This Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb Ring Contained Polonium-210, One of the Most Dangerous Radioactive Isotopes Known to Man

In the nuclear-obsessed 1940s, atomic energy was celebrated as the cutting edge of progress and modernity, capturing the imagination of the public. Capitalizing on this fascination, Kix cereal launched a bold promotion in 1947: for just 15 cents and a cereal box top, children could receive the Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb Ring. The ring promised excitement and novelty, tying a popular comic hero to the era’s atomic craze, and appealed directly to the curiosity and thrill-seeking of young consumers.

But the “toy” was far from harmless. Each ring contained a tiny amount of polonium-210, a highly radioactive substance, paired with a zinc sulfide screen that would glow when struck by alpha particles. While marketed as safe as long as it wasn’t ingested or inhaled, polonium-210 is among the most toxic substances known, making the ring an unsettling example of the era’s cavalier attitude toward radiation. At the time, very few questioned the potential dangers, and the public’s fascination with all things atomic often outweighed concerns for safety.

Polonium-210 is a highly radioactive alpha-emitter. While alpha particles cannot penetrate the outer layer of human skin, the substance is extremely dangerous if inhaled or swallowed. Because polonium-210 has a very short half-life (138 days), almost all the radioactivity vanished within a few years of the ring being manufactured. Any surviving rings today are virtually non-radioactive (having decayed into stable lead), though they no longer produce the “flashes” they once did.

Today, the Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb Ring stands as a bizarre museum artifact, a chilling reminder of a period when radioactive materials were marketed as novelty items for children. Because these rings were made of fragile plastic and aluminum, finding one in good condition with the red tail-fin intact is difficult. Depending on condition and whether the original mailing box and instructions are included, these rings typically sell for $100 to $400 on the collector's market.

30 Beautiful Portraits of Rita Hayworth From “My Gal Sal” (1942)

My Gal Sal is a 1942 American lavish, high-spirited musical tribute to the 1890s, capturing the vibrant energy of the “Gay Nineties” through a dazzle of song and dance. Starring the incomparable Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature, the film tells the fictionalized story of songwriter Paul Dresser as he rises from a traveling medicine show to the glamour of New York City’s Broadway. However, the true heart of the movie lies in the electrifying chemistry between its leads and the breathtaking production design.

Filmed in glorious Technicolor, My Gal Sal is a visual feast of crimson velvets, golden stage lights, and elaborate Victorian costumes. Rita Hayworth, at the height of her beauty, radiates charisma in every frame, particularly during the beautifully choreographed musical numbers. The film isn’t just a nostalgic look back at the era of Tin Pan Alley, it is a masterpiece of wartime escapism, offering 1940s audiences a world of pure elegance, hummable melodies, and the timeless allure of musical theater.

Take a look at these beautiful photos to see portraits of Rita Hayworth during the filming of My Gal Sal in 1942.

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30 Amazing Photos of a Young Denzel Washington in the 1980s

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, producer, director, and Pentecostal minister. Known for his dramatic roles on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Silver Bears and one Tony Award as well as nominations for a Grammy Award and two Emmy Awards. In 2020, The New York Times named Washington the greatest actor of the 21st century.

Washington spent the summer of 1976 in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, in summer stock theater performing Wings of the Morning, the Maryland State play, which was written for him by incorporating an African-American character/narrator based loosely on the historical figure from early colonial Maryland, Mathias de Sousa.

Shortly after graduating from Fordham, Washington made his screen acting debut in the 1977 made-for-television film Wilma which was a docudrama about sprinter Wilma Rudolph, and made his first Hollywood appearance in the 1981 film Carbon Copy. He shared a 1982 Distinguished Ensemble Performance Obie Award for playing Private First Class Melvin Peterson in the Off-Broadway Negro Ensemble Company production A Soldier’s Play which premiered November 20, 1981.

A major career break came when he starred as Dr. Phillip Chandler in NBC’s television hospital drama St. Elsewhere, which ran from 1982 to 1988. He was one of only a few African-American actors to appear on the series for its entire six-year run. He also appeared in several television, motion picture and stage roles, such as the films A Soldier’s Story (1984), Hard Lessons (1986) and Power (1986). In 1987, he starred as South African anti-apartheid political activist Stephen Biko in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom, for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In 1989, Washington won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a defiant, self-possessed ex-slave soldier in the film Glory. That same year, he appeared in the film The Mighty Quinn; and in For Queen and Country, where he played the conflicted and disillusioned Reuben James, a British soldier who, despite a distinguished military career, returns to a civilian life where racism and inner-city life lead to vigilantism and violence.

