The "Atomic" Sunrise over Los Angeles (throughout the 1950s)
Although much of the attention given to atomic weapons is typically given to “Fat Man” (Nagasaki), and “Little Boy” (Hiroshima) - as part of the World War II rhetoric they became the technology that “ended the war with Japan” - very few people realize that between July 1945 and September 1992, 1127 atomic weapons were detonated for various tests. Between October 1951 through September 1992, 928 atomic tests were conducted at the Nevada Test Site, located Northwest of Las Vegas, and only about 300 miles away from Los Angeles.
Even at such a distance, many of the 100 tests completed above ground and in the early morning hours, managed to give Los Angeles an “early sunrise”. With an energy output equated to 35,000 tons of TNT (or more), the tremendous explosion caused the sky over the city to fill glow and back-light the buildings and mountain ranges of the city. While atomic weapons tested during the day were drowned out the natural daylight, in the early mornings throughout much of the 1950s, Angelenos would catch repeated glimpses of the testing taking place hundreds of miles away.
According to Wired Magazine writer Doug Bierend, “The Nevada detonations became such a source of interest for the City of Angels that on April 22, 1952, local TV station KTLA joined several other networks in broadcasting the massive Tumbler-Snapper test detonation. The event got surprisingly high ratings for 5:30 in the morning — before that, they had to broadcast tests secretly.” To the right is the 1952 broadcast, which gives some idea what people witnessed, and the intense light generated by the blast. While the schedules for when the tests would take place might have previously been a secret, for those already awake in the early morning, it was not hard to tell that they had. In the gallery below, many of the images show silhouettes of Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Throughout the city and the valley, the glow filled the sky as photographers and others looked on. Note how much light appears in the photo, and keep in mind that many occurred between 4a.m. and 6 a.m.
For a complete list of Atomic Tests, check out this one compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston over at sonicbomb.com.
Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Library (special thanks to xterraman07)
Doug Bierend, "Throwback Thursday: The Glowing Dawn of the Atomic Age, Seen From 1950s Los Angeles"
Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Library (special thanks to xterraman07)
Doug Bierend, "Throwback Thursday: The Glowing Dawn of the Atomic Age, Seen From 1950s Los Angeles"