Tom Mix was a real Oklahoma cowboy who ended up in hollywood pictures. Above is the famous picture of him jumping Beale's Cut. Supposedly, impossible. the myth is that he did it, but several stunt men have taken credit, and there is some question if the picture is a composite or fake. My read: Mix was a stunt man himself, he jumped it, the picture might be touched up because of the poor focus, but its him and its real. I dont doubt other stunt men jumped it. Only Mix would be a "ham" enough to wave while jumping. The cut isnt all that wide, i mean it is wide, but the horse is proportionate to the actual cut. so the picture is "real." or as real as pictures were in the 1920's before photoshoot.
below is the type of car, a a1937 cord phaeton, in which he was killed. supposedly, he was driving 80 miles an hour over a road with the bridge out, he swerved, went over the edge, was killed when his metal suitcase hit the back of his head. what a way to go. 80 miles an hour in a Cord, at night, over a collapsed bridge. maybe if he was on his horse he would have made it.
The Tom Mix Museum in Dewey Oklahoma. I was there once with my sons, a former grad student was city manager there. Small town, nice museum. the only thing that ever happened in Dewey, other than some oil wells. and steers.
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