The Tower Treasure

Last updated
The Tower Treasure
The Tower Treasure (book cover).jpg
Original 1927 edition
Author Franklin W. Dixon
Cover artistWalter S. Rogers
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Series The Hardy Boys
Genre Children's literature/young adult fiction
Publisher Grosset & Dunlap
Publication date
June 1, 1927, revised edition 1959
PagesOriginal edition 216, revised edition 180
ISBN 9780448089010
OCLC 26152526
Followed by The House on the Cliff  

The Tower Treasure is the first volume in the original Hardy Boys series published by Grosset & Dunlap. The book ranks 55th on Publishers Weekly 's All-Time Bestselling Children's Book List for the United States, with 2,209,774 copies sold as of 2001. [1] This book is one of the "Original 10", generally considered by historians and critics of children's literature to be the best examples of all the Hardy Boys, and Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing.

Contents

This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate by Leslie McFarlane and published in 1927. US Copyright expired in 2023, releasing it into the US public domain. [2] However, the 1927 edition is still under copyright in Canada until January 1, 2048 (70 years after Leslie McFarlane’s death, as Canada uses the life of the author plus 70 years for works-for-hire) when it will enter the Canadian Public Domain, along with the rest of McFarlane’s Hardy Boys books. The 1959 version will enter the US Public Domain on January 1, 2055, while it will enter the Canadian Public Domain on January 1, 2053. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet S. Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. [3] While some volumes only had minor changes, the original version of this book had the plot significantly rewritten in 1959 by Adams. [2]

Plot summary (revision)

The story begins with Frank and Joe Hardy barely avoiding being hit by a speeding driver, who they notice has bright red hair. Later, this same red-haired driver attempts a ferry boat ticket office robbery and successfully steals a yellow jalopy called Queen from the Hardys' friend, Chet Morton. Due to one witness reporting that the villain had dark hair, the Hardys assume he is using a red wig. It is learned that the thief returned to Chet's home to steal a tire, helping Frank and Joe to find Queen abandoned in a public wooded area.

The excitement of finding Queen is quickly gone when it is reported that there has been a robbery of forty thousand dollars in securities and jewels from the Tower Mansion owned by siblings Hurd and Adelia Applegate. Hurd Applegate is convinced that the Tower's caretaker, Henry Robinson, is the guilty party. The Hardys are especially concerned by this accusation, because Henry's son, Perry, is a friend of theirs who will have to quit school to work since his father can no longer get a job as a result of Applegate's accusation. The only "proof" of Henry Robinson's guilt is that he was suddenly able to pay off a debt and refused to reveal where he got the money to do so.

The Hardys suspect that the red-haired man may be involved with the Tower robbery and search the place where The Queen was found, finding the red wig. The Hardys' dad, detective Fenton Hardy, learns that the wig was manufactured in New York City. Fenton Hardy goes to New York and learns of a criminal named John "Red" Jackley who is fond of using disguises. Soon, Jackley is injured in a railroad handcar accident, causing him to be hospitalized. About to die, Jackley confesses that he committed the Tower Mansion robbery and put the loot "in the old tower..." Jackley dies before he is able to explain further. Searches of the Applegate's mansion, especially the original "old" Tower are fruitless.

Frank and Joe decide to go to the railroad where Jackley used to work to find more information. While investigating, they see two water towers nearby, one is new while the other is old and no longer used. Remembering Jackley once worked for the railroad the boys decide to search the old tower. Inside the old water tower they find the stolen items, but are locked in the tower by a man calling himself Hobo Johnny. Johnny believes that anything in the tower belongs to him. Frank and Joe break out of the water tower and return the missing securities and jewelry, whereupon they receive the $1,000 reward. [4] Following the revelations and with the stolen loot returned, Hurd re-hires Henry with an increase in salary and Hurd builds the greenhouse that Henry has been wanting.

Appearances (revised edition)

Characters in the book (The Tower Treasure)

  • Adelia Applegate
  • Hurd Applegate
  • Chief Collig
  • Fenton Hardy
  • Frank Hardy
  • Joe Hardy
  • Laura Hardy
  • John "Red" Jackley
  • Hobo Johnny
  • Chet Morton
  • Iola Morton
  • Mr. Morton
  • Mrs. Morton
  • Henry Robinson
  • Mrs. Robinson
  • Paula Robinson
  • Perry Robinson
  • Tessie Robinson
  • Callie Shaw
  • Oscar Smuff

Business and organizations

Adaptations

TV adaptation

The Tower Treasure became the basis of a serial shown on the Mickey Mouse Club in 1956–1957 as "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure", [5] named for the descendant of the pirate who was searching for the priceless treasure. This story was also made into a comic from Dell Comics [6]

Computer game

On September 30, 2008, JoWooD Productions and The Adventure Company released a PC video game based on The Tower Treasure. [7] It is titled The Hardy Boys: The Hidden Theft .

