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Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Encountering The Atomic Age 80 Years After Hiroshima In Las Vegas
A 110-degree day in Las Vegas, a city dedicated to entertainment and capitalism, seems a strange place to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Yet Las Vegas has its own, long nuclear history, including 900 nuclear tests, tourists partying in the light of atomic explosions, and the sad story of nuclear workers and 'downwinders' exposed to radiation. This fascinating tale is told at the National Atomic Testing Museum, also known as The Atomic Museum, in Las Vegas. It is located just east of the Strip and north of Harry Reed Airport. We visited the museum on August 6, 2025, exactly 80 years after the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the world's first atomic bomb, 'Little Boy,' on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. It is estimated to have killed 70,000-80,000 people instantly, the highest casualty rate in a day from a single weapon of any kind. When Japan did not surrender, the United States dropped a second bomb, 'Fat Man,' on Nagasaki on August 9th, killing between 60,000 and 80,000. The Atomic Museum had an exhibit to remember the victims, including a book, The Light of Morning, Memoirs of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors. The Museum also provided special paper to make paper cranes, a long-time symbol of peace. On August 28, the Museum is doing a free Zoom, 'Remembrance for Hiroshima and Nagasaki,' with a Hiroshima survivor giving testimony. But the Atomic Museum does not appear to be apologizing for its subject, the history of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons testing, and Nevada's role in the Cold War. One of the most compelling exhibits at the Museum is 'Ground Zero Theater.' Guests are ushed into a dark windowless concrete room uncomfortably suggestive of a fallout shelter. The red warning lights go out. In a moment, an enormous explosion fills the screen. Seconds later, the room shakes with the simulation of a nuclear test. In the video, we see soldiers in a trench sheltering from the blast. A retired scientist says he considers himself a soldier of the Cold War—and that they'd do it all over again. I could not help but remember the comments of my late father and father-in-law, respectively a young Navy aerographer and Army Signal Corps soldier. Each felt that dropping the bombs made the invasion of Japan, in which a million casualties were expected, unnecessary, saving their lives. President Truman, who ultimately chose to drop the bomb,called it the "most terrible decision that any man in the history of the world had to make.' Yet he added that "I'd do it again" and "I would not hesitate." Neither the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima nor the one that followed three days later at Nagasaki was developed in Nevada. The Manhattan Project, which developed the original atomic bomb, officially began on June 18, 1942 and was shut down on August 25, 1947. The Manhattan Project employed over 130,000 people throughout the United States, in Hanford, WA, Oak Ridge, TN, Chicago, IL and most famously, Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Atomic Age began there with the 21-kiloton Trinity explosion on July 16, 1945. The Atomic Museum documents much of the history around the creation, building and testing of The Bomb. One exhibit hall is dedicated to the role of Einstein in persuading President Roosevelt to build an atomic weapon before World War II, before the Nazis could create one. There is also much on physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project in building and testing the weapon at Los Alamos. When Oppenheimer watched the massive blast, he quoted the Bhagavad-Gita; 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' (The Christopher Nolan film about him and the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer, won seven Academy Awards in 2024.) As for future wars fought with nuclear weapons, former Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev reportedly said, 'The living will envy the dead.' The museum has several (inert) atomic bombs, including a real 'Fat Boy.' The rotund bomb is similar to the one used in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Another room of the Museum, Atomic Odyssey, brings the world of atoms, reactions, and radiation to adults and STEM students alike. The exhibits, many hands-on, include 'Elemental People' who created new elements of the Periodic Table. There are also some off-beat nuclear efforts like a cargo ship and the Ford Nucleon, meant to be powered by a small atomic reactor. The museum is packed with 'atomic age' relics. These include bombs, rockets, drill bits used for underground tests, Geiger counters and Native American artifacts from the original desert inhabitants. There are also Pop Culture atomic-themed toys, films, comics, music and games. Post-World War II atomic tests were held in the Pacific, most