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 #:
000492
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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1110 J. Henkel Henry, Cross Examination. was the strongest man. I was the weaker one of the two, and I wanted to give the people what the majority wanted, and I felt if it would build my business up by running association stuff, I would try it, but I found it did not take with them any stronger than I had been regularly, and again I felt that I was going to be cancelled, and I wrote them that I did not want the service any longer. That my patrons liked the independent service. Q. To whom did you write this letter which you gave to Mr. Grosvenor, withdrawing? The letter of February 8th, 1912? A. The letter of discontinuance? Q. Yes. A. I wrote to the General Film Exchange. Mr. Cohen, I believe, of Washington. Mr. Kingsley : Will you let me see that letter, Mr. Grosvenor? The letter is produced. Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. The paper produced is marked Defendants' Exhibit 30, and is as follows: Defendants' Exhibit No. 30. Feb. 8/12 General Film Ex., Washington, D. C, Gentlemen : — I have yours of even date and note your refusal to make an allowance on the Delhi Durbar reel. I enclose you check covering the balance due you in full for service from you up to and including February tenth. At present you will discontinue sending me the service from Mr. Wine. That is after the tenth. While I haven't any kick on the service yet I prefer a regular program each week of a certain age so that I can look forward and see just what I am to get. Again my patrons had been trained to the Independent reels and seem to prefer them, rather than learn the now service that is in familiarizing themselves with the players. Again thanking you for your courtesy and attention dnr