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The Moving Picture Girls book cover 1
The Moving Picture Girls book cover 2
The Moving Picture Girls book cover 3
The Moving Picture Girls
Series · 6 books · 1914-1916

Books in series

The Moving Picture Girls; or, First Appearance in Photo Dramas book cover
#1

The Moving Picture Girls; or, First Appearance in Photo Dramas

1914

Ruth and Alice DeVere and their father Hosmer DeVere struggle to make ends meet while Mr. DeVere seeks another theactrical engagement. The family celebrates after Mr. DeVere finally wins a leading role in an upcoming play. Just as the opening day approaches, Mr. DeVere's old voice affliction suddenly returns, rendering him extremely hoarse. Despite voice rest and medical treatment, Mr. DeVere's voice fails to improve, and he loses his role in the play. Mr. DeVere desperately searches for work to no avail. Ruth and Alice's friend Russ suggests that Mr. DeVere come work as an actor in the moving pictures, but Mr. DeVere considers the moving pictures to be vulgar and cheap. It is only after the family is served with an eviction notice and after the grocer and butcher refuse all future deliveries to the family that Mr. DeVere gives in to the inevitable and accepts work in the moving pictures.
The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm; or, Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays book cover
#2

The Moving Picture Girls at Oak Farm; or, Queer Happenings While Taking Rural Plays

1914

Ruth and Alice eagerly begin their stay at Oak Farm as the film company films a series of plays at the farm. Country life is a welcome change from the bustle of the city; however, more than one mystery lurks at the farm. Sandy Apgar and his parents risk losing the farm because they cannot afford to pay the mortgage. Sandy's uncle had borrowed an inheritance from Sandy's parents but never paid them back. Sandy believes that Uncle Isaac intended to return the money but lost his mind and died before he was able to do so. The Apgars have searched repeatedly for the money with no luck. A tramp is discovered loitering on the farm and runs each time he is spotted. While the tramp appears to be doing nothing wrong, Sandy is deeply concerned about the tramp's motive. Meanwhile, the actors and actresses fall victim to several mishaps that occur during the filming of the plays.
The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound; or, The Proof on the Film book cover
#3

The Moving Picture Girls Snowbound; or, The Proof on the Film

1914

Dan Merley has accused Mr. DeVere of failing to return five-hundred dollars. Mr. DeVere has already repaid the debt, but Merley was drunk at the time and failed to give Mr. DeVere a receipt. Mr. DeVere can hardly afford to repay the money a second time, but may have no choice. Curiously, Alice and Ruth witness Dan Merley as he is nearly run over by a train. The man doesn't appear hurt, yet he complains of injuries and insists upon being taken to the hospital. The girls feel certain that Merley is up to some scheme.
The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch; or, Great Days Among the Cowboys book cover
#5

The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch; or, Great Days Among the Cowboys

1914

The Comet Film Company heads out West by railroad to work on a new project which shows life in the West and how it contrasts with life in the East. Mr. Pertell must contend with spies from a rival film company who are trying to steal his ideas. Russ gets a great film of the drilling of an oil well, but a spy also films the same scene with his own camera. Mr. Pertell changes his plans in order to thwart the rival company's efforts. As the company continues into the West, they dodge a tornado and survive a train derailment. Finally, the acting troupe arrives at Rocky Ranch. It takes some adjustment for the actors to get used to ranch life. The cowboys are loud and rowdy but very friendly to the film company, especially the young ladies. Russ and Mr. Pertell are taken aback when they spot a moving picture camera in the ranch house and learn that it belongs to a recently-hired cowhand. It seems that the rival picture company has arrived at the ranch first.
The Moving Picture Girls at Sea; or, A Pictured Shipwreck That Became Real book cover
#6

The Moving Picture Girls at Sea; or, A Pictured Shipwreck That Became Real

1915

The DeVeres head out to sea with the Comet Film company in order to film a new drama about a shipwreck. Old Jack Jepson, a sailor hired for the film, confides how he was once unjustly accused of inciting a mutiny on a ship and was sentenced to prison by the British authorities. Jack escaped and has lived on the run for many years. During the voyage, Jack worries that the British may discover his whereabouts and arrest him. Alice is intrigued by Jack's story, especially when she observes that Jack appears to know Captain Brisco and one of the other sailors, Hen Lacomb. Later, Jack appears to fall overboard while Brisco and Lacomb are standing near him. When Alice speaks to Jack about the incident, Jack reveals that Lacomb pushed him overboard. Jack refuses to elaborate any further, leaving a mystery for Alice to uncover.
The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays; or, The Sham Battles at Oak Farm book cover
#7

The Moving Picture Girls in War Plays; or, The Sham Battles at Oak Farm

1916

Mr. Pertell and the film company return to Oak Farm to film a war drama based on the Civil War. Mr. Pertell plans to take advantage of the public's interest in war films due to the raging war in Europe. A Girl in Blue and a Girl in Gray is to feature especially prominent roles for Ruth and Alice as relatives on opposite sides of the war between the states.

Author

Laura Lee Hope
Author · 165 books

Laura Lee Hope is a pseudonym used by the Stratemeyer Syndicate for the Bobbsey Twins and several other series of children's novels. Actual writers taking up the pen of Laura Lee Hope include Edward Stratemeyer, Howard and Lilian Garis, Elizabeth Ward, Harriet (Stratemeyer) Adams, Andrew E. Svenson, June M. Dunn, Grace Grote and Nancy Axelrad. Laura Lee Hope was first used in 1904 for the debut of the Bobbsey Twins, the principal characters of what was, for many years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate's longest-running series of children's novels. Other series written under this pseudonym include: The Outdoor Girls (23 vols. 1913-1933), The Moving Picture Girls (7 vols. 1914-1916), Bunny Brown (20 vols. 1916-1931), Six Little Bunkers (14 vols. 1918-1930), Make Believe Stories (12 vols. c. 1920-1923), and Blythe Girls (12 vols. 1925-1932). The first of the 72 books of the Bobbsey Twins series was published in 1904, the last in 1979. The books related the adventures of the children of the middle-class Bobbsey family, which included two sets of mixed-gender fraternal twins: Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six. Edward Stratemeyer himself is believed to have written the first volume in its original form in 1904. When the original series was brought to its conclusion in 1979, it had reached a total of 72 volumes. At least two abortive attempts to restart the series were launched after this, but in neither effort was the popularity of the original series achieved. Speculation that Stratemeyer also wrote the second and third volumes of the series is believed to be incorrect; these books are now attributed to Lilian Garis, wife of Howard Garis, who is credited with volumes 4–28 and 41. Elizabeth Ward is credited with volumes 29–35, while Harriet Stratemeyer Adams is credited with 36–38, 39 (with Camilla McClave), 40, 42, 43 (with Andrew Svenson), and 44–48. Volumes 49–52 are attributed to Andrew Svenson, while 53–59, and the 1960s rewrites of 1–4, 7, 11–13, and 17, are attributed to June Dunn. Grace Grote is regarded as the real author of 60–67 and the rewrites of 14 and 18–20, and Nancy Axelrad is credited with 68–72. Of the 1960s rewrites not already mentioned, volumes 5 and 16 are credited to Mary Donahoe, 6 and 25 to Patricia Doll, 8–10 and 15 to Bonnibel Weston, and 24 to Margery Howard. —from Wikipedia

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