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 #:
000183
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. 2033 have a ten-cent show? A. Three to four days, a ten-cent show. Q. Do you ever have any difficulty in keeping your program clear? A. No, sir. Q. The other theatres being independent, of course you have no difficulty in that respect? A. No trouble at all since the General Film Company was organized. Q. Did you have any difficulty in that respect before these independent theatres were established, or began to use the independent service exclusively? A. About three years ago, I think. Q. From whom were you taking service then? A. The Pittsburgh Calcium Light & Film Company. Q. What was your experience at that time? A. My opposition and I used to get the same pictures on the same day. Q. Did you make any complaints to the Pittsburgh Calcium Light Company? A. No, sir. Q. Did you do anything to clear the programs? A. No, sir. Q. How long did this situation last? A. Up until the time the General Film Company bought up the Pittsburgh Calcium Light Company. Q. Was it then arranged so that you no longer had a conflicting program? A. Yes, sir. Q. What has been your experience with respect to prices? Are you paying as much or less or more now than you did before the General Film Company came into this field? A. Just about the same. Q. Has your service been changed any? A. It dropped back 16 days. Q. Is that a satisfactory service in a town where your competitors are all independent? A. Yes, sir. Q. How do you advertise? A. Newspaper. Daily newspaper. Q. Do you use billboards and circulars? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you run special features from time to time? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you ever run independent special features? A. I have not run any for the last six months. Q. Did you, prior to that time? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you run them in connection with the licensed service? A. Yes, sir.