Joe Greenstein: Difference between revisions

Joe Greenstein
Joe Greenstein
	Joe Greenstein depicted on a product he sold
Born	January 2, 1893; Suwałki, Poland
Died	October 8, 1977 (aged 84); New York City, New York, US
Other names	The Mighty Atom
Known for	strongman
Spouse	Leah Greenstein
Children	10, including Mike Greenstein

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Joseph L. Greenstein (January 2, 1893 – October 8, 1977), better known as The Mighty Atom, was a 20th-century strongman known for highly unusual feats of strength and endurance.^[1]

Life and career

Early life

Greenstein was born to a Jewish family in Suwałki, Poland, in 1893. As a child he suffered from respiratory ailments, and at age 14, a team of doctors predicted he would die from tuberculosis. Around that time, he became acquainted with a Russian circus strongman, Champion Volanko, who mentored Greenstein. Greenstein traveled with Volanko and the Issakoff Brothers Circus for eighteen months, learning the strongman's training regimen. After this, he returned to Poland and married his wife, Leah.

Career

He began his career as a wrestler. However, due in part to rising anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe, he then left for the United States. He first went to Galveston, Texas, working as a dockworker and oil field worker. He also wrestled professionally at this time as Kid Greenstein. In 1914, The Houston Daily Post reported that a friend of Greenstein accidentally shot him in the middle of the forehead. The report states the bullet did not enter his skull, and "flattened out against his forehead".^[2] This experience sparked Greenstein's interest in the mental powers associated with strength, and he gradually developed an array of strongman feats.^[3]

He was featured five times in Ripley's Believe It Or Not^[4] and in the 1976 Guinness Book of World Records.^[5] Two of Greenstein's feats included biting through an iron nail and bending iron horseshoes by hand. An iron nail and iron horseshoes are on display at the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania.

Later in life, Greenstein sold coconut oil soaps and health elixirs at fairs and farmers' markets. He traveled in an old Model A truck with panels that opened to show his extensive collection of newsclippings and citations from civic leaders and organizations. New York City Mayor LaGuardia issued a proclamation, thanking Greenstein for showing his skills to the city's police department. Greenstein had volunteered to teach jujutsu techniques to members of the New York City auxiliary police during World War II, years before the technique became widespread in the United States. ^{[citation needed]}

Greenstein continued performing his strongman feats well into his eighties, giving his last performance at his great-grandchild's first birthday on May 11, 1977, at Madison Square Garden at the age of 84. He dazzled the audience by bending horseshoes and driving spikes through metal with the palm of his hand.

Personal life and death

Joe and Leah Greenstein had ten children.

Greenstein succumbed to cancer on October 8, 1977, at age 84.

Legacy

The story of his life has been told by Ed Spielman in the book The Mighty Atom and the documentary film "The Mighty Atom".^[6] He may be the inspiration for the fictional character of Al Pratt, a costumed crime-fighter who went by the alias of The Atom.^[7] Joe Greenstein's life and career are also the subject of the 2017 documentary The Mighty Atom.^[8]

Joe's 93-year-old son Mike Greenstein appeared on America's Got Talent in 2014 and successfully pulled a 3,500-pound (1,600 kg) car with his teeth.^[8]^[9]

References

^ Harvin, Al (1974-06-02). "Martial Artists Hold Exhibition Today". The New York Times. p. 1.
^ "Bullet Flattened Out Against His Forehead". Houston Daily Post. 1914-10-13. p. 8 – via texashistory.unt.edu.
^ Boff, Victor (1962), "The Mighty Atom: His Philosophy of Health", Natural Strength
^ "Mighty Joe Old". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC: 68. 3 June 1974. ISSN 0028-7369.
^ Guinness Book of World Records, 1976. Sterling Pub. Co. 1975. p. 458. ISBN 978-0-8069-0014-8.
^ Spielman, Ed (1998). The Spiritual Journey of Joseph L. Greenstein. Cobb, California: First Glance Books. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-885440-30-3.
^ Cronin, Brian (May 15, 2019). "The Real Life Inspiration for the Golden Age Atom?". Comic Book Resources.
^ ^a ^b Schleier, Curt (November 23, 2017). "'The Mighty Atom'". Jewish Standard.
^ America's Got Talent. Green Bay, Wisconsin. Event occurs at 1:03. NBC. WGBA-TV.

