The Iron Horse -- November 26, 2024

New York Daily News, 09-November-1924

The great success of Paramount's The Covered Wagon inspired Fox to make their own western epic. John Ford directed The Iron Horse, which told the story of the building of the transcontinental railroad. I find it a much better film than The Covered Wagon. 

Buck Jones -- Hero of the Cowboys! -- August 9, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 02-August-1924

The Fox Film Corporation was celebrating its 21st anniversary with a series of elaborate trade ads.

Fox needed a western star to back up Tom Mix. Buck Jones made a long series of movies for Fox. Fox tried to change his billing to Charles Jones. They seem to have given up around this time.

Alaska Daily Empire, 16-August-1924

The Lights of New York was not related to the 1928 Warner Brothers' movie, of the same name, which was their first feature length all-talking film. 

Bells of San Juan was a 1922 movie directed by Scott Dunlap.

Alaska Daily Empire, 16-August-1924

Exhibitors Herald, 02-August-1924

Tom Mix and Buck Jones on the same page.

 

Exhibitors Herald, 02-August-1924

Tom Mix Starts Work on Fiftieth Picture -- June 19, 2024

Exhibitors Herald, 07-June-1924

The article is a mite confusing. If I counted correctly, The Heart Buster was Tom's fifty-first starring feature for Fox. Before that, he appeared in shorts for Fox and a long series of shorts and a few features for the Selig Polyscope company.

Exhibitors Herald, 21-June-1924

Tom played a flying forest ranger in Eyes of the Forest, which was directed by Lambert Hillyer. Cupid's Round-up was Tom's first feature film for Fox, released in 1918. Edward LeSaint directed. Fox must have rereleased the movie. 

Davenport Daily Times, 28-June-1924

"When Tom Mix leaps from a horse to an airplane, you'll leap right out of your seat."

Davenport Daily Times, 28-June-1924

Tom in his aviator togs. 

Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 28-June-1924

I like the wolf in this ad for North of Hudson Bay. John Ford directed. 

Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, 28-June-1924

Great Falls Tribune, 15-June-1924

"You've Seen -- TOM MIX -- in Trouble -- in Misery -- in Hot Water -- in Happiness. NOW SEE 'TOM MIX IN ARABIA'"

Photoplay, June, 1924

Exhibitors Herald, 14-June-1924

I was surprised to learn that Napier, New Zealand had a Mardi Gras carnival. Tom's hat wrote on a float in the parade. 

Exhibitors Herald, 14-June-1924

Tom Mix and heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey were major celebrities. Jack was in Hollywood to appear in a series of short films. 

Buck Jones -- The Sheik of the Cow Country -- April 10, 2024

Photoplay, April, 1924

The Fox Film Corporation needed a western star to back up Tom Mix. Buck Jones made a long series of movies for Fox. I imagine they tried to change his name to Charles to allow him to move into other movie genres. This item is the first sign I have seen that Fox was giving up on the name change. I find his smile in this photo a little disconcerting. 

Motion Picture News, 05-April-1924

The Vagabond Trail, co-starring Marian Nixon, was directed by Wild Bill Wellman. 

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Buck's next film, The Circus Cowboy, gave him the chance to invite children to serve as extras in the audience. "Several thousand of the youngsters are said to have responded."

Motion Picture News, 05-April-1924

As with The Vagabond Trail, The Circus Cowboy co-starred Marian Nixon, and was directed by Wild Bill Wellman.

Motion Picture News, 19-April-1924

Speaking of circuses, this item claims that Buck was a "featured rider in the Wild West Show of the Ringling Brothers' Circus -- back in 1915." He and his wife were in a wild west show in 1915, but I don't know if it was part of the Ringling Brothers' Circus.

Vagabond Trail Next for Buck Jones -- February 21, 2024

Motion Picture News, 09-February-1924

The Fox Film Corporation needed a western star to back up Tom Mix. Buck Jones made a long series of movies for Fox. I imagine they tried to change his name to Charles to allow him to move into other movie genres. Marian Nixon co-starred in Vagabond Trail and Wild Bill Wellman directed. 

Charles Jones in His Latest Picture -- December 10, 2023

Casper Daily Tribune, 28-December-1923

The Fox Film Corporation needed a western star to back up Tom Mix. Buck Jones made a long series of movies for Fox. I imagine they tried to change his name to Charles to allow him to move into other movie genres. 

