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 (1914)

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:
1914
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 5
Leaf #:
000156
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 21, 2023
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2606 Harry W. Scherer, Direct Examination * Q. The j are not yet due, are they? A. No, sir. HARRY W. SCHERER, a witness produced on behalf of the defendants, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposes as follows: Direct examination by Mr. Kingsley: Q. Where do you live, Mr. Scherer? A. Johnstown, Pensylvania. Q. How long have you lived in Johnstown, Pennsylvania? A. Thirty-nine years. Q. In what business are you now engaged? A. Theatrical business and moving picture business. Q. How long have you been in the moving picture business? A. Between six and seven years. Q. Are you connected with or do you own any theatres in Johnstown? A. We own the Cambria Theatre, a dramatic house, and lease the moving picture house. Q. You operate a moving picture house under a lease? A. Under a lease. Q. Are you the chief owner? A. That is, the lessee. Q, I mean, of the business? A. Scherer & Kelly is the firm. Q. Are you the chief owner in the firm of Scherer & Kelly? A. Yes. Q. During the six years you have been in the business, from what exchanges have you been taking service? A. From the General Film Company, with the exception of about three months when we went over to the Independent. Q. When did you first go into the motion picture business? A. Six years ago — between six and seven. Q. And what is the name of the theatre that you had six years ago? A. Park Family Theatre. Q. What was the seating capacity of the Park Family Theatre? A. At that time it was about 6.00. Q. What is its seating capacity now? A. About 900. Q. From what exchange did you take service when you began to operate the Park Family Theatre six years ago? Mr. Grosvenor: I object to this question as