[NYT-1] Harvin, Al (1974-06-02). "Martial Artists Hold Exhibition Today". The New York Times. p. 1.

[HDP-2] "Bullet Flattened Out Against His Forehead". Houston Daily Post. 1914-10-13. p. 8 – via texashistory.unt.edu.

[3] Boff, Victor (1962), "The Mighty Atom: His Philosophy of Health", Natural Strength

[LLC1974-4] "Mighty Joe Old". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC: 68. 3 June 1974. ISSN 0028-7369.

[5] Guinness Book of World Records, 1976. Sterling Pub. Co. 1975. p. 458. ISBN 978-0-8069-0014-8.

[Spielman-6] Spielman, Ed (1998). The Spiritual Journey of Joseph L. Greenstein. Cobb, California: First Glance Books. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-885440-30-3.

[7] Cronin, Brian (May 15, 2019). "The Real Life Inspiration for the Golden Age Atom?". Comic Book Resources.

[JS-8] Schleier, Curt (November 23, 2017). "'The Mighty Atom'". Jewish Standard.

[AGT-9] America's Got Talent. Green Bay, Wisconsin. Event occurs at 1:03. NBC. WGBA-TV.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{short description|strongman}}
+{{Short description|Strongman}}
+{{Infobox person
+| image                     = Mighty atom fda (36309437916).jpg
-{{Infobox person
+| image_size                =
-| image = Mighty atom fda (36309437916).jpg
+| caption                   = Joe Greenstein depicted on a product he sold
-| image_size =
+| birth_name                =
-| caption = Joe Greenstein depicted on a product he sold
+| birth_date                = {{Birth date|1893|1|2}}
-| birth_name =
+| birth_place               = [[Suwałki]], [[Poland]]
-| birth_date = {{Birth date|1893|1|2}}
+| death_date                = {{Death date and age|1977|10|8|1893|1|2}}
-| birth_place = [[Suvalk]], [[Poland]]
+| death_place               = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], US
-| death_date = {{Death date and age|1977|10|8|1893|1|2}}
+| resting_place             =
-| death_place =[[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], US
+| resting_place_coordinates =
-| resting_place =
+| nationality               =
-| resting_place_coordinates =
+| other_names               = The Mighty Atom
-| residence = US
+| known_for                 = [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]]
-| nationality =
+| education                 =
-| other_names = The Mighty Atom
+| employer                  =
-| known_for =[[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]]
+| occupation                =
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+| title                     =
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+| networth                  =
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+| height                    =
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+| predecessor               =
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+| spouse                    = Leah Greenstein
-| predecessor =
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+| children                  = 10, including [[Mike Greenstein]]
-| party =
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-| spouse = Leah Greenstein
+| signature                 =
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-| children =10, including [[Mike Greenstein]]
+| footnotes                 =
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 }}
-'''Joseph L. Greenstein''' (January 2, 1893 – October 8, 1977), better known as '''The Mighty Atom''', was a 20th-century [[strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite news | last = Harvin  | first = Al  | title = Martial Artists Hold Exhibition Today  | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | page = 1  | date = 1974-06-02}}</ref>
+'''Joseph L. Greenstein''' (January 2, 1893 – October 8, 1977), better known as '''The Mighty Atom''', was a 20th-century [[strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] known for highly unusual feats of strength and endurance.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news | last = Harvin  | first = Al  | title = Martial Artists Hold Exhibition Today  | newspaper = [[The New York Times]] | page = 1  | date = 1974-06-02}}</ref>
