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109 pages

English

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After filming on location in the snow-packed North, sisters Alice and Ruth DeVere are delighted to find out that their next silent film is to be set in sunny Florida. But the news that some young girls have recently gone missing from the area where they will be filming puts a damper on their jolly mood.

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Children's

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 février 2017
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781776677016
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0064€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

THE MOVING PICTURE GIRLS UNDER THE PALMS
OR LOST IN THE WILDS OF FLORIDA
* * *
LAURA LEE HOPE

*
The Moving Picture Girls Under the Palms Or Lost in the Wilds of Florida First published in 1914 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-701-6 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-702-3 © 2015 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter I - Overboard Chapter II - To the Rescue Chapter III - A Disquieting Item Chapter IV - Fire on Board Chapter V - Disabled Chapter VI - By Wireless Chapter VII - In Port Chapter VIII - St. Augustine Chapter IX - In the Dungeon Chapter X - The Motor Races Chapter XI - To Lake Kissimmee Chapter XII - A Warning Chapter XIII - Out in the Boat Chapter XIV - Under the Palms Chapter XV - In Peril Chapter XVI - A Strange Attack Chapter XVII - Out of a Tree Chapter XVIII - The Animated Logs Chapter XIX - Into the Wilds Chapter XX - Lost Chapter XXI - The Long Night Chapter XXII - Ashore Chapter XXIII - The Palm Hut Chapter XXIV - The Lost Are Found Chapter XXV - Out of the Wilds
Chapter I - Overboard
*
"All ready now! In position, everyone!"
Half a score of actors and actresses moved quickly to their appointedplaces, while overhead, and at the sides of them hissed powerful electriclights, and in front of them stood a moving picture camera, ready to beoperated by a pleasant-faced young man.
"Ready?" came in questioning tones from Mr. Pertell, the stage director,as he looked sharply from one to the other.
A tall, well-built man, with iron-gray hair, nodded, but did not speak.
"Let her go, Russ!" Mr. Pertell exclaimed.
"Vait! Vait a minute!" called one of the actors, with a pronounced Germanaccent.
"Well, what's the matter now, Mr. Switzer?" asked the director, with atouch of impatience.
"I haf forgotten der imbortant babers dot I haf to offer mine enemy indis play. I must have der babers."
"Gracious, I should say so!" said the manager. "Where's Pop Snooks?" andhe looked around for the property man, who had to produce on short noticeanything from a ten-ton safe to a hairpin.
"Hi, Pop!" called Mr. Pertell. "Make up a bundle of important,legal-looking papers, with seals on. Mr. Switzer has to use 'em in thisplay. I forgot to tell you."
"Have 'em for you right away!" cried the property man, and a little laterMr. Switzer had his "babers."
"I guess we're all right now. Start up, Russ," ordered the stagedirector, who was also the manager of the troupe.
"That was a mistake on the part of Mr. Pertell; wasn't it, Ruth?" askedone of the young actresses—a pretty girl—of her sister, who stood nearher in the mimic scene.
"Yes, indeed, Alice. But it isn't often he makes one."
"No, indeed. Oh, we mustn't talk any more. I see him looking at us."
"Begin!" called the manager, sharply, and the play proceeded, while theyoung moving picture operator clicked away at the handle of his camera,the long strip of film moving behind the lens with a whirring sound, andregistering views of the pantomime of the actors and actresses at therate of sixteen a second.
The above was done several times a day in the New York studio of theComet Film Company, which was engaged in making moving pictures.
The play went on through the various acts. Only part of it was being"filmed" now—the interior scenes. Later, others would be taken outdoors.
"Time out—hold your positions!" suddenly exclaimed the operator. "Film'sbroken. I've got to mend it."
Everyone came to a standstill at that. In a few seconds the damage wasrepaired, and the play went on. It was, in the main, a "parlor" drama,and there were to be only a few outdoor scenes.
"That will do for the present," said Mr. Pertell. "You may all take arest now. This will be our last New York play for some time—that is,after we get the outdoor scenes for this."
"Where are we going next?" asked the elderly actor before mentioned. Hespoke in very hoarse voice, and it was evident that he had some throataffection. In fact, it was the ailment which had forced him to give upacting in the "legitimate," and take to the "movies."
"We are going to Florida—the land of the palms!" announced the manager."You know I spoke of tentative plans for a drama down there when we werein the backwoods. Now I have everything arranged, and we will leave on asteamer for St. Augustine one week from to-day."
