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 000411 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 #:
000411
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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Alton Tredick, Cross Examination. 2261 Mr. Grosvenor : What was the matter of common * knowledge? Mr. Caldwell: What he is now stating, as I understand it. By Mr. Caldwell: Q. Yon may proceed. A. This word that was given to theatres was possibly they would locate a theatre that they wanted to purchase — they did not care to purchase all theatres — but if there was any desirable theatre that they desired to purchase, they would in a great many instances, 2 possibly not all, but I doubt if there were very many instances where they did not do it — by endeavoring to secure the theatre by letting out a rumor to the effect that they might put in a new theatre, or that they might do something, and, of course, being in absolute control of the film situation as they were, it resulted in their securing a number of theatres at prices they could not undoubtedly otherwise have secured then. Cross examination bv Mr. Grosvenor: 3 Q. You are in charge of the Oklahoma office of the General Film Company? A. Yes, sir. Q. And, I take it, you receive your supplies of film from the various manufacturers, the same being shipped to you direct to your office? A. Yes, sir. Q. And then you ship the same from your office to your various customers? A. Yes, sir. Q. Are some of your customers located in the States outside of Oklahoma? A. Yes, sir. Q. What States? A. Xew Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. 4 Q. What per cent, of the gross receipts of your office is made up out of payments received by you from all your exhibitors for the leasing of films which you ship out to your customers? A. About eighty-five per cent. Q. And what makes up the other fifteen per cent? A. The rental of posters, the sale of advertising matter and supplies incidental to theatres. Q. Do you sell moving picture machines? A. Yes, sir.