Hardy Boys, The (ABC 1969, Byron Kane, Dal McKennon)

When the first Hardy Boys books were written in the early 1930’s, the author probably didn’t envision his sleuthsome twosome as a traveling rock band on a TV cartoon show. But then again, neither television nor rock ‘n’ roll had been invented.

In any case, after the boys Hardy were a segment on the Mickey Mouse Club and before they were portrayed by Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson on primetime’s The Hardy Boys, Joe and Frank starred in an animated Saturday show.

The series followed the title lads as they toured the world with their band, Hardy Boys Plus Three. The “three” were their friends—Pete, Chubby and the token cute girl, Wanda. Of course, in between gigs, the group had plenty of opportunities to solve crimes the world over.

Trying to mimic the success of the Archies, an actual album of the Hardy Boys’ songs (with different voices than the speaking ones) was released. Although “Here Come the Hardy Boys” did crack Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart, the single “Love and Let Love” failed reach the Top 100. Even tougher competition came from the show’s time slot, opposite the now-legendary Scooby-Doo.

production details
USA / ABC – Universal / x20 minute episodes / Broadcast 6 September 1969 – 4 September 1971

cast
Byron Kane as Joe Hardy, Pete Jones, Fenton Hardy
Dal McKennon as Frank Hardy, Chubby Morton
Jane Webb as Wanda Kay Breckenridge, Aunt Gertrude Hardy