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 (1913)

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:
1913
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 2
Leaf #:
000259
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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Lewis M. Swaab, Cross Examination. 877 By Mr. Grosvenor: Q. The conversation with the owner of the licensed theatre at Connellsville, respecting which you have just testified on cross examination, was the conversation which you had in the year 1913, a year after you took the pictures, and a year after your first attempt to show the pictures in the licensed theatre in Connellsville? A. Yes, sir. Recross examination by Mr. Kingsley: Q. What kind of a projecting machine does Mr. Claybaugh use? A. I could not tell you. I don't know. Q. Do you know anything about projecting machines? A. I have never been in the booth. I don't know what kind he has. He has the Edison Talking Picture there. I don't know what it requires to use them. Q. You did not write any letter in May of 1912 respecting the Pathe camera, did you? A. I don't remember. I wrote several times. I tried to get a camera every place. Q. You wrote to Mr. Porter? A. I wrote to Mr. Porter to try to get me one. Q. In May, 1912? A. Yes, I wrote him, I think, several times. I tried every place I could. I bought a camera several months ago — a Williamson. Thereupon, at 12.30 P. M., a recess is taken until 2.30 P. M. at the same place. New York, N. Y., July 7th, 1913. The hearing was resumed pursuant to adjournment at 4 2 :30 o'clock P. M. on this July 7th, 1913, at Room 17, Federal Building, New York City. The appearances were the same as at the morning session. Thereupon, LEWIS M. SWAAB resumed the stand for cross examination. Cross examination by Mjr. Kingsley : Q. What business are you in now, Mr. Swaab? A. In