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* ''[[Two-Gun Man from Harlem]]'' (1938)
* ''[[Two-Gun Man from Harlem]]'' (1938)
* ''[[The Sun Never Sets (film)|The Sun Never Sets]]'' (1939)
* ''[[The Sun Never Sets (film)|The Sun Never Sets]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Am I Guilty?]]'' (1940)<ref>{{Cite news|title=CHATTER And Some NEWS|author=Chappell, Helen F.|date=June 22, 1940|work=The Chicago Defender|page=10|quote=Tuesday night we ran out to one of the Hollywood process laboratories to see a preview of Ralph Cooper's 'Am I Guilty?' [...] The cast and members of the press sat in on the preview, and perhaps Jess Lee Brooks, who has a brief but creditable role, sums it up best in: 'The photography is the best I've seen in this type of picture.'|id={{ProQuest|492536345}}}}</ref>
* ''[[Am I Guilty?]]'' (1940) – Dr. Fairchild (as Jesse Brooks)<ref>{{Cite news|title=CHATTER And Some NEWS|author=Chappell, Helen F.|date=June 22, 1940|work=The Chicago Defender|page=10|quote=Tuesday night we ran out to one of the Hollywood process laboratories to see a preview of Ralph Cooper's 'Am I Guilty?' [...] The cast and members of the press sat in on the preview, and perhaps Jess Lee Brooks, who has a brief but creditable role, sums it up best in: 'The photography is the best I've seen in this type of picture.'|id={{ProQuest|492536345}}}}</ref><ref>Gevinson, Alan (). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=bsoUXGZSxZcC&pg=PA64&dq=fairchild+%22jesse+brooks%22+%22Am+I+Guilty%22 Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960]''. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p.&nbsp;24. {{ISBN|0-520-20964-8}}.</ref>
* ''[[Four Shall Die]]'' (1940) as Bill Summers
* ''[[Four Shall Die]]'' (1940) – Bill Summers
* ''[[Sullivan's Travels]]'' (1941) as Black preacher (uncredited)
* ''[[Sullivan's Travels]]'' (1941) – Black preacher (uncredited)
* ''[[Lucky Ghost]]'' (1942) as Door Man
* ''[[Lucky Ghost]]'' (1942) – Door Man
* ''[[Jungle Siren]]'' (1942) as Chief Selangi
* ''[[Jungle Siren]]'' (1942) – Chief Selangi
* ''[[Broken Strings (film)|Broken Strings]]'' (1942)
* ''[[Broken Strings (film)|Broken Strings]]'' (1942)
*''[[Mr. and Mrs. North (film)|Mr. & Mrs. North]]'' (1942) as Oscar
*''[[Mr. and Mrs. North (film)|Mr. & Mrs. North]]'' (1942) – Oscar
* ''[[Drums of the Congo]]'' (1942) as Chief Madjeduka
* ''[[Drums of the Congo]]'' (1942) – Chief Madjeduka
* ''[[Thank Your Lucky Stars (film)|Thank Your Lucky Stars]]'' (1943) as The Justice (uncredited)
* ''[[Thank Your Lucky Stars (film)|Thank Your Lucky Stars]]'' (1943) – The Justice (uncredited)
*''[[Girl Crazy (1943 film)|Girl Crazy]]'' (1943) as Bickets<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/23073%7C82183/Jess-Lee-Brooks/|title = Jess Lee Brooks}}</ref>
*''[[Girl Crazy (1943 film)|Girl Crazy]]'' (1943) – Bickets<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/23073%7C82183/Jess-Lee-Brooks/|title = Jess Lee Brooks}}</ref>
*''[[Son of Dracula (1943 film)|Son of Dracula]]'' (1943) (uncredited) as Steven
*''[[Son of Dracula (1943 film)|Son of Dracula]]'' (1943) (uncredited) – Steven
*''[[The Lost Weekend]]'' (1945) as Hospital Patient (uncredited)<ref name="nyan obit"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=UugRmchPXXYC&q=%22lost+Weekend%22+%22hospital+patient%22+%22Jess+Lee+Brooks%22 "Rolland Jones Takes Over Lee Brooks Role"]. ''Daily Variety''. December 14, 1944. p.&nbsp;3. Retrieved November 17, 2024.</ref>
*''[[The Lost Weekend]]'' (1945) – Hospital Patient (uncredited)<ref name="nyan obit"/><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=UugRmchPXXYC&q=%22lost+Weekend%22+%22hospital+patient%22+%22Jess+Lee+Brooks%22 "Rolland Jones Takes Over Lee Brooks Role"]. ''Daily Variety''. December 14, 1944. p.&nbsp;3. Retrieved November 17, 2024.</ref>
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Revision as of 20:52, 17 November 2024

Jess Lee Brooks
Brooks in Jungle Siren (1942)
Born(1894-06-09)June 9, 1894
Jefferson, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 1944(1944-12-13) (aged 50)
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1930–1944

Jess Lee Brooks (June 10, 1894 – December 13, 1944), also known as Jesse Brooks, was an American bass-baritone concert artist, and a film and stage actor. He played an African-American church preacher in the motion picture Sullivan's Travels, where he leads his congregation in singing "Go Down Moses".[1]

Early life and career

Born in Jefferson, Texas and raised in Seattle,[2][3] Brooks attended the University of Kansas and Northwestern University.[4][5]

In March 1936, Brooks received glowing reviews for his portrayal of Haitian monarch Henri Christophe in the WPA production, Black Empire, which debuted at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles.[6][7][8] Two months later, the editorial page of Oklahoma's Black Dispatch featured scholar/activist William Pickens, giving the production and its star an unqualified thumbs up.

