History
The Lincoln Motion Picture Company was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, which had built up a black community, mostly of workers attracted to its industrial jobs. The brothers George and Noble Johnson founded the company in the summer of 1915 to produce films for African-American audiences. Noble was a small-time actor, and George worked for the post office in a federal civil service job. In 1915, Noble Johnson became president of the company; Clarence A. Brooks, secretary; Dr. James T. Smith, treasurer, and; Dudley A. Brooks was assistant secretary. Lincoln Films quickly built a reputation for making films that showcased African-American talent in the full sphere of cinema. In less than a year the company relocated to Los Angeles.
On 20 January 1917, the Lincoln Motion Picture Company was incorporated in California with a capitalization of $75,000. At the time, the officers of the company were Noble M. Johnson, president;Dr. James Thomas Smith, who was the vice-president and treasurer; Clarence A. Brooks, secretary; Dudley A. Brooks, assistant secretary; and Willes O. Tyler, attorney. The only white member of the organization was Harry Gant, cameraman, a personal friend of Noble Johnson who had worked with him at Universal Pictures. Noble Johnson kept his job at Universal and operated Lincoln on the side. In 1918, his brother George P. Johnson became general booking manager handling all correspondence and newspaper advertising.
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