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 #:
000176
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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2626 C. R. Jones, Direct Examination. Q. At what time was that you had that circuit? A. That was at the time the General Film Company was formed. Q. You mean the Patents Company? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you have this circuit of four or five theatres in the vicinity of Scranton after the Patents Company was formed? A. Yes, sir. Q. And during that period, you were receiving service from Mr. Swaab, of Philadelphia? A. Yes, sir. Q. In what way did he ship the service? A. Thirty-live reels a wreek. Q. Did he ship them all together? A. Yes, sir. Q. And you held them in stock in your theatre? A. Yes, sir. Q. Or in your place of business? A. Yes, sir. Q. When you were taking service from the Pittsburgh Calcium Light Company, and also when you were taking service for Scranton, and in its vicinity, from L. M. Swraab of Philadelphia, were you able to advertise a definite fixed program in advance, and to exhibit it on the date designated in the advertisement? A. Why, in those days the only advertisement we ever got out was a square piece of cardboard — that was before the day of the poster — generally 22 by 28 inches, and all it had on it was the name of the film. Q. Were you able to select a program in advance? A. No,sir, we would take what we got. Q. Would they give you a definite program? A. No, sir, we would just take what we got. Q. Would they make you promises regarding what they would deliver to you? A. Xo, sir; no promises made. Q. After you took service from the General Film Company were you able to fix upon a program, and to announce it in advance? A. Yes, sir. Q. And were you able to advertise it, and to show the program on the date designated? A. Yes, sir, weeks in advance we could get it, Q. How long have you been doing this? A. Ever since the General Film Company Avas organized or existed. Q. Were you able to do this when you took service from the Pittsburgh Calcium Light Company, prior to the coming of the General Film Company into this field? A. Xo, sir.