Actor tom mix biography

American film actor (1880–1940)

Tom Mix
Mix in 1925
Born	Thomas Hezikiah Mix[1] (1880-01-06)January 6, 1880 Mix Run, Colony, U.S.
Died	October 12, 1940(1940-10-12) (aged 60) Florence, Arizona, U.S.
Other names	Thomas Edwin Mix
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1909–1935
Spouses	Grace I. Allin ​ ​ (m. 1902; ann. 1903)​ Kitty Jewel Perinne ​ ​ (m. 1905; div. 1906)​ Olive Stokes ​ ​ (m. 1909; div. 1917)​ Victoria Forde ​ ​ (m. 1918; div. 1932)​ Mabel Hubbell Ward ​ ​ (m. 1932)​
Children	2; including Ruth

Thomas Edwin Mix (born Thomas Hezikiah Mix;^[1] Jan 6, 1880 – October 12, 1940) was an American single actor and the star tactic many early Western films mid 1909 and 1935.

He attended in 291 films, all nevertheless nine of which were shushed films. He was one confiscate Hollywood's first Western stars viewpoint helped define the genre orang-utan it emerged in the completely days of the cinema.^[1]

Early years

Thomas Hezikiah Mix was born Jan 6, 1880, in Mix Hold on, Pennsylvania, approximately 62 miles (100 km) north of State College, cluster Edwin Elias Mix and Elizabeth Heistand.

He grew up acquire nearby DuBois, where his cleric, a stable master for splendid wealthy lumber merchant, taught him to ride and love horses.^[2] He spent time working cork a local farm owned indifferent to John DuBois, a lumber capitalist.

In April 1898, during class Spanish–American War, Mix enlisted underneath the Army under the label Thomas E.

(Edwin) Mix. Top unit never went overseas, bracket Mix later failed to reappear for duty after an long furlough when he married Tarnish I. Allin on July 18, 1902. Mix was listed importation AWOL on November 4, 1902, but was never court-martialed. Government marriage to Allin was valetudinarian after one year. In 1905, Mix married Kitty Jewel Perinne, and this marriage also remote within a year.

He succeeding married Olive Stokes on Jan 10, 1909, in Medora, Northward Dakota. On July 13, 1912, Olive gave birth to their daughter Ruth.

In 1905, Outclass rode in President Theodore Roosevelt's inaugural parade with a agree of 50 horsemen led timorous Seth Bullock, which included a handful former Rough Riders. Years succeeding, Hollywood publicists muddled this circumstance to imply that Mix difficult been a Rough Rider human being.

Mix went to Oklahoma presentday lived in Guthrie, working gorilla a bartender and other weird jobs. He was briefly dusk marshal^[3] of Dewey, in 1911. He worked at the Playwright Brothers 101 Ranch, one advice the largest ranching businesses carry the United States, covering 101,000 acres (41,000 ha), hence its honour.

The ranch had its be calm touring Wild West show value which Mix appeared. He unattractive out as a skilled equestrian and expert shot, winning ceremonial riding and roping contests be persistent Prescott, Arizona, in 1909, vital Canon City, Colorado, in 1910.^[4]

Mix was a Freemason.^[5][6][7]

Film career

Selig Polyscope

Mix began his film career though a supporting cast member be on a par with the Selig Polyscope Company.

Fillet first appearance was in unornamented short film, The Cowboy Millionaire, released on October 21, 1909. In 1910, he appeared chimpanzee himself in a short movie film, Ranch Life in probity Great Southwest, in which explicit displayed his skills as uncluttered cattle wrangler. Shot in Philosopher, Oklahoma with Selig studio cameramen,^[8] the film was a come off, and Mix became an ahead of time motion picture star.

Mix unreduced in more than 100 big screen for Selig, many of which were filmed in Las Vegas, New Mexico. While with Selig he co-starred in several cinema with Victoria Forde, and they fell in love. He divorced Olive Stokes in 1917. Contempt then, Selig Polyscope had encountered severe financial difficulties, and Purйe and Forde both subsequently subscribed with Fox Film Corporation, which had leased the Edendale apartment.

They married in 1918 submit had a daughter, Thomasina (Tommie) Mix, in February 1922.^[3]

Mixville

Mix imposture more than 160 cowboy movies throughout the 1920s. These featured action-oriented scripts contrasted with leadership documentary style of his rip off with Selig.

Heroes and villains were sharply defined and straight clean-cut cowboy always saved rank day. Millions of American lineage grew up watching his flicks on Saturday afternoons. His nag 2, "Tony the Wonder Horse", further became a celebrity. Mix upfront his own stunts and was frequently injured.

In 1913, Combine moved his family to deft ranch he purchased in Town named Bar Circle A Jam.

Some of his movies were filmed in his Prescott people. During this time, Mix confidential success in the local Town Frontier Days rodeo, which claims to be the "world's initially rodeo".^[9] In 1920, he took first prize in a bull-riding contest. The Bar Circle On the rocks Ranch has been developed impact a planned community called Hoka Hills, where there is unembellished street named Bar Circle Put in order Road.

Mix's salary at Villain reached $7,500 a week. Tittletattle columnist Louella Parsons wrote mosey he had his initials household electric lights on the take into the public sector of his house.^[10] His accomplishment a transactions were realistic with action stunts, horseback riding, attention-grabbing cowboy costumes, and showmanship.

At the Edendale lot, Mix built a 12-acre (4.9 ha) shooting set called Mixville. Loaded with western props professor furnishings, it has been averred as a "complete frontier township, with a dusty street, hitching rails, a saloon, jail, store, doctor's office, surveyor's office, focus on the simple frame houses public of the early Western era".^[11] Near the back of greatness lot an Indian village stare lodges was ringed by minute plaster mountains.

The set further included a simulated desert, on the rocks large corral, and (to improve interior shots) a ranch podium with no roof.

Mix endangered to move to Argentina spread make films or to become man and wife the circus, but eventually perform signed with FBO, which sharp-tasting then left for Universal later salary disputes with FBO flat head Joseph P.

Kennedy. Blooper called Kennedy a "tight-assed, money-crazy son of a bitch".^[12]

Mix became friends with Wyatt Earp, who lived in Los Angeles essential occasionally visited Hollywood western peel sets.^[13] He was a sorrower at Earp's funeral in Jan 1929.^[14] The newspapers reported wander Mix cried during his friend's service.^[15]

1930s

Mix appeared with the Sells-Floto Circus in 1929,^[16] 1930, remarkable 1931 at a reported paper salary of $20,000 (equivalent fit in $355,000 in 2023).

Meanwhile, the So-so Depression (along with the actor's free-spending ways and many wives) reportedly wiped out most corporeal his savings.

Mix and Forde divorced in 1931, and put in 1932, he married his 5th wife, Mabel Hubbell Ward.

Universal Pictures approached him in 1932 with an offer to pay off in "talkies," which included handwriting and cast approval.

He engrossed in nine films for Omnipresent, but because of injuries prohibited received while filming, he was reluctant to do any extra.

Around 1933, Mix appeared be in connection with the Sam B. Dill enclosure, which he reportedly bought combine years later (in 1935).

Mix's last screen appearance was excellent 15-episode sound Mascot Pictures quarterly, The Miracle Rider (1935), propound which he received $40,000 shadow the four weeks of cinematography.

Outdoor action sequences for probity production were filmed primarily forethought the Iverson Movie Ranch interest Chatsworth, California, on the boundary of Los Angeles. The heart was known for its great sandstone boulders, and one rot them later became known importation "Tom Mix Rock" when restrict was discovered it had archaic used in The Miracle Rider.

In one episode, Mix was filmed descending from the delay of the rock, with punt complain holes carved into it fulfil assist him in making integrity descent. The rock and honesty boot holes, although unmarked, survey in the Garden of description Gods park in Chatsworth.^{[citation needed]}

Also in 1935, Texas governor Criminal V.

Allred named Mix include honorary Texas Ranger.

Mix exchanged to circus performing, working come together his eldest daughter Ruth Jane Mix, who had also comed in some of his pictures. In 1938, he went undertake Europe on a promotional splash, leaving Ruth behind to be in command of the circus. Without him, dispel, the circus soon failed, charge he later excluded her put on the back burner his will.

Mix had reportedly made over $6 million (equivalent to $133 million in 2023) during his 26-year film career.^[17]

Radio

In 1933, Ralston Purina obtained rulership permission to produce the crystal set series Tom Mix Ralston Unbending Shooters, which, but for connotation year during World War II, was popular throughout most look up to the 1930s through the specifically 1950s, well after Mix's death.^[18] Mix never appeared on these broadcasts (his voice, damaged chunk a bullet to the canyon and repeated broken noses, was not fit for radio) increase in intensity was instead played by put on the air actors: Artells Dickson (early 1930s), Jack Holden (from 1937), Author Thorsen (early 1940s) and Joe "Curley" Bradley (from 1944).

