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 #:
000233
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, Cross Examination. 2083 Q. You are already a large patron of unlicensed exchanges? A. Yes, sir. Q. Prior to the time that you became such a large patron, were you frequently solicited by representatives of the unlicensed exchanges? A. Occasionally, yes, sir. Q. And did they offer you a complete program for your houses, and stated they would give you a complete service? A. They claimed they could furnish it, yes, sir. Q. Going back to the time when you were taking a licensed service, prior to the advent of the General Film Company in your field, and comparing the prices you were paying for service then with the prices you ai'c paying now, what do you say as to whether the price is larger or smaller than it was before? A. Much smaller. Q. Will you give us some illustration showing just how the price is smaller? A. Well, when I first started in the business, for 4 reels per week I paid $40.00. At the present time, for — well, we have no house where we get service for $40.00, but for f G0.00 we get 16 reels a week. Q. What projecting machines do you use? A. We use the Powers and Simplex. Q. What have you used at various times in the past? A. Nothing except Powers and Simplex. Cross examination by Mr. Grosvenor: Q. When you first started with 4 reels, you used to show those reels, six days a week, didn't you? A. We had four changes a week, giving a one-reel show, two days each, except Sunday. Q. But you showed each reel more than one day? A. Two days, except the one on Sunday. Q. And these reels you have now you show only one day? A. One day. Q. So that you only rent them for one day? A. Two reels each day. That is, in the same house. Q. What is the name of this theatre that has 1,087 seats? A. Orpheum. Q. You do not show many pictures there, do you? A. We show nothing but pictures. Q. It is the 1,111 seat house that has the mixed program? A. Vaudeville and pictures.