Jeanette Eymann

On October 5, 1961 the Jack Benny Program was being taped at a new Waukegan, Illinois junior high school which had been named Jack Benny Junior High School. At the dedication ceremony Benny, who had never graduated from high school, was presented with an honorary diploma by the city's high school principal. Benny's long-time announcer, Don Wilson, and two writers, Al Gordon and Jeanette Eymann, suffered whiplash neck injuries and were shaken up in a multi-car collision on the way from Chicago to Waukegan for the day's festivities. Their injuries were not serious.

In a 1955 episode of the Jack Benny Program TV Series (Season 5, Episode 14), "Jack Is a Contestant," Irene Tedrow uses the name of Dr. Jeanette Eymannin her role as a "You Bet Your Life" game show contestant.

The Saturday Evening Post in 1948 referred to Jeanette Eymann as a 28 year old attractive ex-school teacher from Pontiac, Illinois serving as Benny's "script girl." Her role was to wait for an okay from Benny, and then enter a gag in the script. The article says she came up with a gag now and then and often spoke a bit part on the air. It added that The American Tobacco Company invested $55,000 per week in the Benny Show.

When Jeanette Eymann began her work in 1947 as a script writer for the Jack Benny Radio Show there were 25 million weekly listeners to the program. Every Thursday she worked with Jack Benny and four writers as the person responsible to complete the entire script for next Sunday evening's program, first in shorthand at the meeting and then typing and distributing a draft of script by Saturday at noon. A meeting of the entire cast, then led by Hilliard Marks, program producer and brother of Mary Livingstone, sit at a round table for reading and timing. Eymann then prepared the new and fairly final script which was read before a CBS microphone on Sunday afternoon where it was carefully timed. After final revisions the Sunday evening show broadcast met the twenty minute and thirty second program requirement.

While visiting a brother living in Los Angeles in the summer of 1946 Jeanette decided to leave the teaching profession in Illinois after three years teaching high school speech and art and answered a blind newspaper ad. She interviewed for an ad agency which led to her subsequent hiring as the secretary to Hilliard Marks, producer of the Jack Benny Show on radio. Over the years she became a script writer for both the Benny radio and television programs. When Mary Livingstone, Benny's wife and sister of Hilliard Marks, developed a phobia about reading her radio show lines before a live studio audience, Jeanette read them for her. After the reading before the live audience technicians dubbed in Mary's voice which she had taped in private for the Sunday evening CBS broadcasts. The radio audience never heard Jeanette's voice. Later when the radio show ceased and the Jack Benny Program became a weekly televised comedy show, Jeanette occasionally was called upon for small parts, i. e. , unseen voice on a telephone call, receptionist, doctor's assistant, etc. She became a member of the Screen Actors Guild and is credited with nineteen appearances. When the programs with her appearing became summer reruns she received a $22 residual for each program rebroadcast.

Jeanette Eymann taught arts and crafts in a 1940 summer camp program known as East Bay Camp and arranged by the Illinois State Normal University. She received summer course credit for her participation.

The Illinois State Normal University cast for Stage Door, presented at Capen Auditorium on March 23 and 24, 1939, a play about life in a theatrical boarding house in New York City included Jeanette Eymann in a supporting role. She continued appearing in plays throughout her university years.

Attended Illinois State Normal University 1938-1941. Graduated in 1941 with an Art major. Served three years on the Women's League Executive and Central Board, was board secretary her senior year. Was Fell Hall Honor Resident, Kappa Delta President 1940-1941, three years a member of the Wrightonia Literary Society, two years a member of Jesters (theatrical organization), senior year member of Sigma Tau Delta, an Art Club member all four years, served on the Committee of 100, Who's Who her junior year, served as a counselor, Index Staff two years (yearbook), and as a junior served on the university Advisory Board.

Jeanette was a member of the Pontiac High School debate team in its meet with Morris High School on March 9, 1936. The debate resolution was "that the several states should enact legislation providing for a system of complete medical service available to all citizens at public expense.".

The American Legion auxiliary of the Aarvig-Campbell post No. 78 at its March 16, 1932 banquet presented Jeanette an award for best essay and on June 1, 1932 she graduated with the largest eighth grade class since 1917 at the Pontiac Grade School.

Joseph worked in 1920 as a farm elevator manager, and in the 1940's her parents managed the Imperial Hotel in Pontiac, Illinois.

Jeanette Eymann was born on December 5,1919 in Pontiac, Illinois, USA. She was the daughter of of Joseph and Nellie Mae Weber Eymann.

Hollis was born on September 1, 1916 and died on March 14, 2001. Her second husband, Kenneth E. Barnes, was an engineer in the aircraft industry.

He was born on April 30, 1914 and died on January 26, 1990.

Joseph was born November 27, 1887 and died October 24, 1955, Nellie Mae was born February 23, 1891 and died December 23, 1994. Jeanette's first husband, Hollis F. Bridwell, was a musician in the Stan Kenton Band.