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 #:
000181
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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John Penman, Jr., Direct Examination. 2031 Q. What is the seating capacity of the Coile Theatre? A. Seven hundred. Q. What is the seating capacity of the Lyric, in Duquesne? A. Two hundred. Q. And of the Grand? A. Two hundred. Q. Over how long a period does this experience extend? A. Seven years. Q. Were those all licensed theatres? A. Yes, sir. Q. Is the Lyric Theatre a licensed theatre? A. Yes, sir. Q. Are you interested at this moment in any other theatre except the Lyric Theatre? A. No, sir. Q. In 1908 and 1909, from what exchange or exchanges were you obtaining motion pictures? A. The Pittsburgh Calcium Light & Film Company. Q. At that time did you find it possible to advertise a fixed and definite program in advance, and to exhibit the program on the date designated in your advertising? A. On very rare occasions I got the picture. We advertised very seldom. Q. What was your experience in respect to that? A. Mr. Rowland would always tell us he was not sure whether the films were in or not, and that if we advertised them in advance, we did so at our own risk. Q. Mr. Eowland was one of the owners of the Pittsburgh Calcium Light Company? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you talk with him, personally? A. Yes, sir. Q. When you were arranging a program? A. Yes, sir; when I arranged anything special. Q. Did you ever have the experience of advertising a program in advance, and then not being able to exhibit it at the time indicated? A. No, sir; not that I remember of. Q. You didn't advertise much, then? A. No, sir. Q. Have you been, at any time in your experience as a motion picture exhibitor, able to advertise a fixed, definite program in advance, and then to exhibit it on the date set out in your advertisement? A. That is every week? Q. Yes. A. No, sir. Q. What are you doing, now, in that respect? A. I have a weekly program that I put out every Saturday night. Q. For the week in advance? A. Yes, sir. Q. And are you able to exhibit that program? A. Yes, sir.