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)

Page scan 000408 from 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 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 4
Leaf #:
000408
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:
September 12, 2024
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2258 Alton Tredick, Direct Examination. Q. Why not? A. They seem to feel that the Mutual service is the best service. Q. Can you recall any other towns besides those two you have just mentioned? A. There is Norman, Oklahoma, where we have had our traveling man, and I have also had personal interviews with both of the proprietors of the two shows, and at one time, during the Summer, there was a third show there, which was using our service, but was put out of business by the other two houses, and I have been unable to secure the business of either one of these two houses. Q. Were you ever in the exhibition business? A. In Spokane, Washington. Q. When was that? A. In 1908 and 1909, and part of 1910. Q. What service were you taking, licensed or unlicensed? A. I have always used licensed service in every instance possible. Q. What licensed exchanges were operating in that territory, at that time? A. At the opening of my theatre? Q. During 1909, and in the early part of 1910? A. In the latter part of 1909, the National Film Kenting Company opened in Spokane, and the Montana Film Exchange had been operating for some time in Butte, Montana; the Edison Display Company of Seattle, was furnishing service in that territory, also the Kleine Optical Company, occasionally, and the Morton Film Exchange of Portland, was trying to secure business in that territory. Q. What was your experience in getting service at that time from these exchanges? A. At the beginning of securing service, I had very little difficulty in securing service. The business had but very few theatres, and my business was in demand, and there was more or less competition to secure it. As the time went on, however, I attempted, in the early part of 1910, to either get into the business in a larger way, or to change my condition. I had opened a small theatre which, in the upward trend of the business, rapidly became a — well, I term it a "dump," a house without any decorations, and very small seating capacity, and the other houses coming along with larger and finer interiors, and more comfortable for the patrons, was gradually putting my place out of business. In attempting to