Nichols, Josephine

Josephine Nichols (1913-1996), actress and teacher of theater, was born Josephine Landsittel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Her married name was Josephine Holtzschue but she was known professionally as Josephine Nichols throughout her career. She received her BFA, with a major in dramatic art from the University of Oklahoma.

After graduating, she spent a year in California working with the Pasadena Community Playhouse Productions, acting in their productions while pursuing radio and advertising jobs. She moved back to the Midwest and spent the next ten years engaged in many forms of theater activities including directing several plays for the Little Theatre of Wichita, Kansas while radio acting for the local station. In 1945, Josephine Nichols moved to New York to join the group Stage for Action and took a course on radio announcing at Columbia University. She earned an M.A. in speech and communication from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1948.

In 1949 Nichols became an adjunct professor of speech and communication at Adelphi College and director of its Reader's Theater until 1955 when she left to pursue her own acting career. She remained the director of the Reader's Theater until 1966. Meanwhile, she had been working on a Shakespeare seminar program for Adelphi students that she was able teach at other institutions. She also offered private lessons on Shakespeare. Nichols continued her theatrical education becoming a licensed teacher of the Alexander Technique. She also followed the Bahai' Faith, giving lectures at various locations. She took a one year guest lecturer position at Temple University in 1976 where she taught speech and the Alexander Technique.

After leaving Adelphi, Josephine Nichols' acted in touring productions, small theaters, off-Broadway productions and regional theater. She developed her own one-woman production called Sonnets and Scenes from Shakespeare which she took on tour to different venues in the United States including: The Hartford Stage Company and the Jewel Box Theatre in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Regional theater was a great part of Nichol's acting career. She was a member of the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco from 1966-1969 acting in several productions including: A DELICATE BALANCE, THE SEA GULL, and THE CRUCIBLE. She later joined the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre from 1971-1973 acting in among others: THE CHERRY ORCHARD, SCENES FROM AMERICAN LIFE, and CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS. Her other regional appearances included: THE SHOW-OFF (1977), for the Seattle Repertory Theatre, FOXFIRE (1985), at the Missouri Repertory Theatre and LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES (1988), at the Virginia Stage Company. In addition to regional theater, Nichols participated in summer and winter stock productions. She spent 6 seasons at the Totem Pole Playhouse, directed by William Putch, taking part in SOUTHWEST CORNER (1971) and other productions. She also took roles at the Meadow Brook Theatre, the Barter Theatre and Summerstage at Trinity College in Connecticut. Nichols's theater activities in New York included the Broadway production of SKIN OF OUR TEETH, (1975) and CLOTHES FOR A SUMMER HOTEL (1980) both directed by Jose Quintero. She participated in several off-Broadway productions as well, including: The GOLDEN SIX (1958) and UNCOMMON WOMEN (1977).

Nichols's work in film and television ran concurrently with her theater career. Her most noted roles in television include Mrs. Plumm in the televised version of UNCOMMON WOMEN (1978), the Countess in THE ELEPHANT MAN (1982), and matriarch Kate Marshall in NBC's soap opera, TEXAS (1980-1982). In film, she played the mother of James Caan in HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT (1980). She had other roles in film productions of PETULIA (1968) and RIVERRUN (1968). She retired in the early 1990s and died in 1996.

From the description of Josephine Nichols papers, 1948-1990. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122596831

Josephine Nichols was born Josephine Landsittel, November 11, 1913 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Clarence and Ola Landsittel. Her married name was Josephine Holtzschue but she was known professionally as Josephine Nichols throughout her career. Josephine Nichols graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1931. She went to receive her BFA, major in dramatic art from the University of Oklahoma .

After graduating, she spent a year in California working with the Pasadena Community Playhouse Productions, acting in their productions while pursuing radio and advertising jobs. She moved back to the Midwest and spent the next ten years engaged in many forms of theater activities. Josephine Nichols directed several plays for the Little Theatre of Wichita, Kansas while radio acting for the local station. In 1943, she commentated News for Women in Wichita, Kansas. In 1945, Josephine Nichols moved to New York to join the group Stage for Action. While she was in the city, she took a course on radio announcing at Columbia University . Upon returning to Oklahoma, she worked as an instructor of speech at a local business college. Josephine Nichols returned to New York City to earn her M.A. in speech and communication from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1948.

She became a teacher at Adelphi College in 1949. She was an instructor (adjunct professor) of speech and communication and the director of the Reader's Theater at Adelphi until 1955 at which time she asked for leave to pursue her own acting career. She remained the director of the Reader's Theater until 1966. Meanwhile, Josephine had been working on a Shakespeare Seminar program for Adelphi students that she was able teach at other institutions. In addition, she offered private lessons on Shakespeare as well. Josephine Nichols continued her theatrical education became a licensed teacher of the Alexander Technique. She also followed the Bahai' Faith, giving lectures at various locations. For one year, she took a guest lecturer position for a year at Temple University in 1976 where she taught speech and the Alexander Technique.

After leaving Adelphi, Josephine Nichols' acted in touring productions, small theaters, off-Broadway productions and regional theater. She developed her own one-woman production called Sonnets and Scenes from Shakespeare which she took on tour to different venues in the United States including: The Hartford Stage Company and the Jewel Box Theatre in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Regional theater was a great part of Josephine's acting career. She was a member of the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco from 1966-1969 acting in several productions including: A Delicate Balance, The Sea Gull, and The Crucible . She later joined the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre from 1971-1973 acting in among others: The Cherry Orchard, Scenes from American Life, and Cat among the Pigeons . Her other regional appearances include: The Show-Off 1977, for the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Foxfire 1985, at the Missouri Repertory Theatre and Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1988, at the Virginia Stage Company. In addition to regional theater, Josephine Nichols participated in summer and winter stock productions. She spent 6 seasons at the Totem Pole Playhouse, directed by William Putch, taking part in Southwest Corner 1971 and other productions. She also took roles at the Meadow Brook Theatre, the Barter Theatre and Summerstage at Trinity College in Connecticut. Josephine Nichols's theater activities in New York included the Broadway production of Skin of Our Teeth, 1975 and Clothes for a Summer Hotel 1980 both directed by Jose Quintero . She participated in several off-Broadway productions as well, including: The Golden Six 1958 and Uncommon Women 1977 by Wendy Wasserman.

Josephine Nichols's work in film and television ran concurrently with her theater career. Her most noted roles in television include Mrs. Plumm in the televised version of Uncommon Women 1978, the Countess in The Elephant Man 1982, and matriarch Kate Marshall in NBC's soap opera Texas 1980-1982. In film, Josephine Nichols played the mother of James Caan in Hide in Plain Sight 1980. She had other roles in film productions of Petulia 1968 and Riverrun 1968.

Josephine Nichols's long career ended in retirement in the early 1990s. She died on February 17, 1996.

From the guide to the Josephine Nichols papers, 1948-1990, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)