Subject
Motion pictures -- Production and direction -- Juvenile fiction Books
Best books
Victor Appleton
The moving picture boys on the coast : $b or, Showing up the perils of the deep
"The Moving Picture Boys on the Coast" by Victor Appleton is a fictional adventure novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around two young protagonists, Joe Duncan and Blake Stewart, who are moving picture boys seeking to capture exciting films in various locations. The adventure begins with the boys and their cowboy guide, Hank Selby, as they navigate challenges related to capturing films, such as dealing with a group of renegade Indians and seeking Joe's long-lost father. At the start of the novel, the trio has just finished recording dangerous scenes involving Moqui Indians and is making their way back to civilization. On their journey, they discuss upcoming plans, including a search for Joe's father. However, their adventure takes an unexpected turn when they are attacked by the Indians who raid their camp at night, creating an atmosphere of urgency and suspense. The boys quickly gather to defend themselves and their valuable film equipment, setting the stage for an action-packed narrative filled with daring rescues and unexpected twists.
Elmer Tracey Barnes
The motion picture comrades aboard a submarine : $b or, Searching for treasure under the sea
"The Motion Picture Comrades Aboard a Submarine: or, Searching for Treasure Under the Sea" by Elmer Tracey Barnes is an adventurous children's novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows a group of boys, particularly Jack, Oscar, and Ballyhoo, who embark on an exciting expedition aboard a submarine called the "Argonaut" to capture amazing underwater footage and seek out sunken treasure. Their journey promises thrilling encounters and challenges as they explore the mysteries of the ocean depths. At the start of the novel, the boys are eagerly preparing for their journey, discussing the submarine's features and their plans for filming underwater adventures. They reflect on their past exploits, including capturing footage of wild animals in Africa, and reveal a competitive aspect with a rival expedition led by the notorious Captain Badger. As they embark on their voyage, navigating the Chesapeake Bay, they encounter storms and formidable opponents while gearing up for the thrilling adventures that lie ahead beneath the waves. The opening sets a tone of camaraderie, excitement, and the spirit of exploration, making the reader eager to join the boys on their daring quest.
Laura Lee Hope
The Moving Picture Girls at Sea or, A Pictured Shipwreck That Became Real
"The Moving Picture Girls at Sea" by Laura Lee Hope is a fictional novel written in the early 20th century. It continues the adventures of moving picture actresses Ruth and Alice DeVere as they embark on new cinematic endeavors and face exciting challenges in their lives. The story likely revolves around their involvement in a marine drama, hinting at themes of creativity, camaraderie, and the unpredictable twists of filmmaking. At the start of the narrative, Ruth and Alice DeVere are depicted at a moment of fatigue after a long day of filming, with Alice expressing her exhaustion due to a challenging role. Their father, Mr. Hosmer DeVere, reveals that the film company is preparing a new marine drama, which sparks Alice's excitement despite their father's apprehensions about a dream he had regarding a shipwreck. As they navigate the dynamics of their film company, including interactions with a colorful cast of characters, the plot hints at an impending adventure that will take them on a journey filled with potential danger and thrills, setting the stage for a combination of drama and mystery on the high seas.
Victor Appleton
The moving picture boys on the war front : $b or, The hunt for the stolen army films
"The Moving Picture Boys on the War Front" by Victor Appleton is a fictional adventure novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows two young protagonists, Blake Stewart and Joe Duncan, who are aspiring filmmakers engaged by the military to capture real-life war footage during World War I. The book is set against the backdrop of their cinematic endeavors, which intertwine with actual wartime experiences, as they navigate the challenges of producing films while grappling with the dangers and excitement of being near the front lines. At the start of the novel, the moving picture boys are immersed in filming a Civil War reenactment, which serves as a backdrop to introduce their characters and the film production world. The narrative quickly escalates when they receive a call from their producer, Mr. Hadley, offering them a chance to document real battle scenes in Europe. As they prepare for their journey, an accident involving a French officer, Lieutenant Secor, raises suspicions among the boys regarding their safety. Blending themes of espionage and the pursuit of adventure, the opening sets the tone for an action-packed narrative that explores the tumultuous moment when filmmaking meets the harsh realities of war.
