Bernadine Hayes (circa 1912 – August 29, 1987) was an American singer and an actress on radio and stage and in films and vaudeville. In 1930, she was named the most beautiful radio performer in America.

Early years

Hayes was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hayes, and she had eight younger siblings. When she was in high school, she worked in a department store during vacation breaks.

Career

Hayes first sang professionally when, at age 18, she filled in as a singer at Loew's State Theatre in St. Louis. A contract soon resulted, and she performed with Teddy Joyce and his band on a vaudeville tour. When she performed at an exhibition in St. Louis, the manager of radio station KMOX heard her, which led to her becoming a performer on its staff. A year later, she moved to WWJ in Detroit. She joined the staff of radio station WBBM as a singer in the fall of 1929, performing both on local programs and on CBS network broadcasts. As an actress, in 1930, she portrayed village matron Frances Nichols in ''The Quilting Party'' and mountain girl Lib on ''Market Day'', both of which were on CBS. On May 6, 1930, she returned to singing as she was featured in the weekly '' O'Cedar Time'' program. After working in Chicago, Hayes moved to Los Angeles, where she sang with bands at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and acted, beginning her work in films as an extra at $10 per day. Films in which she appeared included ''

Absolute Quiet ''Absolute Quiet'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by George B. Seitz and written by Harry Clork. The film stars Lionel Atwill, Irene Hervey, Raymond Walburn, Stuart Erwin, Ann Loring and Louis Hayward. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, it ...

'', '' Idiot's Delight'', ''

Living in a Big Way ''Living in a Big Way'' (1947) is an American musical comedy film starring Gene Kelly and Marie McDonald as a couple who marry during World War II after only knowing each other a short time. This was director Gregory La Cava's final film. Plot ...

'', '' This Gun for Hire'', '' Great Guy'', ''

The Emperor's Candlesticks ''The Emperor's Candlesticks'' is an 1899 historical novel by Baroness Orczy. Written soon after the birth of her son John, it is her first book as an author rather than translator and was a commercial failure. As in the Scarlet Pimpernel, the ...

'', ''

King of Chinatown ''King of Chinatown'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Lillie Hayward and Irving Reis. The film stars Anna May Wong, Akim Tamiroff, J. Carrol Naish, Sidney Toler, Philip Ahn, Anthony Quinn and Bernadene Hayes ...

'', ''Woman in the Night'', '' The Judgement Book'', ''

Trigger Tom ''Trigger Tom'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler, Al St. John and Bernadene Hayes.Pitts p.318 Cast * Tom Tyler as Tom Hunter * Al St. John as Stub Macey * William Gould as Mose Jeckyl * John ...

'', ''

Along Came Love ''Along Came Love'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Bert Lytell and written by Arthur Caesar. The film stars Irene Hervey, Charles Starrett, Doris Kenyon, H. B. Warner, Irene Franklin and Bernadene Hayes. The film was released on No ...

'', ''

Bunco Squad ''Bunco Squad'' is a 1950 American crime film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and written by George Callahan. The film stars Robert Sterling, Joan Dixon, Ricardo Cortez, Douglas Fowley and Elisabeth Risdon. The film was released on September 1, ...

'', '' That's My Story'', and '' The Accusing Finger''. On Broadway, she had the roles of Mayme Speer in ''Mother Sings'' (1935), Hilda Zanhiser in ''Mid-West'' (1936), Gladys Cay in ''Aries Is Rising'' (1939, Mazie Stoner in ''Blind Alley'' (1940), Dean Baxter in ''School for Brides'' (1944), and Mona Gilbert in ''Make Yourself at Home'' (1945). She also acted in summer stock theatre and on stage in local productions in the Los Angeles area. Hayes appeared on television in episodes of '' The Lineup'', '' The Doctor'' and ''

Boston Blackie Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle (1881–1928). Blackie, a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's stories, became a detective in adaptations for films, radio and television—an "enemy to those who make him an ...

''.

Personal life

On January 29, 1943, Hayes married actor William Leicester in Chicago. She petitioned for divorce on July 7, 1948.

Death

On August 29, 1987, Hayes died of heart problems at age 75 in her home in the

Westchester Westchester most commonly refers to Westchester County, New York, immediately north of New York City. __NOTOC__ It may also refer to: Geography Canada *Westchester Station, Nova Scotia, Canada United States *Town of Westchester, the original seat ...

area of Los Angeles. Services were held at St. Jerome's Catholic Church, and she was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hayes, Bernadine 1910s births 1987 deaths 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American radio actresses American stage actresses American television actresses Vaudeville performers 20th-century American singers