Actor
Arkansas Tom was an actor from the silent film era who appeared in the 1915 western 'Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws.' His career appears to have been extremely brief, with only this single known film credit to his name. Like many actors of this period, he was likely hired as a local talent or bit player for this specific production. The film itself was a short western directed by Bennet Grange and produced by the Bison Motion Picture Company, which was known for producing numerous western shorts during this era. Given that his entire known filmography consists of just one year (1915), it's probable that he was either a stage performer who briefly ventured into film, or someone who had a very limited acting career. Unfortunately, detailed records for minor actors from this period are often incomplete, making it difficult to trace his full career trajectory or personal background.
Arkansas Tom represents the countless anonymous actors who populated early American cinema, particularly in the western genre. His brief appearance in 'Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws' exemplifies how early film productions often relied on local talent or bit players to fill supporting roles. While he did not achieve lasting fame, performers like him were essential to the production of the hundreds of short films that defined early American cinema, particularly in the western genre that was immensely popular during the 1910s.
The legacy of Arkansas Tom is primarily as a representative example of the transient nature of early film acting careers. His single known film appearance serves as a reminder of the thousands of performers who contributed to the birth of American cinema but whose names and stories have been lost to time. His brief career highlights the challenges of film preservation and historical documentation for minor players from the silent era.
Given his extremely limited filmography, Arkansas Tom did not have a significant influence on subsequent actors or filmmakers. However, like many early western actors, he contributed to the establishment of genre conventions and character archetypes that would influence western cinema for decades to come.
Very little is known about the personal life of Arkansas Tom, which is typical for minor actors from the silent era who had brief careers. Given the limited documentation available, details about his family background, personal relationships, and life outside of his single film appearance remain unknown to film historians.
Arkansas Tom was an American actor from the silent film era who appeared in only one known film, 'Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws' in 1915. His career was extremely brief, typical of many minor actors who populated early American cinema productions.
Arkansas Tom is known only for his appearance in the 1915 western short 'Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws,' which appears to be his sole film credit. The film was directed by Bennet Grange and produced by Bison Motion Picture Company.
The birth and death dates of Arkansas Tom are unknown, which is common for minor actors from the silent era whose careers were brief and who did not achieve lasting fame. Historical records for such performers are often incomplete or lost to time.
Arkansas Tom did not receive any known awards or nominations during his brief acting career. The Academy Awards were not established until 1929, well after his only known film appearance in 1915.
Due to the limited documentation and the fact that only one of his films survives (if at all), there is no detailed information about Arkansas Tom's specific acting style or techniques. Like many actors of this period, he would have worked within the conventions of silent film performance.
1 film