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 #:
000310
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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2TG0 Floyd Brov^n, Cross Examination. By Mr. Kingsley: Q. Do they show a preference for the latest models in machines when they come in? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you carry older models so they may take their choice? A. Not in stock. We order them if they want them. Q. You act as agent for the older models? A. Yes, sir. Cross examination by Mr. Grosvenor: Q. Mr. Brown, you receive the films from the factories of the different manufacturers, shipped from the factories to Indianapolis? A. Yes, sir. Q. And then you distribute them from Indianapolis to these customers of yours located in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois? A. Yes, sir. Q. When you are through with them what do you do with them? A. We send them back to the various manufacturers. Q. In using this list on direct examination to refresh your recollection you named a number of towns in which you stated there is no theatre taking films from the General Film Company's branch. It is true, is it not, that there are also a number of towns where the General Film Company has a customer or two customers but in which there is no independent theatre? For instance, in the town of Attica, there are two so-called licensed theatres but no independent theatre? A. Yes, sir. Q. In Columbia City there are two licensed theatres but no independent theatre? A. I believe that is right. Q. And in Greensburg there are two licensed theatres but no independent theatre? A. Yes, sir. Q. In Paris, Illinois, there are two licensed theatres but no independent theatres? A. Yes, sir. Q. It is true, is it not, in these towns there is a licensed theatre but no independent theatre: Carlisle, Clay City, Cold Bluff, Danville, Dugger, Farmland, Galveston, ITuntingburg, Jonesboro, Lapel, Loogootee, Morristown, New Military ITome, Oolitee, Pendleton, Rockville, Scottsboro, Shirley, Spencer, Thornton, Warren, Zionsville, West Port and Newman, as appears from your memorandum which you used in testifying? A. With this exception, that since that memorandum was made up Clay City has discontinued the