TOM MIX: Western movie star Tom Mix was a native of Cameron County, from a town called Mix Run in Gibson Township who starred in films from the years 1909 to 1935, and later opened a world renowned circus.

The Tom Mix Circus was the successor to a circus called the John Robinson Sells Floto Circus. Mix started his circus career as a featured act in the John Robinson Sells Floto Circus. In its third season, Mix’s circus was considered to be the largest independent circus in the world.

According to advertisements for the circus there were more than 200 famous circus acts/ performers. Famous acts included: the Aerial Daltons, with daring Ray Goody dancing marvel of the high wire; Max Gruber, animal trainer from Germany; Erma Ward, internationally proclaimed ‘Queen of the Air’; the Arley family of equilibrists; the Hanneford family of bare-backed riders; the Royalle military elephants; the Clifford family of tumblers and scores of other daring features.

Before the circus acts performed guests of the Mix circus were able to visit the zoological exhibition which housed one of the world’s largest traveling zoos and had more than 1,000 animals on exhibit.

In an article entitled, “Tom Mix Show Please Here,” from the Monday, June 28, 1937 edition of The Era, Mix’s circus was reviewed after its appearance on Seaward Avenue in Bradford.

“The performers throughout were well-costumed and well trained and kept the show moving at a rapid pace… Every act on the program pleased but it was Tom Mix himself that made the biggest hit with circus fans. The famous screen western star received a great ovation at both performances as he led his performers around the hippodrome track in the opening spectacle.”