Jean's Storytime Remembered: My Visit With "Miss Jean"

Norma “Miss Jean” Schnase still finds it remarkable that people remember her. “I thought it was only my children and family who were watching,” she told me, speaking of the television show she hosted. But generations of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri children enjoyed the music, puppets and Biblical teachings presented first on Sunday mornings and later at 10 am on Saturday mornings.

In 1956, a KMTV director who was searching for a host for a children’s show selected 26 year-old Norma out of 25 other women because she had a desire to teach children about the love of God. Norma became “Miss Jean” and proceeded to teach children for the next 38 years until health reasons caused her to turn over her position to her daughter-in-law, Maribeth. Jean’s Storytime started out in black and white on live television and saw the advent of color television and pre-taped programs before it ended in 2011 after a remarkable 55 years.

Miss Jean kept many of the thousands and thousands of letters and drawings she received over the years. On the show she encouraged children to draw a picture and send it in, and then, using the drawings for the lessons, she wrote and often adlibbed the stories. If she received 100 drawings in a week, she used all of them so every child’s drawing was shown. She remembers the name of the first little boy who sent her a photo of himself. Her heart was for the children, and her love for them is still evident. Initially she got over her camera shyness by imagining one child and speaking to that one child. She imagined the studio was a Sunday school class, when she was actually speaking before a camera crew, two puppets and the puppeteer--her son, Fred.

I hadn’t thought about that show for a long time until a couple of weeks ago when I held a drawing for books and one of my readers, Darlene, wrote to mention her aunt. She told me that at age 91 “Miss Jean” loves to read. I was delighted to learn about the children’s show host I remembered. With the help of my RWA chapter, Romance Authors of the Heartland, many who also remembered her, we put together a basket of autographed books, videos, tea and a cup and saucer, and I made arrangements to go calling.

Norma’s gracious daughter, Eileen ushered me in, and I spent almost an hour and a half with the two delightful ladies. Cheerful and full of warmth and joy, Norma was as excited to meet me as I was to meet her. She had read my books, and she was full of questions. We shared our love for telling stories and how it’s always a surprise to be recognized by someone you’ve never met. Once when Norma was touring the temple in Salt Lake City, she and her husband were on an elevator and a little girl spoke up. “Are you Miss Jean from Miss Jean’s Storytime?” As it turned out the family was from Omaha and were also visiting, but she recognized Norma’s voice.

Norma’s son lives with her, and her daughter and niece are often present. She told me about the delicious muffins her son makes for her breakfast. Norma proudly displays photos of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and shared how much joy the children bring her. A stroke has made it difficult for Norma to have much mobility, but nothing has diminished her sparkling personality or her love for people. When I prepared to leave, she activated the lift on her chair and Eileen asked, “What is it you want to do, Mom?” to which “Miss Jean” replied, “I’m going to walk my guest to the door.” And walk me to the door she did.

She thanked me for my time in visiting her, but the pleasure was all mine. Norma asked me to send special thanks to Romance Authors of the Heartland for their gifts. I assured her it was only fitting that children with whom she had shared the gift of storytelling had grown up to return the favor.

                                                                            ~*~

Fun Fact:
Dr. San Guinary took over Miss Jean's set. Watch this fun video.