famously at Bikini Atoll. (Yes, the bikini was named after the atomic blasts there.) But in December 1950, President Harry Truman designated a 680-square mile area of the Nellis Air Force Gunnery and Bombing Range as the Nevada Proving Grounds, later the Nuclear Test Site. The Nevada desert was chosen due to its large, government-controlled geographic area, ideal wind patterns, and low population density. Testing was considered safer there as fallout from atmospheric weapons tests would be carried away from populated areas by the wind. (Hence the term 'downwinders' for farmers, Native Americans, and other affected by 'downwind' radiation.) The Nevada Test Site was the site of 928 nuclear tests from 1951 to 1992. One room at the Museum features a family of all-American mannequins dressed in J.C. Penney outfits. A house like this was installed on the bombing range to test the destructive power of atomic weapons on civilians. Harrison Ford has a creepy encounter with such mannequins in 'Doom Town,' in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.' Nonetheless, Las Vegans proudly called their town "Atomic City,' a title used U2 in their video to promote their residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. The test site was 65 miles from Las Vegas, but the mushroom clouds could be seen up to 100 miles away. Naturally, Las Vegas capitalized on this phenomenon. After the first atmospheric test on January 27, 1951, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce cranked out press releases calling the Nevada testing site a new Sin City attraction. The Chamber even put out a calendar listing the times of upcoming detonations and where to see them. Ultimately 100 atmospheric tests took place. The Sky Room at the Desert Inn, with a panoramic view of the desert and sky, was a favorite watch spot, as was the roof of Atomic Liquors downtown. Politicians and celebrities on VIP seating watched the blasts , while ordinary tourists packed 'atomic box lunches' and had picnics as close to ground zero as they could get. Las Vegas businesses held "Dawn Bomb Parties' starting at midnight, where guests were said to drink and sing until the flash of the bomb lit up the dark sky. Typical of the era was a model known as Miss Atomic Bomb 1957. Photographers were doing a shoot. The unknown model had cotton cut into the shape of a mushroom cloud pinned to her bathing suit. The Museum currently has a room dedicated to Miss Atomic Bomb and one man's 25-year quest to discover her true identity. Guests can pose with Miss Atomic Bomb or 'become' her, with two cutouts. The outdoor explosion show ended in 1963, with increasing awareness of the impact of nuclear fallout. The Limited Test Ban treaty which forbade testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in space, and underwater was signed by the U.S., the Soviet Union and the UK. The Museum has U.S. and Soviet flags from a joint nuclear monitoring mission in 1989. When Russian scientists were taken shopping at a Las Vegas grocery story, they refused to shop as they thought all the abundance was U.S. propaganda. So they were taken to a second store where they finally accepted American capitalist reality.
New York Post
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Who is ‘Miss Atomic Bomb?': How one man's obsession solved 68-year-old mystery behind iconic photo
It wasn't going to be easy to track down the woman who came to be known as 'Miss Atomic Bomb.' All Robert Friedrichs had to go on was a stage name he found printed under an archival newspaper photo that showed her posing with other Las Vegas showgirls. It would take him more than two decades to unravel the mystery of Lee A. Merlin's true identity. Friedrichs, 81, isn't a detective. He's a historian and a retired scientist who got his start during the atomic age, a complicated moment in American history when the line was blurred between fear and fascination with nuclear power. 5 Anna Lee Mahoney, also known as Miss Atomic Bomb, is pictured in one of the most famous pop-culture images of the aboveground nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Site. AP Between 1951 and 1992, hundreds of nuclear tests were performed, mostly underground, in the desert outside Las Vegas. But it was the massive mushroom clouds from the above-ground nuclear blasts that captured the public's imagination throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Las Vegas sought to capitalize on that craze, and in 1957 sent a photographer out on assignment to shoot a promotional ad for nuclear tourism. He got an idea to capture the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel in a swimsuit in the shape of a fluffy mushroom cloud. In the photo, the high-heeled showgirl is smiling with arms outstretched as the desert unfolds behind her like a stage. The image played a key role in shaping Las Vegas's identity as a city of fantasy and spectacle. Yet little was known about the star of the photo — until now. Chasing clues Friedrich first set out to find Miss Atomic Bomb around 2000. The Atomic Museum was set to open in Las Vegas in a few years, and as a founding member, he was 'hoping against hope' that she was still alive and could attend the grand opening. What started as a simple question — Who was she? — became an obsession for Friedrichs that outlasted careers and outlived friends. Friedrichs filled stacks of binders with clues and potential leads, like one that led him 'to a guy in South Dakota.' Days off were spent either combing through online newspaper archives or sifting through special collections at the library. 