Tom Mix: Idol of Every American Boy

Dad told me long ago that Tom Mix had been one of his favorite movie cowboys, which inspired me to argue, jokingly, that there was no such person. For my generation, John Wayne was the movie cowboy, and in all honesty I had never heard of Tom Mix until Dad shared his reminiscences with me. Yes Virginia, there was a Tom Mix, and he was the most popular western star of his era. I was anxious to learn more about him, and I soon discovered that there’s information a-plenty.
It must be said that research into the life of Tom Mix is difficult at best, as the road is paved with tall tales. The movie studios themselves were known to release blatant fabrications, spinning all sorts of biographical nonsense to enhance his hero status. Among the falsehoods that are circulated is his being born in El Paso, Texas, being a Texas Ranger (where he single-handedly captured the notorious Shonts Brothers), having served as sheriff of several towns, and his being a hunting guide for Theodore Roosevelt. It’s even been said that his voice wasn’t suited for talking pictures because his wife had shot him in the neck. All that is certainly entertaining, but looking beyond the hype reveals the real story. Read the rest of this entry »