Post by wileyk209 on May 18, 2013 14:52:50 GMT -5
Some people think the name "Mystery Inc." originated in the late 1990s with "Zombie Island," and some think it started with the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo movie. And there may be some that think it's from the 1980s.
But that isn't correct. Mystery Inc. was the original name used for the gang since at least 1977. You see, in the late 1970s Peter Pan Records apparently got permission from Hanna-Barbera to produce some read-along book/audio sets featuring their characters, and this included the Scooby-Doo gang. (Peter Pan Records was one of the big companies when it came to read-along book-and-audio sets, the others included Disney, Kid Stuff Records and Magic Media.) T
hey generally featured an illustrated 24-page book, along with a recording of the story, usually on vinyl (those smaller 45-RPM records with the large hole that usually required some sort of adapter when played on a turntable) but sometimes on compact cassette as well. They would have a narrator or character voices reading exactly out of the book word-for-word, along with music and sound effects, and some kind of turn-the-page signal (the earliest titles had a ding and the narrator saying "Turn the page!", later titles simply used an electronic chime.) It'd even remind you when to turn the record over at the end of Side One!
These Scooby-Doo read-along book/records were somewhat interesting. Worth of note is Duncan Robertson voicing Shaggy (Casey Kasem may have been busy with his radio show or something!) His Shaggy voice is kind of weird (not as bad as Billy West and Scott Menville though!) Everyone else reprises their roles, including Frank Welker as Fred, Heather North as Daphne, Pat Stevens as Velma, and of course Don Messick as Scooby-Doo (Messick also provided the opening narration as well on at least one title.) None of the distinctive Scooby-Doo music, themes or Hanna-Barbera sound effects show up (and this is predating "What's New Scooby-Doo!"), but they do have a pretty groovy instrumental rock theme song!
This appears to have been the origin of the name "Mystery Inc." IDK if Peter Pan Records or Hanna-Barbera came up with that (I am sure H-B did.)
Just felt like sharing.
But that isn't correct. Mystery Inc. was the original name used for the gang since at least 1977. You see, in the late 1970s Peter Pan Records apparently got permission from Hanna-Barbera to produce some read-along book/audio sets featuring their characters, and this included the Scooby-Doo gang. (Peter Pan Records was one of the big companies when it came to read-along book-and-audio sets, the others included Disney, Kid Stuff Records and Magic Media.) T
hey generally featured an illustrated 24-page book, along with a recording of the story, usually on vinyl (those smaller 45-RPM records with the large hole that usually required some sort of adapter when played on a turntable) but sometimes on compact cassette as well. They would have a narrator or character voices reading exactly out of the book word-for-word, along with music and sound effects, and some kind of turn-the-page signal (the earliest titles had a ding and the narrator saying "Turn the page!", later titles simply used an electronic chime.) It'd even remind you when to turn the record over at the end of Side One!
These Scooby-Doo read-along book/records were somewhat interesting. Worth of note is Duncan Robertson voicing Shaggy (Casey Kasem may have been busy with his radio show or something!) His Shaggy voice is kind of weird (not as bad as Billy West and Scott Menville though!) Everyone else reprises their roles, including Frank Welker as Fred, Heather North as Daphne, Pat Stevens as Velma, and of course Don Messick as Scooby-Doo (Messick also provided the opening narration as well on at least one title.) None of the distinctive Scooby-Doo music, themes or Hanna-Barbera sound effects show up (and this is predating "What's New Scooby-Doo!"), but they do have a pretty groovy instrumental rock theme song!
This appears to have been the origin of the name "Mystery Inc." IDK if Peter Pan Records or Hanna-Barbera came up with that (I am sure H-B did.)
Just felt like sharing.
