William Joseph Lincoln (1870 – 18 August 1917) was an Australian playwright, theatre manager, film director and screenwriter in the silent era. He produced, directed and/or wrote 23 films between 1911 and 1916. One obituary called him "undoubtedly the pioneer of the Australian picture-producing industry." Another obituary echoed these sentiments, adding that: His faith in the possibilities of Australia as a centre of' activity in moving picture production was unbounded, and for many years past he had devoted his energies chiefly to the realisation of this conviction. In common with others with whom he was at different periods associated in the making of film stories, -Mr Lincoln's work was carried on under conditions that might well have daunted the most sanguine. That he made admirable use of the materials that lay to his hand is generally admitted, and in some of his earlier productions he achieved a technical standard that was little if at all inferior to the output of the overseas studios at that time. Film historians Graham Shirley and Brian Adams wrote that Lincoln's films "were more like stage tableaux than films. However, with the right ingredients at their disposal the best of Lincoln's early productions were well-received". Early life and career Lincoln was born in Melbourne, the only son of Thomas and Esther Lincoln, and was brought up in St Kilda. Playwright He began as a playwright his first credit seemingly One Summer's Eve (1890). He wrote the play The Bush King which debuted in London in 1893 and in Melbourne in 1894. This play would later be rewritten by Alfred Dampier, a version which premiered in 1901 and became very successful over the following decade, being adapted into the popular film Captain Midnight, the Bush King (1911). Lincoln wrote the one act plays After Sundown (1896) and An Affair of Honour (1897). He wrote another play The Power of Wealth (1900) which was also performed by Dampier, though with less success than The Bush King. He wrote the book to the pantomime Little Red Riding Hood. Manager Lincoln first became involved with the film industry for J. C Williamson, managing his Anglo-American Bio-Tableau in 1904 to 1905. He then managed the Australasian tour of the Gaiety Company for Williamson. While doing this he received notice to meet up with Clement Mason who had film of the Russo-Japanese War. Lincoln toured with this and some other films