Tom Mix Museum
Located in Dewey, the Tom Mix Museum houses items from Mix’s personal collection, providing a glimpse into the life of one of Oklahoma’s most colorful figures. Those too young to remember the man and his talent are sure to find his story as fascinating as those who watched him ride across the movie screen years ago.
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Tom Mix was born to Edwin and Elizabeth Mix on January 6, 1880, in Mix Run, Pennsylvania. After a stint in the army, Mix moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory, where he worked odd jobs. At various times, he worked as a bartender, a hand with Zack Miller’s 101 Ranch, and for a short time in 1911, served as marshal in Dewey, Oklahoma. While working for the Millers Brothers 101 Ranch near Ponca City, Mix began his movie career. He married five times and had two children: Ruth, born July 13, 1912, to Olive Stokes, and Thomasina, born February 12, 1922, to Victoria Ford. Tom Mix died in 1940 in a car accident on a highway between Tucson and Florence, Arizona.
Tom Mix’s movie career spanned 26 years from 1909–35. At times, he was under contract with the Selig Polyscope Company, Fox Film Corporation, Film Booking Office, Universal, and Mascot. He made 336 feature films, produced 88, wrote 71, and directed 117. Mix made nine sound feature films and the 15-chapter serial Miracle Rider. His movies were famous for quick action and daredevil stunts, and Tom and his horse Tony performed their own stunts. Mix was a superb athlete and kept himself in good physical condition. He pioneered many of the early movie stunts. No trick cameras or fake scenes were used because of the limited shooting budgets.
Misinformation and lore seem to abound about Tom Mix. Some of the stories were created as publicity for the studios, others Tom Mix spread himself, and from there, the stories multiplied until the truth became hard to find.
The Tom Mix Museum is an affiliate of the Oklahoma Historical Society, and is managed by Tom Mix Museum, Inc. To learn more, visit tommixmuseum.com.
Explore More
Read about Tom Mix in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
View film footage featuring Tom Mix on YouTube
Tom Mix rides a Henderson motorcycle in the 1919 film Hell Roarin’ Reform (77.97.307.13, Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection, OHS).
