Joe greenstein, the mighty atom at the zerns farmers market. Greenstein biography of a superhuman by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20th century strongman. He performs many of his famous fathers legendary strongman feats. It was not sheer animal strength that awed the crowd, but something greater, an inner power. 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. Publication date 1979 topics greenstein, joseph l, strong men. 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. Joseph greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a strongman from poland born in 1893. 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. 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. 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.
Here is the true story of a man who realized that myth. Biography of a superhuman by ed spielman stay safe and healthy. In the fantastic book the mighty atom, the spiritual journey of joseph l. Yosselle leib greenstein was born in 1893, the son of a desperately poor rabbi in suvalk, poland.
Greenstein was born three months premature on july 15, 1893 in suvalk poland into the poorest family in town. The mighty atom the worlds biggest little man is 55 year old joseph greenstein of houston, texas. 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. 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. Strongmen who knew the value of deep breathing one radio. Harry houdini was one of the passengers in a car that had a flat near joes station. The mighty atom was born a sickly child in a small village in poland.
Stopping an airplane from taking off with his hair, bending cold rolled steel with his hands, biting through nails greenstein may have been the. So many of our fictional heroes, from tarzan to james bond, are variations on the superman theme. Greenstein was born to a jewish family in suwalki, poland, in 1893. 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. 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. 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.
After all, jokes his grandson steven greenstein, the list of jewish superheroes is kind of low, in the documentary he made about his grandpa. After nearly dying from tuberculosis as a child in poland, greenstein unlocked his mind to achieve impossible feats of strength. A single bullet, right between the eyes, from 30 feet away. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man greenstein born with the name of yosselle was one of the strongmen from the turn of the 19th. Along with performing and lecturing, joseph wrote several books. I believe the mighty atom s son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right. 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. He was born prematurely and was not expected to live more than a few hours. Greenstein, better known as mighty atom, is widely considered as one of the greatest strongmen of all time.
He simply lifted the car with one hand and put the tire on with the other. New doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who. February 22, 1943 the mighty atom today in history. 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. 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. I believe the mighty atoms son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right. He was the mighty atom, able to break up to three chains, by expanding his chest. Greenstein changed the tire without benefit of a jack. More than once during his childhood doctors were certain he would not survive, but he managed to make it through. In fact gama credited isometrics with developing his near phenomenal strength. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The mighty atom by ed spielman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. The mighty atom feature film in development joe greenstein.
The mighty atom is the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. Something brought to light in a conversation with another spectacular strongman the mighty atom. Eventually, greenstein was kidnapped at gun point by a small group of masked klansmen, tied, and left briefly alone. We have new and used copies available, in 1 editions. Please support the mighty atom documentary by steve. As a child i grew up watching and listening to the mighty atom at the allentown fair and also at zerns farmers market. The mighty atoms protege, slim the hammer man farman, who is discussed in detail in the book, is still actively performing, as well. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man by ed spielman online at alibris.
Joseph greenstein circus strongman the mighty atom. Greenstein, by ed spielman a conversation between gama and the atom takes place. He could warp galvanized steel, defeat the elements with his bare hands. In 1893 in the village of suvalk, poland, joseph greenstein was born. The great gama and isometrics have a strong connection. As a vaudeville star, he bit through iron bars, crushed steel. 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. Greenstein, worlds strongest man is a fullydocumented and illustrated biography that also details the methods greenstein used to train himself for the impossible. I could hardly believe that joseph the mighty atom greenstein was still alive. Greenstein january 2, 1893 october 8, 1977, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20thcentury strongman. The groups manager was so impressed, he signed greenstein as a client and booked him on tour as wait for it the mighty. 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.
41 1550 1469 991 1176 302 675 887 133 723 949 1550 139 982 193 1320 497 707 515 160 598 1502 911 434 161 1048 119 195 1156 1095 1198