The Hardy Boys started in 1927. They are one of the most popular creations of Edward Stratemeyer and his Stratemeyer Syndicate.

Like Nancy Drew, which had a number of crossovers in later books, graphic novels, and TV shows, the Hardy Boys were teen detectives always able to solve the case.

Located in Bayport but traveling around the world, they often helped their father, a private detective, solve cases. Original text Hardy Boys see them driving motorcycles, carrying guns (but not having shoot outs), and facing danger. Revised text Hardy Boys remove the guns but add more Rock and Roll bands and modern elements.

See more at Franklin W. Dixon page

Blog Posts About the Hardy Boys

Dust jacket for the first Ted Scott volume, Over the Ocean to Paris (1927).

The Ted Scott series takes off

The first volume of the Ted Scott series was an obvious retelling of the first solo Transatlantic flight by Charles A. Lindbergh in May 1927.  From time to time a reference is made to how quickly the story was rushed into print.  An examination of the dates is interesting. Charles Lindbergh departed from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, […]

Ghostwriting in the Mega-Books era 3

In a further exploration of the Mega-Books writers’ guidelines from the early 1990s, some of the topics which were off limits in the Syndicate era were allowed (murder) while some topics used in early books (drugs or alcohol) were prohibited.

MegaBooks instructions 1.

Ghostwriting in the Mega-Books Era 2

A guide to writers of Nancy Drew books for Mega-Books provides details on the scope of the modern series. The procedures were different from those used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate.

Anthony Comstock and Traps for the Young

Banned Book Week

The last week in September is considered to be Banned Book Week.  In 2019 this is Sept. 22-28. While you will see lists of many books that have been “challenged” or “censored” over the years, most of the time our juvenile series books are not listed. Yet, the librarians who wanted to impress fellow librarians, […]

Undated Stratemeyer Syndicate document with a sketch illustration of Barmet Bay and Bayport.

Location — Bayport

Play the game — Where is Bayport? There are clues throughout the series but they often contradict each other.

Stratemeyer

Happy Birthday Edward Stratemeyer

Celebrating the life and career of Edward Stratemeyer on the 155th anniversary of his birthday.

Marginalia — Ed Zuckerman

Ed Zuckerman noticed that the Hardy Boys published in 1976 were not the same as the ones he grew up with. Investigating this, he learned of the revised texts and Leslie McFarlane. He corresponded with the first ghostwriter of the series and got this copy of The Secret of the Caves signed after he had marked passages to use in an article he wrote for Rolling Stone magazine.

Hardy Boys Flickering Torch
The title in the original text version of The Flickering Torch Mystery refers to the signal used by highwaymen robbing cars on the shore road. The revised story features stolen uranium and the title refers to the name of a rock and roll band.