New doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who laid waste to a nazi myth. I believe the mighty atoms son, michael greenstein. Most of what i know about the mighty atom i learned from his biography, the spiritual journey of joseph l. Greenstein could also bend an iron bar or a horseshoe with his teeth while one end. 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. Legendary strongman commonly known as the mighty atom. The mighty atoms protege, slim the hammer man farman, who is discussed in detail in the book, is still actively performing, as well. After nearly dying from tuberculosis as a child in poland, greenstein unlocked. The mighty atom by ed spielman, 1979, viking press edition, in english the mighty atom 1979 edition open library. The mighty atom was someone who could punch nails through wood using his bare hands, bend iron bars even when holding one end. More than once during his childhood doctors were certain he would not survive, but he managed to make it through. May 15, 2019 i cant say to an absolute certainty that greenstein was the inspiration for the comic book atom, but come on, a short circus strongman working in the 1920s and 1930s who calls himself the mighty atom and works in new york city and then a comic book debuts in 1940 about a short guy who becomes a strongman and calls himself the atom.
In 1914, kid greenstein was shot in the head in galvenston, texas. 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. Joe greenstein, the mighty atom at the zerns farmers market. Joseph greenstien, the mighty atom 1930s strong man. I could hardly believe that joseph the mighty atom greenstein was still alive. Read how a workout routine changed johns life and could do the same for you. The mighty atom is an inspiring profile of a reallife superman who dazzled audiences with his remarkable feats of strength, daredevil stunts and an unshakable faith in the power of mind over matter. Soon, the 55, 145 lb greenstein was traveling the country as a strongman under the pseudonym of the mighty atom.
Mike greenstein, son of the mighty atom is still carrying on the family tradition. He was a sickly child whom doctors predicted would succumb to tuberculosis as a teenager. Joe greenstein bio, facts, family famous birthdays. The mighty atom s protege, slim the hammer man farman, who is discussed in detail in the book, is still actively performing, as well. Joseph greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a strongman. Most remarkable, i believe, are the newspaper clippings of the atom holding back the airplane twice and the incredible story of being shot between the eyes with a. Greenstein, better known as mighty atom, is widely considered as one of the greatest strongmen of all time. Greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20th century. 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. His various feats of strength have been featured in the guinness book of world records and ripleys believe it or not. 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 strong and he had achieved this through his amazing workout routine. With the aid of a strong comb, the mighty atom could pull vehicles with his hair, and, as shown above, even use it to bend steel bars. Greenstein was featured several times in the believe it or not cartoons and the 1976 guinness book of records credits him with owning the.
The mighty atom by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Joe greensteins life and career are also the subject of the 2017 documentary the mighty atom. He was honored by nyc mayor laguardia for his contributions on behalf of the nypd. Born a sickly child to a dirtpoor family in 1893 poland before coming to america, joseph greenstein was an unlikely strongman. As a guy whos in strongman style of training it was cool to read about the guy who started it. The mighty atom the worlds biggest little man is 55 year old joseph greenstein of houston, texas. Abgold airplane american arms asked atom s audience began bend benny body bothner breath brooklyn bullet chain chest circus crowd dollars eugen sandow eyes face farman feats of strength feet filling station galveston hair half hammers hand head horseshoe houston inches iron joe choynski joe greenstein joes john grimek jujutsu kabbalah kid.
There is a great book on the mighty atom, entitled the spiritual. By the 1930s public interest in such grisly heroics began to fade, and greenstein moved on, to create and promote his line of mighty atom health productssoap, herb laxative, etc. Publication date 1979 topics greenstein, joseph l, strong men. Then the crowd came to its feet, and with good reason. Check out this clip from last nights americas got talent show to see how he did. May 16, 2019 a tribute to the mighty atom joseph l. Greenstein which is out of print, but not impossible to find on amazon and similar websites.
Aug 12, 2011 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. The mighty atom was only 5ft 5 and weighed about a 140 pounds yet he was one. The mighty atom joseph greenstein was certainly quite strong from a muscular standpoint but he also had unusually strong hair. Stopping an airplane from taking off with his hair, bending steel with his hands, biting through nails. Joe gre enstein s life and career are also the subject of the 2017 do cumentary the mig hty atom. He traveled in an old model a truck full of citations from civic leaders and press clippings.
The mighty atom tells the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. Describes the career of the incredible vaudeville strongman who, by studying asian techniques of concentration and jewish mystical writings, unlearned the subconscious mechanism that forces humans to stop when they think they have reached their physical limits. In the fantastic book the mighty atom, the spiritual journey of joseph l. Curls and tiny lifts between energy drinks, with chrome plated machines reflecting their scrawny bodies. As a vaudeville star, he bit through iron bars, crushed steel spikes in his hands, and held back airplanes tied to his hair. The mighty atom by ed spielman 1mar1998 paperback to be one of several books in which best seller in this year, honestly, that is because when you read this guide you can get a lot of benefit upon it. He performs many of his famous fathers legendary strongman feats. He became a gifted pitchman and the exponent of some very sensible ideas on health and nutrition. Greenstein left the hospital the same day convinced that his physical conditioning saved his life. 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 so many of our fictional heroes, from tarzan to james bond, are variations on the superman theme. Unfortunately, the book is out of print but you can still find some used on occasion like at amazon, if youre willing to pay the price. Though these strange as it seems incidents sound like the creation of a fiction writer, they are but a few of the incredible but true documented facts in ed spielmans book the mighty atom, biography of a superhuman, the life and times of joseph l. He may be the inspiration for the fictional character of al pratt, a costumed crimefighter who went by the alias of the atom.
