The Life and Legend of Tom Mix

Dust jacket notes: "The illustrated story of the life of Tom Mix should prove to be an inspiration to boys and girls today as well as a fond memory to America's older generation. Certainly, no one could ever have guessed that a small boy from the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania would one day become America's most famous cowboy. The first half of The Life and Legend of Tom Mix tells of the first thirty years of his life - the years before fame and fortune, years of character development and struggle. These are the years that biographers tend to skip over, and yet these are the years that provide the greatest understanding of the man a nation grew to love. Tom Mix was different as a boy, soldier, and Wild West Show performer. He was a dreamer and the criticism of parents, relatives and friends was never able to break his spirit. He faced up to life's challenges and the unknown and usually triumphed over them. But this is not the typical publicity or heroic 'Big Little Book' story of Tom Mix, because failures, heartaches and flops are discussed in equal detail. The second half of the book tells of the Tom Mix that most people think they knew. It covers the last thirty years of the cowboy actor's life - the years of great fame and fortune, the years when he became a legend in his own time. These are also the years of age, when a man slows down and has time to reflect on his past. Tom Mix and Tony will always be remembered for their stunts on the silver screen. But Tom should also be remembered as a promoter of cowboy sports, the events which led to our present-day rodeo concept. Most people agree that the team of Tom Mix and Tony has never been equalled. The story of Tom Mix is more than just another biography of a famous man. It is a picture history - 125 rare photos have been included - and recorded western Americana. In these pages, you will discover a little more about the 'Old West,' Wild West Shows, Rodeos, Silent Pictures, the Circus and 'Talkies.'