# 4447 - 2010 44c Cowboys of the Silver Screen - Tom Mix

Issue Date: April 17, 2010
City: Oklahoma City, OK
Printing Method: Lithographed
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 10.5 x 10.75
Color: Multicolored

 

Tom Mix (1880-1940) was a true cowboy. Attracted to ranch life at a young age, Mix worked hard on his roping and riding skills, and by 1909 he was a national riding and rodeo champion.

 

Mix was a natural showman whose talents on horseback earned him a small part as a cattle wrangler in the movie Ranch Life in the Great Southwest. During filming, Mix talked the director into letting him do a bronco busting scene, and the rest is history.

 

In the 1920s, audiences wanted more action in Western films, and Mix gave it to them. Landing his first starring role in The Untamed, Mix and his horse Tony performed all their own stunts. His movies filled with cowboy shootouts and daredevil stunts, Mix became Hollywood’s first action hero. 

 

Mix was also the first Western star to make his horse a sidekick. Many of his films showcased the talents of the “Wonder Horse” Tony – making him the most popular horse in the world. Every week, Tony received thousands of cards and letters from children.

 

Wearing elaborate outfits, Mix thundered across the prairie in pursuit of the bad guys. For over two decades, Tom Mix had the most action-packed cowboy scenes on the silver screen.