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:

Title:
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
Date:
1914
Publisher:
New York, Appeal Printing Co.
Volume:
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 : record volume 5
Leaf #:
000229
Language:
English
Collection:
Early Cinema and Government & Law
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
The Museum of Modern Art Library, New York
Sponsor:
Media History Digital Library
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
These seven volumes contain the testimonies and supporting documents from the U.S. District Court's antitrust lawsuit against the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC). Formed in 1908, the MPPC (sometimes referred to asœ"the Edison Trust" or just "the Trust") sought to control the American film industry through pooling patents and demanding that producers and exhibitors acquire licenses to those patents. Independent producers and exhibitors, who refused to license the patents, argued that the MPPC was an unlawful monopoly. In 1912 and 1913, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania heard testimonies from both MPPC members, such as Siegmund Lubin, and "Independents" who later became Hollywood moguls, such as William Fox. Ultimately, in 1915, the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which found the MPPC in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and spelled the end for the already weakening MPPC. -- Eric Hoyt, 2012
Date Added:
September 21, 2023
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Edward M. Smith, Direct Examination. 2679 tion, jour theatre was profitable? A. Yes, sir. It is one of the most up-to-date theatres in the city, and is respected by the most high-class people in the city, and all my credit lies to the General Film Company. Q. How large did you say your theatre is? A. Well, it is 300, or, rather, two hundred and seventy-six, but three hundred seats, if we get the front seats filled. Q. And from what branch of the General Film Company do you get your film? A. From Cleveland, Ohio. Q. Are features an important part of the program in your theatre? A. It is according to what they are. There are a lot of them which are a detriment to a theatre, and there are a lot that are very good. I have some features that were the greatest advertising of the day, put out by the licensed people. I ran a picture here not long ago, "When Love's Sun Sets," a picture that can be run in any theatre a full week straight. EDWARD M. SMITH, the next witness produced on behalf of the defendants, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposes as follows : Direct examination by Mr. Kjngsley : Q. Where do you live, Mr. Smith? A. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Q. How long have you lived there? A. About ten years. Q. What business are you in? A. Theatrical business. Q. What kind of theatrical business? A. Well, we have a vaudeville house, and picture houses. Q. Two separate houses? A. Six. Q. How many motion picture houses have you in Grand Rapids? A. Five, exclusive. Q. One mixed vaudeville — A. Vaudeville and pictures. Q. How long have you been in the business of exhibiting motion pictures in Grand Rapids? A. Well, about nearly six years in Grand Rapids. Q. You have had six motion picture houses all the time? A. Not all the time, no sir. Q. Have you had more than one during all that period? A. Well, one at first just for a few months, and then we took over three more, and so on. Q. Will you begin with the first house you had, give the 3