DUBOIS – In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the death of Tom Mix, the DuBois Area Historical Society will present “Tom Mix Remembered” at its 33rd annual dinner on Sept. 17. The evening begins at 6 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Sunflower Drive, DuBois.
Reservations for the dinner are due by Sept. 9. Dinner, provided by Catering by Paulette, is $18 and includes: chicken parmesan, ham, penne pasta/sauce, redskin potatoes, green beans almondine, salad, rolls and dessert.
Send reservations and checks made payable to DuBois Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 401, DuBois, PA 15801, telephone 814-371-9006. It is not necessary to be a member to attend.
Todd Thompson, DuBois Area Historical Society historian, will present the program about Tom Mix. It will include a PowerPoint presentation and the showing of one of Mix’s movies, “An Arizona Wooing” filmed 100 years ago in 1915.
“Tom Mix was one of the most famous actors of the silent movie era,” said Thompson. “His fame was revived in DuBois during the many years that the city hosted the National Tom Mix Festival. Today there are many people living in the area who don’t know about Tom Mix. The historical society feels that it is appropriate at this time to re-introduce this prominent resident to a new generation.”
Silent movie idol Tom Mix was born in 1880 in Mix Run in Cameron County and came to DuBois along with his family when Mix’s father, Edwin, gained employment as a teamster for John E. DuBois. Young Mix learned about horses, roping, and shooting during his time in DuBois; skills he put to good use when he became the highest paid star in Hollywood.
Mix moved west in 1902 where he held various ranch jobs, served as a peace officer and after developing his own act a performer in the Miller Brothers’ 101 Real Wild West Show. When Selig Polyscope Company came to film some acts from the wild west show, the company discovered Mix’s showmanship and his movie career was underway. Before it was over Mix would appear in 306 films, direct 109, and write screenplays for 17 movies. Among many other activities he also toured with his own wild west show.
Tom Mix died in an Arizona car accident on Oct. 12, 1940. He lived on through a radio program that continued until 1949. DuBois hosted the National Tom Mix Festival from 1980-89 and again in 1999.
In addition to the program, the DuBois Area Historical Society will present the “Champion of History Award” to the Paul and Dorothy Reitz Charitable Foundation.
Election of officers and board members will also take place that evening.