Jess Lee Brooks (June 9, 1894"United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4D7-QLS : Fri Feb 23 23:06:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Jess Lee Brooks, 1942."United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K4C-N3CH : 11 February 2023), Jess Lee Brooks, . – December 12, 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".

Early life and career Born in Jefferson, Texas, and raised in Seattle,"Jess Lee Brooks, Actor, Succumbs". California Eagle. December 14, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved November 17, 2024."'Believe It or Not' Brooks". New Pittsburgh Courier. April 30, 1938. p. 22. Retrieved November 17, 2024. Brooks attended the University of Kansas and Northwestern University."Jess Brooks Scores in Shakespearean Role". California Eagle. March 26, 1937. p. 10. Retrieved November 17, 2024."Jess Lee Brooks In New Role". California Eagle. July 14, 1938. p. 14. Retrieved November 17, 2024.

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.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."LaMar, Lawrence F. (March 20, 1936). "Haitian Drama Is Stirring; Performance of Jess Lee Brooks Is Outstanding". California Eagle.Patton, Bernice (March 28). "Jess Lee Brooks Stars in 'Black Empire'". New Pittsburgh Courier. pt. II, p. 6. Retrieved November 17, 2024. 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. Pickens, Williams (May 28, 1936). "Editorial Page: 'Black Empire'". The Black Dispatch. p. 4. Retrieved November 17, 2024. 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.

Exactly two weeks after Pickens' impassioned plug, New York's Amsterdam News reported that RKO Pictures had acquired the rights to ten short subjects scripted by George Randol, the first of which, Samson and Delilah, was to co-star Brooks and Edna Mae Harris, with music provided by William Grant Still and the Hall Johnson Choir. The film, later retitled That Man Samson, would not be released until May 28, 1937,Webb, Graham (2020). Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 556. . almost two months after Brooks had completed work—cast as "a singing African prince""Jess Brooks gets film contract for Warner short". California Eagle. March 19, 1937. p. 13. Retrieved November 19, 2024.—on another musical comedy short, Zululand,Levette, Harry (April 2, 1937). "Behind the Scenes: High Speed Snapshots". California Eagle. p. 10. Retrieved November 19, 2024. (later retitled Little PioneerSchallert, Edwin (June 7, 1937). "Hepburn to Have 'Wild Time' Managing Baby Leopard in Film; Director-Writer Combine Formed; Menzies Returns; The Pageant of the Film World". The Los Angeles Times. p. 16. Retrieved November 19, 2024.), for his new employers, Warner Brothers-First National; the latter film reached the theaters about a month after Samson."Garby Clarion; MON., TUES., WED. June 28, 29, 30". The Clarion Democrat. June 24, 1937. p. 4. Retrieved November 19, 2024."Majestic (THE HOUSE OF BIG PICTURES): Starts TOMORROW!". Reno Gazette-Journal. June 26, 1937. p. 2. Retrieved November 19, 2024.

In the meantime, Brooks had long since made his screen debut portraying the police lieutenant in another George Randol project, the feature film Dark Manhattan, which had its lavish, "Hollywood style" world premiere on January 19, 1937, in the heart of L.A.'s Central Avenue Corridor.

Personal life and death From August 30, 1924 until at least 1937, Brooks was married to fellow concert artist, Rita Katherine Simpson (née Doran)."Washington, County Marriages, 1855-2008", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2ZK-ZQD3 : Sun Mar 10 12:12:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Jess L Brooks and Katherine Doram Simpson, 30 August 1924."License to Wed". Vancouver Weekly Columbian. July 22, 1950. p. 5. Retrieved November 19, 2024."Divorce Scandal Looms; Actor Jesse Lee Brooks sued by wife; 'other woman' hinted as actors' wife charges him with desertion; Jesse Brooks, noted actor, is sued (continued from page one)". California Eagle. February 26, 1937. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved November 19, 2024.

On Tuesday morning, December 12, 1944,"California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPWD-DPRF : Tue Feb 18 21:53:35 UTC 2025), Entry for Jesse Lee Brooks and Vestere Brooks, 12 December 1944. 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. NPB Hollywood correspondent Lawrence LaMar reported that the actor's widow, Vesterée, claimed that Brooks had had premonitions of his death for more than a week, and thus had made detailed plans, such as those regarding the undertaker to be employed and the manner of burial. His remains are interred at Evergreen Cemetery."California, Los Angeles, Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, Deceased Card File Index, 1877-1989", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W86H-NYW2 : Sat Mar 09 14:08:02 UTC 2024), Entry for Jesse Lee Brooks, 18 Dec 1944.

Partial filmography

Dark Manhattan (1937) That Man Samson (short) (1937) – Samson Little Pioneer (short) (1937) – Singing African prince Spirit of Youth (1938) Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938) The Sun Never Sets (1939) Am I Guilty? (1940) – Dr. Fairchild (as Jesse Brooks)Gevinson, Alan (1997). Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 24. . Four Shall Die (1940) – Bill Summers Sullivan's Travels (1941) – Black preacher (uncredited) Lucky Ghost (1942) – Door Man Jungle Siren (1942) – Chief Selangi Broken Strings (1942) Mr. & Mrs. North (1942) – Oscar Drums of the Congo (1942) – Chief Madjeduka Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) – The Justice (uncredited) Girl Crazy (1943) – Bickets Wilson (1944) (uncredited) Simms, Georgia-born White House servant who welcomes ex-neighbor Ellen Wilson"Jess Lee Brooks, Actor, Succumbs". California Eagle. December 14, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved November 27, 2024. "His most recent part was an important bit in the hit picture, 'Wilson.'"Hardwick, Leon H. (December 23, 1944). "Jess Brooks, Veteran Hollywood Star, Dies of Heart Attack; Was Working on 'Lost Weekend,' Hollywood Pic; Had Role in 'Wilson'". The Baltimore Afro-American. p. 8. Retrieved November 27, 2024.Curioso, Jorge (Apr 16, 2008). "Go Down Moses - Sullivan's Travels (1941)". YouTube. Retrieved November 27, 2024. "Jess Lee Brooks performing the classic spiritual. From the 1941 Preston Sturges movie "Sullivan's Travels", starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake."marciamarciamarcie (November 7, 2009). "WlsnE". YouTube. Retrieved November 27, 2024. Son of Dracula (1943) (uncredited) – Steven The Lost Weekend (1945) – Hospital Patient (uncredited)"Rolland Jones Takes Over Lee Brooks Role". Daily Variety. December 14, 1944. p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2024.

References

External links

Brooks—as preacher preparing to welcome day-tripping prisoners, performing "Go Down Moses" with his congregation—in Sullivan's Travels (1941) at YouTube Brooks—as justice of the peace in all-black production number, performing "Ice Cold Katy" with Hattie McDaniel, Willie Best et al—in Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) at YouTube