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 #:
000400
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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3 2850 Howell Graham, Redirect Examination. Q. That is the Mitchell Exchange at Memphis? A. Yes, sir. Q. How long have you been mixing the General and the Mutual pictures in your theatres? A. Well, for several months. I had mixed them though, special releases. The independent film has been used by competitors, and I could not get hold of it. Q. You have not shown independent pictures in your theatres more than a few months? A. Well, I have shown it a few months at a time, yes, sir. Q. Well, how long have you been showing independent pictures at your theatres? A. About a year. Q. You get your films by express from Atlanta? A. Yes, sir. Q. And then return them to Atlanta when you are through with them? A. They go to Knoxville. I get them from Nashville, and to Knoxville, but they come out of Atlanta. They go to Nashville before coming to me, and then to Knoxville. Q. How many theatres are there in Chattanooga? A. On the main street, there is eight. Redirect examination by Mr. Kingsley: Q. How many of those eight theatres are unlicensed? A. Two. Q. Are they large or small theatres? A. They are the same size. There is not very much difference. Q. By that do you mean 250 to 300 seating capacity? A. About 200 to 300. Q. Do the other theatres blend their programs as you do? A. No, sir. The Universal program is projected at one house. Q. Exclusively? A. Yes, sir. Q. And what program does the other independent house use? A. The Mutual. Q. Do they use is exclusively? A. No, sir. I am using the Mutual, but not exclusively; that is, not exclusively in one house. Q. How many motion pictures are there altogether in Chattanooga? A. I suppose there is about 12. Q. How are they divided, between licensed and unlicensed service? A. Why, there is about six licensed houses.