+== Life and career ==
-==Early life==
+=== Early life ===
 Greenstein was born to a [[Jews in Poland|Jewish family]] in [[Suwałki]], [[Poland]], in 1893.  As a child he suffered from respiratory ailments, and at age 14, a team of doctors predicted he would die from [[tuberculosis]].  Around that time, he became acquainted with a Russian circus strongman, Champion Volanko, who mentored Greenstein.  Greenstein traveled with Volanko and the Issakoff Brothers Circus for eighteen months, learning the strongman's training regimen.  After this, he returned to Poland and married his wife, Leah.
-==Career==
+=== Career ===
-He began his career as a wrestler.  However, due in part to rising [[anti-Semitism]] in [[Eastern Europe]], he then left for the [[United States]]. He first went to [[Galveston, Texas]], working as a dockworker and oil field worker. He also wrestled professionally at this time as Kid Greenstein.  In 1914, The Houston Daily Post reported that a friend of Greenstein's accidentally shot him in the middle of the forehead.  The report states the bullet did not enter his skull, and "flattened out against his forehead".<ref name="HDP">{{cite news| title = Bullet Flattened Out Against His Forehead  | newspaper = Houston Daily Post  | page = 8  | date = 1914-10-13 | url = http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth607097/m1/8/zoom/?q=bullet | via= texashistory.unt.edu}}</ref> This experience sparked Greenstein's interest in the mental powers associated with strength, and he gradually developed an array of strongman feats.<ref>{{Citation  | last = Boff | first = Victor | title = The Mighty Atom: His Philosophy of Health | newspaper = Natural Strength | year = 1962}}</ref>
+He began his career as a wrestler.  However, due in part to rising [[anti-Semitism]] in [[Eastern Europe]], he then left for the [[United States]]. He first went to [[Galveston, Texas]], working as a dockworker and oil field worker. He also wrestled professionally at this time as Kid Greenstein.  In 1914, The Houston Daily Post reported that a friend of Greenstein accidentally shot him in the middle of the forehead.  The report states the bullet did not enter his skull, and "flattened out against his forehead".<ref name="HDP">{{cite news| title = Bullet Flattened Out Against His Forehead  | newspaper = Houston Daily Post  | page = 8  | date = 1914-10-13 | url = http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth607097/m1/8/zoom/?q=bullet | via= texashistory.unt.edu}}</ref> This experience sparked Greenstein's interest in the mental powers associated with strength, and he gradually developed an array of strongman feats.<ref>{{Citation  | last = Boff | first = Victor | title = The Mighty Atom: His Philosophy of Health | newspaper = Natural Strength | year = 1962}}</ref>
 He was featured five times in ''[[Ripley's Believe It Or Not]]''<ref name="LLC1974">{{cite journal|publisher=New York Media, LLC|journal=New York Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OGdBYxVLBhIC&pg=PA68|date=3 June 1974|title=Mighty Joe Old|page=68|issn=0028-7369}}</ref> and in the 1976 ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Guinness Book of World Records, 1976 |year= 1975 |publisher= Sterling Pub. Co.|isbn=978-0-8069-0014-8|page=458}}</ref> Two of Greenstein's feats included biting through an iron nail and bending iron [[horseshoe]]s by hand. An iron nail and iron horseshoes are on display at the Weightlifting Hall of Fame in [[York, Pennsylvania]].
-Later in life, Greenstein sold [[coconut oil]] soaps and health elixirs at fairs and [[farmers' markets]]. He traveled in an old [[Ford Model A (1927–31)|Model A]] truck with panels that opened to show his extensive collection of newsclippings and citations from civic leaders and organizations. New York City Mayor LaGuardia issued a proclamation, thanking Greenstein for showing his skills to the city's police department. Greenstein had volunteered to teach [[jujutsu]] techniques to members of the New York City auxiliary police during [[World War II]]. It was many years before the technique was known to most Americans.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}}
