But let me tell you a little of Mr. Mix's history.
He was born in Pennsylvania, enlisted in the army during the Spanish-American War but never went overseas and was declared AWOL after failing to return from a furlough, during which he married his first of five wives.
He went to Oklahoma and kicked around as a bartender and other odd jobs before finding employment with a huge ranch that had its own touring Wild West show.
Mix performed as a horseman and expert shot and won rodeo competitions in (surprise!) Prescott, Arizona, just beyond Glassford Hill from where I live.
In his off-screen appearances, Mix was a dapper dresser, usually seen wearing a huge white ten gallon hat.
A number of his films were shot in the Prescott area.
It is said that along with the ladies, Tom Mix was fond of drink and that may have led to his demise.
After spending time visiting a friend in Tucson, Mix was speeding north toward Phoenix in his 1937 Cord automobile.
He was unable to stop when he encountered a barricade where a bridge had been washed out by a flash flood and when his car flipped over, a suitcase full of money and jewelry struck and killed him.
There's a plaque and monument at the site.
He was 60 years old.
The area where his ranch was is now part of a planned community where the BRD's Beau Jack lived for many years.
(Much of the history in this post is courtesy of Wikipedia.)
I knew of Tom mix as a kid because he was one of my father's favorite stars when he was a youngster. Other names I recall hearing were Lash Larue and Johnny Mac Brown. In My era they were Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy and the Cisco kid.
ReplyDeleteWeird but even though he was way before my time, I've heard of him!
ReplyDeleteI know he became friendly with the aged Wyatt Earp.
ReplyDeleteActually was a pallbearer at Earp's funeral.
DeleteOn 89A, there is a rocky luxury development called The Canyons, previously known as Prescott's Garden of the Gods. In their model home are many black and white pictures of Tom Mix and other Hollywood celebs who partied there. It's an interesting drive through the rocks and tour the model home. Many boulders rise up inside the houses. Link below: http://www.livethecanyons.com/history.htm
ReplyDeleteWhat a guy! A larger than life character for sure.
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to go! Done in by a suitcase full of money and jewelry.
ReplyDeleteI've certainly heard of him but I didn't know many details. Thanks for filling me in.
ReplyDeleteBruce, really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteSteve