Bernadene Hayes


Bernadene Hayes was an American film and television actress. 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. She had three brothers and three sisters. She began performing in amateur productions when she was 9 years old. When she was in high school, she worked in a department store during vacation breaks. She graduated from Yeatman High School and attended Washington University for one semester.

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 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. 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. 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. On May 6, 1930, she returned to singing as she was featured in the weekly O'Cedar Time program. In September 1930 she was named the most beautiful radio performer in America.
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, The Judgement Book, Trigger Tom, Along Came Love, Bunco Squad, That's My Story, and The Accusing Finger. She portrayed the sassy saloon girl Faro Annie in North of the Rio Grande, and starred in the musical comedy Idiot's Delight in 1939. Her later screen appearances included a role as Longshot Lillie in 1947's Dick Tracy's Dilemma.
On Broadway, she had the roles of Mayme Speer in Mother Sings, Hilda Zanhiser in Mid-West, Gladys Cay in Aries Is Rising, Dean Baxter in School for Brides, and Mona Gilbert in Make Yourself at Home. She also acted in summer stock theatre and on stage in local productions in the Los Angeles area. She performed in several Little Theatre productions, notably at the Pasadena Playhouse. Her stage work included being featured in Make Yourself At Home at the Barrymore Theater in New York City in 1945.
She appeared on television in episodes of The Lineup, The Doctor and Boston Blackie.

Personal life

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

Death

On August 29, 1987, Hayes died in her sleep of heart problems 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.

Filmography

The Human Side – The Winning Ticket – Counter Woman The Whole Town's Talking – Waitress Folies Bergère de Paris – Girl in Bar Love in Bloom – Young Woman in Music Store Alias Mary Dow – Party Guest She Gets Her Man – Gun Moll Broadway Melody of 1936 – Waitress The Judgement Book – Madge WilliamsRendezvous – Bobbie Burns Trigger Tom – Dorothy JergensonAbsolute Quiet – JudyParole! – Joyce DanielsAlong Came Love – Sarah JewettThe Accusing Finger – Muriel GoodwinGreat Guy – HazelGirl Loves Boy – Sally LaceSweetheart of the Navy – MazieNorth of the Rio Grande – Faro AnnieThe Emperor's Candlesticks – Mitzi ReisenbachRustlers' Valley – Party Guest Trouble at Midnight – MarionThat's My Story – Bonnie RandMy Old Kentucky Home – Gail BurkePrison Nurse – Pepper ClancyYou and Me – NellieIdiot's Delight – Les Blondes – EdnaKing of Chinatown – Dolly WarrenLucky Night – 'Blondie'Panama Lady – PearlSome Like It Hot – Miss Marble6,000 Enemies – Prisoner Flo The Day the Bookies Wept – Margie, Taxi RiderHeroes in Blue – DaisySanta Fe Marshal – Paula TateSailor's Lady – Babe Manhattan Heartbeat – Shop Girl The Gay Vagabond – Spring RutherfordThe Deadly Game – Mona BrandtSing for Your Supper – Kay MartinNazi Agent – Rosie This Gun for Hire – Albert Baker's SecretaryI Live on Danger – JonesyMr. Winkle Goes to War – Gladys Don't Gamble with Strangers – Fay BentonThe Thirteenth Hour – Mabel SandsDick Tracy's Dilemma – Longshot Lillie the FenceLiving in a Big Way – DollyThe Crimson Key – Mrs. SwannWomen in the Night – Frau ThalerCaught – Mrs. Rudecki Bunco Squad – Princess LianeWicked Woman – Mrs. Walters