Miss Atomic Bomb’s Identity Finally Revealed After 25-Year Search/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The identity of the iconic “Miss Atomic Bomb” has been revealed after a 25-year quest by historian Robert Friedrichs. The famed Las Vegas showgirl from a 1957 atomic-era photoshoot was Anna Lee Mahoney, a former Sands Hotel dancer. The discovery not only preserves cultural history but honors a woman who symbolized an unforgettable era.
Miss Atomic Bomb Mystery Solved: Quick Looks
- Subject: Identity of 1957 “Miss Atomic Bomb” finally discovered
- Researcher: Historian Robert Friedrichs led a 25-year investigation
- Name Revealed: Lee A. Merlin was the stage name of Anna Lee Mahoney
- Background: Mahoney was a top dancer at the Sands Hotel in 1957
- Photo Impact: The famous mushroom-cloud bikini shot symbolized Las Vegas’s atomic era
- Post-Showbiz Life: Mahoney became a mental health counselor and passed away in 2001
- Legacy: Her photo is one of the most requested in Las Vegas history
- New Exhibit: A museum display about the decades-long search opens June 13 at the Atomic Museum
- Motivation: Friedrichs wanted to fill a critical gap in Vegas and nuclear tourism history
Deep Look: The Woman Behind ‘Miss Atomic Bomb’ Finally Has a Name
By RIO YAMAT | AP – May 31, 2025
LAS VEGAS — A long-standing mystery of the atomic age has been solved: the identity of the woman immortalized in one of Las Vegas’ most iconic images — the 1957 photograph of “Miss Atomic Bomb” — has finally been revealed as Anna Lee Mahoney.
The revelation comes thanks to a 25-year effort by 81-year-old Robert Friedrichs, a retired scientist turned historian. His search began around the year 2000 with a single archival photograph and a stage name — Lee A. Merlin — and ended this year with a conclusive ID backed by obituary records, interviews, and archival research.
“It’s something I always hoped would be completed in my lifetime,” Friedrichs said, his voice cracking with emotion.
An Icon of Atomic Era Glamour
The photo in question — featuring a smiling showgirl in a mushroom cloud-inspired swimsuit — was taken during a publicity campaign by Las Vegas to capitalize on “atomic tourism.” Above-ground nuclear tests in the Nevada desert became media spectacles in the 1950s, and Vegas used the imagery to attract thrill-seeking tourists.
While the image became synonymous with mid-century Las Vegas, the model behind the spectacle remained an enigma — until now.
Mahoney, born in the Bronx in 1927, trained in ballet before becoming a star at the Sands Hotel’s Copa showroom, a hotspot for celebrities and entertainers like Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong. Her obituary confirmed she later transitioned into mental health counseling, married, and lived in Hawaii before dying of cancer in 2001.
How the Mystery Was Solved
Friedrichs originally hoped to locate Mahoney for the 2005 opening of the Atomic Museum, where he was a founding member. That hope evolved into a full-scale quest spanning decades, with Friedrichs collecting binders of evidence and following leads from newspaper archives to interviews with former showgirls and photographers.
One pivotal moment came during a recent lecture at the museum. After his talk, an audience member sent him an obituary — and the details clicked. Friedrichs confirmed the match using private investigators and social security number verification.
“The missing name was a gap in the historical record,” Friedrichs explained. “I just wanted to set it right.”
The Cultural Weight of a Single Photograph
The photo of Miss Atomic Bomb has remained one of the most requested images in the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority archive, inspiring costumes, TV show cameos, and cultural commentary. Even Playboy’s Holly Madison recreated it in 2012.
Yet the woman behind the image had remained anonymous to the public. Mahoney’s face, smile, and iconic swimsuit became symbols of a glittering yet paradoxical age — one where nuclear dread and showbiz allure coexisted.
A Tribute Through Exhibition
The Atomic Museum will open a temporary exhibit on June 13 chronicling Friedrichs’ exhaustive investigation and Mahoney’s life. It’s both a celebration of a woman’s uncredited legacy and a testament to one man’s relentless pursuit of truth.
Museum curator Joseph Kent summed it up best:
“It’s about Miss Atomic Bomb, about Anna Lee Mahoney, but it’s also about Robert’s quest.”
A Legacy Preserved
Friedrichs’ research brought him new friendships, especially with Don English, the photographer who took the original image. Though English passed away in 2006, Friedrichs made sure to inform his daughter once the mystery was solved.
“She was thrilled,” he said. “It gave closure to all of us who cared about the history.”
Friedrichs also grew close to several former showgirls, who shared stories of Vegas’s golden age — the glamour, the secrecy, the lives behind the spotlight.
The real Miss Atomic Bomb was more than a stage persona. She was a dancer, a counselor, a symbol of a cultural moment now permanently preserved in both photo and fact.
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