Tom Mix was Hollywood’s first Western megastar in his big white hat and fancy outfits. With his horse Tony, Mix’s films were action-packed, and Mix usually did his own stunts. Millions of American children grew up watching Tom Mix movies on Saturday afternoons.

Olive Stokes Mix, with Eric Heath, writes in The Fabulous Tom Mix, “Production activities were carried on at a special studio lot covering twelve acres of ground near Edendale, California. This home of Tom’s Fox pictures was appropriately called Mixville. Tom was undisputed ‘King of Mixville,’ just as he was the king of the screen cowboys.

“With Fox he reached the apex of his screen career… Productions became more elaborate, although nothing was sacrificed to action. He knew that his fans wanted action above everything else–and that’s what he gave them. Every new picture came out with new stunts, each more dangerous than previous ones.

“Many of the interior scenes were made at Mixville. Almost everything pertaining to the Old West could be found tucked away somewhere in this unique little settlement; indeed, the vast lot was a miniature West in itself. There was a complete frontier town, with a dusty street, hitching rails, a saloon, Jail, bank, doctor’s office, surveyor’s office, and the simple frame houses typical of the early Western era. Only the signs on the buildings were changed from picture to picture, and some rearrangement of the furnishings.

“There was an Indian village with several lodges nestled in a flat piece of land at the rear of the lot. From the range of plaster-of-Paris mountains surrounding the village Tom led many a convincing attack on a tribe of warriors, the whole thing looking ferociously real when the picture reached the screen.

“There was a plot of simulated desert too, through which Tom and Tony wandered on many an occasion on their search for the ‘bad man’; for although Tom preferred actual locations, the Fox executives always held the budget over his head.

“Among other things at Maxwells there were a ranch house, sans any ceiling of course, a corral that would hold a hundred horses, and a great barnlike structure to hold props, such as saddles, uniforms, guns, and various items of furniture that conformed to the Old West tradition.”

Her arena pass identified her as a “participant,” and her photo was taken in her typical rodeo attire: a striped shirt, silk scarf and big hat. Inside the pass were coupons for admission for each day.

Goldie got her start as a cowgirl with the Miller Brothers’ famous traveling 101 Wild West show in 1912.

While touring with the Lucille Mulhall Girl Rangers, Goldie posed outside the Pantages Theater in Tacoma, Washington. The Wild West shows that Goldie toured with usually performed every day. They often took down the show, traveled overnight, and set up again the next morning. The performers then rode in a parade, and often did two shows before taking down the show again. The schedule was grueling, and Goldie said it was a small relief to play a couple nights in a row with the Girl Rangers.

One of the tricks Goldie perfected while touring with Wild West shows was Roman riding–standing on the backs of two horses as they galloped around the arena. Goldie and her first husband often rode in Roman Standing races in Wild Wests, and she and her second husband competed in Roman Standing races and trick riding competitions in rodeos around the country.

Lucille Mulhall was America’s first cowgirl—President Teddy Roosevelt suggested to Lucille’s father that he promote his young daughter as a “cow-girl,” and the name stuck. Lucille was one of the few women who roped steers, competing with the men, and often beating them. She was as famous as today’s rock stars. She often left the Wild West and rodeo circuit to star in vaudeville shows, and she eventually started her own show. When the vaudeville circuit wasn’t paying enough money, Lucille left the show for a while, and Goldie took her place, riding a bucking bronco on stage.

Goldie signed this photo: “Goldie, Lucille Mulhall’s Co.”

Former owner of Nederland’s Mountain-Ear newspaper Kay Turnbaugh explores the life of little-known Western performer and entrepreneur Goldie Griffith, who is now buried in Boulder’s Green Mountain Cemetery. It’s frankly surprising that Griffith is not better known — she was a boxer, fencer and wrestler who took up bronc-busting and who was “given away” in marriage by none other than Buffalo Bill Cody at Madison Square Garden. Turnbaugh’s journalistic background serves her well in this lively, history-packed volume.

Read more: The local bookshelf: eight books by local authors – Boulder Daily Camerahttp://www.dailycamera.com/ci_14984429?source=most_emailed#ixzz0nSP9VMCF

Pretty cool.

The event was a celebration of the opening of the bookstore’s new wine and tea bar, and they even had special wine with Last Wild West Cowgirls labels.

Nancy gave away a CD and I gave away a book to the cowgirl with the best hat and to the cowgirl with the best boots. Dan Moroz graciously consented to be our judge for audience applause.

Thank you to Karen and her wonderful staff for a very special day!