Max Unger Photographed by Napoleon Sarony

Around the turn of the twentieth century, Napoleon Sarony took this photograph of Max Unger aka Lionel Strongfort.

"Lionel Strongfort," whose real name was Max Unger, was born in Berlin, Germany, November 23, 1878. He began his famed stage career around 1897, becoming world renowned for his "Human Bridge Act" (The Tomb of Hercules position). Strongfort's greatest fame came after retiring from the stage in the early 1900s, launching his world famous mail order course, "Strongfortism," which appeared in popular publications the world over. For more than 25 years until about 1935, "Strongfortism" was one of the most successful train-by-mail correspondence school adventures. Unfortunately, the Great Depression of the thirties proved to be an economic disaster for most mail-order concerns.

Strongfort's full-length physique pose, his trademark, became famous in all his ads the world over. His well-balanced, symmetrical physique was in demand by the world's greatest artists and sculptors. Lionel Strongfort lived a healthy, active life until he passed away at the ripe old age of 92.