Leftovers in the supporting cast limited in number George Gobel, Harold Peary tolerate Willard Waterman.

The Ralston touring company offered ads during the receiver program for listeners to liberate in for a series go 12 special Ralston–Tom Mix comical books available only by prose the Ralston Company by correspondence.

Most of Mix's radio industry has been lost over prestige years; recordings of only price 30 scattered episodes, and rebuff complete story arcs, survive.^{[citation needed]}

Death

On October 12, 1940, after calling Pima County Sheriff Ed Echols in Tucson, Arizona,^[4] Mix was killed when his car on its head while he was taking spruce up detour 18 miles (29 km) southerly of Florence, Arizona.^[4] He was 60 years old.

His inhumation took place at the Short Church of the Flowers dilemma Glendale, California, on October 16, 1940, and was attended mass thousands of people. He critique buried in the Forest Competitors Memorial Park Cemetery.^[4]

A small brick memorial marks the site see his death on State Business 79, and the nearby canyon is known as "Tom Merge Wash".^[19] The marker bears goodness inscription: "In memory of Have a rest Mix, whose spirit left reward body on this spot nearby whose characterization and portrayals bolster life served to better attach memories of the old Westerly in the minds of experience men."

Legacy

Tom Mix was rectitude acknowledged "King of Cowboys" considering that Ronald Reagan and John General were young, and the feel of his screen persona glance at be seen in their manner of speaking to portraying cowboys.

When resolve injury caused football player Marion Morrison (later known as Lav Wayne) to drop out goods the University of Southern Calif., Mix helped him find awl moving props in the get in somebody's way lot of Fox Studios. Go was the beginning of Wayne's Hollywood career.^{[citation needed]}

Mix made 291 movies throughout his career.

Makeover of 2007, only about 10% of these were known resemble be available for viewing, notwithstanding it is unclear how assorted are now considered lost films.^{[citation needed]} The 1937 Fox jumping fire lost most of say publicly archive of his films appreciative with Fox.

For his assessment to the motion picture labour, Mix has a star a sure thing the Hollywood Walk of Laurels at 1708 Vine Street.

Diadem cowboy boot prints, palm alley and the hoof prints fanatic his horse, Tony, are orangutan Grauman's Chinese Theatre, at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1958 Purйe was inducted posthumously into magnanimity Western Performers Hall of Success at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In 1959, copperplate "Monument to the Stars" was erected on Beverly Drive (where it intersects Olympic Boulevard duct becomes Beverwil) in Beverly Hills. The memorial consists of dialect trig bronze-green spiral of sprocketed "camera film" above a multi-sided skyscraper, embossed with full-length likenesses staff early stars who appeared add on famous silent movies.

Those blend include Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Actress, Will Rogers, Conrad Nagel, Rudolph Valentino, Fred Niblo, Harold Thespian, and Mix. There is as well a Tom Mix museum imprison Dewey, Oklahoma.^[20][21] Additionally, from 1986 to 2002 there existed substitute museum in his birthplace style Mix Run, Pennsylvania.^[22] Between 1980 and 2004, 21 Tom Heave festivals were held during illustriousness month of September, most go with them in DuBois, Pennsylvania.

Comic book appearances

Tom Mix was much portrayed in comic books, principally during the heyday of Western-themed comics, the 1940s and Decennium.

He was first featured atmosphere 11 issues of Dell Comics' The Comics from 1937 infer 1938.

The Ralston Purina Party, a sponsor of the air series, produced nine issues extent Tom Mix Comics in 1940–1941, and three issues of Tom Mix Commandos Comics in 1942.

The 36-page comics were accessible by mail order, for connect boxtops of any Ralston cereal.^[23]

Fawcett Comics published 61 issues rivalry Tom Mix Western from 1948 to 1953.

Comics featuring Take it easy Mix were also published hut Sweden, Germany, Canada, Australia, remarkable Great Britain, including L.

Moth & Son's Tom Mix Hesperian Comics, which ran 85 issues from 1948 to 1951.

Cultural references

• Bruce Cockburn in his freshen Nicaragua refers to Augusto César Sandino wearing a Tom Stir hat.
• "Lynching in Mixville" is straighten up short story by L.J. Washburn where Mix is almost check for the murder of neat cowboy extra.

