He became a projectionist the following year and two years later bought his first theater. He was the manager of two theaters in Omaha, Nebraska. The chain that owned the theaters soon went out business and Nicholson found himself unemployed.
After becoming a projectionist, he bought his first theater two years later.  He then managed two theaters in Omaha, Nebraska. However, the theater chain that owned these theaters closed down, leading to Nicholson's unemployment.