The movie boys at Seaside Park : $b or, The rival photo houses of the boardwalkAppleton, Victor
General
The movie boys at Seaside Park : $b or, The rival photo houses of the boardwalk
Appleton, Victor
Motion picture theaters -- Juvenile fiction
“Surely we have met somewhere on the boards? Was it in Philadelphia,
when I was press agent for the United Thespian? Perhaps that will
assist your memory.”
Frank good naturedly accepted and glanced over a very dirty and worn
card bearing the inscription: “Roderick James Booth: Press Agent.”
Frank shook his head.
“I have not had the honor of meeting you before, Mr. Booth,” he said.
“In the line, I suppose?” insinuated Booth.
“If you mean of theatricals--hardly,” replied Frank. “I have done a
little in the motion picture field.”
“Ah!” exclaimed Booth, with great animation, striking a pose--“there,
indeed, is a field. Young man; I proclaim a wonderful future for the
photo playhouse. Let me see, where are you located now--and the name, I
didn’t quite catch the name?”
“I am Frank Durham,” replied our young hero, “and with some others
expect to open a new motion picture show at Seaside Park.”
“Ah, a hit! Think of it! Beside the soothing waves, dancing breezes,
vast throngs, stupendous profits. Only one thing lacking--an able
press agent. Sir,” and Booth raised himself to his loftiest height, “I
papered Baltimore till the house was jammed. The United Thespians--sir,
a moment, aside. Mr. Vincent will pardon us. Could you anticipate----”
Frank knew what was coming. The man did not look like a drinker and he
did look hungry. Vincent nudged Frank warningly, but Frank could not
resist a generous impulse.
Mr. Booth almost danced as a crisp dollar bill was placed in his hand.
Then he took out a pencil and memorandum book. Very carefully and
laboriously he began to write:
“Durham, Seaside Park. I. O. U. one dollar. Mem: suggest plan for
publicity campaign.”
“You’ve put your foot in it this time, Durham,” exclaimed Vincent
almost wrathfully, as with a great flourish Booth went on his way.
“Oh, pshaw!” laughed Frank, “the poor fellow probably needs a square
meal.”
“Yes, but you needn’t have told him who you were and about the new
Wonderland. Why, within an hour he will be telling his friends of a new
opening at Seaside Park--engaged for the season--forfeit money already
paid. Besides that, I wouldn’t wonder to see him put in an appearance
personally with one of his wild publicity schemes direct at Seaside
Park. Oh, you can laugh, but once he sets out on your trail, and you
encourage him, you’ll find it no easy matter to shake him off,” a
prediction by the way that Frank and his chums had reason to recall a
little later.
Frank was in fine spirits when he reached Seaside Park. Everything
had gone famously with him in the city. He had been introduced to a
man who operated a string of summer resort motion picture shows, and
he had gleaned an immense amount of information. The man had reduced
his special line to a science and had made money at it, and Frank was
greatly encouraged.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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