After nearly dying from tuberculosis as a child in poland, greenstein unlocked. Curls and tiny lifts between energy drinks, with chrome plated machines reflecting their scrawny bodies. Stopping an airplane from taking off with his hair, bending cold rolled steel with his hands, biting through nails greenstein may have been the. 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. The family later moved to brownsville, brooklyn where the senior greenstein began his shows as a miniature samson in vaudeville and yiddish theaters.
Whether it be for a changing rules for a cert cert or mid comp or whatever else rules are changed for. Nov 11, 2017 when physical hardships enter into a system, they may not necessarily weaken the person, but can make one much stronger. Joe greensteins life and career are also the subject of the 2017 documentary the mighty atom. Joseph greenstien, the mighty atom 1930s strong man. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man greenstein born with the name of yosselle was one of the strongmen from the turn of the 19th. Jul 01, 2012 mike greenstein, 91, the son of the famous strongman known as the mighty atom, is a chip off the old block when it comes to tugging vehicles with his strong jaws. Born a sickly child to a dirtpoor family in 1893 poland before coming to america, joseph greenstein was an unlikely strongman. At 92, he can still pull a truck with a chain clenched between his teeth. 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. Old school weight lifting isnt the wimpy stuff you see most people in the gym doing these days. The mighty atom was someone who could punch nails through wood using his bare hands, bend iron bars even when holding one end.
This is one of the most spiritually uplifting books i have ever. 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. The great gama and isometrics is one of the classic stories told in physical culture circles. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. There is a great book on the mighty atom, entitled the spiritual. Jan 24, 2017 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.
The story of his life has been told by ed spielman in the book the mighty atom and the documentary film the mighty atom. Greenstein could also bend an iron bar or a horseshoe with his teeth while one end. Biography of a superhuman 9780670475643 by spielman, ed and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. After nearly dying from tuberculosis as a child in poland, greenstein unlocked his mind to achieve impossible feats of strength. Biography of a superhuman by spielman, ed abebooks. Greenstein, better known as mighty atom, is widely considered as one of the greatest strongmen of all time. The mighty atom, worlds strongest man by ed spielman online at alibris. 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.
Yosselle leib greenstein was born in 1893, the son of a desperately poor rabbi in suvalk, poland. I could hardly believe that joseph the mighty atom greenstein was still alive. Strongmen who knew the value of deep breathing one radio. The mighty atom is the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. With that said many people outside of that small group of enthusiasts havent heard of the great gama, so heres an opportunity to get acquainted with the lion of the punjab. 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. The mighty atom s protege, slim the hammer man farman, who is discussed in detail in the book, is still actively performing, as well. Greenstein, worlds strongest man is a fullydocumented and illustrated biography that also details the methods greenstein used to train himself for the impossible. Many kudos to ed spielman for passing along his story in the two books he wrote about the might atom. The mighty atom by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I agree with this statement on rules changing all the time. Greenstein was featured several times in the believe it or not cartoons and the 1976 guinness book of records credits him with owning the. Aug 12, 2011 the mighty atom by ed spielman, 1979, viking press edition, in english. Known as the mighty atom, joseph greenstein was, indeed, the greatest and perhaps most unlikely strongman who ever lived.
Born in poland as a premature baby and having encountered deadly form of tuberculosis in his teens, there were several hardships. The mighty atom by ed spielman, 1979, viking press edition, in english the mighty atom 1979 edition open library. Biography of a superhuman 1st edition by spielman, ed published by viking press hardcover unknown binding october 30, 1979. 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. In 1914, kid greenstein was shot in the head in galvenston, texas. I believe the mighty atom s son, michael greenstein, is now in his 90s and is a noted strongman in his own right. Here is the true story of a man who realized that myth. 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. The worlds biggest little man is 55 year old joseph greenstein of houston, texas. Born three months premature and diagnosed with tuberculosis, greenstein. It was in america where greenstein and the legend of the mighty atom truly took shape. Biography of a superhuman by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mike greenstein, son of the mighty atom is still carrying on the family tradition. As a vaudeville star, he bit through iron bars, crushed steel.
New york is book country was the great motto and title for that beautiful. Shortly after marrying, and after encountering rising antisemitism, greenstein immigrated to the united states. Oct 30, 1979 so many of our fictional heroes, from tarzan to james bond, are variations on the superman theme. The mighty atom joseph greenstein was certainly quite strong from a muscular standpoint but he also had unusually strong hair. Steven greenstein has now released a documentary, the mighty atom, that pays tribute to both the showman and the man. The mighty atom 9781885440303 by spielman, ed and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at.
Stopping an airplane from taking off with his hair, bending steel with his hands, biting through nails. Mike greenstein is the son of the legendary strongman joe greenstein, aka the mighty atom. The mighty atom by ed spielman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Joseph greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a strongman. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ed spielman author of the spiritual journey 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. 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. Joe greenstein s life and career are also the subject of the 2017 documentary. He became a gifted pitchman and the exponent of some very sensible ideas on health and nutrition. Publication date 1979 topics greenstein, joseph l, strong men.
Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Joe greenstein, the mighty atom at the zerns farmers market. 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. He performs many of his famous fathers legendary strongman feats. The story of his life has been told by ed spielman in the book the mighty atom. 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. Greenstein succumbed to cancer on october 8, 1977, at age 84. His real name was joseph greenstein but he was better known as the mighty atom and he became one of the greatest known strongmen of all time despite the fact that he stood only 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighed in at 140 pounds. The mighty atom the worlds biggest little man is 55 year old joseph greenstein of houston, texas. As a guy whos in strongman style of training it was cool to read about the guy who started it.
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. 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. There is a great book on the mighty atom, entitled the spiritual journey of joseph l. The mighty atom tells the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. 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. Check out this clip from last nights americas got talent show to see how he did. 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. 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. 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. At 92, mike greenstein is still one of the worlds strongest. As a vaudeville star, he bit through iron bars, crushed steel spikes in his hands, and held back airplanes tied to his hair.
Convinced that the power of his mind and his physical condition were the reason hed survived, greenstein began performing feats of strength with regularity. A half century after my grandfather had first seen him, i sat ringside, watching the strongman. Then the crowd came to its feet, and with good reason. 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. Its hard to have legitimacy as a sport, as i am unaware of other sports. Joseph greenstein circus strongman the mighty atom. For mike greenstein, 91, a truck is no match for his teeth. This is exactly what documentary the mighty atom talks about, while taking audience through the inspirational story of joseph greenstein. Greenstein which is out of print, but not impossible to find on amazon and similar websites. Ed spielman is the author of the spiritual journey of joseph l.
Jun 14, 2017 in many ways, the survival of the mighty atom ensured the survival of the strongman. 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. 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. Spielman authored a biography of joe greenstein titled the mighty atom. Greenstein january 2, 1893 october 8, 1977, better known as the mighty atom. Greenstein was born three months premature on july 15, 1893 in suvalk poland into the poorest family in town.
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