Bombs, Babes and the Bikini

“The Bomb,” a PBS film released in 2015 tells the tale of the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, and suggests that the bikini bathing suit was created because of the bomb.

"The Bomb"

Explosive and dangerous, bikinis, like the bomb can be these two things according to some folks.  

The modern era bikini made its first appearance in 1946. Some historians claim bikini style wear has been around for more than 5,600 years. (Wikipedia)

“The Bomb” may have also created a new hair style. Fads of hairstyles or the invention of the bikini may or may not have been created from the inspiration of the bomb, but regardless, the similarities and fascinations are real. Mark Izzy Schurr

"The Bomb" photos 

"The Bomb" A PBS Film Reviewed

MAD equates to massive death and disease; Mutual Assured Destruction, the Manhattan Project was first tested in the 1940s in the desserts of New Mexico.


The first atom bomb ever tested in New Mexico was aptly named by the Mexicans; ‘Journey of the Dead.’

photo from PBS's "The Bomb"   

American warmongers were, and are currently the only nation to use the atomic bomb on people. On Aug., 6, 1945, the Fat Man, aka, the atom bomb was dropped on Japan’s Hiroshima, and upon its explosion, it raised the temperature to 10,000 degrees and killed at least 80,000 people with a single explosion. Imagine a child’s blood boiling just before they die; that’s one evil of the atomic bomb.  


Hiroshima wasn’t enough for the power ridden American leaders of the 1940s. Driven by the ancient spirits of the nefarious Roman leaders from 1,000s of years ago, another atomic bomb on August 9, was dropped on Nagasaki, killing approximately 70,000 people, far too many of which were women and children. 

"The Bomb" pictures

Tragically, the more than a 150,000 dead from the two bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just a horrid end to the other countless deaths from the atomic bombings. A 100,000 Japanese died in one night from massive bomb drops in another Japanese city prior to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

More photos from "The Bomb"

World War II officially ended on Sept., 2, 1945. Less than five years from the end of World War II, world leaders across the globe were already pawning their poor into another war and bombing more women and children, this time in Korea.  


After World War II, the nuclear arms race began, and America and many other counties are currently poisoning our oceans and lands with radiation. Radiation can’t be smelled or felt. Everybody is affected by it, there’s no place to hide. For more then five decades now, 1,0000s of nuclear explosions have occurred.  (PBS, 2015, “The Bomb”) 

Hydrogen bomb explosion from "The Bomb"

The atomic bomb has nothing on the hydrogen bomb.  In 1954, America’s hydrogen bomb, with a single explosion is equal to 15 megatons; 15 million tons of TNT. (PBS, “The Bomb”) The first Hydrogen bomb was 600 times more powerful than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. (“The Bomb”)


In the late 1940s and 1950s, many nuclear bomb tests were conducted in the ocean, and not by the U.S. alone. Some of these single explosions have lifted 2 million tons of sea water into the air which creates a mist of radiation that effects small islands and fishermen.  (PBS, “The Bomb”) Also in this time span, several radiated contaminated U.S. ships were deliberately sunk, but not before saving its crews, yet the poisoned ships festered the ocean floors, fueling their chaotic chemicals amidst the ocean depths and its creatures.   


In the 1950s, Russia’s hydrogen bomb, aka, the Zar Bomba was 50, not 15 megatons and 50 million tons of TNT, enough to kill 4 million people in a single explosion.  


Nearly 70 years ago, a single nuclear bomb could kill 4 million people with one explosion. Imagine what one of these explosions can do now. Political tensions seem to never completely dissipate, and our current president worries me to say the very least. Hawaiian Representative Tulsi Gabbard said the U.S. currently has 1,000s of missiles pointed at us.


“Because of President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. has an erratic and unpredictable relationship with even its allies,” entrepreneur Andrew Yang said.

Mark Izzy Schurr

Risque Righteousness, Soft Focus Sin

Scantly clad nurses violate curfew, aide a bootlegger and bond with each other trangessionally to appeases their youthful sensations.

Stanwyck, left and Blondell in 1931s "Night Nurse"

“Night Nurse,” starring Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Blondell is a 1931 movie based on the book by Grace Perkins, aka Dora Macy.

In 1931, “Night Nurse” would have been an R movie. Illegal sales of alcohol and risqué subject matter are just a small part of this well written story.  

"Night Nurse," Blondell & Stanwyck 

The conflict begins when Stanwyck notices the abuse of a child via severe neglect from her parents. The young child is on the verge of starvation because her parents would rather imbibe alcohol then care for their young daughter.

The powers that be defend the wealthy parents, and Stanwyck is encouraged to allow the abuse to go on. Her nursing career is also jeopardized while trying to save a little girls life. The wicked world of politics; in this case the medical field, where money is more important then aiding and healing the sick, even if it’s a child.

Black and white archival movies from nearly a century ago may be outdated today, but “Night Nurse” and “Red Headed Woman” have maintained their film noir allure.

Jean Harlow, 1932s "Red Headed Woman" 

“Red Headed Woman” starring Jean Harlow first hit the masses in 1932. This movie would have also gotten an R rating under today’s standards. Harlow, a single woman in this movie pursues the road to riches by dating rich men.

Harlow becomes a shunned woman, but in the end, she gets what she wants. In the last scene of the “Red Headed Woman” Harlow marries a rich, much older man then herself. On their wedding day, she coly smiles at the young handsome chauffeur employed by her new husband.

My review of this flick has done “Red Headed Woman” no justice. In the wee-wee hours of the night, “Red Headed Woman” is a fantastic flick. I fully understand why Jean Harlow was a Hollywood sensation back in the day.

Mark Izzy Schurr