 Wild Bill Wellman directed Cupid's Fireman.

The extra added attraction at Casper's America Theater, "Brownlee's Hickville Follies" must have been a hillbilly music show. Roy Brownlee led the Hickville Seven Jazz Band. 

Hell's Hole, showing at the Iris Theater, was another Buck Jones film, directed by Emmett J Flynn.  

Buck Jones -- Cupid's Fireman -- November 10, 2023

Motion Picture News, 03-November-1922

Fox was still trying to change his billing from "Buck" to "Charles."

Motion Picture News, 03-November-1922

Cupid's Fireman is an interesting title. 

Buck's leading lady in both movies was Marian Nixon. Wild Bill Wellman directed both.

Tom Mix -- Thrills -- Heart Breaks -- Suspense -- Scenic Beauty -- November 9, 2023

Motion Picture News, 17-November-1922

I like the use of orange in this trade ad for North of Hudson Bay. John Ford directed. 

Film Daily, 07-November-1923

Single Shot Parker was a reissue of a 1917 Selig film, The Heart of Texas Ryan. EA Martin directed.

Buck Jones -- Big Dan -- October 15, 2023

Motion Picture News, 06-October-1923

Fox was still trying to change his billing from "Buck" to "Charles." That is a remarkable picture. 

Cine-Mundial, October, 1923

Buck Jones -- When the Flame Goes Out We Are Doomed! -- September 12, 2023

Motion Picture News, 22-September-1923

I love this poster for Hell's Hole, which shows Lefty Flynn, Ruth Clifford and Buck in various states of distress. Emmett J Flynn directed. Fox was still billing Buck as Charles. 

Motion Picture News, 22-September-1923

Motion Picture News, 08-September-1923

"Eleven hours of thrills in an hour and a half of entertainment." Bernard J Durning directed The Eleventh Hour.

Motion Picture News, 08-September-1923

Wild Bill Wellman directed Big Dan. 

Film Daily, 14-September-1923

This item said that Fox might not renew Buck's contract, but I think they did. 

Tom Mix -- Hail the Stunt King in a Comedy Riot! -- September 11, 2013

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

Soft Boiled looks like fun. Tom Mix played a nerd. I like his disarrayed glasses. The film may still survive. The leading lady was Billie Dove. John G Blystone directed.

Birmingham Age-Herald, 09-September-1923

I like the lettering in this ad for Stepping Fast, especially for the "Loew's Bijou" at the top. 

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

In The Lone Star Ranger, based on the novel by Zane Grey, Tom Mix plays Buck Duane who gets a lot of grief because his father was a bandit. Later he becomes a Texas Ranger.

Moving Picture World, 28-June-1919

William Farnum starred in a 1919 version for Fox.

Screenland, April, 1930

George O'Brien starred in a talkie version in 1930. 

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

Max Brand's novel Gun Gentlemen (not Gentleman) was to be made under the title The Flyin' Fool. It was released as Mile-a-Minute Romeo. 

Motion Picture News, 01-September-1923

Lambert Hillyer directed.

Motion Picture News, 08-September-1923

Tom Mix loved fast vehicles. He won a motorboat race against Dustin Farnum at Santa Barbara. 

Film Daily, 10-September-1923

Tom was a fight fan and a friend of heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey. Mix took an entourage to New York to see the Dempsey-Firpo fight. 

Motion Picture News, 22-September-1923

Tom Mix -- Comedy Surprises That Will Make Your Box Office Laugh -- August 12, 2023

Motion Picture News, 25-August-1923

I like the laughing box office. 

Motion Picture News, 18-August-1923

"You'll take a plunge into a golden pool/When you play Tom Mix in his first comedy special." 

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

"Part of the William Fox 1923-1924 Prosperity Guarantee."

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

"'Tony' the wonder horse is again prominent in support of the star."

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923

The Lone Star Ranger was the first of three movies that Tom and Tony appeared in that were based on Zane Grey stories:

http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/2021/06/zane-grey-week-tom-mix-takes-over-june.html

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Motion Picture News, 11-August-1923

Motion Picture News, 18-August-1923

Fox announced that Tom's next, The Gun Gentleman would be called The Flyin' Fool. It would finally be released as Mile-a-Minute Romeo.

Motion Picture Magazine, August, 1923

Tom Mix and his fourth wife, Victoria Forde, pose with their daughter Thomasina.

Motion Picture News, 04-August-1923