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hardy Boys</span> Fictional detectives and book series

The Hardy Boys, brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional characters who appear in several mystery series for children and teens. The series revolves around teenagers who are amateur sleuths, solving cases that stumped their adult counterparts. The characters were created by American writer Edward Stratemeyer, the founder of book packaging firm Stratemeyer Syndicate. The books were written by several ghostwriters, most notably Leslie McFarlane, under the collective pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon.

<i>The Secret of the Caves</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Secret of the Caves is Volume 7 in the original Hardy Boys series of mystery books for children and teens published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Short-Wave Mystery</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Short-Wave Mystery is Volume 24 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Mark on the Door</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Mark on the Door is Volume 13 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The House on the Cliff</i> 1927 book by Franklin W. Dixon

The House On The Cliff is the second book in the original Hardy Boys series published by Grosset & Dunlap. The book ranks 72nd on the Publishers Weekly's All-Time Bestselling Children's Book List in the United States with 1,712,433 copies sold as of 2001. This book is one of the "Original 10" Hardy Boys books and is an excellent example of the writing style used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate's writers. This style influenced many other "youth adventure series" books that the Stratemeyer Syndicate also published, including the Nancy Drew series, the Tom Swift adventure series, the Bobbsey Twins and other lesser known series. All of them used a unique writing style that made them very recognizable as Stratemeyer product.

<i>The Secret of the Old Mill</i> 1927 book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Secret of the Old Mill is Volume 3 in the original Hardy Boys series of mystery books for children and teens published by Grosset & Dunlap. The book ranks 86th on Publishers Weekly's All-Time Bestselling Children's Book List for the United States, with 1,467,645 copies sold by 2001. This book is one of the "Original 10", some of the best examples of the Hardy Boys, and Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing.

<i>The Missing Chums</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Missing Chums is volume 4 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap. The book ranks 108th on Publishers Weekly's All-Time Bestselling Children's Book List for the United States, with 1,189,973 copies sold as of 2001. This book is one of the "Original 10", generally considered to be the best examples of the Hardy Boys, and Stratemeyer Syndicate, writing.

<i>The Shore Road Mystery</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Shore Road Mystery is Volume 6 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap. The plot centers on attempts by the Hardy Boys to catch a ring of car thieves stealing cars from the Shore Road.

<i>The Great Airport Mystery</i> 1930 book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Great Airport Mystery is Volume 9 in the original The Hardy Boys series of mystery books for children and teens published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>What Happened at Midnight</i> 1931 book by Franklin W. Dixon

What Happened at Midnight is Volume 10 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>While the Clock Ticked</i> 1932 book by Franklin W. Dixon

While The Clock Ticked is Volume 11 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>Footprints Under the Window</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

Footprints Under the Window is Volume 12 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Hidden Harbor Mystery</i> 1935 book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Hidden Harbor Mystery is Volume 14 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Sinister Signpost</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Sinister Sign Post is Volume 15 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>A Figure in Hiding</i> Book by Franklin W. Dixon

A Figure in Hiding is Volume 16 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Arctic Patrol Mystery</i> 1969 novel by Franklin W. Dixon

The Arctic Patrol Mystery is Volume 48 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Masked Monkey</i> 1972 book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Masked Monkey is Volume 51 in the original The Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

<i>The Mysterious Caravan</i> 1975 book by Franklin W. Dixon

The Mysterious Caravan is volume 54 in the original Hardy Boys Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap.

In the late 1950s, Disney contracted with the Stratemeyer Syndicate and Grosset & Dunlap to produce two Hardy Boys TV serials, starring Tim Considine and Tommy Kirk. The first of the serials, The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure, was aired on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1956 during the show's second season. To appeal to the show's audience, the Hardy Boys were portrayed as younger than in the books, seeming to be twelve or thirteen years old. The script, written by Jackson Gillis, was based on the first Hardy Boys book, The Tower Treasure, and the serial was aired in 19 episodes of fifteen minutes each with production costs of $5,700. A second serial, The Mystery of Ghost Farm, followed in 1957, with an original story by Jackson Gillis. This serial shares some elements with "The House on the Cliff", the second Hardy Boys book.

References

  1. ↑ "/404". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 Keeline, James D. "Who Wrote the Hardy Boys? Secrets from the Syndicate Files Revealed" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  3. ↑ "Hardy Boys Online". www.hardyboysonline.net. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  4. ↑ In the original version of the book Henry admits that a man who owed him money repaid a debt to him, but he was not allowed to tell anyone in case the man's other debtors found out. This was revised in the 1959 version such that Adelia reveals that she loaned Henry Robinson the money to pay off his debt.
  5. ↑ "The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure". IMDb .
  6. ↑ "The Hardy Boys in Other Media".
  7. ↑ "The Hardy Boys - The Hidden Theft". Archived from the original on 2009-12-01.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.