The Hardy Boys- a reboot on Hulu, still sharing a flashlight and binoculars celebrate their 95th anniversary in 2022!!!
Thanks to a post by Herbie J Pilato’s on Facebook regarding the long running 70’s The Hardy Boys series starring Parker Stevenson/Shaun Cassidy(David’s younger brother) it inspired me to do a little research. You see I am a big fan of the show but also I have been reading their adventures since I was a kid. Well known author of several wonderfully written books regarding a variety of iconic TV series including DASHING,DARING,and DEBONAIR: TVS TOP MALE ICONS from the 50’s,60’s and 70's.
above: the cover for the follow up to Glamour, Gidgets, and the Girl Next Door: Televisions Iconic Women of the 50’s,60’s and 70’s. Pilato is a well known author of several wonderfully written books regarding a variety of iconic TV series including Kung Fu, Bewitched and a bio on Mary Tyler Moore).
Hardy Boys-The books:
Created by Franklin W Dixon (a pseudonym for Edward Stratemyer who founded Stratemyer Syndicate a book packaging firm) in 1927 and the first book published was The Tower Treasure … introducing the world to Joe and Frank Hardy boy detectives who over the years were involved in solving mysteries with and without involving their a father who ran a famous detective agency and their adventures took them all over the world and what boy hasn’t thought of being a detective himself ..I know myself and my friends actually set up a detective agency did …we solve any mysteries no but we had a tremendous amount of fun trying to ...in our club house .
Since their inception the Hardy Boys have sold over a million copies every year, has been translated in several languages. That is truly amazing. I realized that next year- 2022 the boys will be celebrating their 95th anniversary/birthday in print and beyond .. with no signs of slowing down. To demonstrate here are some of the incarnations over the years as well as the marketing /branding( lunch boxes, comic books, 6 TV series-including the iconic mid ’70s rendition with two teenage heart throbs & a 2020 show to be discussed later, computer and board games) of these iconic mystery solvers including -
Below- a full episode from the 1969 The Hardy Boys cartoon series and featuring intact the opening theme song. Sung & filmed in live action.
Filmation’s 1969 cartoon series and a picture from crossover episode featuring Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy Drew . Pay attention for the actor appearing as Frankenstein is none other than Richard Kiel of James Bonds “Jaws”. I hope you like it ...
below: an edition of Dynamite a popular magazine/book that was offered by Arrow Books thru your most schools across the country usually by either your homeroom or English teacher ..I can remember ordering almost every one and really looked forward to those order forms being handed out ..
Above: an ad from a 1969 comic book promoting the upcoming Saturday Morning cartoon line up for the fall of that year on ABC ..this is how I planned my TV viewing at age 7
Above : Corgi Toys (maker of the famous Batmobile/James Bond dies cast cars) created this awesome vehicle based on the Hardy Boys cartoon series by Filmation( a big thank you to Lou Scheimer and the rest of the gang at Filmation for bringing an unending joy by providing a childhood filled with the fondest of memories of fantastic adventure & laughter via The Archies, The Groovie Ghoulies or The New Adventures of Superman and Tarzan Lord of The Jungle.(which is available now on DVD)
- *** Extra bonus- Shaun Cassidy singing That’s Rock n Roll from the crossover episode- The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula. Shaun Cassidy had a short career as a rock singer in the ’70s leaping off the small screen and on to touring stages across the US.
Below Pamela Sue Martin(Nancy Drew) and Richard Kiel
Their latest reincarnation thanks to Hulu has Frank and Jo updated and set in the ’80s. Loving this — no cell phones. In this first season Frank and Joe are uprooted after the death of their mom(mysterious at best and the catalyst in this story arch). The hardy’s make the trek to dads home town of Bridgeport. Taking up residence at least for the summer with their Aunt Trudy.
Keep in mind as it seems in a lot of mystery/detective when it come to your family things are not all that they seem and that old adage “theirs skeleton in them thar closets”. And we are are talking sinister things a foot from lost treasure to amulets that may have powers from beyond. The key here is to know who to trust.
No spoilers. It is intriguing and suspenseful with that small town charm poking through. As well as a coming of age tale woven in. Every part of the cast is brilliant and keeps you coming back for the next episode. So my hat is off to the writers and crew for bringing a fresh approach and yet keeping to the original element of what has given The Hardy Boys around for almost a century of more then very fine storytelling….
All 13 episodes were released on December 4th 2020. Produced and filmed in Canada on locations doubling for US locale.
Oh there is a knock on my inner office door… Rita has the night off and I am here just catching up on some cases. Yeah, I am a private eye myself and just waiting for that next client to walk in. “Well hello big boy have I got a case for you” she said in a most sultry way as she stood in the open doorway. She was all of 108 lbs and measured 5'2 with a measuring tape. A tight skirt-very tight and blouse to match. All dolled up in pink/black. And smelled of coconut & vanilla. I tend to notice little details like that. By the way she was carrying her self I could also tell she was in shape and a good dancer…well we’re just getting ready to discuss her case as I pour us tumblr full of brandy. I let you know how it all works out next time…
See ya in a coming attraction soon….
Related links and material-
- List of Hardy Boys books-
Amazon-
From Grosset and Dunlap- set one 5 books- the first five original novels by F.W. Dixon -
