robert Bloch: From Pulp to Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho is based on a novel by Robert Bloch. It is the story of Norman Bates, a lonely motel caretaker who is seething with psychotic rage due to his mother’s domination. Robert Bloch was an author of … Continue reading

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