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 #:
000321
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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Houston N. Morgan, Direct Examination. 2771 Q. At that time were you familiar with the motion picture service that was received at the McKinley Theatre and by other theatres in your immediate neighborhood? A. I was, yes, sir. Q. What service were you using at the time, licensed or unlicensed? A. I was using at the McKinley Theatre, Swanson and Crawford service. Q. Was that a licensed or unlicensed service? A. Unlicensed. Q. What program did you run at that time? A. Do you mean as to age? Q. Yes, age and number of subjects? A. It was what was called a commercial service, $35.00 a week — no, I believe it was $28.00. I believe I was getting four reels, and possibly I might have been running five. I would not be positive as to that. Q. Were you familiar with the prices of licensed service to theatres in the early part of 1910, and the latter part of 1909? A. I was. Q. Are you familiar with the prices of licensed service to theatres at the present time? A. Yes, sir; I think so. Q. How do the prices paid for licensed service by exhibitors in the latter part of 1909 and the early part of 1910 compare with the prices paid for the same service at present? A. Well, now, the service you mean, service conditions then and service conditions now? Not the same service? Q. By same service, I meant licensed? A. The conditions? Q. Yes, but not necessarily the physical condition. A. Well, the prices of the service today, counting the quality of the service, I consider that I am getting a much better service today than what I got in those days, or what I could have got at that time at the same price. Q. Considering the service with respect to the number of reels and the change of reels, how do the prices paid in 1909 and 1910 compare with the prices paid at present? A. Well, as far as the general releases are concerned, I would say the prices are about the same. I am not speaking of what is called an exclusive service. Q. During the period regarding which I have questioned you, have you been familiar with the prices charged by unlicensed exchanges for the programs for motion picture houses? A. I have; yes, sir.