Look out, Broadway! Jess Brooks is a-coming. He is playing Christophe, king Henry the first of Haiti [...] The willpower of a black ruler trying to raise the estate of his ex-slave people is impressively portrayed. [...] It is no 'Emperor Jones' role; it is royally acted. Christophe was no fool and anything but a clown or a joker—and Brooks reproduces him. [9]

Even Variety's Jack Hellman, in his otherwise lukewarm assessment of both play and production, singles out Brook's contribution.

Heavy dramatic fare too reminiscent of 'Emperor Jones,' but distinguished by a superb characterization by Jess Lee Brooks, one-time concert singer. Around his portrayal of the Black Napoleon the play takes its tempo. Once he's off stage, the piece lags. Opening night audience gave him five curtain calls, and deservedly so.[10]

Personal life and death

On Tuesday morning, December 13, 1924, Brooks suffered a fatal heart attack while en route to Paramount Studio, where he had a supporting role in The Lost Weekend. Police later found him slumped over the wheel of his parked car, at 326 North Van Ness Boulevard.[11]

Partial filmography

References

  1. ^ Klawans, Stuart (April 14, 2015). "Sullivan's Travels: Self-Portrait in a Fun-House Mirror". The Current.
  2. ^ "Jess Lee Brooks, Actor, Succumbs". California Eagle. December 14, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  3. ^ "'Believe It or Not' Brooks". New Pittsburgh Courier. April 30, 1938. p. 22. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "Jess Brooks Scores in Shakespearean Role". California Eagle. March 26, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jess Lee Brooks In New Role". California Eagle. July 14, 1938. p. 14. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Cavanagh, Irene (March 18, 1936). "Negro Drama Unfolding at Mayan; The Cast". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 17. Retrieved November 17, 2024. "Federal Theaters have Jess Lee Brooks portraying the commanding figure of Henri Christophe, the "Black Napoleon of Voodoo Haiti. He dominates the action, the other actors throughout. A finished actor, be is a splendid example of Negro artistry at Its best."
  7. ^ LaMar, Lawrence F. (March 20, 1936). "Haitian Drama Is Stirring; Performance of Jess Lee Brooks Is Outstanding". California Eagle.
  8. ^ Patton, Bernice (March 28). "Jess Lee Brooks Stars in 'Black Empire'". New Pittsburgh Courier. pt. II, p. 6. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Pickens, Williams (May 28, 1936). "Editorial Page: 'Black Empire'". The Black Dispatch. p. 4. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  10. ^ Helm (May 6, 1936). "Legitimate: WPA Review". Variety. p. 60. ProQuest 1475996787.
  11. ^ a b Lamar, Lawrence (December 23, 1944). "Jesse Brooks, Actor, Dies of Heart Attack; Colorful Movie Career Ends Suddenly as Actor Was Enroute to Film Studio". New York Amsterdam News. p. 25. ProQuest 226026856. Brooks at the time of his death was working in a Paramount Studio picture, 'The Lost Weekend,' starring Ray Milland. In the picture, oddly enough, Brooks played the role of a hospital patient.
  12. ^ Chappell, Helen F. (June 22, 1940). "CHATTER And Some NEWS". The Chicago Defender. p. 10. ProQuest 492536345. Tuesday night we ran out to one of the Hollywood process laboratories to see a preview of Ralph Cooper's 'Am I Guilty?' [...] The cast and members of the press sat in on the preview, and perhaps Jess Lee Brooks, who has a brief but creditable role, sums it up best in: 'The photography is the best I've seen in this type of picture.'
  13. ^ Gevinson, Alan (). Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-520-20964-8.
  14. ^ "Jess Lee Brooks".
  15. ^ "Rolland Jones Takes Over Lee Brooks Role". Daily Variety. December 14, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2024.

Further reading

  • Helm (November 8, 1978). "Miscellany: Jack Hellman, 84, Dies; Air Media Columnist On 'Daily Variety' Since '34". Variety. p. 2, 75. ProQuest 1401339142.
  • "Miscellany: Herm Schoenfeld, 63, Veteran Variety Asst. M.E., Dies In N.Y.". Variety. July 25, 1979. p. 2, 98. ProQuest 1401356335. Herman Schoenfeld, 63, one of the two assistant managing editors of Variety, died July 18 in his home at Great Neck, Long Island, of a heart attack while playing chess. He had joined the weekly in January of 1946 afte a stint under publicity director Leon Goldstein at the old Station WMCA, then owned by Donald Flamm.
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