When Hardy Boys author Leslie McFarlane (pen name: Franklin W. Dixon) created his series of memorable children’s books in the 1930s, he likely never could have imagined that they would go on to become the longest-running and best-selling children’s book series of all time. Nor could he have possibly guessed that his creations, Frank and Joe Hardy, would someday find fame and fortune as rock stars (the term "rock star" hadn't even been coined yet.) But alas, the two singing sleuths eventually made their way to the Saturday morning lineup, in the1969 animated show The Hardy Boys.

Long before Parker Stevenson and Shaun Cassidy would turn the literary duo into 70s heartthrobs, The Hardy Boys first introduced themselves to television audiences as part of a recurring segment on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1955. Twelve years later, they would finally get their own animated show.

The show followed the world travels of the famous band, Hardy Boys Plus Three. Along with Frank and Joe were bandmates Pete, Chubby and the lovely Wanda. As if non-stop touring wasn’t grueling enough, the boys (plus three!) were required to put their sleuthing skills into practice along the way and solve any mysteries or crimes that they might happen upon.

Unlike their singing cartoon rivals The Archies, crossover fame eluded The Hardy Boys. They did manage to release an album of material called “Here Comes the Hardy Boys” which barely made the Billboard Top-200 Album Chart but the Top 100 proved far more daunting. Their single, “Love and Let Love” came close, but no cigar. And the rivals from Riverdale High weren’t the only competitors they had to contend with; their Saturday morning show was placed in the slot opposite another group of teen mystery-solvers, Scooby Do. After two seasons, ti was clear who the winner was and The Hardy Boys reluctantly threw in the TV towel.