The 1950s: Atomic Tourism

Atomic Tourism

Less than a decade after bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagaski, atomic tourism became a mainstay in Las Vegas. Conceived as a way to quell fears about the nuclear testing taking place, the city embraced its reputation as the Atomic City and invited tourists to join in the spectacle, with many casinos hosting atomic parties with bomb-themed cocktails where guests could watch the blasts at dawn. Watch parties also occurred at the bomb sites themselves. The first test bomb was detonated in the test sites outside of Las Vegas on January 27, 1951. Throughout the 1950s into the early 1960s, an average of 1 bomb was detonated every 3 weeks for 12 years - a total of 235 bombs - all more powerful than those that so devastated Japan.

Miss Atomic Bomb

Though there was never an official Miss Atomic Bomb contest, there were four different "Miss Atomics" who were celebrated in the Las Vegas press. These Miss Atomics were meant to blend Las Vegas' two most striking tourist attractions: showgirls and Atomic bomb blasts. 

Some other fun videos:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VU1utMX38g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg2P9dx-GM