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 6
Leaf #:
000157
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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Defendants' Exhibit No. 1C>9. 3189 1911, signed "Theatre Film Supply Company," and ask you if you recognize it? A. Yes. This is a letter that I received. Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. The paper offered is received in evidence and marked "Defendants' Exhibit No. 1G9," and is as follows : Defendants Exhibit No. 169. Letterhead of SOUTHERN AMUSEMENT & SUPPLY CO., Inc. Birmingham, August 31st, 1911. Mr. J. J. Kennedy, No. 52 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Dear Sir : — We are in receipt of your check for $2,792.65, also forms of assignments, for which we thank you. Our Mr. Boone is now at Augusta, Ga., and we have this date mailed him assignments, to be signed, and returned to you. Again thanking you, we remain, Yours very truly, THEATRE FILM SUPPLY CO. WHS/S. Stamped on face: Received Sep. 2, 1911. Indexed 9/8. By Mr. Kingsley : Q. I show you a letter addressed to Mr. J. J. Kennedy, 52 Broadway, New York, dated September 9th, 1911, signed "Theatre Film Supply Company, A. R. Boone, President," and ask you if you recognize it. A. Yes, this is a letter that I received. Mr. Kingsley : I offer it in evidence. The paper offered is received in evidence and