After concluding his work on THE MIRACLE RIDER, Mix returned to his circus.
But times were tough ... and would become more difficult. There were tornadoes, circus animals became ill and/or died, performers were injured ... and never-ending expenses associated with bankrolling a traveling show. For example, in July, 1934, the circus was working a night performance in Jacksonville, Missouri when a tornado struck nearby, damaging some of the tents. In late 1935, Mix broke his leg in a horse fall during a performance. And in May, 1936, there was significant damage to the tents as well as injuries when a dust storm and high winds hit the show during a play date in Burley, Idaho.
As to Nat Levine and Mascot - THE MIRACLE RIDER was preceded by THE PHANTOM EMPIRE with Gene Autry. After completing the Mix cliffhanger, Mascot would create two more serials, THE ADVENTURES OF REX AND RINTY (1935) followed by THE FIGHTING MARINES (1935). Then Nat Levine - along with Autry, Levine's production facility, and many of the Mascot alumni - became part of the new Republic Pictures organization. THE FIGHTING MARINES was released through Republic's exchanges in late 1935.
For about a year and a half, Levine was the production boss on Republic's westerns and serials. But he was forced out and bought out of his stake in Republic, and in August, 1937, he was on MGM's payroll as a producer. But his time there was brief and Levine found himself out of the movie making business.
Nat wasn't the only one to exit during Republic's early years. W. Ray Johnston also left Republic and resurrected the Monogram Pictures company. And Trem Carr - along with John Wayne and producer Paul Malvern - went over to Universal Pictures and turned out some non-western features starring Wayne.
 (Courtesy of Donn & Nancy Moyer and the Jeannie Blair collection) Above and below, the Mix Circus at an unknown location in 1937. The photos do provide a good perspective on the size of the tents as well as the quantity of trucks and trailers. Note that the Mix circus was motorized - meaning trucks and trailers, not railroad cars.  (Courtesy of Donn & Nancy Moyer and the Jeannie Blair collection) |