Latest news with #Friedrichs
New York Post
3 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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.
3 days ago
- 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?'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who is 'Miss Atomic Bomb'? A historian searched for 25 years for the answer
LAS VEGAS (AP) — 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. Chasing clues 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. 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 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.' 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. 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?'
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Who is ‘Miss Atomic Bomb'? A historian searched for 25 years for the answer
LAS VEGAS (AP) — 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. Chasing clues 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. 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 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.' 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. 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?'
