Mike Greenstein
Morris "Mike" Greenstein, also known as the Mighty Atom Jr., (December 6, 1920 – February 16, 2016) was an American strength athlete.
Mike Greenstein | |
|---|---|
| Born | Morris Greenstein December 6, 1920 Wichita Falls, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 2016 (aged 95) Jupiter, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Former flight instructor, mechanic, businessman |
| Known for | Strength athlete |
| Relatives | Joe Greenstein (father) |
Early life
Mike Greenstein was born in Wichita Falls, Texas on December 6, 1920[1] at a time when his father, legendary strongman Joe Greenstein ("The Mighty Atom"), was working in the oil fields in Texas.[2] The family later moved to Brownsville, Brooklyn where the senior Greenstein began his shows as a miniature Samson in vaudeville and Yiddish theaters.[2]
The senior Greenstein soon earned the nickname the Mighty Atom. Around that time, the junior began training with his father and his three brothers at a young age.
During World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps as mechanic MOS. During that time, his father was touring the country entertaining troops and did shows to raise money for war bonds. Inspired by his father, the younger Greenstein decided to start an act of his own to entertain the troops at the various bases he was stationed in by bending bars, breaking chains, and pulling passenger-filled cars with his hair or his teeth. He also performed shows at theaters in the towns near the bases where he was stationed at during his off duty liberty.
He later attended aviation school in Manhattan, and subsequently worked at Trans World Airlines for 19 years. He also worked at local Waldbaum’s and photographed weddings.[2]
Career
Living his later years in Rockaway, Queens, New York, Greestein was a strength athlete by profession, known as the Mighty Atom Jr. He was capable of pulling a car with his bare teeth, nearly to his dying day. Greenstein was an active advocate of cancer prevention; his father had died of cancer, and his wife and daughter both predeceased him due to breast cancer.[2]
He was a contestant on season 9 of America's Got Talent at 93 years old and passed through the auditions round, but he was eliminated in the Judgement Round.[3]
Greenstein died on February 16, 2016 while visiting family in Florida.[4]
References
- System, VA NY Harbor Healthcare. "The Entertainer - VA NY Harbor Healthcare System". www.nyharbor.va.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- Kilgannon, Corey (2012-06-29). "For Mike Greenstein, 91, a Truck Is No Match for His Teeth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- "America's Got Talent: Season 9". America's Got Talent. NBC.
|access-date=requires|url=(help) - "Farewell Mighty Mike | February 19, 2016 | rockawave.com | Wave of Long Island". www.rockawave.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-05.