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.

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.

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, Idiot's Delight, Living in a Big Way, This Gun for Hire, Great Guy, The Emperor's Candlesticks, King of Chinatown, Woman in the Night, The Judgement Book, Trigger Tom, Along Came Love, Bunco Squad, 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.

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

On August 29, 1987, Hayes died of heart problems 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.