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 #:
000272
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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2722 Thomas A. Brown, Direct Examination. for a program that was dissected out in parts? A. No, sir. Q. You paid for a total program? A. Yes, sir, that is the way we paid. Q. And when you showed a program in your house, did it have an individual picture in it of separate value to you, or did you estimate the entire program as one? A. The entire program as one. THOMAS A. BROWN, the next witness produced on behalf of the defendants, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposes as follows: Direct examination by Mr. Kingsley: Q. Where do you live, Mr. Brown? A. Iowa City, Iowa. Q. How long have you lived there? A. I have lived there for a matter of a little over eleven years. Q. In what business are you now? A. I am in the moving picture business and cigar business. Q. How long have you been in the moving picture business? A. Well, it is, as near as I can remember, about eight years. Q. Always in Iowa City? A. Always in Iowa City. Q. What theatre are you operating there now? A. I am operating Brown's Nickledon, and the American. Q. What are the seating capacities of the two theatres? A. Well, the seating capacity of the American is 340. About 340. And the seating capacity of the Nickledon, the fivecent house, is 210. Q. What service do you use? A. I use the licensed service. Q. How long have you used licensed service? A. Always. Q. Did you ever use any unlicensed service in your houses? A. I never used anything in either house as a regular service. I am using the Famous Players features at my American Theatre, in connection with my regular service, that is, I am using them twice a month. Every other Thursday and Friday. Q. From what exchange are you getting motion pictures? A. From the General Film Company's Omaha branch.