From: pcurry@bellatlantic.net (Peter J. Curry)
I'm new at this e-mail/internet stuff (age 54) but had to send my praises for your wonderful "publication" which I just discovered. I inherited a set of about 20 HB books around 1950. That summer, while I was laid up with a bad leg, my mother read them all to me, and my "chums," on our front porch in Philadelphia. Somewhere along the way (c. 1968), on a whim, I looked up "Franklin W. Dixon" in the Index to Contemporary Authors and learned the horrible truth about E. Stratemeyer's "fiction factory" in East Orange, etc. In the early '80s I contacted an out-of-print book finder to help me locate some early edition HBs and he turned me on to "The Ghost of The Hardy Boys" by Leslie McFarlane which was a thrill to read (a mint copy with dustcover is sitting on my bookshelf nearby as I write this) My favorite HB volume is "Cabin Island" which, like one of your readers, I reread every winter (too bad the Applewood Books reprints did not go that deep into the HB canon). Not sure why I like this one so much: perhaps it has to do with winter and snow and cabins and islands, etc. which are very appealing to a city boy (not unlike the Indian lore and bread-on-a-stick aspects of Boy Scouting). Keep up the good work.
P.S. I agree with you on the location of "Bayport." However, the best clues to the "Bayport Mystery" are probably sealed forever in Stratemeyer's tomb. If his daughter is still living, maybe she can shed some light on this topic.
PP.S. Good thought about getting a t-shirt from the real Byport H.S. in New York!

From: elschoen@dpliv.com (Edwin L. Schoen)
This is in response the the Laura/Mildred flap that seems to have your "readers" all confused AND also about the Mystery of the Missing City of Bayport debate.
First, book 20, The Mystery of the Flying Express (original text), one of the best Hardy Boys' mysteries, is the only original in which Mrs. Hardy is called "Mildred." This is an error on the part of the author, John Button, who was only hired to write books 17-21 (1938-1942). All other Hardy Boy books refer to the mother as Laura. Mr. Button was apparently a talented author but pretty short on attention to details. Not only did he simply pick "Mildred" out of the air but he changed Aunt Gertrude from a tall, thin commanding woman into a short, skittish, portly woman! Basically, Johnny boy could not be bothered with the historical facts of Hardy Boys' history as represented by books 1-16. And as the final word on that subject, be advised that Mrs. Hardy did not share the current craze for 3 names as Sara Jessica Parker, Mary Stewart Masterson, John Michael Montgomery, Sarah Michelle Gellar etc. Mrs. Hardy WAS always referred to as Laura except for the one instance noted above.
Please note that any references here (to "books") refer to the "original" texts not the "new-speak" revisions with which the under-30 generation is familiar.
Now, as to the location of Bayport. It is definitely in the South. Mr. Hardy left New York to retire to the country and start a private practice. Also the boys frequently go to New York and refer to it as being "about 200 miles" north of Bayport. Go figure.

From: pcurry@bellatlantic.net (Peter Curry)
I was watching a documentary about Joe Franklin, longtime WOR-TV and radio talk/music host, on WYBE-TV in Philadelphia tonight (9-9:45) and during a montage of scenes about 35 minutes into the program it showed him praising an elderly guest he referred to as "... McFarlane, one of the world's great writers." I am certain that the man was Leslie McFarlane, as he looked like an older version of the smiling man on the back of the dust jacket for "Ghost of the Hardy Boys." It is possible that the complete program with McFarlane is available from WOR-TV's archives. Thought you'd like to know about this.

From: BXSBM@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Bruce Salen)
I first started reading the Hardy Boys way way back in 1952 or 1953 -- quite along time ago, now that I think of it. An older friend had given me the books that he had apparently outgrown -- THE TOWER TREASURE, MISSING CHUMS, HOUSE ON THE CLIFF, SECRET OF THE OLD MILL, and a dozen or so others.
Back in the mid-70's, I passed them on the some young kid, and pomptly forgot about them. Until 1990 or so when, on a spur-of-the-moment impusle, when I was in WaldenBooks, I spotted some, and treated myself. Somewhat to my surprise, I found myself enjoy them now easily as much as I did back in the early 50's.
And I actually found them to be easily more enjoyable, much better written, and much easier reading, than any of the boring, tedious stuff that I had read by both Agatha Christie and P.D. James.
Here's to Frank and Joe and the gang -- and here's to us unabashedly nostalgic baby-boomers.
Hope to be hearing from other readers.

From: EdnaCooper@compuserve.com (Jonathan K. Cooper)
I just wanted to tell you that you're doing a fine job on your Hardy Boys webzine. Your paper makes fascinating reading -- keep up the good work! I've archived all of your previous issues and am eagerly waiting for more.
As for my favorite Hardy Boy book? Ah, it'd have to be the original text version of #1, "The Tower Treasure". That was the very first series book I ever read, and it got me into collecting all sorts of series: Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Rick Brant, Ken Holt, and a slew of others. I'm afraid that it has a special place with me...