July 20

Events - Economy & Industry

1903day.year

The Ford Motor Company ships its first automobile.

In July 1903, the Ford Motor Company shipped its first automobile, ushering in a new era of affordable motor vehicles.
On July 20, 1903, Ford Motor Company shipped its very first automobile, a Model A, from Detroit. This landmark dispatch represented Henry Ford's vision of bringing cars to the average consumer. It set in motion the development of the moving assembly line, which would revolutionize manufacturing. By reducing production costs, Ford made automobile ownership attainable for a broader public. This milestone marked the beginning of a global automotive industry that reshaped transportation.
1903 Ford Motor Company
1938day.year

The United States Department of Justice files suit in New York City against the motion picture industry charging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act in regards to the studio system. The case would eventually result in a break-up of the industry in 1948.

In 1938, the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against major Hollywood studios, accusing them of monopolistic practices under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
In July 1938, the Justice Department targeted the dominant film studios for their control of production, distribution, and exhibition. The suit challenged practices such as block booking and ownership of theater chains. These practices formed the heart of the classical studio system in Hollywood’s Golden Age. The legal battle dragged on for a decade, culminating in the 1948 Paramount Decree. This landmark decision forced studios to divest their theater holdings and altered the landscape of the American film industry. It dismantled the oligopoly and paved the way for independent producers. The ruling reshaped distribution models and influenced antitrust policy in entertainment. It remains a seminal case in U.S. antitrust history.
1938 United States Department of Justice motion picture Sherman Antitrust Act studio system 1948