"Hurrah for Florida!" exclaimed a young actor, with a strikinglygood-looking face. "There's where I've always wanted to go."
"So have I!" exclaimed a young girl who stood near him,—a girl withmerry, brown eyes. "Will you take me out after oranges, Paul?" she asked,mischievously.
"Certainly, Alice," he answered.
"Why don't you say orange blossoms while you're about it?" inquiredanother actress, with a pert manner.
Alice blushed, and her sister Ruth looked sharply at Miss Laura Dixon,who had made the rather pointed remark.
"I'm willing to make it orange blossoms!" laughed the young fellow. "Thatis, if they're in season."
"Ah, stop all this nonsense!" exclaimed Alice. "I want to ask Mr. Pertella lot of questions about where we're going, and all that. Oh, to think weare really going to Florida!"
"Yes, we are all going," went on Mr. Pertell. "I think—"
"One moment, if you please!" interrupted a middle-aged actor whose faceseemed to indicate that he lived more on vinegar than on the milk ofhuman kindness. "We are not all going, if you please, Mr. Pertell."
"Who is not going, Mr. Sneed, pray?" the manager wanted to know.
"I, for one. I have gone through many hardships and dangers acting inmoving pictures for you, but I draw the line at Florida."
"Why, I think it's perfectly lovely there!" exclaimed Miss PearlPennington, a chum of Miss Dixon.
"Do you call alligators lovely?" asked Mr. Pepper Sneed, who was known as"the actor with the grouch." He was always finding fault. "Lovelyalligators!" he sneered. "If you want to go to Florida, and be eaten byan alligator—go. I'll not!"
Some of the younger members of the company looked rather serious at this.They had not counted on alligators.
"Now look here!" exclaimed Mr. Pertell. "That's all nonsense. We aregoing where there are no alligators; but I'll pay anyone who is injuredin the slightest by one of the saurians a thousand dollars!"
"Then I'll go!" cried Mr. Sneed, who was rather "close," and fond ofmoney. "But I'm not going to stand a very big bite for that sum!" hestipulated, while the others laughed.
"I'll grade the payments according to the bites, at the rate of athousand dollars a big bite," declared the manager, also laughing.
"Now then, you may make your plans accordingly. As I said, we leave bysteamer for St. Augustine by way of Jacksonville this day week."
"And will all the scenes be taken in St. Augustine?" asked one of thecompany.
"No, we shall go into the interior. I expect we may go to a place nearLake Kissimmee, and there—"
"Lake Kissimmee!" exclaimed Alice DeVere, in surprise.
"What about it?" asked Mr. Pertell. "Are you afraid to go there?"
"No, but two girls whom we met on the train going to Deerfield, when wewere preparing to make the ice and snow dramas, were going to a placenear there. We may meet them."
"That's so!" agreed Ruth.
"I hope you will," went on Mr. Pertell. "Lake Kissimmee, however, is onlyone of the interior places we shall touch. I will tell you more detailedplans later."
"I—ah—er—presume we shall have a little time to—er—see the sights ofSt. Augustine; will we not?" asked one of the actors, in affected,drawling tones.
"Oh, yes, plenty of time, Mr. Towne," answered Mr. Pertell. Claude Townewas a new member of the company, rather a "dudish" sort of chap, and not,as yet, very well liked. He dressed in what he considered the "height offashion."
The week that followed was a busy one for every member of the Comet FilmCompany. Not that they were required to do much acting in front of thecamera; for, after the outdoor scenes in connection with the currentplay were made, Russ Dalwood, the operator, packed up his belongingsready for the Florida trip.
The others were doing the same thing, and Mr. Pertell was kept busyarranging for transportation, and hotel accommodations, and for thetaking care of such films as he would send back from the interior ofFlorida, since none would be developed there. This work would have to bedone, and positives printed for the projecting machines, in New York.This custom was generally followed when the company went out of town.
"Well, are we all here?" asked Mr. Pertell one morning as he reached thesteamer, which lay at her dock in New York, ready for the trip to theland of the palms.
"I think so," answered Russ, who had with him a small moving picturecamera. He had an idea he might see something that would make a goodfilm.
"No one missing?" went on the manager. "That's good. Oh, by the way, didMr. Towne arrive? He 'phoned to me that he might be a little late."
"Yes, he's here," answered Russ. "The last I saw of him he was looking ina mirror, arranging his necktie."
"Humph! He's too fond of dress," commented the manager, "but he does wellin certain society parts, and that's why I keep him."
The confusion of the passengers and late freight coming aboard graduallygrew less. Whistles sounded their bass notes, and gongs clanged.
"All ashore that's goin' ashore!" came the warning cry, and there was ahurried departure of those who had come to see friends or relatives offon the voyage.
The moving picture company were gathered to