The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell was based on a long-running and wildly popular series of juvenile novels and stories from the 1890s to the 1930s by Gilbert Patton, under the pen name of Burt Standish. Frank is a student and athlete at Yale who personified the stereotypical "All-American Boy" of the time--honest, forthright, and upright in all things. In the midst of winning athletic contests and passing tests, he solves crimes, rights wrongs, and succors the week. Frank Merriwell never shows weakness and can do no wrong.

In addition to two NBC radio series, a 14-minute serial in 1934 and a half-hour series from 1946 to 1949, the novels also gave rise to comic strips, movies, and dime novels. There was even a 1971 Broadway musical, which is notable for having closed after one performance. An attempt to revive the books in the 1960s was fruitless. (Having come of age in the 1960s, I can well understand why.)

Learn more at Wikipedia.

Series description provided by Frank Bell.