Bernadine Hayes

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.[1]

Early years

Hayes was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hayes,[2] and she had eight younger siblings. When she was in high school, she worked in a department store during vacation breaks.[3]

Career

Hayes first sang professionally when, at age 18, she filled in as a singer at Loew's State Theatre in St. Louis.[3] A contract soon resulted,[4] and she performed with Teddy Joyce and his band on a vaudeville tour.[5] 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.[4] 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.[6] 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.[7] On May 6, 1930, she returned to singing as she was featured in the weekly O'Cedar Time program.[8]

After working in Chicago, Hayes moved to Los Angeles, where she sang with bands at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and acted,[9] beginning her work in films as an extra at $10 per day.[10] Films in which she appeared included Absolute Quiet, Idiot's Delight, Living in a Big Way,[9] This Gun for Hire, Great Guy, The Emperor's Candlesticks, King of Chinatown, Woman in the Night,[10] The Judgement Book,[11] Trigger Tom,[12] Along Came Love,[13] Bunco Squad,[14] That's My Story,[15] and The Accusing Finger.[16]

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),[17] and Mona Gilbert in Make Yourself at Home (1945).[18] She also acted in summer stock theatre[2] and on stage in local productions in the Los Angeles area.[10]

Hayes appeared on television in episodes of The Lineup,[19] The Doctor[20] and Boston Blackie.[21]

Personal life

On January 29, 1943, Hayes married actor William Leicester in Chicago. She petitioned for divorce on July 7, 1948.[22]

Death

On August 29, 1987,[9] Hayes died of heart problems[10] at age 75 in her home in the Westchester area of Los Angeles. Services were held at St. Jerome's Catholic Church, and she was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.[9]

References
  1. "Bernadine Hayes Chosen Most Beautiful On Air". Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin, Madison. United Press. September 16, 1930. p. 17. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Bernadine Hayes Returns to Resume Work in Films". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. April 3, 1941. p. 48. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Dublon, Janet (November 1930). "A Modern Cinderella: Bernadine Hayes". Radio Digest. XXVI (1): 49, 123. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  4. "The Air In Review". The Record. New Jersey, Hackensack. September 24, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Tiring of Vaudeville 'Red Head of the Air' Returns to First Love". The Times. Indiana, Muncie. January 17, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Miss Radio with WABC". The Record. New Jersey, Hackensack. September 24, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Latest 'Farm Relief' Is Red Headed Blues Singer". Lansing State Journal. Michigan, Lansing. January 9, 1930. p. 15. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Hoover to Talk Over Networks Monday Morning". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. May 4, 1930. p. 8-I. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Bernadine Hayes, singer and actress". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. Associated Press. September 9, 1987. p. 33. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Bernadine Hayes: 'Queen of Radio' Did Films as Well". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. September 8, 1987. p. 30. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Pitts, Michael R. (2015). Poverty Row Studios, 1929-1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland. ISBN 9781476610368. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  12. "(untitled listing)". The Philadelphia Exhibitor. 18 (1): 46. January 1, 1936. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  13. "Paramount: Along Came Love". The Philadelphia Exhibitor. 18 (20): 36. October 15, 1936. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  14. Wilkerson, W.R. (publisher); Kennedy, G.H. (co-editor); King, Vance (co-editor) (1952). Production Encyclopedia. California, Hollywood: The Hollywood Reporter. p. 452. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  15. "That's My Story". Motion Picture Herald. 128 (1): 43. July 3, 1937. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  16. "Paramount: The Accusing Finger". The Philadelphia Exhibitor. 18 (19): 35. October 1, 1936. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  17. "Bernadine Hayes". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  18. "Bernadine Hayes Broadway and Theatre Credits". Broadway World. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  19. "The Lineup" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television. February 21, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  20. Parisi, Nicholas (2018). Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781496819437. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  21. "Television-Radio Reviews: Boston Blackie" (PDF). Billboard. December 15, 1951. p. 10. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  22. "Bernadine Hayes Sues for Divorce". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. July 7, 1948. p. 26. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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