SKU: 56710438242

Polonium in the Playhouse: The Manhattan Project's Secret Chemistry Work in Dayton, Ohio

Sale price$20.62 Regular price$22.91
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.73 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 24 - Jul 29

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Polonium in the Playhouse: The Manhattan Project's Secret Chemistry Work in Dayton, OhioAt the height of the race to build an atomic bomb, an indoor tennis court in one of the Midwest's most affluent residential neighborhoods became a secret Manhattan Project laboratory. Polonium in the Playhouse: The Manhattan Project's Secret Chemistry Work in Dayton, Ohio presents the intriguing story of how this most unlikely site in Dayton, Ohio, became one of the most classified portions of the Manhattan Project. Seized by the War Department in

At the height of the race to build an atomic bomb, an indoor tennis court in one of the Midwest's most affluent residential neighborhoods became a secret Manhattan Project laboratory. Polonium in the Playhouse: The Manhattan Project's Secret Chemistry Work in Dayton, Ohio presents the intriguing story of how this most unlikely site in Dayton, Ohio, became one of the most classified portions of the Manhattan Project.

Seized by the War Department in 1944 for the bomb project, the Runnymede Playhouse was transformed into a polonium processing facility, providing a critical radioactive ingredient for the bomb initiator-the mechanism that triggered a chain reaction. With the help of a Soviet spy working undercover at the site, it was also key to the Soviet Union's atomic bomb program.

The work was directed by industrial chemist Charles Allen Thomas who had been chosen by J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves to coordinate Manhattan Project chemistry and metallurgy. As one of the nation's first science administrators, Thomas was responsible for choreographing the plutonium work at Los Alamos and the Project's key laboratories. The elegant glass-roofed building belonged to his wife's family.

Weaving Manhattan Project history with the life and work of the scientist, industrial leader and singing-showman Thomas, Polonium in the Playhouse offers a fascinating look at the vast and complicated program that changed world history and introduces the men and women who raced against time to build the initiator for the bomb.


Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Ohio State University Press
Published: 05/21/2018
ISBN: 9780814254042
Pages: 240
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.60d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 56710438242

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 29 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
K
Verified Purchase
Kaylin
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 1
Would not recommend
Color: Black
Product was terrible, it was not sturdy at all
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
N
Verified Purchase
NIKI73
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Order with confidence!
Color: Black
Pleased with my purchase!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2026
C
coffeeandcode
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 4
Awesome, portable room divider for larger rooms
Color: Black, Color: Black
I chose this room divider to use in my son's room that also serves as my home office! It is 72" x 72" in size, so it truly blocks out the other side of the room for optimal privacy. Once it's assembled, it's mildly sturdy - as long as you can bet both ends with the "feet" in line with the ground. I wish that the framework poles had more of an interlocking system so that the divider was easier to erect. I assembled this on carpet, so I had some issues getting the divider to stop moving. It takes a lot of work to set up, as it is massive, so definitely have someone help you. I would suggest adding weights of some sort to the feet of this divider to keep it from shifting. I ended up leaning mine against a bookcase shelf so it wouldn't lean. All and all, this is a great product if you are looking to make a room multipurpose.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2025
J
Verified Purchase
John Grey
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
As described
Color: Black
Light weight, easy to put together and you can disconnect the ends and just roll the whole thing nice and tight for quick out of the way storage. Pretty sturdy, doesn't fall over if you bump into it, you could use it outside but if there's a lot of light you can see through a tiny bit if you're really close but I only tested this indoors so not sure about patio types
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2025
A
Verified Purchase
Amyth4
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 2
Flimsy - choose something else
Color: Black
Very flimsy and barely stands up… better options out there.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2025

recommand products