Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Thomasina Mix (Tom's daughter)


Yes, you're absolutely right, Tom's namesake daughter never appeared in a feature film. At least as an adult. But, apparently, it wasn't for the lack of trying. The birth in 1922 of Thomasina Mix to Tom and his then-wife Victoria Forde; the subsequent custody battle over the little girl; her inheriting her father when he so tragically died in a car accident in Arizona; well, all that is thoroughly discussed elsewhere and in more detail than I can provide. But recently I came across a little tidbit that may interest fans of Tom and/or B-Westerns in general. In 1946, the photo seen above was published in that year's edition of the Academy Players Directory, the industry casting guide, and in the category of "Leading Women," no less. Proof positive that Thomasina wished to follow in her late father's footsteps.

But there is actually more proof, albeit of a more negative kind. Also in 1946, in March to be more precise, in his suit for divorce, Thomasina's husband, Bernard J. Mattthews, alleged that "Thomasina Victoria Mix is more interested in a film career than she is in caring for her four children." This in response to Thomasina's counter suit "for separate maintenance on allegations of cruelty."

She was granted a divorce but, alas, no film work seems to have come her way.

32 comments:

  1. That's interesting, as it goes against my own knowledge of her, as my best friend for many years, during which she showed great interest and pride in her now-adult children, and zero interest in the movie business, or even the media. I guess people change in time.

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    1. John ,what was your association with Thomasina ...She has lived in New Zealand for the past 30 years(now 90) travelling back generally to San Francisco annually to see her grandchildren and adopted daughter ....It is unlikely she will come again as her eyesight is failing.

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    2. Does anyone know about the whereabouts of the portrait that Albert Victor Ballin painted in 1925 of Thomasina Mix, age 3, decked out in full English riding kit with sombrero? It's reproduced in the "Silent Worker," viewable online (http://dspace.wrlc.org/view/ImgViewer?img=30&url=http://dspace.wrlc.org/doc/manifest/2041/39717). I'd love to obtain a good high-resolution image of that poignant portrait for a retrospective of Ballin's work.

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    3. Sorry I didn't see the reply earlier... or know the state of her health. Sorry to learn that.
      Is that Gordon? I knew Thomasina as Tommy Gunn - married to Gordon Gunn. That was through the 70s. We did a lot together - a local newspaper, community shop and so on.
      All my best to her. She is a very fine lady.

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    4. Hi John, thanks for your post. Tommy would love that, and id love to hear stories. A relitive

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    5. Hi John, thanks for your post. Tommy would love that, and id love to hear stories. A relitive

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  2. I'm sure your experience with Ms. Mix reflects the true woman. She probably never was that keen on following in her parents' footsteps. I can easily imagine it being a case of noblesse oblige for the young Thomasina. And should we really believe entirely what is stated in a divorce suit?

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  3. Her father, Tim Mix, was killed in Arizona, not Oklahoma.

    http://www3.gendisasters.com/arizona/1944/florence%2C-az-tom-mix-dies-auto-crash%2C-oct-1940

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  4. James EMc, you're absolutely right and I have corrected the mistake. I don't know quite how I could have made this particular error; I even visited the site once. Shame on me!

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  5. Does anyone have the contact information for Thomasina Mix. She was married (briefly) to my uncle, Lt. Col. John Andre. I met her briefly when I was a child, and would like to say hello. Thanks.
    John Andre
    Hamilton, MT

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    1. Hi John, tommy has strong memories of your uncle. I have some photos to share. Email me. Filmbuff@proscrito.com

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  6. Tomasina Gunn nee Mix is living in Auckland NZ, aged 93 she is an incredible woman, starting a NZ political party in the 80's which is now the Green Party and 3rd largest political movement in NZ, she opened the first woman's refuge and was active in her community, a real libertine and with an intellectually sharp mind even into her 90's and with failing eye sight, john@shoshonewilderness.com i will pass on your email address to her.

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    1. Hi my name is krissy.. would you possibly be able to pass on my email address to her please. I am her granddaughter and would like to get the chance to introduce her to her great grandkids. I have grown alot since we last spoke.

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    2. Hi my name is krissy.. would you possibly be able to pass on my email address to her please. I am her granddaughter and would like to get the chance to introduce her to her great grandkids. I have grown alot since we last spoke.

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    3. Hi krissy,tommy not over past breaches of trust. Sorry. Maybe give it a few years.

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    4. Hi. We are looking for descendants of Tom Mix. We will be inducting Mr. Mix posthumously into the Inaugural Group to be inducted into the Arizona Film & Media Hall of Fame in October of this year and would like to invite a family member to attend.

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    5. I wish i could get p7ctures if my aunt and uncle, as i am their relative. My father wad gordons older btother.

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  7. I may have found a photo of her and Victoria on toms yacht the miss mixet 1928-1930 are there any sites that show early photos ? shatch@mail.com

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  8. Hi my name is krissy lee gunn. I am thomasinas granddaughter. We live in newzealand. Would love the chance to get to know anyone that had something to do with my family from tom mixs side also thomasina mix gunn.. we recently lost our grandfather and am wanting to get to know the rest of my family.. please email me.. krissylee2626@gmail.com

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  9. Hi my name is krissy lee gunn. I am thomasinas granddaughter. We live in newzealand. Would love the chance to get to know anyone that had something to do with my family from tom mixs side also thomasina mix gunn.. we recently lost our grandfather and am wanting to get to know the rest of my family.. please email me.. krissylee2626@gmail.com

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    1. Tom Mix Museum, tommix@cableone.net, tommixmuseum.com. 9185341555. would like to hear from you.

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. I am related to Tom mix :)

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    1. Oh wow are you!!! Please feel free to email me would love to hear some stories or even get to know more about how you are related, how we might be related and so on

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  12. i visited Tommy in Tauranga New Zealand just before Christmas,she spoke about moving there or the Bay of Islands after new year i am Tommy's grandson from Boston

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    1. Hi Kim
      Are you Gussey's daughter? Last time I spoke to Tommy her daughter was living in San Francisco.
      Strawberry Villa, a refuge for distressed mothers and the Devonport Co Op largely owed their existence to Gordon and Tommy.

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    2. Hi Don, not sure, but hope it is you. I was very sorry to hear of Max. I have strong memories. So sorry very for your loss. Best to all. Thank you for your post. I'll read it to Tommy. She will be glad to think of you.
      G

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    3. Hi. We are looking for descendants of Tom Mix. We will be inducting Mr. Mix posthumously into the Inaugural Group to be inducted into the Arizona Film & Media Hall of Fame in October of this year and would like to invite a family member to attend.

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  13. I met Thomasina once in the mid 90s, I was friends with her grandson and partner. It was the first time I'd see a composting toilet lol!

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  14. I met Thomasina once in the mid 90s, I was friends with her grandson and partner. It was the first time I'd see a composting toilet lol!

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  15. This is very interesting to read about the fascinating Thomasina Mix. We have a family story that Tom Mix was in a parade or a movie opening in Ossining New York in the early 1920s, when he saw a pretty little girl in the crowd, and asked her name. Thomasina, she told him. That little girl was my aunt. We like to think that's where he got the idea for his Thomasina!

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