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 #:
000282
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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900 George W. Bennethum, Direct Examination. 1 Mr. Kingsley: How did that continue? Did it increase or diminish? Mr. Swaab: It diminished. It was down to ten at one time. Mr. Kingsley: When was it down to ten? Last October? Mr. Swaab : No ; before that. Mr. KJingsley: How many were you buying last * October when you sold? Mr. Swaab: Twelve. Mr. Grosvenor: In order to save time, I suggest that we suspend with this witness, and I will get rid of another witness who wants to get out of town. (At this point the witness Swaab is withdrawn.) GEORGE W. BENNETHUM, a witness subpoenaed on behalf of the petitioner, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, testified as follows: Direct examination by Mr. Grosvenor : Q. Mr. Bennethum, where do you reside? A. Reading, Pennsylvania. Q. Were you residing there in November, 1911? A. Yes, sir. Q. You had an interest in a number of moving picture theatres at that time, did you not? A. Yes, sir. 4 Q. Please state how many theatres you owned in part or in whole, and the locations of the same. A. There were eight or nine. I am not positive whether it was eight or nine. Three of them located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania; two in Reading, Pennsylvania; and two in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and either two or three in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, at that time. Q. Were these theatres which you owned, socalled licensed theatres? A. At that time, yes, sir. Mr. Kingsley: What time was that?