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Well, readers – it’s Filmmaker Friday, once again! And once again, we have a hybrid actor-filmmaker to discuss, who was unique in more ways than one. From the silent movies of the 1910s to the talkies of the 1940s, Noble Johnson was part of it all – and he played it all too! Native American? Check. Asian? Check. Eastern Indian? Check. Middle Eastern? Check. RUSSIAN??? Yes, check! Honestly, who couldn’t this man play??
1881 – 1978
Noble Johnson was born in Missouri, in 1881. He had one younger brother, named George. In Noble’s school years, his family moved to Colorado Springs, and there he became good friends with a young man named Lon Chaney, who would later become a star in his own right (remember The Phantom of the Opera? THAT Lon Chaney). Did Lon help Noble get into the movies later on?? No. Ironically, Noble’s introduction to the world of film had nothing to do with Lon. It had to do with horses. Yes, horses.
See, Noble’s father was a well known horse trainer. When Noble was 15, he quit school to help his dad with the successful family business. Yes, he became a real, official cowboy! And wouldn’t you know it? At some point, trained horses were needed for a film, “The Eagle’s Nest” (1915). While accompanying his horses to the film set, an actor in the movie got hurt (or ill, depending on the source) and they needed a last-minute replacement. The role was for a Native American character. Noble, in all his handsome 6’ 2” (187 cm), 215 lb (97.5 kg) glory, was hired on the spot – and in the following 2 years, he appeared in 9 films!
Business cards from Noble's film company
But something was amiss. Noble, like many others after him, noticed that there wasn’t any positive representation of Black Americans in mainstream films. In fact, the roles for Black actors were usually the opposite! So Noble decided to do something about it – and with his (frequent) paychecks for playing subpar roles, he founded his own film company called Lincoln Motion Picture Company. Much like our friends Oscar Micheaux and Sessue Hayakawa, Noble wanted his company to provide a more balanced narrative by making films that showed the positive side of non-white Americans. At the time, segregation in the United States meant that Black people had to go to their own theaters, or at least attend different show times than white people! Black-owned theaters were opening all over the country, and they were in need of films that their audiences could relate to – so Noble (and several other Black filmmakers after) filled the void.
Advertising for Lincoln's first release (1916)
Ever tried being a featured actor working regularly with Universal Pictures and running a film company (without the internet)? Well, it’s no picnic. Unsurprisingly (and sadly), after just 4 years of valiantly trying to do both, Noble reluctantly resigned as president of the Lincoln Motion Picture Company, stating in a letter that the company needed someone with business expertise to run it. Even more sadly, the entire company folded in 1921 or 1922 (depending on who you ask). Noble, now focusing on his wildly successful career as an actor, was cast shortly afterward in “The Ten Commandments”!
Driving a chariot in "The Ten Commandments" (1923)
Some of Noble’s notable appearances in silent films include “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” with Rudolph Valentino, “Ben-Hur” with Ramon Novarro and “The Thief of Bagdad” with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. He successfully transitioned to talkies with the advent of sound, appearing in “King Kong” with Fay Wray, “Wee Willie Winkie” with Shirley Temple, “Road to Zanzibar” with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby – and countless others! His final film appearance was in 1950.
Terrorizing Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard in "The Ghost Breakers" (1940)
In his later years, Noble seemed to have distanced himself from his former career. He changed his name to Mark Noble, and it was said that he destroyed his own movie memorabilia, refusing to have anything about him (from his brother’s collection) on public display at the UCLA Library. In 1978, at the age of 96, Noble passed away from natural causes in Yucaipa, California. He had appeared in 130 films (59 silent). His brother George, once a distributor for Lincoln Motion Pictures, did much to preserve his older brother’s legacy, including giving interviews regarding Noble’s company and incredible career. In spite of his attempts to possibly erase his past, we feel it’s very important to recognize it - and celebrate it! Enjoy Noble’s appearance in “King Kong” below!
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