The Nuclear Beauty Parlor

The Nuclear Beauty Parlor was a group of women artists active in protest and prankster art of the nuclear freeze movement from 1983-1986 in San Francisco, California.^[1] Their name is synonymous with a music project they originated, the 45-RPM 7" single, The Nuclear Beauty Parlor.^[2][3] Two members of the Nuclear Beauty Parlor wrote the lyrics to the song^[4][5] which debuted in the women’s jail following the 1983 blockade of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, one of the largest anti-nuclear protests in the United States.^[6][7] The group staged numerous performances (see Activities) to attract media attention for the cause of nuclear disarmament.^[8][9] The record, conceived as an art prank,^[10] is archived in the Peace Library at Swarthmore College.^[11] The group is noted for adding humor and post-punk style to a dedicated protest movement.^[12]

History

On May 24, 1983, ten women formed an affinity group to prepare for the mass arrests planned for the International Day of Nuclear Disarmament protest of June 20, 1983.^[13][14] They were trained in civil disobedience by Livermore Action Group.^[15] The female membership grew over the next 3 years, as they evolved into a performance art and activist art group.^[16] Founding member Vicki Krohn Amorose ^[17] originally coined the name Nuclear Beauty Parlor and she, along with founding member Denise Slattery, wrote the lyrics to the Nuclear Beauty Parlor song. The group was not a band, they enacted political satire in the tradition of guerrilla theatre and performance activism.^[18]

Activities

• June 20, 1983 Group participates in the blockade of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. More than 1000 demonstrators are arrested, including three members of the Nuclear Beauty Parlor, and jailed for 11 days in tents on the grounds of the Alameda County Jail. Group gains their first media attention with San Francisco Examiner headline: Nuclear Beauty Parlor a Hit in Jail.^[19]
• Nov-Dec 1983 Nuclear Beauty Parlor acquires non-profit status, under the title Bay Area Energy Action. Bill Graham (promoter), San Francisco music impresario, funds production of the Nuclear Beauty Parlor 45-RPM 7" single. The lyrics are set to music and the record is produced by the group's friend and ally, Stacy Baird. Side A, The Nuclear Beauty Parlor, is performed by Re Styles and other members of The Tubes.^[20] Side B, Awake, is recorded at OTR Studios under the direction of Cookie Marenco.^[21]
• Dec 15, 1983 Nuclear Beauty Parlor 45-RPM single is released and press conference held.^[22]
• Jan-April 1984 The group solidifies its identity as a performance art group with the goal of gaining media attention for the nuclear freeze movement. Record gains airplay and press.^[23]
• April 16, 1984 Group performs the first in a series of Tax Day actions at Rincon Annex Post Office Rincon Center. Playing to the audience of taxpayers lined up in cars to meet the midnight tax-filing deadline, the Nuclear Beauty Parlor interact as costumed waitresses, serve weapon-themed food and encourage people to: "Have one, you paid for it!" They attract attention from TV and newspaper reporters.^[24]
• July 14–15, 1984 The Democratic National Convention is held in San Francisco. In conjunction with A Vision of America at Peace, the Nuclear Beauty Parlor performs an original play with songs, titled "The First Lady Debate".^[25][26] Group records "The First Lady Debate" and distributes tapes to radio stations nationwide.^[27]
• Nov 6, 1984 On the eve of the presidential election, the group pastes thousands of anti-Reagan posters in downtown San Francisco, designed by artist Paul Mavrides, who also designed the record jacket.^[28] Although the posters were quickly removed after Ronald Reagan’s victory, photographer C. Baldwin captured the morning-after image and created a postcard.
• Dec 1984 Ms. Magazine article on the group helps to boost record sales.^[29]
• April 15, 1985 In their second Tax Day performance at Rincon Annex Post Office, The Nuclear Beauty Parlor dresses as couture nuclear weapons with price tags, and interacts with last-minute taxpayers, resulting in local TV and press coverage.^[30]
• July-Sept, 1985 The group adapts their nuclear weapon costumes for The Fashion Show Presented by New Langton Arts. Original script read by the MC accompanies the runway show, titled The Nuclear Fashion Arsenal. Performed a second time at Fort Mason for the International Day of Peace.
• April 15, 1986 In the group's third Tax Day performance at Rincon Annex Post Office, The Nuclear Beauty Parlor enacts taxpayer robberies with pink machine guns.
• 1990s The Nuclear Beauty Parlor record is housed in the Audio Visual Collection of the Swarthmore College Peace Collection.

Members and Names

The founding group members are Marissa Hutter LaMagna, Diana Wendling, Denise Slattery, Laura Graham, Lisa Andreini, Cecilia London, Kathy Staats Hornbeak, Marjorie Newman, Vicki Krohn Amorose and Fawn Yacker. Membership grew to include Connie Hendrix, Suzanne Stefanac, Kelly Cash, Lexine Alpert, Brenda Burson, Nancy Leszczynski, Siri Aarons, Christine Stiles and Suzy Poole.

References