Below is a collection of 30 amazing portraits of a young Denzel Washington in the 1980s:

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The Best Portraits of Brigitte Bardot

Actor, singer, sex symbol and style icon Brigitte Bardot, who turned her back on movie stardom in 1973 to become an animal rights activist, has died at the age of 91. Her death was announced on Sunday, December 28, 2025, by her foundation, which stated she passed away at her home in southern France.

Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s, notably after starring in the 1956 film And God Created Woman. Known as “B.B.,” she appeared in 56 films and became a global symbol of sexual liberation. In 1969, her features were used as the model for Marianne, the national emblem of the French Republic.

At the height of her fame in 1973, she retired from acting at age 39 to dedicate her life to animal welfare. She established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, campaigning against seal hunting, animal testing, and the consumption of horse and dog meat. In later life, Bardot became a vocal supporter of France’s far-right National Rally (formerly Front National).

President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as a “legend of the century,” stating that she “embodied a life of freedom” and a “universal radiance.” Marine Le Pen described Bardot as “incredibly French: free, untamable, whole.”

Bardot had recently survived health scares in late 2025, having been hospitalized in October and November before publicly denying death rumors just weeks prior to her passing.

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200-Year-Old Wooden Bridge in Dagestan, Built Without the Use of a Single Nail

This 200-year-old bridge built without a single nail is a wooden bridge located near the village of Gulli (Juli) in the Tabasaran region of Dagestan, Russia. It is known primarily by its description rather than a formal historical name in English-language sources. The bridge is approximately 10 meters (about 33 feet) high.

The bridge was constructed by local Tabasaran people using traditional joinery techniques, relying on precisely cut, interlocking wooden joints and wooden pegs (sometimes called “trunnels” or dowels) instead of metal fasteners.

The builders used only local wood and stone that were available to them. A metal bracket visible on the bridge in some photos is a later addition and does not serve a functional or structural purpose.

The ingenious design allows the structure to flex and adapt to natural changes in temperature and humidity, which contributes to its incredible longevity. It has withstood harsh weather conditions for two centuries and can even support the weight of a passenger car today.

It stands as a testament to the advanced engineering knowledge and craftsmanship of traditional builders, showcasing the sustainable use of natural materials and the enduring strength of time-honored techniques.

Johanna Matz: The Golden Smile of Vienna

Johanna Matz (1932–2025) was the quintessential “girl next door” of German-language cinema during the 1950s, a star whose radiant smile and natural charm offered a sense of hope and lightness to post-war audiences. Originally a trained dancer at the prestigious Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna, she brought a lyrical grace to every role she inhabited. Matz became a household name through her delightful performances in “Heimatfilms” and romantic comedies, most notably in The White Horse Inn (1952) and the charming The Forester’s Daughter (1952).

Her talent even caught the eye of Hollywood director Otto Preminger, who cast her in the German-language version of the controversial hit The Moon Is Blue (Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach). With her bright eyes and sophisticated yet approachable elegance, Matz embodied the spirit of the “Wiener Mädel” (Viennese girl).

Johanna Matz remains a beloved figure for those who cherish the golden age of Austrian cinema, a timeless reminder of an era that celebrated innocence, poise, and effortless beauty.

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Iconic Photos of Maggie Smith Playing Cards in the Play “Strip the Willow” (1960)

In 1960, a 25-year-old Maggie Smith starred in the play Strip the Willow, a production that is often cited as the performance that launched her toward major stardom. The play was written by Beverley Cross, who would later become Smith’s second husband. Cross reportedly wrote the lead role specifically for her, including a stage direction that described the character as “about 25 and very beautiful... as elegant and sophisticated as a top international model.”

The play debuted in November 1960 at the Newcastle Theatre Royal before touring other venues, including the Theatre Royal, Brighton. Smith played Kathy Dawson, a role specifically described by Cross in the stage directions as an elegant, sophisticated, and “marvelous girl” with a great sense of fun.

One of the most publicized aspects of the production involved Smith’s character playing strip poker, leading to iconic photocall images of her in a “state of undress” while holding a hand of playing cards.

At the time, critics noted her immense screen presence and “sex appeal,” with some famously comparing her favorably to icons like Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe. 

The play is significant in Smith’s biography as it was written by Beverley Cross. Although Smith married actor Robert Stephens in 1967, she later married Cross in 1975, a relationship that lasted until his death in 1998.