5 Robert Friedrichs (left) first set out to find Miss Atomic Bomb around 2000. KSNV/News2LV He tracked down the photographer from that famous photoshoot and interviewed former showgirls who confirmed Miss Atomic Bomb's stage name. But the woman's real name still eluded him. Leads dried up, and months turned into years. The mystery didn't keep him up at night, but he said when he was awake, it consumed his thoughts. He would sometimes stare at the photo, wondering if she'd ever give up the answer. Then, last winter, something unexpected happened. He gave a talk at the Atomic Museum about his search, and the next day, an audience member sent him a copy of an obituary. A detail stood out: The woman had once been the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel. 5 Las Vegas sought to capitalize on the massive mushroom clouds from the above-ground nuclear blasts that had people in a craze, and in 1957 sent a photographer out on assignment to shoot a promotional ad for nuclear tourism. Getty Images Her name was Anna Lee Mahoney. Beyond the stage name She was born on Aug. 14, 1927, in the Bronx. Mahoney trained in ballet in New York before performing in shows and musicals under her stage name, Lee A. Merlin. By 1957, she was the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel's Copa showroom, a frequent haunt of the Rat Pack and mobsters. She performed for elite audiences, including Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, according to her obituary. After hanging up her dancing shoes, Mahoney worked for 30 years as a mental health counselor, moved to Hawaii, and got married. She died in 2001 in Santa Cruz, California, after a battle with cancer. Her photograph is one of the most requested of the 7.5 million images kept in the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority's archive. It has inspired Halloween costumes, and former Playboy Bunny Holly Madison recreated it in 2012. One of the outtakes from the famous shoot appears in the background of an episode of 'Crime Story,' a police TV drama set in the 1960s. 'It's just really amazing that one click of the shutter could have such an impact,' Friedrichs said. A temporary exhibit showcasing the decades-long search opens June 13 at the Atomic Museum. 'It's about Miss Atomic Bomb, about Anna Lee Mahoney,' said Joseph Kent, the museum's deputy director and curator, 'but it's also about Robert's quest to find out her real identity.' New friends and old stories Over the years, the project had become deeply personal for Friedrichs. He and the photographer, Don English, became fast friends after their first meeting. Before the Atomic Museum opened to the public, Friedrichs took English inside to tour the space. English brought the original camera he used to take the infamous photo. 5 Mahoney's photograph is one of the most requested of the 7.5 million images kept in the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority's archive, according to reports. Corbis via Getty Images English posed in the lobby for a photo with a life-sized cardboard cutout of 'Miss Atomic Bomb.' Friedrichs jokes it's his favorite of all the photos he's collected of her in 25 years. English died in 2006, long before Friedrichs solved the mystery. Instead, he called English's daughter to share the news. 'She was really excited that we had gotten this put to bed,' Friedrichs said. And then there were the showgirls who spent hours talking with Friedrichs. They shared their stage names and stories about vintage Vegas — fancy dinners, photoshoots, and lavish gifts like a beautiful citrine ring that one of them got from a man who wanted to marry her. The women provided a glimpse into the atomic era, life as Copa showgirls, and how they became icons of Las Vegas, yet were sometimes misidentified in photo captions or their names altogether omitted. 5 One of the exhibition halls at the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas. Corbis via Getty Images And finally, with the help of private investigators who donated their time, Friedrichs uncovered conclusive evidence linking all of Miss Atomic Bomb's names to a single Social Security number. 'It's something I always hoped would be completed in my lifetime,' said Friedrichs, teary-eyed. His motivation to solve the mystery didn't come from curiosity alone. The missing name was a gap in the historical record, he said, and he wanted to fix it. 'It's sort of like knowing someone was the first president of the United States, but what was his name again?'
