The Amazing Tom Mix: The Most Famous Cowboy of the Movies (Paperback)

~ Richard D. Jensen (Author)
Key Phrases: hidden gold, buffalo chase, own wild west show, Tom Mix, Zack Miller, Fox Studios (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The most famous movie cowboy of the movies died violently in 1940 and is virtually forgotten today because all but ten of his films were silent movies.

Tom Mix was a town marshal and cowboy in the Oklahoma Territory, a rodeo champion and a wild west show performer. With his devil-may-care attitude, quick wit and penchant for doing breath-taking stunts on his wonder horse, Tony, Tom Mix went on to become the #1 movie cowboy of silent films, earning millions of dollars at a time when movie tickets cost pennies. Mix performed for over 71,000,000 fans through his film and live performances and became famous the world over for his squeaky clean image. In his time he was as famous as baseball great Babe Ruth and world champion boxer Jack Dempsey, both of whom were his friends.

While he basked in this incredible acclaim, Tom Mix lived in fear that his deep, dark secrets would be discovered and his career and his cherished image would be destroyed.

Celebrated author Richard D. Jensen has spent more than 30 years researching the life of Tom Mix, the man hailed as "the idol of every American boy."

With incredible detail, much of it gained from hundreds of original letters, records, documents and eyewitness accounts of Mix's life, The Amazing Tom Mix cuts through 100 years of public relations mythology, tall tales and outright lies to bring the true and inspiring story of a man whose Saturday matinee cowboy image would become the standard for all of the movie cowboys who rode the silver screen after him.

"Here is Tom Mix as he really was...a captivating biography ... brilliant ... delightful ... It is a splendid book."
—Richard S. Wheeler, five-time Spur Award winning author of Trouble In Tombstone.

"... the most complete biography of Mix's life of trials, tribulations and victories."
—John Duncklee, author of Bull By The Tale.

About the Author

Drawing on his life in the saddle and a wealth of other life experiences, Richard D. Jensen and his offbeat western novels have garnered legions of fans. His first book, Ride the Wild Trail, and his second book, When Curly Won A Cathouse, were instant hits with readers and critics alike. Tristeza, his third novel, was submitted for the Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author of the non-fiction book Trespass In Hazzard County: My Life As An Insider on the Dukes of Hazzard, a tell-all memoir of his life in Hollywood.

The Amazing Tom Mix: The Most Famous Cowboy of the Movies is the culmination of more than 30 years of research into the life of the most famous cowboy of the movies.

Jensen's latest novel, Lazarus, Man In Black #1: The Gates of Hell, is scheduled for release this fall.

Visit www.cowboynovels.com for more information about Richard D. Jensen and his books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (June 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595359493
• ISBN-13: 978-0595359493
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #634,816 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book about nearly forgotten hero, October 3, 2005

By	Don Francisco - See all my reviews

"The Amazing Tom Mix" reads like a novel but it's a biography, which to me made it all the more enjoyable. I only knew a little about Tom Mix but my parents remembered him, so I read it and then gave it to them to read. All of us agreed that the book was fascinating. There is so much detail in the book, but you don't get bogged down in it. It's just a great book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a book about Tom Mix that documents the truth!, July 7, 2005

By	Persian Cowgirl - See all my reviews

I loved this book and agree with these two reviews that were on the back cover:

"Here is Tom Mix as he really was ... captivating ... enchanting ... a splendid book."
- Richard S. Wheeler, five-time Spur Award winning author of "Trouble In Tombstone."

"...the most complete biography of Mix's life of trials, tribulations and victories."
- John Duncklee, author of "Bull By The Tale."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating and educational book, September 28, 2005

By	Book Sleuth "Book Sleuth" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This is one of the most thoroughly researched film biographies I have ever seen. This book relates the life story of Tom Mix, the silent movie star who dominated Hollywood in its early years. Jensen has provided extensive documentation of all the information contained in this work, including material from original sources stored in the back rooms of libraries and museums. Due to the research and reliance on original documents (personal letters, court records, etc.), there is a considerable amount of material contained in this book that has never been published before now. This book is a true tribute to Tom Mix, and will serve as the definitive biography of his life and career for many years to come.