By Helen Stephenson
The Western. An iconic film genre focusing on a relatively short era of American history that inspires big stories.
The earliest known Western is a British short from 1899. But Fenin and Everson’s book The Western: From Silents to Cinerama states that it was Edwin S. Porter’s film, The Great Train Robbery, that’s credited with setting “the pattern—of crime, pursuit, and retribution—for the Western film as a genre.” Bronco Billy Anderson, the film’s lead, is considered to be the first Western “star.” He was quickly followed by the inimitable Tom Mix. The Arizona Republic stated in an October 13, 1940 retrospective: “The mighty Mix established the horse opera as the movie’s premier form of entertainment.”
Prescott played an important role in the career of Tom Mix. In 1913 Mix signed with the Selig Polyscope Company and began producing, writing and starring in silent Westerns. He brought his family to Prescott that same year. Most films were shot in 3–4 days, with the cast and some crew frequently lodged at the Hotel Vendome and the Hotel St. Michael in downtown Prescott.
Mix also filmed in Granite Dells, where the dramatic closing scene of Hello Cheyenne! (1928) was filmed. According to a contemporary report in the Prescott Evening Courier, Mix welcomed local spectators to observe filming—so long as they remained out of the shot.
According to the June/July 2020 issue of the magazine Morgan Horse, Tom Mix’s horse, Tony the Wonder Horse, was also very popular and received his own fan mail. Mix once rode Tony onto the stage of the Elks Theatre, which would become one of Mix’s favorite places, as recounted by projectionist Charlie Kendall in a 1980 interview with local writer Matt Dodge. Kendall recalled Mix asking him to re-screen takes during post-shoot evenings, once tipping him $50 “just for rerunning a clip.” Mix was said to be earning $17,000 per week at the time.
In 1976 the New York Times interviewed Tom Mix’s stand-in, Karl Holl. He shared that the pay scale was $7.50 a day for an extra, $12.50 for playing a rider who fell off a horse—sometimes five or six times a day—and $25 as Mix's double.
During his career, Mix starred in at least 270 films, most of them silent. He was renowned for performing his own stunts, which earned him a reported 150 stitches and 33 broken bones over his lifetime.
According to the Oct 14, 1919 issue of the Prescott Journal Miner “When it comes to entertaining an audience there is no man in the west more capable than Tom Mix.” In 1913 he entered Prescott’s Frontier Days Rodeo, competing in events such as steer riding and bulldogging. According to The Arizona Journal Miner, he returned to Prescott multiple times over the years, even appearing in the Northern Arizona State Fair Parade.
Ironically, Tom Mix died in Arizona. On October 12, 1940, while driving his 1937 Cord automobile north of Florence, a suitcase slid from the backseat and caused Mix to swerve and crash into a wash. He was killed instantly. At his funeral, fellow entertainer Rudy Vallee sang “Empty Saddles” over the coffin—a poignant farewell to the cowboy who had defined an era.
Prescott Film Festival will bring Tom Mix back to the Elks when they present his film Sky High (1922) on July 20th at the Elks Theatre & Performing Arts Center. The film was shot in the Grand Canyon and will be presented with live musical accompaniment by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. A catered reception will follow in the Crystal Hall, with cuisine provided by Barry Barbe/El Gato Azul/Torme. Tickets are available at YCPAC.com.
“Days Past” is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). This and other Days Past articles are also available at www.sharlothallmuseum.org/library-archives/days-past. The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles to dayspastshmcourier@gmail.com. Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. 14, or via email at dayspastshmcourier@gmail.com for information.