The mighty atom was born a sickly child in a small village in poland. Please support the mighty atom documentary by steve greenstein, grandson of the mighty atom, joseph greenstein for more information and to donate click here labels. Joseph greenstein circus strongman the mighty atom. Greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20th century strongman. He broke the ropes breaking ropes and chains was part of his act, and not a trick save in the sense that it was a skill he had trained to perform, returned to town on foot, and recognized. Greenstein january 2, 1893 october 8, 1977, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20thcentury strongman. Along with performing and lecturing, joseph wrote several books. Eventually, greenstein was kidnapped at gun point by a small group of masked klansmen, tied, and left briefly alone. In 1893 in the village of suvalk, poland, joseph greenstein was born.
He was the mighty atom, able to break up to three chains, by expanding his chest. In fact gama credited isometrics with developing his near phenomenal strength. I could hardly believe that joseph the mighty atom greenstein was still alive. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man greenstein born with the name of yosselle was one of the strongmen from the turn of the 19th century. He could warp galvanized steel, defeat the elements with his bare hands. Curse of the scarab kevin macleod licensed under creative. That was the fate of joseph the mighty atom greenstein, an oldtime strongman, who could bend steel rods the way a clown twists up balloons. He simply lifted the car with one hand and put the tire on with the other. The great gama and isometrics have a strong connection. After all, jokes his grandson steven greenstein, the list of jewish superheroes is kind of low, in the documentary he made about his grandpa. The mighty atom is the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. He weighed only 4 pounds at birth, born prematurely with additional health issues which made doctors believe he wont live longer than a couple of hours. This photo of joseph greenstein, aka the mighty atom, was prominently displayed on the stage at york barbell during the york barbell hall of fame induction of the mighty atom. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
He weighs but 148 pounds and is only 5 feet 4 inches tall and yet he can drive a spike through ten layers of sheet metal and then through a twoinch plank. Steven greensteins film about his father, joseph greenstein documents the life of a man who started as a sickly tubercular child and wound up as a famous strongman performer who built a career out of amazing feats of physical strength as the mighty atom i have always been fascinated by sideshow performers and with collections like ripleys believe it or not. Against all odds, greenstein survived this ordeal, only to to contract tuberculosis at the age. Ed spielman presents an account of the life and feats of a vaudeville strongman, who bit through iron bars and crushed steel spikes with his hands during his performances. Greenstein, by ed spielman a conversation between gama and the atom takes place. The mighty atom s protege, slim the hammer man farman, who is discussed in detail in the book, is still actively performing, as well.
He could also keep airplanes from taking off with his hair attached to them, bite nails in half with his teeth, and resist the advances of the many strumpets who threw themselves at his feet during his reign as a leopardskinclad strongman. A single bullet, right between the eyes, from 30 feet away. The mighty atom by ed spielman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man greenstein born with the name of yosselle was one of the strongmen from the turn of the 19th. He was a premature baby, a sickly asthmatic child, and a unanimous candidate for an early grave, when a wrestler in a traveling circus took him on as his valet and disciple, and singlehandedly transformed. The mighty atom was only 5ft 5 and weighed about a 140 pounds yet he was one of the best strongmen of his day and when i say strong, i mean really. The mighty atom is an engagingly adoring film featuring lots of interviews with other greensteins josephs fellowstrongman sons that takes a lot of what joe did and said at face value. Please support the mighty atom documentary by steve. Publication date 1979 topics greenstein, joseph l, strong men.
Joseph greenstein the mighty atom some call him the the last great circus stongman but perhaps a more accurate title would simply be the greatest strongman. Greenstein was born to a jewish family in suwalki, poland, in 1893. Thus began the career of one of the greatest strongmen, in history. Yosselle leib greenstein was born in 1893, the son of a desperately poor rabbi in suvalk, poland. He was a modernday samson who could stop bullets and hold back roaring airplanes, a man who rose from the jewish ghettos of poland to become the most remarkable strongman of the century. Joseph greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a strongman from poland born in 1893. Something brought to light in a conversation with another spectacular strongman the mighty atom. As a child i grew up watching and listening to the mighty atom at the allentown fair and also at zerns farmers market. Harry houdini was one of the passengers in a car that had a flat near joes station.
The mighty atom tells the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. We have new and used copies available, in 1 editions. More than once during his childhood doctors were certain he would not survive, but he managed to make it through. He was a premature baby, a sickly asthmatic child, and a unanimous candidate for an early grave, when a wrestler in a traveling circus took him on as his valet and disciple, and singiehandedly transformed. Greenstein was born three months premature on july 15, 1893 in suvalk poland into the poorest family in town. In the fantastic book the mighty atom, the spiritual journey of joseph l. With andrew james bleidner, joseph greenstein, christian rider, paul vivona. Greenstein changed the tire without benefit of a jack.
Strongmen who knew the value of deep breathing one radio. He performs many of his famous fathers legendary strongman feats. The mighty atom feature film in development joe greenstein. The groups manager was so impressed, he signed greenstein as a client and booked him on tour as wait for it the mighty. The film tells the story of joseph greenstein, a polishborn jew who grew from a sickly child with tuberculosis, supposedly doomed to an early death, into one of the greatest strongmen to ever. February 22, 1943 the mighty atom today in history. I believe the mighty atom s son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right. Greenstein biography of a superhuman by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. However, as happens many times in life fate stepped in and john managed to borrow an old copy of a book called the mighty atom, the life and times of joseph l greenstein by ed speilman. I believe the mighty atoms son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right. Greenstein, worlds strongest man is a fullydocumented and illustrated biography that also details the methods greenstein used to train himself for the impossible.
Joe greenstein, the mighty atom at the zerns farmers market. Here is the true story of a man who realized that myth. Stopping an airplane from taking off with his hair, bending steel with his hands, biting through nails. The mighty atoms protege, slim the hammer man farman, who is discussed in detail in the book, is still actively performing, as well. He was born prematurely and was not expected to live more than a few hours. He learned the secrets of low and high breathing as a teenager from the russian strongman champion volanko and the punjabi wrestler the great gama. Biography of a superhuman by ed spielman stay safe and healthy. The mighty atom the worlds biggest little man is 55 year old joseph greenstein of houston, texas. So many of our fictional heroes, from tarzan to james bond, are variations on the superman theme. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man by ed spielman online at alibris. New doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who.
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