View Poll Results: Which series did you prefer, The Hardy Boys or The Three Investigators?
I've read both series. I prefer The Hardy Boys.
6
13.64%
I've read both series. I prefer The Three Investigators.
16
36.36%
I've read both series. I like them both the same.
3
6.82%
I've only read The Hardy Boys.
13
29.55%
I've only read The Three Investigators.
4
9.09%
I haven't read either. But I like to vote in polls.
2
4.55%
Voters: 44. You may not vote on this poll
Which series did you prefer, The Hardy Boys or The Three Investigators?
08-12-06, 02:53 PM
#1
Which series did you prefer, The Hardy Boys or The Three Investigators?
I know that The Hardy Boys was more popular. But among people who read both series, I think the vast majority (including myself) preferred The Three Investigators.
Does anyone know why The Three Investigators books are out of print?
Does anyone know why The Three Investigators books are out of print?
08-12-06, 05:30 PM
#2
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Originally Posted by grundle
Does anyone know why The Three Investigators books are out of print?
In 1984 and 1985, Random House made what most fans consider to be the worst decision of the series when it published the Revised Edition of the original 30 Hitchcock books, in which all references to Alfred Hitchcock were removed and replaced with Hector Sebastian. This was perhaps the final blow of the original series and it soon faded away in 1987 after an impressive 23 year, 43 book run.
From 1989 - 1992, Random House attempted to revive The Three Investigators with the new, young adult targeted, Crimebusters series and an erratic reissue of the original 43 books. Both were discontinued after runs of eleven and twelve books, respectively. Jenny Fanelli retired from Random House soon after and any new work on The Three Investigators series was effectively terminated in North America. It has continued on successfully in Germany, however, where there are currently over 100 books in the series.
From 1998 - 2000, Random House began to slowly reissue the original 43 Three Investigators titles yet again, but it may come as no surprise that this effort has stalled and plans for continuation are unclear.
From 1989 - 1992, Random House attempted to revive The Three Investigators with the new, young adult targeted, Crimebusters series and an erratic reissue of the original 43 books. Both were discontinued after runs of eleven and twelve books, respectively. Jenny Fanelli retired from Random House soon after and any new work on The Three Investigators series was effectively terminated in North America. It has continued on successfully in Germany, however, where there are currently over 100 books in the series.
From 1998 - 2000, Random House began to slowly reissue the original 43 Three Investigators titles yet again, but it may come as no surprise that this effort has stalled and plans for continuation are unclear.
Random House revamped the series, calling it The 3 Investigators â?? Crimebusters Series. The investigators were seventeen years old, could drive, and were far more independent. The stories continued to contain an abundance of detecting but with the addition of more action. The series was well received but was halted in 1990 when legal issues between Random House and the heirs to the Arthur estate could not be resolved. By 2005, the disagreements were still not settled.
Details of next year's big screen release: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476603/
08-12-06, 07:50 PM
#3
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
The Three Investigators were what I cut my teeth on. When I was about 4 or 5 my mom used to read them to me until I could read them myself. I always wondered why Hector Sebastian would show up occasionally instead of Alfred Hitchcock. I guess when you have a Rolls Royce, you make a lot of new friends. 
I read some Hardy Boys, but I didn't really get into the Hardy Boys until I was about 10 and I discovered The Hardy Boys Casefiles, which were a little more mature and pulpy than the older stuff, and I think I read about 15 or 20 of those.
I read some Hardy Boys, but I didn't really get into the Hardy Boys until I was about 10 and I discovered The Hardy Boys Casefiles, which were a little more mature and pulpy than the older stuff, and I think I read about 15 or 20 of those.
Last edited by Joe Molotov; 08-12-06 at 09:53 PM.
08-12-06, 09:37 PM
#4
Originally Posted by benedict
Here it says:And here it says:I read some of the Three Investigator books when I was 9/10 but never read any of the Hardy Boys books although, FWIW, I did catch a few of the Nancy Drew mysteries way back whenever the BBC got to show them.
Details of next year's big screen release: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476603/
Details of next year's big screen release: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476603/
08-12-06, 09:38 PM
#5
Originally Posted by Joe Molotov
The Three Investigators were what I cut my teeth on. When I was about 4 or 5 my mom used to read them to me until I could read them myself. I always wondered why Hector Sebastian would show up occasionally instead of Alfred Hitchcock. I guess when you have a Rolls Royce, you make a lot of new friends.
I read some Hardy Boys, but I didn't really get into it until Boys until I was about 10 and I discovered The Hardy Boys Casefiles, which were a little more mature and pulpy than the older stuff, and I think I read about 15 or 20 of those.
I read some Hardy Boys, but I didn't really get into it until Boys until I was about 10 and I discovered The Hardy Boys Casefiles, which were a little more mature and pulpy than the older stuff, and I think I read about 15 or 20 of those.
08-13-06, 02:58 AM
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Joe Molotov
I didn't really get into the Hardy Boys until I was about 10 and I discovered The Hardy Boys Casefiles, which were a little more mature and pulpy than the older stuff, and I think I read about 15 or 20 of those.
08-13-06, 06:11 PM
#8
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My dear friend Dennis Lynds, who sadly passed away last year, wrote quite a few of The Three Investigators books. I wish they were still in print! I'd love to have them for my daughter to read one day.
08-13-06, 08:25 PM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
I read every Hardy Boys books that had been written between the ages of 9 and 11. There were 54 of them, and quality really declined in the later titles. There were only eight of the Three Investigator books.
I thought that the first 20 - 30 Hardy Boy books were better than the Three Investigators. Now I wonder if the Three Investigators books were better-written, because I still remember parts of them thirty years later, and the Hardy Boys are mostly a blur.
