Actress Beulah Hall with members of the Lincoln Motion Picture Company, left to right: Clarence Brooks (secretary), Noble Johnson (president), Dudley Brooks (assistant secretary), and Dr. James Smith (treasurer). They are standing in front of a picket fence and a building with wood siding. Noble Johnson was a character actor in cinema, one of the few African Americans in the field during the studio era. A childhood friend of Lon Chaney, Johnson followed him into the industry in 1915. He was an extra in D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance (1916) as a Babylonian soldier. Because of his large size 6'2″, 215 lbs., Johnson was often cast in key character roles representing not just African Americans, but Native Americans, Asians, Arabians, and Pacific Islanders. Johnson founded Lincoln Motion Picture Company, the first American studio that produced “race” films, pictures for African Americans, exclusively, from 1916 to 1923. He continued to work in the sound era, retiring at the age of 69. The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, founded in 1916 by Noble Johnson, was the first all-black movie production company to make films that showcased African American talent, and the first producer of race movies, limited to African American audiences in churches, schools, and "Colored Only" theaters. It remained in operation until 1923, closing shortly after announcing a final project, The Heart of a Negro. Clarence A. Brooks was an actor, and motion picture producer, civic leader, and private businessman. He helped create the Lincoln Motion Picture Company. Dr. James T. Smith was a well-to-do pharmacist who served as treasurer of Lincoln Motion Picture Company. Written on back of photo: Directors of the Lincoln Motion Picture Company, Los Angeles 1921(?). From left" 1)Clarence Brooks, 2) Beulah Hall, 3)Noble Johnson, 4) (?)...5)Dr. J.T. James Smith.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b22_f09_002a.tif ark:/21198/z18k8t97
Subject
African American actors Civic leaders African American singers African American actresses Motion picture producers and directors Hall, Beulah, 1899-1952 Smith, James, T., b. 1882 or 3 Brooks, Clarence A. (Clarence Ahart), 1896-1969 Lincoln Motion Picture Company Brooks, Dudley A Johnson, Noble, 1881-1978
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