Bernadene Hayes (sometimes written as Bernadine Hayes; March 15, 1912 – August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actress.[1][2] She also performed on radio and the stage, and as a singer.
Early years
Hayes was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Hayes.[3] She had three brothers and three sisters. She began performing in amateur productions when she was 9 years old.[4] When she was in high school, she worked in a department store during vacation breaks.[5] She graduated from Yeatman High School and attended Washington University for one semester.[4]
Career
Hayes first sang professionally when, at age 18, she filled in as a singer at Loew's State Theatre in St. Louis.[5] A contract soon resulted,[6] and she performed with Teddy Joyce and his band on a vaudeville tour.[7] When she performed at an exhibition in St. Louis, the manager of the radio station KMOX heard her, which led to her becoming a performer on its staff. A year later, she moved to WWJ in Detroit.[6] She joined the staff of the radio station WBBM as a singer in the fall of 1929, performing both on local programs and on CBS network broadcasts.[8] As an actress, in 1930, she portrayed village matron Frances Nichols in The Quilting Party and Lib, a mountain girl, on Market Day; both programs were on CBS.[9] On May 6, 1930, she returned to singing as she was featured in the weekly O'Cedar Time program.[10] In September 1930 she was named the most beautiful radio performer in America.[11]
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),[20] and Mona Gilbert in Make Yourself at Home (1945).[21] She also acted in summer stock theatre[3] and on stage in local productions in the Los Angeles area.[13] She performed in several Little Theatre productions, notably at the Pasadena Playhouse.[4] Her stage work included being featured in Make Yourself At Home at the Barrymore Theater in New York City in 1945.[22]
On January 29, 1943, Hayes married the actor William Leicester in Chicago. She petitioned for divorce on July 7, 1948.[26]
Death
On August 29, 1987,[12] Hayes died in her sleep[2] of heart problems[13] at the age of 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.[12]
^"Trigger Tom". The Philadelphia Exhibitor. 18 (1): 46. January 1, 1936. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
^"Paramount: Along Came Love". The Philadelphia Exhibitor. 18 (20): 36. October 15, 1936. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
^Wilkerson, W. R.; Kennedy, G. H.; King, Vance (1952). Production Encyclopedia. California, Hollywood: The Hollywood Reporter. p. 452. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
^"That's My Story". Motion Picture Herald. 128 (1): 43. July 3, 1937. Retrieved November 11, 2019.