These extraordinary but fairly regular events were covered in leading newspapers with photographs accompanied by nonchalant captions.
Los Angeles had two dawns yesterday, wrote the Times after one pre-dawn test in the 1950s.
An atomic bomb lights up the night sky over Los Angeles City, on March 7, 1955.
The glow lasted 20 seconds beginning at 5:20.
One such event was broadcast live by local TV channels of Los Angles on April 22, 1952.
The event got surprisingly high ratings for 5:30 in the morning.
Geoff Manaughputs thisin eloquence.
Photo credit:Wesselmann/USC Digital Library
View of Atom Bomb blast seen in Los Angeles, 1951.
Photo credit: Perry Fowler, February 2, 1951.
From the Herald-Examiner, May 7, 1952.
“Atomic blast gives Los Angeles a early ‘sunrise.’
The flash came from the latest atomic blast in Nevada.
Photo above was taken from top of hill at Sixth and St. Paul streets.
City Hall and its beacon clearly show.”
Atomic blast seen from the San Fernando Valley, March 7, 1955.
“Atomic fire lights pre-dawn valley skies.
Photo was taken from Mulholland Drive.
Cluster of lights at left is Lockheed Air Terminal.
At right is Burbank residential and business district.”
Photo credit: Bob Steele.
From the Herald-Examiner, dated March 7, 1955.
Ridge of mountains is also sharply outlined."
From the Herald-Examiner, June 4, 1953.
From the Herald-Examiner, May 5, 1955.
Because of heavy layer of clouds between here and there, they saw only a faint glimmer.
Blast was at 5:10 a.m."
From Herald-Examiner May 7, 1952.
Photo taken from the roof of the Herald-Express building, shows blast lighting up the northeastern horizon."
An un-credited, undated photo of an ‘atomic dawn’ taken from an unknown location.
The best views were had from Las Vegas, and the city fully capitalized on the atomic spectacle.
Detonation times were advertised beforehand and so were the best spots for watching.
Casinos, hotels and inns flaunted their north-facing vistas, offering special atomic cocktails and Dawn Bomb Parties.
In this picture, a mushroom cloud is seen from Las Vegas city.
Photo credit:Citylab/Las Vegas News Bureau
The flash of detonation.
Photo credit:Citylab/Las Vegas News Bureau
Tourists watch mushroom cloud from the poolside.
Photo credit:Citylab/Las Vegas News Bureau
Photo credit:Citylab/Las Vegas News Bureau