+Later in life, Greenstein sold [[coconut oil]] soaps and health elixirs at fairs and [[farmers' markets]].  He traveled in an old [[Ford Model A (1927–31)|Model A]] truck with panels that opened to show his extensive collection of newsclippings and citations from civic leaders and organizations.  New York City Mayor LaGuardia issued a proclamation, thanking Greenstein for showing his skills to the city's police department.  Greenstein had volunteered to teach [[jujutsu]] techniques to members of the New York City auxiliary police during [[World War II]], years before the technique became widespread in the United States. {{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
 Greenstein continued performing his strongman feats well into his eighties, giving his last performance at his great-grandchild's first birthday on May 11, 1977, at [[Madison Square Garden]] at the age of 84. He dazzled the audience by bending horseshoes and driving spikes through metal with the palm of his hand.
-==Personal life and demise==
+=== Personal life and death ===
 Joe and Leah Greenstein had ten children.
 Greenstein succumbed to [[cancer]] on October 8, 1977, at age 84.
 ==Legacy==
 The story of his life has been told by [[Ed Spielman]] in the book ''The Mighty Atom'' and the documentary film "The Mighty Atom".<ref name = "Spielman">{{cite book| last = Spielman  | first = Ed  | title = The Spiritual Journey of Joseph L. Greenstein  | publisher = First Glance Books  | year = 1998  | location = Cobb, California  | isbn = 978-1-885440-30-3  | page = 234}}</ref> He may be the inspiration for the fictional [[character (arts)|character]] of [[Atom (Al Pratt)|Al Pratt]], a costumed crime-fighter who went by the alias of The Atom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/atom-golden-age-al-pratt-joe-greenstein/ |title=The Real Life Inspiration for the Golden Age Atom? |first=Brian| last= Cronin |date=May 15, 2019 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref> Joe Greenstein's life and career are also the subject of the 2017 documentary ''The Mighty Atom''.<ref name=JS>{{cite news |url=https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/the-mighty-atom/ |title='The Mighty Atom' | first= Curt | last= Schleier |date=November 23, 2017 |newspaper=[[Jewish Standard]]}}</ref>
-Joe's 93-year-old son [[Mike Greenstein]] appeared on ''[[America's Got Talent]]'' in 2014 and successfully pulled a {{convert|3,500|lb|adj=on}} car with his teeth.<ref name=JS/><ref name=AGT>{{Cite episode |title= |episodelink= |url= |series=[[America's Got Talent]] |serieslink= |first= |last= |network=[[NBC]] |station=[[WGBA-TV]] |location=[[Green Bay, Wisconsin]] |date= |began= |ended= |season= |seriesno= |number= |minutes= |time=1:03 |transcript= |transcripturl= |quote= |language=}}</ref>
+Joe's 93-year-old son [[Mike Greenstein]] appeared on ''[[America's Got Talent]]'' in 2014 and successfully pulled a {{convert|3,500|lb|adj=on}} car with his teeth.<ref name=JS/><ref name=AGT>{{Cite episode |series=[[America's Got Talent]] |network=[[NBC]] |station=[[WGBA-TV]] |location=[[Green Bay, Wisconsin]] |time=1:03 }}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+{{Physical culture}}
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Greenstein, Joe}}
 [[Category:1893 births]]
 [[Category:1977 deaths]]
+[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
+[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
 [[Category:American strength athletes]]
 [[Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)]]
+[[Category:Emigrants from Congress Poland to the United States]]
 [[Category:Jewish American sportspeople]]
+[[Category:Jews from the Russian Empire]]
 [[Category:Jewish Polish sportspeople]]
+[[Category:People associated with physical culture]]
+[[Category:People from Suwałki]]
 [[Category:Polish strength athletes]]

Authority control databases
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National	United States Israel
Other	SNAC