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Tom Mix (1880–1940) was an American motion picture actor, director, and writer whose career spanned from 1910 until 1935. During this time he appeared in 270 films and established himself as the screen's most popular cowboy star. Mix's flair for showmanship set the standard for later cowboy heroes such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. His horse Tony also became a celebrity who received his own fan mail.
Contents
- Selig Polyscope Company
- 1910
- 1911
- 1912
- 1913
- 1914
- 1915
- 1916
- 1917
- Fox Film Corporation
- 1917 continued
- 1918
- 1919
- 1920
- 1921
- 1922
- FBO Pictures
- Universal Pictures
- Mascot
- Other possible film appearances
- Archives with Mix films
- References
Born in Pennsylvania, Mix served in the United States Army before moving to the Oklahoma Territory in 1902. Three years later, after working as a physical fitness instructor, bartender, and peace officer, he was hired as a full-time cowboy for the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch. Soon after, Mix established himself as the star attraction of the Millers' Wild West Show. In early 1910 Mix agreed to work as an actor and wrangler for the Selig Polyscope Company. Mix alternated between working in films and in Wild West Shows until 1913 when he went into the film business full-time. The following year he established his own production unit and became a director and writer as well as an actor. His films for Selig were usually one and two-reel shorts that initially emphasized humour in the tradition of Will Rogers but eventually moved into action-oriented stories that displayed Mix's riding and stunting prowess.
In 1917 Mix left Selig and signed a contract with the Fox Film Corporation. His earliest films for them were two-reel shorts but within a year he switched to features. During his peak period in the 1920s Mix appeared in action-packed westerns filled with fights and chases and often photographed to show him doing his own stunt work. His films were also known for their location work in places such as the Arizona's Grand Canyon and the Colorado's Royal Gorge. Among the notable directors that he worked with during this time were John Ford, Sidney Franklin, Jack Conway, George Marshall, and Roy William Neill. His leading ladies included Colleen Moore, Esther Ralston, Laura La Plante, Billie Dove and Clara Bow. In 1928, after eleven years and 86 films with Fox, Mix moved to FBO Pictures for a series of five films. With the coming of sound, Mix abandoned his film career and returned to working in Wild West shows. He came back to films in 1932 for a series of nine sound features for Universal. In 1935, he appeared in his final film, a 15-chapter serial for Mascot Pictures. Mix died in an automobile accident in Arizona five years later.
On February 8, 1960, Mix was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1998 Mix's film Sky High was added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.
Selig Polyscope Company
Most of the films that Mix made for Selig are now lost. Those that are known to survive are listed in the notes section.
1910
In 1910, Will A. Dickey, owner of the Circle D Ranch Wild West Show and Indian Congress, signed a deal to provide stock and wranglers for the Selig motion picture company. Dickey had seen Mix perform with the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Wild West Show and asked him if he would be interested in appearing in films. Mix agreed and soon after joined the Selig unit in Flemington, Missouri. Mix's earliest films were made as part of one of Selig's travelling units. Location work for these films were done in Missouri and Oklahoma while at least one film was made in Chicago. Otis Skinner, the director of these films, was impressed with Mix's screen image and wanted to keep him working as a film actor. Mix, however, was not interested in remaining in films and signed with Zack Mulhall's Wild West Show to help organize the Appalachian Exposition in Knoxville, Tennessee, which was scheduled to run in October and November. After this Mix rejoined the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Show.
All of Mix's 1910 films are one-reel shorts.
1911
In the spring of 1911 Mix left the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Show and resumed his career as an actor with the Selig Polyscope Company.
All of Mix's 1911 films are one-reel shorts.
1912
Early in 1912 Mix left the film industry and joined Guy Weadick, one of his former 101 ranch associates, to stage the first Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. After this Mix toured Canada with the Buffalo Ranch Wild West Show. Following the show's closure Mix returned to Dewey, Oklahoma and accepted the position of night marshal.
All of Mix's 1912 films are one-reel shorts directed by Otis Turner.
1913
In January 1913 Mix accepted an offer from Selig to return to acting in films as part of a production unit in Prescott, Arizona, until the supervision of actor-director William Duncan. During his time with this unit Duncan persuaded Mix to write some of the scenarios.
All of Mix's 1913 films where directed by Duncan and, except where noted, are one-reel shorts. The majority of these films co-starred Myrtle Stedman and Lester Cuneo.
