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 #:
000186
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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2030 Ora L. Braeey, Direct Examination. 1 ORA L. BRALEY, a witness produced on behalf of the defendants, being first duly sworn by the Examiner, deposes as follows : Direct examination by Mr. Kingsley : Q. Where do you live, Mr. Braley? A. At Toledo, Ohio. Q. How long have you lived in Toledo? A. About six years. Q. What is your business? A. I am in the motion picture exhibition business. Q. How long have you been in the motion picture exhibition business? A. Since April 18th, six years ago. I guess, 1908. Q. What theatre or theatres are you operating at the present time? A. Princess Theatre, 310 St. Clair Street — Q. What is the seating capacity of that? A. Eight hundred and seventy-two. Q. What other theatre are you operating? A. Royal Theatre, at 425 Summit Street. Q. The seating capacity of that is how much? A. Two hundred and ninety-nine, I believe. Something between that and three hundred and ten. Q. Are you operating any other theatre? A. I have a three-quarter interest in the Colonial Theatre. Q. And what is the seating capacity of the Colonial? A. Eight hundred and fifty. Q. How long have you operated the theatres to which you have referred? A. The Princess Theatre was originally located on Summit Street, at 239 Summit Street, and after being there five years, I moved it to St. Clair Street. The Royal Theatre I have operated for about four years and a half. The Colonial Theatre I purchased a three-quarter interest in on the 20th day of October, 1913. Q. What service are you using in your three theatres at the present time? A. I am using the licensed service. Q. Have you used the licensed service altogether in these theatres? A. Well, almost entirely. When I purchased the Colonial Theatre on the 20th of October, they were usiug an independent service, but I discontinued the use of that within ten days after I bought the controlling interest in it. Q. From what rental exchange have you been securing