The Moving Picture Girls at Rocky Ranch

In Short

This narrative follows the Comet Film Company, a traveling troupe of actors and technicians, as they journey from New York to a remote Western ranch. Led by sisters Ruth and Alice DeVere and their father, a former stage actor, the company attempts to capture authentic "moving pictures" against the backdrop of the rugged frontier. The book captures a pivotal moment in early 20th-century entertainment, blending the technical fascinations of early filmmaking with the classic tropes of Western adventure. Its enduring appeal lies in its earnest portrayal of professional ambition and youthful grit.

The Story

The story opens in a New York film studio, where the Comet Film Company is busy producing short dramas. The atmosphere is professional but fraught with minor professional rivalries and the constant demand for new, exciting content. When a rival film concern attempts to sabotage their work by spying on their production process, the manager, Mr. Pertell, decides a change of scenery is necessary to outpace the competition. He plans a grand Western excursion to Rocky Ranch, hoping the vast, dramatic landscapes will provide the perfect setting for their most ambitious films yet.

Once the company arrives at the ranch, the project quickly shifts from routine studio work to a series of high-stakes, real-world challenges. The actors find themselves navigating the nuances of cowboy life, which involves everything from mastering horses to narrowly escaping a stampede. The production of a "prairie fire" drama—intended to be a simple piece of make-believe—takes a terrifying turn when the staged flames threaten to spiral out of control, forcing the troupe to flee for their safety in a very real, life-or-death struggle.

Interspersed with these dangers are moments of classic Western friction. The troupe encounters a group of local Indians, leading to a period of captivity that tests their courage and ingenuity. Through the leadership of the ranch hands and the resourcefulness of the film crew, they secure their release. The troupe also contends with the constant presence of a mysterious observer, hinting at the lingering shadow of their rivals back home.

As the production nears its end, the boundary between the movie scripts and the reality of the ranch begins to blur. The sisters, Ruth and Alice, grow from hesitant city dwellers into confident horsewomen, while their father finds a new lease on life as his throat ailment subsides in the fresh air. The final scenes of the book capture the successful completion of their epic films, particularly a dramatic escape sequence filmed in a creek bed that earns acclaim in New York. The story concludes with the company preparing to return East, their professional bond strengthened and their spirits buoyed by the "glorious" experience of the West, though the promise of future cinematic adventures at sea signals that their journey is far from over.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins The company sets out by train to escape professional spies, facing early mechanical mishaps that keep the crew on their toes. They transition from the rigid environment of a city studio to the unpredictable rhythm of the open plains.

A test in Kansas A sudden cyclone interrupts their journey, forcing the group into a storm cellar while their equipment is tested by the gale. The destruction provides unexpected, authentic footage that the ambitious manager quickly incorporates into their latest drama.

Life at Rocky Ranch Upon reaching the ranch, the actors are greeted by local cowboys and a Chinese cook, setting the stage for cultural clashes and humorous misunderstandings. The group begins filming Western-themed scenarios that require them to adopt new personas and physical skills.

The Indian mesa A trip to a mesa to film sacred rites leads to an uncomfortable standoff with the local tribe. The company is held as captives, forcing them to rely on negotiation and the help of their cowboy guides to regain their freedom.

The final escape The climax arrives during the filming of a prairie fire, where the fire becomes a genuine threat to the entire cast. The company makes a desperate dash for a creek, where they must balance their survival with the professional drive to capture the event on film.

The People

Ruth and Alice DeVere serve as the moral and emotional anchors of the company. Ruth is the more cautious of the sisters, often worrying about the dangers of their profession, while Alice is adventurous and quick to embrace new challenges. They both evolve, gaining confidence and physical independence as they learn to navigate the rugged terrain and the demands of the camera.

Their father, Hosmer DeVere, is a former stage actor whose career was sidelined by a throat ailment. The Western trip serves as a healing journey for him, allowing him to transition successfully into the world of film where his voice is no longer the primary requirement for success.

Russ Dalwood, the earnest and industrious camera operator, acts as the company’s technical backbone. He is constantly seeking the "perfect shot," often at the expense of his own safety. Mr. Pertell, the manager, is the driving force behind the company. He is a pragmatic, if slightly relentless, visionary who prioritizes the quality of his films above all else, often pushing his actors into risky situations to achieve realism.

Supporting characters like the boastful actor Mr. Bunn, the nervous Mr. Sneed, and the local ranch hands—such as Baldy Johnson—provide a mix of comic relief and protective guidance. These figures contrast the delicate sensibilities of the New York actors with the rough-hewn, capable nature of the frontier inhabitants.

In Its Own Voice

"I'm glad to see that you are getting--sensible."

Alice offers this observation to her sister, Ruth, regarding the shift in their priorities since they entered the moving picture business.

"I won't stand for that; I'll have a stop put to it!"

Mr. Pertell asserts his authority when he discovers that rivals are attempting to film his company’s hard-won scenarios.

"I just want to get some pictures showing the wagon and the cowboys going across the creek."

Even in the midst of a life-threatening prairie fire, Russ remains focused on his primary duty as a cinematographer.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an exploration of the early transition from the traditional stage to the nascent, unpredictable world of cinema. It examines the tension between art and reality, particularly the question of how much personal risk is justified in the pursuit of "authentic" entertainment. The narrative also reflects a fascination with the American West as both a physical space and a mythical backdrop for storytelling. It asks how city-bred professionals adapt when their environment shifts from a controlled studio to the wild, where nature—in the form of storms and fires—dictates the pace of work. Ultimately, it is a story about professional resilience, the necessity of teamwork, and the transformative power of a new, challenging landscape on one's personal identity.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate early 20th-century Americana and the history of film will find this book particularly engaging. It offers a window into the "nickelodeon" era, where the art of the motion picture was still experimental, and the cameras themselves were cumbersome, mechanical beasts. The prose is warm and straightforward, capturing the naive, optimistic spirit of the period.

However, readers should be prepared for the realities of the text’s era. The attitudes toward the indigenous characters, while consistent with the period’s "Western" genre tropes, are rooted in the limited perspectives of the early 1900s. There are also frequent, somewhat repetitive, depictions of the troupe’s professional anxieties that underscore the book's status as a volume in a longer series. The dialogue often leans into the "slang" of the time, which can feel dated, and the pacing occasionally pauses to accommodate the technical explanations of how film was spliced and edited in 1914. If you approach it as a historical artifact—a snapshot of a time when the world was becoming smaller and faster through the lens of a camera—it is a charming and earnest read that captures the adventure of a vanished era of entertainment.