It's locked! Nancy Drew, teenage sleuth, turns 85

Nancy Drew turns 85 this year, and she's looking pretty good for an octogenarian. Sure, she has traded in her roadster for a hybrid, but the teenage sleuth still is solving crimes and displaying the feisty independent streak that made her a role model for such women as former senator and first lady Hillary Clinton, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and former first lady Laura Bush.

In honor of her birthday, let's look at 10 facts about the Nancy Drew-niverse.

1. Nancy's creator

Carolyn Keene gets credit for writing Nancy's books. Like Nancy, however, she never existed. Carolyn Keene was the brainchild of Edward Stratemeyer, who launched the wildly popular "Hardy Boys" series in 1927. Thinking that a female counterpart would do well, he created the Keene pen name. Mildred Wirt Benson wrote the first seven books and went on to pen 23 more. That's just a drop in the bucket, considering there are 175 books in the original series, but Benson laid the foundation for an enduring character.

2. Nancy's gang

Nancy isn't the only reason to enjoy the books. The series features a well-rounded collection of characters. Carson, Nancy's widowed father, is a successful attorney who often helps his daughter with her casework. Tomboy George, one of Nancy's best friends, arrives in book No. 5, 1931's "The Secret of Shadow Ranch." That novel also marks the introduction of Bess Marvin, Nancy's other pal, a blonde who worries about her diet. Ned Nickerson is Nancy's handsome boyfriend; he's introduced in 1932's "The Clue in the Diary."

3. Nancy through the years

Depending on age, a Nancy Drew reader will have different recollections of the teenage sleuth. The first 34 books in the series originally were published from 1930 to 1956. Beginning in 1959, the books gradually were revised to modernize the characters and surroundings and eliminate ethnic stereotypes. (The original books weren't overly kind to gypsies or African-Americans.) Novels written through 1956 also were considerably denser, running 25 chapters. Beginning with 1957's "The Haunted Showboat," the books contained 20 chapters. Nancy also changed: Initially, she was blond, but her hair had darkened by the late '50s.

4. The many series of books

You might not realize all the ways there are to read about Nancy's adventures. The original series ran through 2003's "Werewolf in a Winter Wonderland" (which, honestly, doesn't sound like a high point). "The Nancy Drew Files" series launched in 1986 and feature a greater emphasis on Nancy's romantic life. "Girl Detective" features a Nancy who drives a hybrid automobile; these books appeared from 2004 to 2012. The following year, "Nancy Drew Diaries" were launched, which are written in the first-person; i.e. "My best friend Bess leaned back and craned her neck." Younger readers can enjoy "Nancy Drew Notebooks" (1994-2005), which portray the mystery solver at age 8, and "Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew," which keeps her in elementary school. Think of them as the Muppet Baby versions of Nancy.

5. River Heights

Nancy's hometown has fascinated fans for generations. It's quite an idealized place, much like Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show." It's never explicitly said in which state the town exists, which adds to the mystery. Faithful readers will know such spots as Riverfront Park and the River Heights Community Theatre, and recognize that the River Heights Morning Record turns up on the doorsteps of most citizens. The Claymore is the local hotel, and the Pizza Palace and Jake's Ice Cream Parlor are among the hangouts.

6. The "River Heights" series

The town's popularity inspired a "River Heights" series of books focused on Nikki Masters, Nancy's next-door neighbor. The books were more about juvenile romance than sleuthing, which could be why Nancy is absent after the 1989 debut novel, "Love Times Three." The series lasted for 17 books, ending with 1992's "The Jealousy Trap." Keeping with tradition, Carolyn Keene is credited as author.

7. The Nancy Drew Mystery Game

Released in 1957, this Parker Brothers board game lets players move their metal roadsters around the board. The goal is to find Nancy, which is achieved by placing colored markers on the board. The gorgeous game board includes references to books in the series, including "The Haunted Bridge," "The Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion" and "The Secret of Red Gate Farm." If you find this in mint condition, expect to pay at least $75.

8. The TV show

Nancy made it to TV when "The Nancy Drew Mysteries" premiered Feb. 6, 1977. Dark-tressed Pamela Sue Martin played Nancy; before this show, she was best known for climbing a Christmas tree in the blockbuster "The Poseidon Adventure." The program initially alternated its Sunday-night time slot with "The Hardy Boys Mysteries." In the second season, the shows were merged and Nancy's role reduced, which led to Martin quitting. She was replaced by a generic blond starlet, Janet Louise Johnson, and by Season 3, the Nancy character was eliminated altogether. In 1978, Martin eradicated her Nancy Drew image by appearing on the cover of Playboy with a trench coat and magnifying glass. The headline: "Nancy Drew Undraped."

9. At the movies

Bonita Granville starred in a series of four Warner Bros. films that brought the character to the big screen. They weren't high-profile movies; they were B pictures designed to serve as the second half of a double feature. "Nancy Drew: Detective" appeared in 1938, followed the next year by "Nancy Drew: Reporter," "Nancy Drew: Trouble Shooter" and "Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase." Big bummers: Nancy's boyfriend, Ned, is renamed Ted, and pals George and Bess are AWOL. Nancy returned to the screen in 2007's "Nancy Drew," which featured Emma Roberts as our detective and Max Thieriot ("Bates Motel") as Ned. The movie scored points for keeping Nancy's roadster, but the overall response was underwhelming.

10. Computer games

More than 9 million PC games from Her Interactive have sold since 1998. "Sea of Darkness," the latest title, is No. 32 in the series. The 2005 game "The Secret of the Old Clock" is inspired by Nancy's first book, but the majority of titles are not direct adaptations. The games have been lauded for attracting girls to gaming. They also guarantee that even non-readers can have a relationship with the girl detective.

Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849.