It's hidden in the eye in the sky where no man can find it.
To-to-to be or not to-to-to be.
Thirty days of 24 hours!
I thought that the first 20 - 30 Hardy Boy books were better than the Three Investigators. Now I wonder if the Three Investigators books were better-written, because I still remember parts of them thirty years later, and the Hardy Boys are mostly a blur.
It's hidden in the eye in the sky where no man can find it.
To-to-to be or not to-to-to be.
Thirty days of 24 hours!
08-13-06, 08:47 PM
#10
DVD Talk Hero
It just occured to me: The early Hardy Books I read were the old editions from the library, not the revised editions with the blue covers. I've heard that the Nancy Drew books were badly hurt by their re-editing. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing had happened to the Hardys.
And another good line: "It would make a great movie!" "No sex appeal."
And another good line: "It would make a great movie!" "No sex appeal."
08-13-06, 11:02 PM
#12
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I've read the Three Investigators when I was young and enjoyed them. I only read a couple Hardy Boys.
08-16-06, 04:05 PM
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
I definitely preferred the Three Investigators...
I wanted to have a clubhouse w/ secret entrances just like them...
I wanted to have a clubhouse w/ secret entrances just like them...
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08-16-06, 08:30 PM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Geofferson
Other: Encyclopedia Brown
I have never heard of The Three Investigators.
08-16-06, 11:35 PM
#16
DVD Talk Gold Edition
I never heard of the Three Investigators, but I did manage to get my hands on original editions of some Hardy Boys (and several similar serial-type stories from the same era) when I was in grade school in the early sixties.
In addition to the school library, most classrooms in my grade school had book shelves loaded with books, many published in the first three or four decades of the 20th century. The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, the Edison Boys, Tom Swift (the original) and others. My personal favorites were Tom Swift stories. For years prior to reading them I had been reading the Tom Swift Junior stories, so I was all set up to read the older stuff when I found some.
Yeah, they were dated, but I didn't and still don't care. In the later sixties and early seventies I was reading Doc Savage, the Shadow and others. They are still good stories.
I wish I could get my hands on some of those grade school books now. I hate to think about what might have happened to them. What I wouldn't give for a time machine.
In addition to the school library, most classrooms in my grade school had book shelves loaded with books, many published in the first three or four decades of the 20th century. The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, the Edison Boys, Tom Swift (the original) and others. My personal favorites were Tom Swift stories. For years prior to reading them I had been reading the Tom Swift Junior stories, so I was all set up to read the older stuff when I found some.
Yeah, they were dated, but I didn't and still don't care. In the later sixties and early seventies I was reading Doc Savage, the Shadow and others. They are still good stories.
I wish I could get my hands on some of those grade school books now. I hate to think about what might have happened to them. What I wouldn't give for a time machine.
08-17-06, 05:53 PM
#17
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I read all three actively (including Encyclopedia Brown) and by far preferred the Three Investigators. It was all about Alfred Hitchcock being in the books. I thought he was so cool and i didn't even know who he was as a kid.
08-18-06, 09:08 AM
#18
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I never heard of the The Three Investigaotrs until I saw this thread (ducks to avoid thrown rotten eggs ).
That being said I voted for the Hardy Boys.
).That being said I voted for the Hardy Boys.
08-19-06, 03:50 AM
#19
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I read everything I could get my hands on. I had (actually still have in storage) all the old Hardy Boys hardbacks, the paperback series through 100-something, and all the casefiles through 105.
Also have all the Three Investigators originals and a handful of their version of the "Casefiles". I actually enjoyed those, but they weren't widely available down here. They featured the Investigators about 5 years down the road from where they were in the originals.
Also read Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew (only the "files"), the McGurk books, etc. That led to me being the rather voracious reader that I am today.
All that being said, I preferred the Hardy Boys.
Also have all the Three Investigators originals and a handful of their version of the "Casefiles". I actually enjoyed those, but they weren't widely available down here. They featured the Investigators about 5 years down the road from where they were in the originals.
Also read Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew (only the "files"), the McGurk books, etc. That led to me being the rather voracious reader that I am today.
All that being said, I preferred the Hardy Boys.
08-20-06, 11:05 PM
#20
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
I loved reading The Hardy Boy Casefiles as a kid. I used to have a pretty big collection of them and I always loved the artwork on the covers. Unfortunately my cousin 'borrowed' them all for a 'book report' one day and never returned them!
From looking up the novels on ebay. It appears around 100 or so,they started going with crappy photo covers. So I'd definitely be interested in acquiring all the books before the cover art change if possible,for nostalgia sake,lol.
From looking up the novels on ebay. It appears around 100 or so,they started going with crappy photo covers. So I'd definitely be interested in acquiring all the books before the cover art change if possible,for nostalgia sake,lol.
08-21-06, 08:05 AM
#22
DVD Talk Gold Edition
I loved The Three Investigators! Most of the ones I got were as a kid and were the non-Alfred Hitchcock ones. I'd love a hardcover collection of them all.. I had no idea th turbulant printing history of the books. I actually went looking a couple of months ago to see if Borders had any, but it's apparent now why I couldn't find them! I've still got the handful I had from years ago, maybe ten to fifteen books (including one of those Find-Your-Fate type books, but featuring the Three Investigators).
08-22-06, 06:41 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by brianluvdvd
Ditto. First one I thought of. I read a few Hardy Boys as a kid but read each and every Encyclopedia Brown book I could lay my hands on.
08-26-06, 03:56 AM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
I've only read The Hardy Boys, which I liked a lot. However, I think I prefer the Tom Swift set more. The newer ones weren't quite as good, though.