Marie Nordstrom

Born in Fort Apache, Arizona Territory,{{cite news |title=Henry E. Dixey and Charming Wife Comfy and Cosy in Tiny Dressing Room |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26121719/star_tribune/ |work=The Minneapolis Sunday Tribune |date=November 14, 1909 |location=Minnesota, Minneapolis |page=11|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 10, 2018}} {{Open access}} Nordstrom was the daughter of United States Cavalry Captain Charles E. Nordstrom. She was also the older sister of actress, novelist, and playwright Frances Nordstrom.{{cite news |title=Grand Leading Woman Is Writing New Novel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26074261/frances_nordstrom/ |work=The Pittsburgh Sunday Post |date=July 12, 1914 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |at=sec. 2, p. 2|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 8, 2018}} {{Open access}} They moved with their mother to Washington, D.C., after their father's death.{{cite news |title=Daughter of Soldier Is New Leading Woman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26075850/frances_nordstrom/ |work=The Pittsburgh Sunday Post |date=July 5, 1914 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |at=sec. 2, p. 2 |via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 8, 2018}} {{Open access}} She was educated at Georgetown Convent in the District of Columbia{{cite journal |last1=Savile |first1=Hubert |title=Convent-Bred Thespians |journal=Theatre Magazine |date=July 1919 |volume=XXX |issue=221 |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2NlNAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Marie+Nordstrom%22+actress&pg=PA34 |access-date=7 December 2018}} and went on to study voice with Oscar Saenger.{{cite news |last1=Anthony |first1=Walter |title=An 'At Home' With Marie Nordstrom, Mrs. Henry E. Dixey and Fanny |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26023778/marie_nordstrom/ |work=The San Francisco Call |date=August 24, 1913 |location=California, San Francisco |page=24|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 7, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Nordstrom became interested in the theater when, at about age 12, she and her sister attended a play in San Antonio, Texas. Frances 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."{{cite news |title=How Two Sisters Took to Life on the Stage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26119317/the_pittsburgh_press/ |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=January 26, 1908 |location=Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh |page=34|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 10, 2018}} {{Open access}} After they moved to Washington, both sisters attended more plays, which reinforced their interest in acting careers.

Nordstrom began her career in opera, appearing in productions that included La Tosca and Madame Butterfly, Henry E. Dixey, however, persuaded her to focus her efforts on acting rather than on singing. In 1904, she became the leading lady in the company headed by Dixey.{{cite news |title=Notes of the Stage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26046280/the_washington_post/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 28, 1904 |location=D.C., Washington |page=6|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 7, 2018}} {{Open access}} Her introduction to Dixey came by accident when she accompanied her sister to an audition. Although the appointment had been made for Frances, Dixey was emphatic that Marie was the woman he wanted for the production of David Garrick. In 1908, she joined the Chicago Opera House troupe as its leading lady.{{cite news |title=Around the Theaters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26046837/chicago_tribune/ |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 30, 1908 |location=Illinois, Chicago |page=8|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 7, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Nordstrom's Broadway credits include The Sap Runs High (1936), Mirrors (1928), Sweetheart Time (1926), Fashions of 1924 (1923), Lady Bug (1922), Bought and Paid For (1921), Girl o' Mine (1918), The Passing Show of 1917, The Charm of Isabel (1914), Bought and Paid For (1911), The Devil (1908), Papa Lebonnard (1908), The Man on the Box (1905), and Henry E. Dixey and Company (1904).{{cite web |title=Marie Nordstrom |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/marie-nordstrom-54624 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=8 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208012735/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/marie-nordstrom-54624 |archive-date=8 December 2018}}

In May 1909, Nordstrom married Dixey in Milwaukee. The couple kept the wedding secret for a month, announcing it in New York in June 1909.{{cite news |title=Miss Nordstrom Bride of Actor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26047791/the_washington_times/ |work=The Washington Times |date=June 10, 1909 |location=D.C., Washington |page=8|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 7, 2018}} {{Open access}} She and Dixey had one daughter, children's publisher Ursula Nordstrom.{{Cite book |last=Nordstrom |first=Ursula |url=http://archive.org/details/deargeniusletter00nord |title=Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom |last2=Marcus |first2=Leonard S. |date= |publisher=HarperCollins |others=Internet Archive |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-06-023625-0 |location=New York}} In 1925, she married Elliott Brown in New York City.{{cite news |title=Noted Pastor Officiates as Son and Actress Wed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26129496/marie_nordstrom/ |work=Daily News |date=June 2, 1925 |location=New York, New York City |page=3|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 10, 2018}} {{Open access}} Brown manufactured marine machinery.{{cite news |title=Marie Nordstrom to Wed Elliott Brown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26129752/marie_nordstrom/ |work=Des Moines Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=May 29, 1925 |location=Iowa, Des Moines |page=1|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = December 10, 2018}} {{Open access}}

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Category:1880s births

Category:1979 deaths

Category:20th-century American actresses

Category:American vaudeville performers

Category:Actresses from Arizona

Category:American stage actresses

Category:Actors from Navajo County, Arizona