Lincoln Motion Picture Company

Background

In the first two decades of the 20th century, African American audiences were ignored by film studios. Because African American audiences were ignored, there was a high demand for films geared to catering to black audiences. Thus bringing about the need for black motion picture production companies.

The Lincoln Motion Picture Company is considered the first all-Black movie production company, building a reputation for making films that showcased African American talent in the film industry. The company made and distributed only five films. The first film that was created and produced by the Lincoln Motion Picture Company was The Realization of a Negro's Ambition (1916). This was the first film that would portray and show the Black middle class. These films were limited to African American audiences in churches, schools, and "Colored Only" theaters, despite the Johnson brothers wanting a wider audience. Unfortunately, production expenses and low sales halted future films to be made and distributed. Noble left his position as president to become an actor at Universal Pictures, with Dr. James T. Smith taking over the position. Speculation tells that the films that starred Johnson were released by the company at this time were commercially more successful than the white owned Universal Studios. The Lincoln Motion Picture Company lasted until 1921.

Although the Lincoln Motion Picture Company did not last long, it was influential in the African American community. This company inspired the movement of more ethnic movie companies.

Founding and mission

Scholars note that the company’s founders, Noble Johnson and George Perry Johnson, intentionally sought to challenge racist depictions of African Americans by producing films that emphasized ambition, respectability, and social mobility.

Early Lincoln films were part of an emerging movement of race cinema that circulated within segregated venues and community institutions, providing Black audiences with rare access to onscreen portrayals that reflected their own aspirations.

After relocating to Los Angeles, the company continued producing films that highlighted Black professionals, families, and soldiers—images that countered the limited roles available to African American performers in mainstream productions.

However, the company faced structural challenges, including restricted distribution networks and difficulty securing financing. These factors were part of broader inequalities affecting early Black filmmakers in the silent film era.