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 #:
000469
Language:
English
Collection:
Government & Law and Early Cinema
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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Edgar Thorp, Cross Examination. 1087 we have have been shown in Titnsville, we have nothing further to offer." Were you able to get any feature films or reels from them at that time? A. We were not. Q. And your license was cancelled August 16th by the Patents Company? A. Yes, sir. Whereupon, at 12:15 P. M., the hearing is adjourned until 2 :30 P. M., at the same place. New York City, July 9th, 1913. The hearing was resumed pursuant to adjournment at 2.30 o'clock P. M., on this July 9th, 1913, at Room 47, Post Office Building, New York City. The appearances were the same as at the morning session. Thereupon, EDGAR A. THORP resumed the stand. Cross examination, by Mr. Kingsley: Q. Mr. Thorp, when was it that you began to run licensed film at your place of business? A. Some time about 20th of December, 1909. Q. And in the letter marked "Petitioner's Exhibit No. 199," which you sent to the General Film Company, at Pittsburgh, Pa., you make this statement (reading from letter) : "Replying to your letter of the 9th, relative to the pictures exhibited at Titusville on the night of July 20th. These films were secured by me through the Feature Film Co., of Toledo, Ohio. I do not know whether they are Independent or not; they sent us a circular letter offering some featues, which we booked in for Thursday nights of each week. You will recall that we requested this service of your exchange, informing you that we were going to run feature night each Thursday night, with a five piece orchestra and you advised that you could not give us any feature reels." So that, you wrote the General Film Company, asking for feature reels on Thursday nights? A. I don't know whether it shows in that letter, but I made a trip to Pitts