Gallery: Throwback Thursday: The Glowing Dawn of the Atomic Age, Seen From 1950s Los Angeles
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Photo by Perry Fowler, February 2, 1951. "Today's atomic explosion, largest yet set off on the Nevada test range, was clearly visible in Los Angeles, as remarkable photo shows. Staff photographer Perry Folwer was ready with his camera on a tripod on the roof of the Herald-Express building when the blast occurred at 5:48 a.m. Reporter Jack Smith, who also saw yesterday's explosion, points towards the great white flash that clearly silhouetted mountains to the east."
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This Herald-Examiner photo was taken May 7, 1952. "Atomic blast gives Los Angeles a early 'sunrise.' It was still night in Los Angeles at 5:15 a.m. today when the 'early sunrise' flashed momentarily on the northeastern horizon. 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."
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An atomic bomb from testing in Nevada lights the sky in this photograph taken on March 1, 1955 from the Los Angeles Times Mirror Building. Los Angeles City Hall is on the left hand side of the photograph. Note that the clock in the far left foreground states the time of 5:27 (a.m.)
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How the largest of the Nevada atomic blasts looked from Los Angeles, looking northeast from the tower of Los Angeles City Hall March 7, 1955. "Los Angeles had a premature 'dawn' that lasted 20 seconds beginning at 5:20."
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Atomic blast seen from the San Fernando Valley, March 7, 1955. Photo by Bob Steele. "Atomic fire lights pre-dawn valley skies. Blazing light from biggest atomic blast in current Yucca Flats, Nev., tests illuminates Valley skies -- 275 air miles away -- at 5:20 a.m. today, 20 minutes after explosion. Photo was taken from Mulholland Drive. Cluster of lights at left is Lockheed Air Terminal. At right is Burbank residential and business district."
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From the Herald-Examiner, June 4, 1953. "Evidence that today's atomic bomb, detonated at Yucca Flat, Nevada, was the most powerful of all in the series is revealed in this picture taken here. The sky is as bright as day, but even more notable is the fact that downtown buildings are not only silhouetted, as in previous atomic explosions, but actually are illuminated on this side, the side farthest away from blast source."
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From the Herald-Examiner, May 5, 1955. "Early risers were a bit disappointed this morning when they went to roof of a downtown Los Angeles building to see the flash from the big atomic blast in Nevada. Because of heavy layer of clouds between here and there, they saw only a faint glimmer. Blast was at 5:10 a.m."
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Atomic blast seen from the San Fernando Valley, July 5, 1957. Photo by Justin Westerfield. Photo reads: "Blast lights valley sky. Brilliant flash lights sky over Valley at 4:40 this morning as biggest nuclear explosions is set off in Nevada. Picture taken from Mulholland Drive with Studio City in foreground and Burbank at right.
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This damaged print from the Herald-Examiner is dated March 12, 1955. "A-bomb blast brightens L.A. at 5:20 a.m. as seen from the 9th Street cutoff of the Harbor freeway."
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On this photo from the Herald-Examiner, dated March 7, 1955, was written 'Los Angeles' atomic dawn.' "This is another version of how the atomic bomb blast in Nevada looked over Los Angeles from the roof of the Statler Hotel. Note the sharpness of City Hall (right background), the Richfield Building (right foreground) and other buildings. Ridge of mountains is also sharply outlined."
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This Herald-Examiner photo from May 7, 1952, shows a Firestone Tire and Rubber Company building in downtown Los Angeles, lit by atomic testing in Nevada. "Today's atomic blast on Yucca Flat proving grounds in Nevada was plainly visible to early risers at 5:15 a.m. in Los Angeles. Photo taken from the roof of the Herald-Express building, shows blast lighting up the northeastern horizon."
