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 000452 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 #:
000452
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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2302 William P. LTerbst, Direct Examination. Q. Do you always do that? A. Oh, yes; without any trouble. Q. Before you took service from the General Film Company, from what exchange were you obtaining your service? A. We were obtaining it then from the General Film Company, from its place in Philadelphia. I guess that is a branch of the General Film Company there, and then they established an office in Washington, and then we took from them, but previous to that we took service from Miles Brothers. Q. During the period when you were taking motion pictures from Miles Brothers, did you find it possible to select a program in advance and advertise the same? A. We never could depend on it. Q. Did you ever attempt to advertise a program in advance, and th-en find that your competitor was able to get the whole or any portion of the program you had advertised the day before you did, or on the same day? A. That has happened frequently. Q. Do you run any independent features at your place? A. Only large features. Q. But you do display those from time to time? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you find that the interest in motion picture shows is increasing or diminishing? A. It is increasing. Q. Do you find audiences have favorite actors and actresses, for whose work they are constantly looking, and whom they are discussing from time to time? A. Yes, they have decided favorites. Q. Do you receive letters, circulars, and advertisements from the licensed producers of motion pictures? A. We do. Q. In which you are asked to demand from your exchange certain special subjects which are named therein? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you find that the licensed producers of motion pictures are constantly competing among themselves for the favor of the exhibitor? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do they compete in reference to the quality of their pictures, so far as you are able to determine? A. They are always making a big blow about their pictures. Q. Do they say whether their pictures are improved over the preceding pictures? A. Yes, sir.