Don't call me "Gramps", sonny.
March 3, 2006 10:36 AM Subscribe
The Mighty Atom. At 5'4", 145 lbs, and 82 years old, Joseph Greenstein's power of mind over matter made him one of America's greatest strongmen.
The series of portraits of 19th century strongmen linked by the word greatest is very intriguing.
The writer is amazingly dedicated to the art of hammer gripping; he is very strong and a total dork.
Nice post for that link alone.
posted by jouke at 12:08 PM on March 3, 2006
The writer is amazingly dedicated to the art of hammer gripping; he is very strong and a total dork.
Nice post for that link alone.
posted by jouke at 12:08 PM on March 3, 2006
Also this made me highly suspicious:
"...I shall never forget way back in 1936 when six giant longshoremen became disorderly and tried to interfere with one of his associates who was lecturing. The Atom, after a dramatic fight, put all six men in the hospital. Many of the New York papers carried a front page story "Little Giant Knocks Out Six." He weighs but 148 pounds, and is only 5'4' tall. No wonder writers have termed The Mighty Atom as "The World's Biggest Little Man."
That is the oldest carnie grift in the book. Plant six guys you give 10 bucks each to - and "kick their ass."
posted by tkchrist at 12:23 PM on March 3, 2006
"...I shall never forget way back in 1936 when six giant longshoremen became disorderly and tried to interfere with one of his associates who was lecturing. The Atom, after a dramatic fight, put all six men in the hospital. Many of the New York papers carried a front page story "Little Giant Knocks Out Six." He weighs but 148 pounds, and is only 5'4' tall. No wonder writers have termed The Mighty Atom as "The World's Biggest Little Man."
That is the oldest carnie grift in the book. Plant six guys you give 10 bucks each to - and "kick their ass."
posted by tkchrist at 12:23 PM on March 3, 2006
Wow! What a blast from the past! Back in the late 70s - early 80s - I remember seeing the Mighty Atom perform at world famous Zern's Farmers Market in Gilbertsville, Pa. Metal fatigue or not he would bend horsehoes like they were paperclips. I remember thinking, Hey. Superman."
posted by EseLoco at 4:53 PM on March 4, 2006
posted by EseLoco at 4:53 PM on March 4, 2006
Or think Samson (in Judges 13-17). Thanks to Hollywood, we imagine him as a big muscular hunk, but he would have been much more impressive as a scrawny little guy.
posted by cenoxo at 7:53 PM on March 4, 2006
posted by cenoxo at 7:53 PM on March 4, 2006
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Two words: metal fatigue. It gave Kreskin "mind over matter" too.
posted by three blind mice at 10:52 AM on March 3, 2006