John Hartford Hoxie was born January 11, 1885 in Kingfisher Creek, Oklahoma Territory, his father Joseph Bart (Doc) Hoxie was a veterinarian, his mother Matilda E. Quick was a Nez Perce Native American. Jack's father died in a horse accident just days before Jack's birth.
Beginning the late 1920s, (just after sound film came along), western movie actors began touring with and even owning American Circuses, Tom Mix, Ken Maynard, Hoot Gibson and Tim McCoy to name a few. The Hollywood western star Jack Hoxie was with more circuses and for a longer period of time than any other actor.
Before becoming an actor Hoxie had competed in rodeos, won the National Riding Championship in 1914, and performed on Dick Stanley's Wild West show.
Hoxie's circus career began in 1929 with the Miller Bros. 101 Ranch Wild West Show. In 1931 Jack was with the Schell Bros. Circus and in 1933 and 1934 the Dowine Bros. Circus. In 1935 he performed with the Harley Stadler show and in 1936 he returned to Downie.
In 1937 showman Cy Newton persuaded Hoxie to invest in a new circus he was taking out. The title of the show was the Jack Hoxie Circus. The circus opened with all new equipment, had custom made trailers and was brightly painted. Although the circus was small for it's time, the show made a very attractive appearance on the showgrounds.
For unknown reasons Newton left the circus in July and the show closed for a time. Jack Hoxie brought in R.M. Harvey and the show reopened in Late July, only to close again in September, this time for good.
After the close of the circus Jack continue to be a feature attraction on circuses, in 1938 he was back with Downie Bros., in 1939 with the Lewis Bros., 1940 Bud Anderson's show, in 1946 and 1947 Jack was with the Mills Brothers Circus. Hoxie's final appearances with circus was with the Bill Tatum Circus in 1959.
Jack Hoxie died of complications from leukemia on March 28, 1965 in Elkhart, Kansas, he was 80 years old. |
