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 #:
000406
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:
June 13, 2024
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1024 Charles W. Boyer, Cross Examination. By Mr. Kingsley : Q. I show you a letter dated January 14th 1913, and ask you if that is your letter and your signature ( handing paper to witness) ? A. (witness examining paper) : Yes, sir. Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. The paper offered is marked Defendants' Exhibit No. 18, and is as follows: Defendants' Exhibit No. 18. EASTERN THEATRE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION Secretary's Office Chas. W. Boyer, Secretary Academy of Music — Hagerstown, Md. (Officers and Directors listed.) 1/14/13 Motion Picture Patents Company, 80 Fifth Ave., New York City. Gentlemen : Replying to yours of Jan. 11th addressed to the Rosedale Theatre, Chambersburg, Pa., beg to advise you that on Jan. 3d, we played Homer's Odyssey as a regular road attraction on percentage, just the same as we play Lyman H. Howe. You will remember, of course, that the Rosedale Theatre is a regular House playing road attractions, stock, minstrels, musical comedies, etc., and showing pictures only on the off nights when there is nothing else, and we endeavor at all times to keep within the rules and regulations of the Patents Company. The writer saw these pictures in Baltimore, some weeks ago, and booked them for Chambersburg, as stated before, on percentage, and I fail to see any reason why that should