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 #:
000158
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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2608 Harry W. Scherer, Direct Examination. nite fixed program so that you could announce it in advance? A. So that we could announce it in advance, yes. Q. How many years did you operate the Park Family Theatre before you were able to do that? A. About two and a half years. Q. When was it that you began to take service from the General Film Company? A. Ever since they have been in business. Q. Have you been able to advertise a program in advance since you have taken service from the General Film Company? A. Yes, I think all of the entire time. Q. Have }rou been able to exhibit the program on the day designated in your advertisements? A. Yes. Q. Have you been able to select a program in advance while doing business with the General Film Company, or have you left the selection of the program to the General Film Company? A. We leave that to selection by them. They lay out a program for us. Q. Do you ever make requests for a special subject in advance? A. Very seldom. Q. When you do, are your wishes gratified? A. Yes. Q. Does the General Film Company show a desire to aid you when you desire to modify your program? A. Always. Q. In what business were you engaged before you began the moving picture business? A. Theatrical business. Q. How long were you in the theatrical business? A. About 15 years. Q. Do you operate the motion picture business on the same general lines as you did the theatrical business? A. Practically, yes. Q. Does the General Film Company have a special agency in Johnstown? A. They are represented there. Q. Who represents them there? A. J. G. Foley. Q. Do you do business with Mr. Foley with respect to the service from the General Film Company? A. No. Q. Did you at any time? A. Well, he would look after our interests. Q. And has he co-operated with you in seeing that you had the sort of a program that you wanted? A. Yes, sir. Q. You have never been bothered, I think you said, by conflicting programs? A. No. Q. How did you avoid that? A. Through Mr. Foley