The mighty atom was born a sickly child in a small village in poland. The mighty atom 1893october 8, 1977 joseph goldstein, also known as the mighty atom, stood a mere 5 feet and 4 inches and 140 pounds, but he was one of the leading strongmen of the 20th century. Yosselle leib greenstein was born in 1893, the son of a desperately poor rabbi in suvalk, poland. At 92, he can still pull a truck with a chain clenched between his teeth. The mighty atom book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. 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. It was not sheer animal strength that awed the crowd, but something greater, an inner power. Weighing less than 4 pounds, joseph greenstein was fortunate to even survive his infancy and his early. 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.
Joseph greenstein historical records and family trees. 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. Eventually, greenstein was kidnapped at gun point by a small group of masked klansmen, tied, and left briefly alone. Some call him the the last great circus stongman but perhaps a more accurate title would simply be the greatest strongman. 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. He ran away to join a traveling circus and learned from a strong man there. Nov 08, 2017 after all, jokes his grandson steven greenstein, the list of jewish superheroes is kind of low, in the documentary he made about his grandpa. Greenstein by ed spielman there were a couple of areas that caught my eye, because they gave some of the atom s internal dialog.
Along with performing and lecturing, joseph wrote several books. Against all odds, greenstein survived this ordeal, only to to contract tuberculosis at the age. Jan 02, 2014 the mighty atom joseph greenstein today is the birthday of joseph l. I could hardly believe that joseph the mighty atom greenstein was still alive. Several crude attempts at direct intimidation failed. Greenstein, worlds strongest man is a fullydocumented and illustrated biography that also details the methods greenstein used to train himself for the impossible. With andrew james bleidner, joseph greenstein, christian rider, paul vivona. The mighty atom feature film in development joe greenstein. Greenstein was not only one of the premier circus strongmen of the 20th century, but, because he continued to ply this traditional trade so late in life into his 80s, he is a vital link with the past. Curse of the scarab kevin macleod licensed under creative. 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 could warp galvanized steel, defeat the elements with his bare hands. He was born prematurely and was not expected to live more than a few hours. The mighty atom download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi.
In fact gama credited isometrics with developing his near phenomenal strength. 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. Shown here, the atom pulls a fire truck loaded with people down the street sometime in the late 1920s. After nearly dying from tuberculosis as a child in poland, greenstein unlocked his mind to achieve impossible feats of strength. The family later moved to brownsville, brooklyn where the senior greenstein began his shows as a miniature samson in vaudeville and yiddish theaters. 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, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20th century strongman. Biography of a superhuman by ed spielman and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Greenstein was born to a jewish family in suwalki, poland, in 1893. Greenstein, better known as mighty atom, is widely considered as one of the greatest strongmen of all time. Then the crowd came to its feet, and with good reason. 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. If you read biography of strongman joseph greenstein, the mighty atom, you will find that this was exactly the kind of training greenstein did when he used weights.
Greenstein which is out of print, but not impossible to find on amazon and similar websites. The calendar of garden operations by sir joseph paxton for. The mighty atom the worlds biggest little man is 55 year old joseph greenstein of houston, texas. Strongmen who knew the value of deep breathing one radio. As a vaudeville star, he bit through iron bars, crushed steel spikes in his hands, and held back airplanes tied to his hair. Joseph greenstien, the mighty atom 1930s strong man youtube. Stopping an airplane from taking off with his hair, bending steel with his hands, biting through nails. 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 was the mighty atom, able to break up to three chains, by expanding his chest. Download the mighty atom in pdf and epub formats for free.
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. The mighty atom by ed spielman 1mar1998 paperback giving you an additional experience more than blown away your brain but also giving you useful information for your better life with this era. He ran away to join a traveling circus and learned from a. Joseph greenstein stood only 5 feet 4, but he could bend iron bars with his bare hands, bite through chains with his. The mighty atom is an engagingly adoring film featuring lots of interviews with other greensteins joseph s fellowstrongman sons that takes a lot of what joe did and said at face value. Here is the true story of a man who realized that myth. The mighty atom joe greenstein had unusually strong hair and frequently demonstrated this fact by using it to lift or pull very heavy objects. 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. 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. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Oct 30, 1979 here is the true story of a man who realized that myth.
So many of our fictional heroes, from tarzan to james bond, are variations on the superman theme. As if deposited by a time machine, he stood in the center ring ot madison square. Steven greenstein s 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. Thus began the career of one of the greatest strongmen, in history.
He worked as a field oil and dock worker and wrestled professionally as kid greenstein. He rarely used more than 25 pounds in either hand because his strength feats were not feats of lifting, but rather of bending bars and breaking and biting through chains. The story goes around in a systematic manner, depicting photographs, radio pieces, newspaper cuttings and legendary milestones of the mighty atom. There is a great book on the mighty atom, entitled the spiritual journey of joseph l. Joseph greenstein circus strongman the mighty atom. Joe greenstein, the mighty atom at the zerns farmers market. Mike greenstein is the son of the legendary strongman joe greenstein, aka the mighty atom. In 1893 in the village of suvalk, poland, joseph greenstein was born. Greenstein, by ed spielman a conversation between gama and the atom takes place. Breaking all barriers and challenges, joseph greenstein set an amazing example. A half century after my grandfather had first seen him, i sat ringside, watching the 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. Greenstein january 2, 1893 october 8, 1977, better known as the mighty atom, was a 20thcentury strongman. Joseph greenstein, better known as the mighty atom, was a strongman from poland born in 1893. 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. 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 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. 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. In mental mastery, strongman mastery by admin september 22. The mighty atom was born joseph greenstein in suvalk suwalki, poland in 1893. I recount the story in my ebook, but the jist of it is this though the daily application of isometric training against an immovable object, he built a 270lb physique of pure muscle that. New doc charts life of strongman joseph greenstein who. 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. A single bullet, right between the eyes, from 30 feet away.
The great gama and isometrics have a strong connection. Something brought to light in a conversation with another spectacular strongman the mighty atom. Greenstein was born three months premature on july 15, 1893 in suvalk poland into the poorest family in town. The man who sold the station to greenstein regretted the deal, and the local klan decided to terrorize him into leaving. Joseph greenstein the mighty atom posted on saturday, may 26th, 2012 by john wood 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 tells the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man. Biography documentary hosted by john klug, published by sdg films in 2017 english narration cover informationthe mighty atom this documentary feature chronicles the amazing life story of joseph greenstein, the mighty atom, the mighty atom is the incredible true story of joseph greenstein, who at 54 became the worlds strongest man.
The museum is temporary closed, but our mission perseveres. As a child i grew up watching and listening to the mighty atom at the allentown fair and also at zerns farmers market. Greenstein before he became known as the mighty atom how to wrestle trees, assuring him that if you could win against a tree, a man was easy. So as i was reading through the spiritual journey of joseph l. 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. More than once during his childhood doctors were certain he would not survive, but he managed to make it through. 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. Click download or read online button to get the mighty atom book now. 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. The mighty atom by ed spielman 1mar1998 paperback unknown binding january 1, 1600 4. He was a modernday samson who could stop bullets and hold. 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. 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.
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. In the fantastic book the mighty atom, the spiritual journey of joseph l. Joseph the mighty atom greenstein was born on month day 1893, at birth place, to hershel harry greenstein and chaya anna greenstein born wasserman. As if deposited by a time machine, he stood in the center ring ot madison square garden and seemed to transcend age anci time. As joseph s sons, grandson, family and friends share their memories, it is truly inspirational in every way. The mighty atom by spielman, ed and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He performs many of his famous fathers legendary strongman feats.
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