Hillbilly-Music.com—The People. The Music. The History.
Pauline (Polly of the Range) Bearce
Born:  March 31, 1908
WLS Chicago, IL
WMBD Peoria, IL

About The Artist

Pauline Bearce was known as "Polly of the Range" during a series of personal appearances over WLS in early 1938. However, WLS Stand-By's weekly magazine reported in their May 28, 1938 issue that Pauline had left WLS to go back to her "regular program" over radio station WMBD in Peoria, Illinois.

We surmise that perhaps Pauline / Polly got married before her WLS stint. Rural Radio's Family Gossip column written by Peggy Stewart in their September 1938 issue reports that her name was Pauline C. Hummell, married and had two children.

The Rural Radio mention notes that she started learning music and singing during a long recovery period after falling off a horse. The doctors seemingly had little hope for her after that fall, but music seems to have played a medicinal role in her rebound to perfect health.

Credits & Sources

  • WLS Stand By; May 28, 1938; Prairie Farmer Publishing Co.; Chicago, IL
  • Rural Radio; Septebmer 1938; Vol. 1 No. 8; Rural Radio, Inc.; Nashville, TN