Picture News #9 (1946)

Contains 11 stories

Atom Bombs Over Bikini

6 pp · non-fiction

In 1946, the U.S. military conducts three successive atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, detonating weapons above water, on the surface, and beneath the ocean to measure their devastating effects on a fleet of one hundred warships. Each explosion—from the intense heat and gamma rays of the first blast to the catastrophic tidal waves of the underwater detonation—demonstrates the terrifying destructive power of atomic warfare. The story concludes by posing a stark question about humanity's future: will atomic power lead to war and annihilation, or to peace and prosperity?

The Last Crooked Mile

6 pp · non-fiction; crime

Detective Tom Dwyer arrives in California to track down a $300,000 haul stolen by Duke Jarvis's gang, but when he discovers the gang's getaway car now part of a traveling sideshow, his investigation takes a dark turn—a murder in a ride's tunnel sets off a chain of violent confrontations with hidden agendas. As Tom pieces together the crime and closes in on the truth, he must navigate a web of double-crossers and deadly schemes to recover the missing money and unmask who's really behind it all.

Chips and Bill ...Real Life Hero ...Movie Dog Hero

3 pp · non-fiction; war

Chips, a decorated war dog who saw action across eight campaigns, faces an uncertain fate after biting a tradesman—an incident that forces his handlers to make a difficult choice about his future. Parallel to Chips' real wartime journey is the fictional story of Bill, a ranch dog played by the famous screen dog Lassie in MGM's "Blue Sierra," who follows a similar path from civilian life into military service. Both tales explore what happens when loyal animals are caught between the demands of war and the bonds of home.

Joltin' Joe Di Maggio the Yankee Clipper

6 pp · non-fiction; biography; sports

Saved from the Wolves

4 pp · non-fiction; biography

Mrs. Lettie Fleming recounts her harrowing years in the wilderness of Western Washington, where she braved grizzly bears, wild animals, and the untamed frontier—until the day her young son wanders toward a neighbor's cage of captive wolves. In this true account of courage and maternal instinct, Fleming must draw on every ounce of nerve she's built through years in the wildwoods to protect her child from a danger she never anticipated.

Guy Lombardo

3 pp · non-fiction; biography

Guy Lombardo rose from humble beginnings in Canada to become one of America's most beloved bandleaders, building his signature "sweet music" style alongside his brothers Carmen and Leibert before expanding the ensemble with siblings Victor and Rosemarie. From his landmark 1929 engagement at New York's Roosevelt Hotel through nationwide broadcasts and film appearances, Lombardo's romantic orchestral sound proved itself timeless—outlasting trends like swing to remain popular across all ages and earning him the introduction of over 250 songs that became hits. By 1946, as he returned to New York for his 27th consecutive season, Lombardo had cemented himself as the "champ of sweet music," while also pursuing speedboat racing and owning a small airline on the side.

On Second Thought

1 pp · humor · script John Milligan · pencils John Milligan · inks John Milligan

A tenant faces eviction unless he can produce the rent by tomorrow, prompting a desperate change of plans. When his wife suggests a second honeymoon to lift his spirits, he reconsiders the whole idea—his first one wasn't exactly a fond memory. John Milligan writes and illustrates this quick comic-strip take on marital priorities and financial panic.

The Murder of the Real Jesse James

4 pp · non-fiction; biography; western-frontier

Jesse James, the outlaw who claimed to rob for justice, faces relentless pursuit after a Pinkerton bombing kills his stepbrother and maims his mother—a tragedy that sets him on a path of vengeance and forces him deeper into hiding. Desperate to escape his reputation, he assumes a false identity and attempts to live peacefully, but old enemies and new betrayals close in as the law and bounty hunters track his every move. This biographical account traces the final days of the man who became legend, from his last narrow escapes to the moment his sanctuary is shattered by those he trusted.

Exploring the Unknown

5 pp · non-fiction; math & science

Did Ya Ever See a Dream Walkin'

2 pp · non-fiction; biography

Songwriter Harry Revel, an English-born composer with Broadway and Hollywood hits to his name, launches an ambitious project to support America's wounded veterans and their families through Vetville, a planned community in Southern California. The story chronicles how Revel's initial work entertaining hospitalized veterans evolved into a multi-faceted initiative—including a magazine, musical recordings, and now a full residential development complete with churches, employment opportunities, free transportation, and streets named after war heroes. Revel dedicates himself to making the vision a reality, with proceeds from his new children's music book supporting the cause.

Talkies - 20 Years Old!

5 pp · non-fiction; history

Picture News traces the thrilling 20-year journey of talking pictures, from Thomas Edison's doomed 1913 experiments with synchronized sound to the triumphant 1926 premiere of Don Juan, which proved the Vitaphone process could finally deliver what audiences had rejected before. Watch as competing inventors race to perfect sound-on-film technology, theater managers overcome their doubts, and the industry transforms overnight—all driven by the determination of pioneers like the Warner brothers and engineers at Bell Laboratories and Lee de Forest's studio.