1914
The last films that Mix made with William Duncan were released in early 1914. By that time Mix had been reassigned work with Colin Campbell, one of Selig's top directors, to appear in films produced in Truckee, California. These films were largely two or three reels in length and were attracted more attention than Selig's average releases. Later in 1914 Selig gave Mix his own unit which allowed him to write, direct, and star in films made in Glendale, California.
1915
Mix returned to Arizona in 1915. The Selig Company began to experience a decline in their profits around this time, due in part to World War I cutting off their foreign market. As a result, Selig began trimming their production schedule.
All films were directed by Mix and, except where noted, are one-reel shorts.
1916
In 1916 Mix moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, which, at the time, was the last remaining open range in the west. In June 1916 he moved again, this time back to Glendale. With pressure from Selig to reduce costs in his unit, Mix began searching for a new producer. By the end of the year he had signed with the Fox Film Corporation.
Except where noted all films were directed by Mix and are one-reel shorts.
1917
Mix's final films with Selig were released in early 1917.
Fox Film Corporation
Mix moved from Selig to the Fox Film Corporation in 1917, starting at a salary of $350 per week. His earliest films for the studio were two-reel shorts similar to the ones he made at Selig. Within a year, however he switched to feature films. Mix's popularity soared at Fox and his salary eventually escalated to $17,000 per week.
Initially Mix worked as a writer and director as well as an actor but eventually restricted his work largely to being in front of the cameras. As his Fox films often teamed him with notable directors (such as John Ford, Sidney Franklin, Jack Conway, George Marshall, and Roy William Neill) an extra column now appears to list them. As the survival rate of Mix's Fox films is higher than his Selig films another column is added to display their survival status.
1917 continued
Except where noted all films are two reels short subjects.
1918
Except where noted all films are five-reel features.
1919
All films are five reel features.
1920
Except where noted all films are five reel features.
1921
Except where noted all films are five reel features.
1922
All films are five reel features.
FBO Pictures
By 1927, numerous low-budget imitations of Mix's films were flooding the cinema market. This, along with Mix's salary, the high rental fees for his films, and Fox Films' commitment to sound films made the studio decide not to renew his contract. Following his departure from Fox Mix went on a vaudeville tour with the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuit. In 1928, Mix signed with the Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) studios to appear in six silent westerns. By the time his first film, The Son of the Golden West, was released FBO had merged with RKO Pictures. Mix's FBO films were not as well received by the public and press as his Fox films. As a result, after making five films for the studio production of the proposed sixth film, The Dude Ranch, was cancelled. Prints of all five of Mix's FBO films survive.
Universal Pictures
Following his departure from FBO Mix returned to the vaudeville circuit for several years. In November 1931, Mix received an offer from Carl Laemmle of Universal Studios to star in a series of sound westerns. The resulting nine films (plus a cameo appearance in a tenth) proved to be popular at the box office. In December 1932, however, Mix ended his association with Universal due to injuries and a bout of influenza. All of Mix's Universal films survive (see references for each film).
Mascot
Following his departure from Universal, Mix returned to live performances. In 1934, he joined with showman Sam Gill to form the "Tom Mix Wild West and Sam Gill Circus (Combined)". Following Gill's death from a heart attack Mix bought out his late partner's ownership. To help finance this deal Mix signed with film producer Nat Levine's Mascot Pictures to appear in a western serial. Although a major box office hit, the resulting effort was Mix's final film.
Other possible film appearances
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) lists Mix as appearing as himself in the documentary short films Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 17 (1921), Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 20 (1921), Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 22 (1921), Screen Snapshots, Series 2, No. 22-F (1922), Screen Snapshots, Series 6, No. 16 (1926), Screen Snapshots (1926), Life in Hollywood No. 4 (1927), The Voice of Hollywood No. 2 (1930), The Voice of Hollywood, Series 1, No. 2 (1930), Screen Snapshots (1932), Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 (1932), Hollywood on Parade No. A-4 (1933), Hollywood on Parade No. A-7 (1933), The 42nd. Street Special (1933), and Screen Snapshots: Seeing Hollywood (1940). Mix biographer Robert S. Birchard confirms his appearances in the two "Voice of Hollywood" films.
Archives with Mix films
The following film archives have prints of Tom Mix films: