In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants (1914)

Record Details:

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Frank M. Kbnney, Direct Examination. 2671 a big poster, showing some picture that I would have on a certain day of the week, nine times out of ten I would have to cancel it because they would beat me to it the day before. Q. What other film company do you refer to? A. I refer to the National. Q. Do you mean the National Vaudette? A. I mean — well, let me study. I mean the United Film Exchange. Q. And what would happen under those circumstances? A. Well, I would advertise a picture to be run on a certain date, generally on Sunday. Well, along about Saturday the United would furnish to the competitor the reel that I had advertised, and kill it for me. Q. Do you know whether or not the United owned a competing theatre? A. A half owner of the United Film Exchange owned this theatre put up in opposition to me. Q. Did you find that the United favored this theatre? A. Yes, sir, it surely did. Q. As against you? A. At every opportunity. Q. Since you have been taking service from the General Film Company have you been able to announce a program in advance, and to advertise it and show the program on the date advertised? A. Yes, sir, I always get my program a week in advance. Q. Are you advertising your program? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you ever make a request of the General Film Company to modify or change your program in order to get certain pictures which you think are desirable? A. Yes, sir, I ask for changes almost every week. Q. Do they co-operate with you and meet, or grant, your requests? A. Yes, sir, without it is being served some place else at that time. Q. Have you kept in touch with the progress of the motion picture art for the past four or five years, to the extent of noticing whether the licensed service is improving or retrogressing? A. Yes, sir. Q. What is your opinion as to whether it has improved or deteriorated? A. It is at least a thousand per cent, better than it was two or three years ago. Q. Have you been conversant with the prices of the motion picture service to theatres during the past four or five years? A. Yes.