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The 25-year quest to find Miss Atomic Bomb ends. Here's what we know about this iconic ‘nuclear tourism' photograph
The mystery behind Miss Atomic Bomb (X/ @BeschlossDC ) For 25 years, one question consumed retired scientist Robert Friedrichs: Who was the woman behind the most famous photograph in Las Vegas' history? The mysterious showgirl captured in a 1957 promotional photograph became an enduring symbol of atomic-age America. Posed in a mushroom cloud-shaped swimsuit with arms outstretched against the Nevada desert, she was known only by her stage name "Lee A. Merlin'. A city built on 'nuclear tourism' The iconic photograph emerged from a unique moment in American history when the display of nuclear power captured public attention between 1951 and 1992. Las Vegas sought to capitalise on the trend, and sent in a photographer in 1957 to shoot a promotional ad for 'nuclear tourism'. Nuclear tourism refers to travel focused on atomic history, where visitors explore nuclear test sites, reactors, and related museums to experience and learn about the Atomic age. The photographer shot the model in a fluffy, mushroom-shaped swimsuit, immitating a nuclear cloud, in high-heels and a smiling face, strectching her arms as the desert unfolded behind her. It became one of the most requested photographs, shaping Las Vegas' identity as a city of fantasy and spectacle. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Добро пожаловать в Аравию SAUDI Забронировать Undo Yet little was known about the model in th photo. The start of the quest Friedrichs in 2000 started his quest for the lady when the Atomic Museum was preparing to open in Las Vegas. As a founding member, he hoped to locate Miss Atomic Bomb for the grand opening ceremony. What started as simple curiosity evolved into an all-consuming obsession. His investigation filled stacks of binders with clues and potential leads. He tracked down the original photographer, Don English, and interviewed former showgirls who confirmed the stage name "Lee A. Merlin." But the woman's true identity remained elusive, with leads drying up and months turning into years. The breakthrough came unexpectedly last winter. After Friedrichs delivered a presentation about his search at the Atomic Museum, an audience member sent him an obituary the following day. One detail jumped out: the deceased woman had once been the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel. Her name was Anna Lee Mahoney. Who was Anna Lee Mahoney? Born on August 14, 1927, in the Bronx, Mahoney was trained in ballet in New York before transitioning to stage performances under her professional name, 'Lee A. Merlin'. By 1957, she had become the lead dancer at the famous Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. After retiring from dance, Mahoney reinvented herself as a mental health counselor, working in the field for 30 years. She later moved to Hawaii, married, and lived quietly until her death from cancer in 2001 in Santa Cruz, California. More than just a photograph The Miss Atomic Bomb photograph transcended its original promotional purpose to become a touchstone. For Friedrichs, solving the mystery represented more than satisfying personal curiosity. "The missing name was a gap in the historical record, and I wanted to fix it," he explained, comparing it to knowing someone was the first US president but forgetting their name. "It's something I always hoped would be completed in my lifetime". A temporary exhibit showcasing his decades-long investigation opens this June 13 at the Atomic Museum, celebrating both Anna Lee Mahoney's life and the determined historian who refused to let her story disappear into the atomic dust of history.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is ''Miss Atomic Bomb''? Historian searched for 25 years for answer
Robert Friedrichs, a historian, spent two decades finding 'Miss Atomic Bomb'. The search began around 2000. 'Miss Atomic Bomb' was a stage name. The real name was Anna Lee Mahoney. She was a lead dancer at the Sands Hotel. Later, she worked as a mental health counselor. She died in 2001. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chasing clues Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Beyond the stage name New friends and old stories It wasn't going to be easy to track down the woman who came to be known as " Miss Atomic Bomb ."All Robert Friedrichs had to go on was a stage name he found printed under an archival newspaper photo that showed her posing with other Las Vegas showgirls It would take him more than two decades to unravel the mystery of Lee A. Merlin 's true 81, isn't a detective. He's a historian and a retired scientist who got his start during the atomic age, a complicated moment in American history when the line was blurred between fear and fascination with nuclear 1951 and 1992, hundreds of nuclear