Origins of the Z-Bomb

Fanny Fan was Hong Kong cinema's "youngest Z-bomb" in 1959.

In my quest for all things Fanny Fan, I came across a photo piece from the May 1959 issue of The Happiness Movieland referring to her as "the youngest Z-bomb". It doesn't take much imagination to figure out what exactly makes a "Z-bomb". Still, I was curious about the term, since it was also used in the same issue to describe Lau Leung-Wa ("a real Z-bomb").

According to War Slang: American Fighting Words and Phrases Since the Civil War, a Z-bomb is "a mythical bomb of such power that exploding it would 'end it all'. The term was used in the 1950s, and a stripper of that period, Lolinda Raquel, billed herself as Margo the Mexican Z-Bomb 'The Absolute End'."

Thanks to Newspaperarchive.com, I discovered this tantalizing piece about Margo from the November 25, 1960 issue of the San Mateo Times:

Margo the Z Bomb "Blows" in Dec. 1

Six years ago, Margo the Bomb "blasted" away at Luz Garcia's Sinaloa. Anyone who visited the San Francisco Powell Street night club during that time will never forget her. Never before, or since, has anyone been able to shake her torso in so many directions at one time as formful Margo.

After a long run at Sinaloa, Margo received an offer (a three figure sum) to appear in a Manila club with the contract understanding that if she was a big hit, her salary would double at the end of six weeks.

Never one to hold back the career of any of her acts, Luz Garcia wished Margo "bon voyage" and good luck — thinking she would return to the Sinaloa in three or four months.

Margo was such a "shaking" success that all options on contracts were picked up and for the past six years she has been in the three figure weekly salary bracket. The publicity raves from all over the world stamp this little lady as being "number one" in her field.

Because Miss Garcia was kind enough to release her from the local contract six years ago, Margo has agreed to again headline the Sinaloa all-Mexican show beginning next Thursday, December 1.

Well, the world is truly a small place. Not only am I familiar with the building in Chinatown/North Beach that used to house the club where Margo danced (and which currently houses the Lichee Garden Restaurant), but Margo also makes a stunning appearance in the Grace Chang musical Mambo Girl (1957).

Wow! All hail the "Mother of Hong Kong's Z-Bombs"!