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. 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.