tests were performed, mostly underground, in the desert outside Las Vegas. But it was the massive mushroom clouds from the above-ground nuclear blasts that captured the public's imagination throughout the 1950s and early Vegas sought to capitalise on that craze, and in 1957 sent a photographer out on assignment to shoot a promotional ad for nuclear tourism . He got an idea to capture the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel in a swimsuit in the shape of a fluffy mushroom cloud. In the photo, the high-heeled showgirl is smiling with arms outstretched as the desert unfolds behind her like a image played a key role in shaping Las Vegas ' identity as a city of fantasy and spectacle. Yet little was known about the star of the photo - until first set out to find Miss Atomic Bomb around 2000. The Atomic Museum was set to open in Las Vegas in a few years and as a founding member, he was "hoping against hope" that she was still alive and could attend the grand started as a simple question - Who was she? - became an obsession for Friedrichs that outlasted careers and outlived filled stacks of binders with clues and potential leads, like one that led him "to a guy in South Dakota." Days off were spent either combing through online newspaper archives or sifting through special collections at the tracked down the photographer from that famous photoshoot and interviewed former showgirls who confirmed Miss Atomic Bomb's stage name. But the woman's real name still eluded dried up and months turned into mystery didn't keep him up at night, but he said when he was awake, it consumed his thoughts. He would sometimes stare at the photo, wondering if she'd ever give up the last winter, something unexpected happened. He gave a talk at the Atomic Museum about his search, and the next day, an audience member sent him a copy of an obituary. A detail stood out: The woman had once been the lead dancer at the Sands name was Anna Lee Mahoney She was born on Aug 14, 1927, in the Bronx. Mahoney trained in ballet in New York before performing in shows and musicals under her stage name, Lee A. 1957, she was the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel's Copa showroom, a frequent haunt of the Rat Pack and mobsters. She performed for elite audiences, including Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, according to her hanging up her dancing shoes, Mahoney worked for 30 years as a mental health counselor, moved to Hawaii and got married. She died in 2001 in Santa Cruz, California, after a battle with photograph is one of the most requested of the 7.5 million images kept in the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority's archive. It has inspired Halloween costumers, and former Playboy Bunny Holly Madison recreated it in 2012. One of the outtakes from the famous shoot appears in the background of an episode of "Crime Story," a police TV drama set in the 1960s."It's just really amazing that one click of the shutter could have such an impact," Friedrichs said.A temporary exhibit showcasing the decades-long search opens June 13 at the Atomic Museum."It's about Miss Atomic Bomb, about Anna Lee Mahoney," said Joseph Kent, the museum's deputy director and curator, "but it's also about Robert's quest to find out her real identity."Over the years, the project had become deeply personal for and the photographer, Don English, became fast friends after their first meeting. Before the Atomic Museum opened to the public, Friedrichs took English inside to tour the space. English brought the original camera he used to take the infamous posed in the lobby for a photo with a life-sized cardboard cutout of "Miss Atomic Bomb." Friedrichs jokes it's his favorite of all the photos he's collected of her in 25 died in 2006, long before Friedrichs solved the mystery. Instead he called English's daughter to share the news."She was really excited that we had gotten this put to bed," Friedrichs then there were the showgirls who spent hours talking with Friedrichs. They shared their stage names and stories about vintage Vegas - fancy dinners, photoshoots and lavish gifts like a beautiful citrine ring that one of them got from a man who wanted to marry women provided a glimpse into the atomic era, life as Copa showgirls and how they became icons of Las Vegas, yet were sometimes misidentified in photo captions or their names altogether finally, with the help of private investigators who donated their time, Friedrichs uncovered conclusive evidence linking all of Miss Atomic Bomb's names to a single Social Security number."It's something I always hoped would be completed in my lifetime," said Friedrichs, motivation to solve the mystery didn't come from curiosity alone. The missing name was a gap in the historical record, he said, and he wanted to fix it."It's sort of like knowing someone was the first president of the United States, but what was his name again?"
