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 #:
000163
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 21, 2023
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Charles A. Feinler, Direct Examination. 2G13 Q. And you feel that it is necessary to do so today in 1 order to run a profitable house? A. Yes, sir. Q. Are features an important part of the program in Johnstown? A. Yes. Q. Were you using a Powers machine when the Patents Company was formed in December, 1908? A. Yes. Q. From whom had you bought that machine, do you recall? A. From the Calcium Light people. Redirect examination by Mr. Kingsley : Q. At the time that you were exhibiting unlicensed mo 2 tion pictures in your theatre in Johnstown, were there two other theatres showing unlicensed pictures at the same time? A. I think there was one. I am not positive. Q. At any rate, there are two now? A. There are two now\ Q. And how many showing licensed? A. Three straight picture houses. Recross examination by Mr. Grosvenor : Q. And two more that show licensed pictures, but in con 3 nection with vaudeville? A. Yes. Redirect examination by Mr. Kingsley : Q. Are there two more, or one more? A. Two more. CHARLES A. FEINLER, the next witness produced on behalf of the defendants, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposed as follows : Direct examination by Mr. Kingsley : Q. Where do you live, Mr. Feinler? A. Wheeling, West Virginia. Q. How long have you lived in Wheeling? A. Forty-five years. Q. In what business are you engaged in Wheeling? A. Theatrical business. Q. How long have you been in the theatrical business? A. Twenty years.