Laura Lee Hope
The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound Or, The Proof on the Film
"The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound" by Laura Lee Hope is a children's adventure novel written in the early 20th century. This book is part of a series that follows the DeVere family, particularly sisters Ruth and Alice, as they navigate their challenges in the world of moving pictures, or films. The story centers around their father, a veteran actor, and the difficulties the family faces as they attempt to find stability while dealing with an ominous debt and unexpected hurdles, including a storm that wishes to snow them in. The opening of the novel introduces the DeVere family as they worry about the delayed return of their father from the moving picture studio, hinting at underlying tensions and troubles that will evolve throughout the story. The girls, especially Alice, express youthful exuberance contrasted with Ruth’s more serious demeanor, and the stage is set for a forthcoming journey. Upon the father's return, the anxiety surrounding Dan Merley, a man who claims he is owed money, escalates, replacing their initial excitement with concern for their family's reputation and financial stability. As they prepare for a new adventure, a blizzard looms, leading to an unexpected breakdown of the sleds on their way to Elk Lodge, kicking off a mix of adventure, comedy, and family dynamics against the backdrop of the winter landscape.
Laura Lee Hope
The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm or, Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays
"The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm" by Laura Lee Hope is a novel aimed at young readers, written in the early 20th century. It follows the adventures of the DeVere sisters, Ruth and Alice, who, along with a theatrical troupe, travel to Oak Farm to film rural scenes for moving pictures. The story combines elements of drama and comedy, highlighting the excitement and challenges faced by the characters while exploring themes of friendship, creativity, and rural life. The opening of the book sets the stage for the journey to Oak Farm, featuring a diverse cast of characters as they board a train. Ruth and Alice express their eagerness to escape the city heat, and their excitement is palpable. As the train ride progresses, an unexpected collision occurs, causing panic among the passengers but ultimately serving as a catalyst for the unfolding adventure. The girls engage in lively conversations about life on the farm and the prospects of filming, while hints of a mysterious background regarding the farm start to emerge. The stage is thus set for both whimsical experiences and potential challenges as they navigate their summer at Oak Farm.
Laura Lee Hope
The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays Or, The Sham Battles at Oak Farm
"The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays" by Laura Lee Hope is a novel written in the early 20th century. This installment follows the adventures of sisters Ruth and Alice DeVere, who are both aspiring actresses involved in the motion picture industry. As they prepare for filming war dramas at Oak Farm, they deal with the excitements and challenges of their profession, punctuated with a hint of mystery regarding other characters such as Estelle Brown, a newcomer to the cast. The opening of this story introduces us to Ruth and Alice as they pack for a trip to Oak Farm, discussing their preparations and quirks as they engage in playful banter. The story quickly shifts focus as Alice discovers a newspaper article about a missing girl, Mildred Passamore, which grabs the girls' attention only to be a report from several years prior. It establishes the backdrop of their lives as actresses in a busy film industry. Their father, Mr. DeVere, encourages them in their endeavors while they encounter various colleagues, hinting at underlying tensions with other cast members, particularly concerning the new actress, Estelle. The stage is set for a blend of light-hearted drama and the excitement of the filmmaking process, including potential threats from background characters that may complicate their narrative.
Victor Appleton
The moving picture boys at Panama : $b or, Stirring adventures along the great canal
"The Moving Picture Boys at Panama; Or, Stirring Adventures Along the Great Canal" by Victor Appleton is an adventure novel written in the early 20th century. This installment follows the escapades of two young protagonists, Joe Duncan and Blake Stewart, who are known as the "Moving Picture Boys." The story begins with them enjoying a vacation at a farmhouse before they get entangled in a dramatic rescue involving a runaway horse and carriage, setting the stage for their upcoming adventure in Panama. At the start of the book, Joe and Blake are excitedly discussing their recent exploits and hoping for news from their employer regarding their next filming assignment. Their peaceful vacation takes a thrilling turn when they witness a runaway horse pulling a carriage towards a broken bridge. They swiftly decide to take action and race their motorcycle to try and save the occupants of the carriage, leading to a daring rescue. This opening chapter not only establishes their friendship and teamwork but also foreshadows their future adventures, which will involve filming movements and events surrounding the construction of the Panama Canal.