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
Who is 'Miss Atomic Bomb'? A historian searched for 25 years for the answer
LAS VEGAS -- It wasn't going to be easy to track down the woman who came to be known as 'Miss Atomic Bomb." All Robert Friedrichs had to go on was a stage name he found printed under an archival newspaper photo that showed her posing with other Las Vegas showgirls. It would take him more than two decades to unravel the mystery of Lee A. Merlin's true identity. Friedrichs, 81, isn't a detective. He's a historian and a retired scientist who got his start during the atomic age, a complicated moment in American history when the line was blurred between fear and fascination with nuclear power. Between 1951 and 1992, hundreds of nuclear tests were performed, mostly underground, in the desert outside Las Vegas. But it was the massive mushroom clouds from the above-ground nuclear blasts that captured the public's imagination throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Las Vegas sought to capitalize on that craze, and in 1957 sent a photographer out on assignment to shoot a promotional ad for nuclear tourism. He got an idea to capture the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel in a swimsuit in the shape of a fluffy mushroom cloud. In the photo, the high-heeled showgirl is smiling with arms outstretched as the desert unfolds behind her like a stage. The image played a key role in shaping Las Vegas ' identity as a city of fantasy and spectacle. Yet little was known about the star of the photo — until now. Friedrichs first set out to find Miss Atomic Bomb around 2000. The Atomic Museum was set to open in Las Vegas in a few years and as a founding member, he was 'hoping against hope' that she was still alive and could attend the grand opening. What started as a simple question — Who was she? — became an obsession for Friedrichs that outlasted careers and outlived friends. Friedrichs filled stacks of binders with clues and potential leads, like one that led him 'to a guy in South Dakota." Days off were spent either combing through online newspaper archives or sifting through special collections at the library. He tracked down the photographer from that famous photoshoot and interviewed former showgirls who confirmed Miss Atomic Bomb's stage name. But the woman's real name still eluded him. Leads dried up and months turned into years. The mystery didn't keep him up at night, but he said when he was awake, it consumed his thoughts. He would sometimes stare at the photo, wondering if she'd ever give up the answer. Then, last winter, something unexpected happened. He gave a talk at the Atomic Museum about his search, and the next day, an audience member sent him a copy of an obituary. A detail stood out: The woman had once been the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel. Her name was Anna Lee Mahoney. She was born on Aug. 14, 1927, in the Bronx. Mahoney trained in ballet in New York before performing in shows and musicals under her stage name, Lee A. Merlin. By 1957, she was the lead dancer at the Sands Hotel's Copa showroom, a frequent haunt of the Rat Pack and mobsters. She performed for elite audiences, including Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, according to her obituary. After hanging up her dancing shoes, Mahoney worked for 30 years as a mental health counselor, moved to Hawaii and got married. She died in 2001 in Santa Cruz, California, after a battle with cancer. Her photograph is one of the most requested of the 7.5 million images kept in the Las Vegas Convention Center and Visitors Authority's archive. It has inspired Halloween costumers, and former Playboy Bunny Holly Madison recreated it in 2012. One of the outtakes from the famous shoot appears in the background of an episode of 'Crime Story,' a police TV drama set in the 1960s. 'It's just really amazing that one click of the shutter could have such an impact,' Friedrichs said. A temporary exhibit showcasing the decades-long search opens June 13 at the Atomic Museum. 'It's about Miss Atomic Bomb, about Anna Lee Mahoney,' said Joseph Kent, the museum's deputy director and curator, 'but it's also about Robert's quest to find out her real identity.' Over the years, the project had become deeply personal for Friedrichs. He and the photographer, Don English, became fast friends after their first meeting. Before the Atomic Museum opened to the public, Friedrichs took English inside to tour the space. English brought the original camera he used to take the infamous photo. English posed in the lobby for a photo with a life-sized cardboard cutout of 'Miss Atomic Bomb.' Friedrichs jokes it's his favorite of all the photos he's collected of her in 25 years. English died in 2006, long before Friedrichs solved the mystery. Instead he called English's daughter to share the news. 'She was really excited that we had gotten this put to bed,' Friedrichs said. And then there were the showgirls who spent hours talking with Friedrichs. They shared their stage names and stories about vintage Vegas — fancy dinners, photoshoots and lavish gifts like a beautiful citrine ring that one of them got from a man who wanted to marry her. The women provided a glimpse into the atomic era, life as Copa showgirls and how they became icons of Las Vegas, yet were sometimes misidentified in photo captions or their names altogether omitted. And finally, with the help of private investigators who donated their time, Friedrichs uncovered conclusive evidence linking all of Miss Atomic Bomb's names to a single Social Security number. 'It's something I always hoped would be completed in my lifetime," said Friedrichs, teary-eyed. His motivation to solve the mystery didn't come from curiosity alone. The missing name was a gap in the historical record, he said, and he wanted to fix it. 'It's sort of like knowing someone was the first president of the United States, but what was his name again?'
