The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc.

Above, Art Mix wearing his customary, and easily recognizable, hat.

(Courtesy of Ed Tabor)

Art Mix (George Kesterson) was another of the familiar B western performers --- he starred in a few films and then slipped into supporting roles and bit parts, and most often played a henchie/gang member, townsman, barfly, et al.  Les Adams adds that Mix was often higher on the henchie list, performing some action that set him apart from just being the third, fourth and fifth man on the gang's henchie pecking order.

Don't confuse this George Kesterson (1896-1972) version of "Art Mix" with the Art Mix personna of ultra low budget film creator Victor Adamson, aka Denver Dixon, aka as Art Mix.

Before becoming a full-fledged sound western henchie, Mix/Kesterson was a range hero ... for a very brief time.  He starred in WEST OF THE ROCKIES (Davis, 1929), SAGEBRUSH POLITICS (Hollywood, 1930) and THE RAWHIDE TERROR (Security, 1934), and the last two were for Victor Adamson/Denver Dixon ... you know, the "other" Art Mix.  The arcade card above right shows a young, good lookin' Kesterson during those early sound days.  As best I can recall, there was a lawsuit --- or at least some legal wrangling --- between Adamson and Kesterson on the use of the "Art Mix" name ... and Kesterson was allowed to continue to use it ... which he did ... to his grave.

Les Adams has Mix identified in about 175 sound era films, of which 157 are westerns and 17 are chapterplays.

You may want to go to the In Search Of ... webpage on the Old Corral.  Then go to the link for the California Death Records at RootsWeb, and you'll find a record for: Art Mix, born 6/18/1896 in Illinois, and he passed away on 12/7/1972.  There is a corresponding record in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Mix/Kesterson.  Click HERE.

Jim Tipton's Find A Grave site has a photo of the marker for Kesterson at Forest Lawn - Glendale: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9997

The genealogy page on the Kesterson family includes info on our George Kesterson/Art Mix: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bandy/kestart.html

(Courtesy of Ed Tabor) Above from L-to-R are Roy Bucko, Al Bridge, Marion Weldon, Art Mix and Blackie Whiteford in a scene from DODGE CITY TRAIL (Columbia, 1936), which starred Charles Starrett. (Courtesy of Ed Phillips) Above is Art Mix in a scene with Charles Starrett from OUTLAWS OF THE PRAIRIE (Columbia, 1937). Above, Russ Hayden is about to mix it up in OVERLAND TO DEADWOOD (Columbia, 1942), one of the Charles Starrett series in which Hayden played the second lead.  Art Mix is on the far right, standing (and wearing that easily recognizable hat).