 The show was originally created to expand upon the success of  _"Archie Show, The" (1968)_ (qv). Scooby Doo writer  Mark Evanier (qv) has stated that the teenagers were based on  characters from another CBS show,  _"Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The" (1959)_ (qv). Fred was Dobie  Gillis, Daphne was Thalia Menninger, Velma was Zelda Gilroy, and  Shaggy was Maynard G. Krebs (even having similar goatee beards and  hairstyles). Other influences were the 1940s radio drama, "I Love a  Mystery" and Enid Blyton (qv)s Famous Five books.