Atomic Kids
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists suggests that this energy lab is the most dangerous toy in the world. "The $49.50 set came with four samples of uranium-bearing ores (autunite, torbernite, uraninite, and carnotite), as well as a Geiger-Mueller radiation counter" and a Dagwood cartoon written by Major General Leslie Groves. Check out the story of rise and fall of the chemistry set from Smithsonian.
Atomic Rabbit is probably the most benign of comic book heroes created by atomic science. The first comic hero appears to be Adam Mann who is changed into Atom Man by a bomb in 1945. Read about 15 radioactive superheroes and villains.
This game is designed to help young cold warriors improve their aim as they release a metal bomb on a target map. The Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity has a great collection of atomic toys.
During the Cold War Kix cereal promised an "Atomic Bomb Ring” in where a child could “see genuine atoms SPLIT to smithereens!” in every box. "You'll see brilliant flashes of light in the inky darkness inside the atom chamber...We guarantee you can wear the KIX Atomic 'Bomb' Ring with complete safety. The atomic materials inside the ring are harmless."
Cap guns have always been dangerous — there's no telling what an atomic version could do.
See more atomic toys from The Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity.
Home and Family
Everything atomic was evidently the best — though what makes these razor blades atomic remains a mystery. Historian Elaine Tyler May paints a vivid picture of 1950s family life in "Cold War, Warm Hearth."
In 1951, intrepid newlyweds Melvin and Maria Mininson spent an "Atomic Honeymoon" in a Miami fallout shelter. After ten days, the bride did admit to being bothered by the Florida heat but evidently enjoyed playing checkers hours at a time. The Bulletin of thr Atomic Scientists reported that the couple were still married 41 years later.
The temptation of using brand new science in commercial advertising is nothing new. Predating the bomb itself, this radium butter dates from 1933. Radium's glow-in-the-dark quality unfortunately spawned an industry that killed a number of young women making luminous watches.
Mid-century modern is the preferred mode for many high-end furniture makers today — and a big part of the Museum of Modern Art's decorative collection. Look beyond the obvious atomic blast chandelier to the Eames-designed coffee table in rocket shape.
Fashion
The bikini was once scandalous enough to earn a "sinful" rating from the Pope. Named for the shape of the atomic test blast on Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific, the styles was debuted in 1946 by French designer Louis Réard. According to Women's Wear Daily, famed Vogue editor Diana Vreeland called the bikini “the most important thing since the atom bomb.”
Bomb testing brought a flock of tourists to the deserts surrounding Las Vegas. Many of those chosen as Miss Atom Bomb or Miss Atomic Blast were local showgirls. U.S. Marines crowned a beauty who radiates “loveliness instead of deadly atomic particles.”
The elite Bachelor’s Ball at the St. Westwood Country Club in St. Louis was converted into an “Atomic Ball.” Everyone came in costume and drank Dry Martians and Old Fissions. “One special guest was a live pig, “Miss Bikini II,” announced as a radioactive descendant of the pig exposed at Bikini.”
The fashion industry quickly tamed the atomic image. A famous Vogue cover posed a model wearing a chic outfit in front the symbol of the atomic age — the Atomium — the symbol of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair
Pop Culture
The Atomic Mr. Basie album is also known as "E=MC2" among jazz experts. The Atomic Mr. Basie won the “Best Jazz Performance”, “Group”, and “Best Performance by a Dance Band” awards at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards.
True Detective magazine was immensely popular in mid-century America — just as true crime podcasts rule the day now. Villains were often Soviet agents endangering the U.S. by sneaking atomic secrets. The Russian spy character was both highbrow and lowbrow —from John Le Carre's George Smiley novels and Boris and Nastaha constantly foiled by Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Relatively mild-mannered Peter Parker gained his extra power from an irradiated spider bite. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse is a 2023 hit. Rotten Tomatoes keeps a ranking of 20th century spider-man films. The list stands at 13.
The experts at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists are continually adding to their Doomsday Clock Playlist. Pink Floyd recorded "Two Sunsets" in 1983 — Bastille released "Quarter Past Midnight" in 2019.
Godzilla and endangered busty heroines didn't only appear on the big screen, there was a booming industry in bomb-related pop fiction. Check out Los Alamos National Laboratory's atomic pop culture vault.
Atomic Tourism
Fifties Vegas was notorious for its mobbed-up gambling culture. Benny Binon's famous casino used local atomic cloud images in its advertising. Binion's casino was among the first to eliminate table limits. Mr. Binion eventually spent time in federal prison for tax evasion.
The bomb was a boon to tourism in dusty and desolate Nevada. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce published a calendar of tests and recommended prime viewing spots. In twelve years 235 bombs were detonated at the Nevada Test Site.
Popular site The Travel has current information for today's aspiring atomic tourist. Attractions include:
- Nuclear wastelands
- Memorials
- Museums dedicated to nuclear warfare
- Underwater destinations that once saw wartime
- Nuclear testing sites
A visit to the Trinity Test Site in New Mexico was a special honor for dignitaries and high government officials in the late 1940s. In the 1950s the Department of Interior wrote all visitors who had been given a piece of trinitite —the glass formed from the heat and sand — and suggested people might want to remove them immediately. The Trinity Site is open two days a year to visitors.