Bernadene Hayes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hayes in Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947) | |
| Born | March 15, 1912 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | August 29, 1987 (aged 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1934–1956 |
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.
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]
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]
After working in Chicago, Hayes moved to Los Angeles, where she sang with bands at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and acted,[12] beginning her work in films as an extra at $10 per day.[13] Films in which she appeared included Absolute Quiet, Idiot's Delight, Living in a Big Way,[12] This Gun for Hire, Great Guy, The Emperor's Candlesticks, King of Chinatown, The Judgement Book,[14] Trigger Tom,[15] Along Came Love,[16] Bunco Squad,[17] That's My Story,[18] and The Accusing Finger.[19] 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.[citation needed]
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]
She appeared on television in episodes of The Lineup,[23] The Doctor[24] and Boston Blackie.[25]
On January 29, 1943, Hayes married the actor William Leicester in Chicago. She petitioned for divorce on July 7, 1948.[26]
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]
