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 #:
000241
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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Edwin M. Simons, Direct Examination. 2G91 Q. What service did you use in the Family Theatre? A, I used the service — when I first opened up, do you mean? Q. Yes. A. From the National Yaudette Film Company. Q. That was the licensed service? A. Yes, sir. Q. How long did you take service from the National Yaudette Film Company? A. Over a year and a half. Q. And after that from what exchange? A. The General Film Company. Q. During the time that you were taking service from the National Yaudette Film Company, did you find it possible to select, announce and advertise a program in advance? A. Not with any success. Q. Did you make any attempt to do so? A. Yes, sir, several times. Q. Tell us something about your experience in that respect? A. On one occasion I advertised "The Road to Richmond." There was a convention in the city at that time, or rather a reunion between the old soldiers and sailors, and I invited them to come and see that picture in the theatre, and on the occasion of advertising this picture — in fact, I was informed two days previous to getting this film that it would cost me five dollars extra, and I told them that would be all right, to let it come along, and I didn't receive the film until too late to entertain the people there in the afternoon. Another occasion was "The Tale of Two Cities." I had the co-operation of the principal of the city schools, the pupils of the schools were reading the story at that time, of the high school, and boosted it, and advertised it, and they encouraged the students to see it, because it was worthy of their seeing it, and it was released on three different dates, three different release dates, and I ordered this from the National Yaudette in one complete entertainment. In other words, to give it in one day, and my opposition at that time had gotten into communication with his film exchange, and had run the film on separate days, one reel at a time, so when I got it he had taken advantage of my advertisement, and ruined the possibilities of my getting any value out of it. Q. Did you have other similar experiences? A. Quite a few. Q. During the period you were taking service from the