Frances Nordstrom (born June 1883 in

Fort Davis, Texas Fort Davis is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,201 at the 2010 census, up from 1,050 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jeff Davis County. Hist ...

) was an American actress and playwright.

Early years

Born in

, Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. He had command of that fort, and she lived her first 16 years there. She was the younger sister of actress

Marie Nordstrom Marie Nordstrom (12 April 1881/1886 - 2 January 1979) was an American actress. Early years Born in Fort Apache, Arizona Territory, Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. She was also the older sister o ...

. After their father died, the sisters and their mother moved to Washington, where Nordstrom attended the Georgetown Convent school. Nordstrom became interested in the theater when, as a youth, she and her sister attended a play in

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

. She told a reporter in 1908, "... our youthful minds were entranced, whereupon we each resolved that when we grew to womanhood we were going to be actresses." After they moved to Washington, both sisters attended more plays, which reinforced their interest in acting careers.

Acting

Nordstrom's early acting experiences included work with the Baldwin-Melville Stock Company in Buffalo, New York, in 1903. Her work in stock theater led to a progression from character roles to portraying ingenues to being a leading woman. In 1904, she had to leave acting temporarily because of blood poisoning that developed from a severe burn. In 1909, Nordstrom joined

Oliver Morosco Oliver Morosco (June 20, 1875 – August 25, 1945) was an American theatrical producer, director, writer, film producer, and theater owner. He owned the Morosco Photoplay Company. He brought many of his theater actors to the screen. Frank A. Garb ...

's stock theater company in California. Her Broadway acting credits include ''Cheer Up'' (1912).

Writing

Nordstrom began writing prior to World War I. After achieving success writing vaudeville sketches and one-act plays, she wrote ''Room 44'', a three-act farce, and other plays. Her body of work led to a three-year contract with Cohan and Harris for all of the plays that she wrote during that period. At times, she acted in a play that she had written, as in a production of ''The Ruined Lady'' in 1920. Broadway productions for which Nordstrom wrote include ''Lady Bug'' (1922), ''Music Box Revue'' (1921), ''Snapshots of 1921'', and ''The Ruined Lady'' (1920). Later, after moving to Los Angeles, she began to write for films.

Personal life

On November 8, 1905, Nordstrom married actor James Carlisle Spottswood in New Orleans.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Nordstrom, Frances 1883 births American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American women writers Actresses from Texas Year of death missing