The mighty atom was featured several times in ripleys believe it or not. Born joseph greenstein, the mighty atom was a legendary 1930s bodybuilder who could hammer a nail with his palm and bend horseshoes with his teeth. I believe the mighty atoms son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right. Biography of a superhuman 9780670475643 by spielman, ed and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Nov 27, 2009 as a result of this near death experience, greenstein became determined to hone both his mind and body and began developing many unusual feats of strength. The story of his life has been told by ed spielman in the book the mighty atom and the documentary film the mighty atom.
He may be the inspiration for the fictional character of al pratt, a costumed crimefighter who went by the ali as of the atom. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. An amazing tale of human potential, the mighty atom will have audiences cheering. Greenstein, worlds strongest man is a fullydocumented and illustrated biography that also details the methods greenstein used to train himself for the impossible. The mighty atom is the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. The story of his life has been told by ed spielman in the boo k th e mighty atom and the documentary film the mighty atom. Shortly after marrying, and after encountering rising antisemitism, greenstein immigrated to the united states. Old school weight lifting isnt the wimpy stuff you see most people in the gym doing these days. The story of his life has been told by ed spielman in the book the mighty atom. I believe the mighty atom s son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right.
In fact gama credited isometrics with developing his near phenomenal strength. A half century after my grandfather had first seen him, i sat ringside, watching the strongman. As a vaudeville star, he bit through iron bars, crushed steel. New doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who laid. I cant say to an absolute certainty that greenstein was the inspiration for the comic book atom, but come on, a short circus strongman working in the 1920s and 1930s who calls himself the mighty atom and works in new york city and then a comic book debuts in 1940 about a short guy who becomes a strongman and calls himself the atom. Mike greenstein was born in wichita falls, texas on december 6, 1920 at a time when his father, legendary strongman joe greenstein the mighty atom, was working in the oil fields in texas. Joe did, but throughout his youth he suffered from chronic asthma and lung problems, and at the age of 14 he came down with tuberculosis and was given. Joseph greenstein, the mighty atom joseph greenstein was born in 1893, he came out six weeks premature and was so sickly and weak that doctors didnt expect him to survive his infancy. Biography of a superhuman by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The 1976 guinness book of world records cites him as having the worlds strongest bite. New doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who. There is a great book on the mighty atom, entitled the spiritual journey of joseph l. Something brought to light in a conversation with another spectacular strongman the mighty atom. Spielman authored a biography of joe greenstein titled the mighty atom. May 23, 2014 joseph greenstein, the mighty atom joseph greenstein was born in 1893, he came out six weeks premature and was so sickly and weak that doctors didnt expect him to survive his infancy. If youre more interested in him i suggest you read the spiritual journey of joseph l. The great gama and isometrics have a strong connection.
New york is book country was the great motto and title for that beautiful. Greenstein ed spielman the viking press new york 1979 i wish to thank the following people for their kind cooperation assistance. The family later moved to brownsville, brooklyn where the senior greenstein began his shows as a miniature samson in vaudeville and yiddish theaters. This is just a paperback version of the the mighty atom, the life and times of joseph l greenstien. Greenstein, by ed spielman a conversation between gama and the atom takes place. Nov 14, 2017 new doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who laid waste to a nazi myth. As a boy my father would often frequent zerns market just south of gilbertsville pa. Its inspiring, and can also teach you a lot about what he did to get strong. I remember as a child seeing the mightly atom at some farmers markets in rural pennsylvania selling his health products. 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.
Why the author changed the name of the book i dont know. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The mighty atom was born a sickly child in a small village in poland. Strongmen who knew the value of deep breathing one radio. The mighty atom entertained at the york fair for over five. Greenstein january 2, 1893 october 8, 1977, better known as the mighty atom. Yosselle leib greenstein was born in 1893, the son of a desperately poor rabbi in suvalk, poland. Greenstein, the mighty atom at 5 feet, 412 inches and 145 pounds soaking wet, entertained audiences at the. Determined to show the world the marvels of his lifestyle. Here is the true story of a man who realized that myth. Dad would go into the market while i would run across the gravel parking lot to the mighty atoms makeshift stage and dressing room on the back of his old 1930s truck. As a result of this near death experience, greenstein became determined to hone both his mind and body and began developing many unusual feats of strength. Joe the mighty atom greenstein was one of the last oldtime a traveling strongmen who sold health and strength elixirs, like from an old medicine show. It was in america where greenstein and the legend of the mighty atom truly took shape.