A photographer and tail gunner in the Army Air Forces during World War II, he became a businessman and a historian, and began a collaboration with U.S. Army Colonel George Walton to write books about World War II, the most successful of which was 1966's The Devil's Brigade.
A story about the 1st Special Service Force nicknamed the "Devil's Brigade", the book would be turned into a motion picture of the same name in 1968 and starred William Holden and Cliff Robertson.
An innovator, he constantly started new ventures including publishing of "The Record-Breeze and Mall Journal newspapers; produced forerunner of "Today" TV show, "Modern Living", and chain of fast food restaurants, "Take Out Kitchens" and "Hush Puppy House."
[citation needed] After selling the movie rights, Adleman and his wife moved from Philadelphia to Malibu, California.
At which point they opened the restaurant The Bella Union, featuring the "peach baboo", a cocktail named after their grandson's childhood treat.