Victor Appleton
The movie boys in the jungle : $b or, Lively times among the wild beasts
"The Movie Boys in the Jungle: or, Lively Times Among the Wild Beasts" by Victor Appleton is a juvenile adventure novel written in the early 20th century. It follows moving-picture operators Joe Duncan and Blake Stewart as they head to Africa to rescue Joe’s sister Jessie from a troubled mission station while filming wild animals in their native habitats. Alongside Joe’s father and the gloom-prone comedian C. C. Piper, they balance a rescue mission with a daring contract to capture authentic jungle footage. Expect travel, peril, and resourceful camerawork amid wild beasts and wary tribes. The opening of the story shows Joe and Blake finishing lighthouse scenes on the California coast before learning that Joe’s sister, first thought to be in China, has instead gone to a remote station in Africa. En route east with their theatrical company, their train sideswipes a circus train; the boys film the chaos (including a briefly freed lion), impressing circus manager Harry Stone, who hires them to obtain true jungle animal pictures. They sail via Naples and Suez—where grim news reports say Jessie’s mission has been raided and the missionaries carried into the interior—yet press on with Mr. Duncan and a newly revealed shipmate, C. C. Piper. Reaching Mombasa, they take the Uganda Railway toward Victoria Nyanza, film buffalo and a rhino near the line, hire veteran guide Sergeant Hotchkiss, assemble a safari with native porters led by “Happy One,” and prepare to cross the lake to Entebbe to begin the search in earnest.
Laura Lee Hope
The Moving Picture Girls; Or, First Appearances in Photo Dramas
"The Moving Picture Girls; Or, First Appearances in Photo Dramas" by Laura Lee Hope is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the DeVere sisters, Alice and Ruth, who are navigating the challenges of life in New York City while their father, a struggling actor, faces professional hardships that lead him to consider a career change into the burgeoning field of moving pictures. The opening of the novel paints a vivid picture of the sisters' dynamic, with Alice's lively spirit contrasting against Ruth's more serious disposition. As they discuss their finances and their father's new acting engagement, a chaotic incident occurs in their apartment that sets their precarious situation in motion. The narrative highlights themes of resilience and adaptability as the family encounters financial strain and realizes their need to embrace new opportunities, even in the unfamiliar world of film. Alice's determination to help her father find work in the movies underlines her growth and resourcefulness, setting the stage for potential adventures ahead in the film industry.
Laura Lee Hope
The Moving Picture Girls Under the Palms Or Lost in the Wilds of Florida
"The Moving Picture Girls Under the Palms" by Laura Lee Hope is a novel written in the early 20th century. This story continues the adventures of the DeVere sisters, Ruth and Alice, who, along with their film company colleagues, embark on a journey from New York to Florida. The narrative unfolds around their experiences in the film industry and the various escapades they encounter, including a dramatic rescue and the dangers of filming in the wilds of Florida. The beginning of the novel sets the stage as the characters prepare for their trip to Florida after completing indoor scenes in New York. The excitement mounts as the Comet Film Company boards the "Tarsus" for the journey, but not before a dramatic incident when an actor falls overboard and is rescued. Amidst the backdrop of moving picture set production, the characters' personal relationships and dynamics start to emerge, hinting at light-hearted romance and camaraderie. As they voyage to the land of palms, the story promises adventure, challenges, and a blend of thrilling incidents, all framed within the bustling atmosphere of the early film industry.
Victor Appleton
The movie boys in peril : $b or, Strenuous days along the Panama Canal
"The Movie Boys in Peril: or, Strenuous Days Along the Panama Canal" by Victor Appleton is a juvenile adventure novel written in the early 20th century. It follows moving-picture operators Blake Stewart and Joe Duncan as they head to the Panama Canal to capture dramatic scenes—especially the feared Culebra Cut landslides—while a courteous but puzzling Spanish companion, Vigues Alcando, joins them to learn the trade. Expect travel, engineering spectacle, and light intrigue woven into brisk, boyish action. The opening of the book finds Blake and Joe on vacation when they spot a runaway horse and buggy headed for a broken bridge; after a high-speed chase on their new motorcycle, they pull the wrecked carriage back from the brink, saving driver Hank Duryee and a young Spaniard, Vigues Alcando. A delayed special-delivery letter from their employer, Mr. Hadley, reveals plans for the boys to film the Canal and a possibly imminent big slide at Culebra Cut, and Alcando—eager to learn moviemaking—asks to accompany them. In New York the boys get instructions from Hadley and Ringold, while Alcando’s behavior occasionally raises questions (a windblown note mentioning “big guns,” a secretive visitor, and a brass-bound ticking “alarm clock” he won’t explain). The trio sails for Colon; after a voyage marked by small suspicions and Alcando’s insistence on gratitude and helpfulness, they arrive in Panama and prepare to begin their filming.
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