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 000515 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 #:
000515
Language:
English
Collection:
Early Cinema and Government & Law
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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Calvix S. Edwards, Direct Examination. 2365 Thereupon, CALVIN S. EDWARDS, the next witness produced by the defendants, of lawful age, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposes as follows: Direct examination by Mr. Caldwell: Q. Mr. Edwards, where do you live, and in what business are you engaged? A. I live in Kansas City, Missouri. Branch manager of the Kansas City Branch of the General Film Company. Q. How long have you occupied that position? A. Since the 10th day of November, 1913. Q. And before that, in what business were you engaged? A. In the same business, as assistant manager. Q. And from what time were you the assistant manager of that branch? A. I was the assistant manager of the Yale Film Company, and then, of the General Film Company, from the latter part of 1907. Q. Then, from the latter part of 1907, up to the time of the sale of the business of the Yale Film Exchange to the General Film Company, you were the assistant manager of the Yale Film Exchange? A. Yes, sir. Q. And when was that sale? A. In October, 1910. Q. Were you in the film business, or motion picture business, prior to 1907? A. Never saw a motion picture prior to that time. Q. Your first experience commenced with the Yale Film Exchange? A. It did. Q. Now, what is the territory at present served from the Kansas City branch of the General Film Company? A. The western half of Missouri, and all of the State of Kansas, and we have two customers in Oklahoma, and two in the State of Iowa. Q. What competitors have you in that territory? A. The Mutual Film Corporation, of Kansas City; the Universal Film & Supply Company, of Kansas City, Kansas City branch; J. W. Morgan Film Service Company; and the Navaho Film Exchange. Q. And where is it located? A. These are all in Kansas City. The Star Machine and Supply Company — I believe it is the Star Film Machine and Supply Company, of St. Joseph, Missouri; the Wichita Film & Supply Company of Witchita, Kansas. The Kite Service Film Com