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.
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.
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