Renewed Debunking: The Existence of a "Miss Atomic Bomb" Beauty Contest in Vegas
In 1957, a groundbreaking photograph was captured in the heart of Las Vegas. Known as the 'Miss Atomic Bomb' photo, it showcased a woman posing in a mushroom cloud swimsuit, a daring stunt that became a cultural symbol of the atomic age[1].
The woman in the photo was actually Anna Lee Mahoney, a showgirl from the Bronx, New York, who went by the stage name Lee Merlin[7]. This iconic image was the brainchild of Don English, a photographer for the Las Vegas News Bureau[4]. English created the stunt because photographing nuclear detonations had become routine by 1957[5].
The popularity of the 'Miss Atomic Bomb' photo contributed to the extension of the record for the most published photo in the Las Vegas News Bureau Collection[6]. The image proved to be a hit among tourists, leading to an increase in visitation to Las Vegas[10].
The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce capitalised on this phenomenon by printing calendars listing detonation times, suggested viewing locations, and scheduled viewing parties[8]. The Sky Room at the Desert Inn hosted a popular viewing party, while Virginia's Café on its rooftop deck downtown also rebranded itself in 1954[9].
It's important to note that there was never an atomic beauty pageant, as some might believe. The 'Miss Atomic Bomb' photo was merely a publicity stunt[11]. This and other myths about the history of atomic tourism in Las Vegas are explored in the "Vegas Myths Busted" article, which is published every Monday on Casino.org[12].
The city of Las Vegas earned the nickname "the Atomic City" due to the nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site, located 65 miles northwest of the Las Vegas Strip[3]. The first nuclear detonation at the site was in January 1951, and over 100 detonations followed in the air over the next few years[13].
The 'Miss Atomic Bomb' photo is now honored in a dedicated exhibit at the Atomic Museum in Las Vegas[2]. For more information about previously busted Vegas myths, readers can visit the Casino.org website[14]."
[1] - The creation and popularity of the "Miss Atomic Bomb" photo [2] - The iconic "Miss Atomic Bomb" photo is honored at the Atomic Museum [3] - Las Vegas was nicknamed "the Atomic City" [4] - Don English, a photographer for the Las Vegas News Bureau, created the "Miss Atomic Bomb" stunt [5] - Don English stated that he created the stunt because photographing nuclear detonations had become routine [6] - The creation and popularity of the "Miss Atomic Bomb" photo contributed to the extension of the record for the most published photo in the Las Vegas News Bureau Collection [7] - The woman posing was actually Anna Lee Mahoney, a showgirl from the Bronx, New York, who went by the stage name Lee Merlin [8] - The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce printed calendars listing detonation times, suggested viewing locations, and scheduled viewing parties [9] - Virginia's Café on its rooftop deck downtown also hosted viewing parties and rebranded itself in 1954 [10] - The mushroom clouds from the detonations proved to be a popular tourist attraction, leading to an increase in visitation to Las Vegas [11] - The "Vegas Myths Busted" article states that there was never an atomic beauty pageant, but only a publicity stunt [12] - The "Vegas Myths Busted" article is published every Monday on Casino.org [13] - The first nuclear detonation at the Nevada Test Site was in January 1951, and over 100 detonations followed in the air over the next few years [14] - Readers can find previously busted Vegas myths by clicking here on the Casino.org website.
- The Miss Atomic Bomb photo, a cultural symbol of the atomic age in Las Vegas, was captured in 1957.
- The iconic image shows a woman posing in a mushroom cloud swimsuit, a daring stunt created by Don English, a photographer for the Las Vegas News Bureau.
- While Anna Lee Mahoney, a showgirl from New York, was the woman in the photo, there was never an atomic beauty pageant associated with the stunt.
- The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce capitalized on the image's popularity, promoting viewing parties and printing calendars.
- Sky Room at the Desert Inn and Virginia's Café downtown hosted popular viewing parties for the nuclear detonations at the Nevada Test Site.
- Las Vegas earned the nickname "the Atomic City" due to the nuclear testing that began in January 1951.
- More than 100 detonations occurred at the Nevada Test Site, located northwest of the Las Vegas Strip.
- Remnants of the "Miss Atomic Bomb" photo and the history of atomic tourism can be found at the Atomic Museum in Las Vegas.
- Today, visitors can learn about the myths and realities of this era at the Atomic Museum or by reading the 'Vegas Myths Busted' article on Casino.org.
- Paradoxically, the city that became synonymous with nuclear testing and the atomic age offers an escape through the glitz and glamour of its casino-and-gambling culture.