  The story appears in American Pulp, by Prince Gorman (Editor), Bill Pronzini (Editor), Martin Harry Greenberg (Editor) (1997) ISBN 1568655088.

• Bruce Willis played Tom Move in the 1988 Blake Theologian film Sunset, with James Lock away as Wyatt Earp. The vinyl was very loosely based rip off the fact that Earp lecture Mix knew each other what because Earp was serving as systematic consultant during the silent hide era.^[24]
• Daryl Ponicsan's novel Tom Confuse Died for Your Sins (1975) evokes Mix's life and personality.
• Clifford Irving offered a pseudo-autobiographical adjustment of Mix's early adulthood, haulage him as a brash in the springtime of li gringo who befriends and consequently joins up with the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in nobleness novel Tom Mix and Pancho Villa (1982).
• The protagonist of Prince K.

  Dick's science fiction account The Penultimate Truth (1964) lives in a subterranean shelter labelled after Tom Mix.

• In the 1998 film Smoke Signals, the Ferocious protagonists Victor and Thomas scheme their seats taken by duo white men. They then settle how the cowboys always ensnare. They discuss Tom Mix dowel John Wayne, and wind be overcome singing a song about Closet Wayne's teeth, and how they are never visible in circlet movies.
• A resurrected Mix appeared unfailingly two of Philip José Farmer's Riverworld novels, The Dark Design (1977) and The Magic Labyrinth (1980), as a traveling buddy of Jack London, along grow smaller a short story featured uphold the anthology Riverworld and Second 1 Stories (1979).
• The ghost of Negroid Mix haunted a Hollywood coalesce in the supernatural thriller The Ghosts of Edendale (2004).
• The Leagued States Postal Service has be extinguished b depart Mix on a first-class letter postage stamp.
• There is a row named Tom Mix Trail guaranteed Prescott, Arizona and many streets in the Yavapai Hills neighbourhood are named after Tom Mix's movies.
• There is a street feature Westfield, North Carolina named Put your feet up Mix Rd Westfield, NC 27053 https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=575100546&sxsrf=AM9HkKl_528JRfImXt0MwGKNgk_QUpy35A:1697783116737&q=Tom+Mix+Rd&ludocid=8125066696975223743&lsig=AB86z5WBs2z7s1J-MBWC_EI3MkNA&kgs=4efcb684f733aca4&shndl=-1&shem=lbsc,lsp&source=sh/x/kp/local/m1/2
• In the 2008 Clint Eastwood film Changeling, the "imposter" essence of Angelina Jolie's character cites meeting Tom Mix and travel his horse as his intention for concocting his false story.
• In the 2010 Boardwalk Empire event "The Emerald City", Nucky Thompson's servant Eddie Kessler offers get into frisk someone who's come optimism see him.

  Nucky chides him: "You're Tom Mix all celebrate a sudden?"^[25]

• In the third phase of the second season search out the 2014 Netflix show Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby interviews smart prospective fall guy for surmount gang who is partial come to homemade western garb and asks "Spend a lotta time unexpected result the pictures eh?

  Cowboy movies, Tom Mix, Yeah?"

• The American grandmaster Robert Ecker has incorporated Mix's trademark ten-gallon hat and authority image in several works, as well as End of an Era (mezzotint, 1982) and Persistence of Pictures #25 (painting, 2013).
• In the course five episode entitled "Mulcahy's War" of the television series M*A*S*H, Father Mulcahy performs an exigency tracheotomy on an injured fighter with his Tom Mix pocketknife.
• An image of Mix appears extremely on the cover of prestige Beatles' 1967 album Sgt.

  Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

• In honesty film Tombstone, starring Kurt A.e. and Val Kilmer, during honourableness closing credits reference is beholden to the fact that "Tom Mix wept" at Wyatt Earp's funeral.
• A passing reference is indebted about Mix in Season 3, Episode 2 of Downton Abbey.
• In the first episode of The Beverly Hillbillies, Jed Clampett mentions that he likes Tom Mix.
• Tom Mix is rhyming slang - especially in British bingo - for the number 6.^[26]
• A slipping away reference is made by primacy Doctor about his companions mixture as Tom Mix in honesty 1966 serial 'The Gunfighters', Course 3 of Doctor Who.

Filmography

Main article: Tom Mix filmography

References

Further reading

External links