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Tom Mix Part of Mulhall Era
The late cowboy movie star, Tom Mix, was a part of the early Guthrie scene and the Mulhall Ranch, according to Guthrie author Col. Bailey Hanes who just finished a book on the life of Mix.
Mix first came to Guthrie in 1903 where he worked in a gambling establishment which was located in the upstairs building at Oklahoma and First street. (The building now houses Margaret's Dress Shop.) He later was a bartender in the saloon which was in the downstairs portion of the building.
Mix later was a bartender at the Royal Hotel Bar and then went to work as a bartender for the Blue Bell Saloon which was on the northeast corner of Second and harrison streets.
While in Guthrie, Mix operated a gymnasium in the basement of the Carnegie Library. He was coach and played on the town football team and was drum major of the Guthrie militia band.
In 1905, Mix went to Oklahoma city where he was employed by a Mr. Perrin. Perrin operated a livery stable there and Mix was a horseshoer. He still returned to Guthrie and the Mulhall Ranch frequently.
Col. Zack Mulhall first met Mix when he was a bartender in Oklahoma City. Mulhall was impressed with Mix in the stories he told, his athletic prowess and interest in horses and cowboying.
Mulhall invited Mix to the ranch and Mix became a frequent visitor and struck up a fast friendship with Charley Mulhall, Col. Zack's son. Mix played some engagements with the Mulhall Ranch Show, but was to gain more fame later in the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch Show and the movies.
During the course of a drinking party at the ranch one night, Mix and Charley robbed the Mulhall Santa Fe agent. Railroad detectives were called and they went to the ranch where they found Mix and Charley asleep. In Mix's hat near his bed, was the loot taken in the robbery. The robbery was more a result of just orneriness rather than need, so with the loot recovered and Col. Zack's influence with the railroad there was no call for prosecution and the incident was forgotten.
Mix later became a regular feature with the famed Miller brothers 101 Ranch show and traveled all over the world. Then came the big chance in Hollywood where he became a top box office attraction as a cowboy star in silent movies.
After the demise of the Mulhall Ranch Show and financial troubles which left Col. Zack near bankrupt, Mix influenced Charley to come to Hollywood and Charley was a stunt man for several years in cowboy movies.
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