Fickle Finger of Fate

Posted by Philip on April 22, 2011

Established in 1948 by Clark Publishing Company, the first edition of Fate hit world newsstands in the spring. Co-founded by Ray Palmer, editor of the Amazing Stories magazine, and Curtis Fuller, an accomplished editor in his own right, the magazine's inaugural edition featured an article by Kenneth Arnold who recounted in it his amazing UFO encounter in 1947. Arnold's sighting marked the beginning of the modern UFO era, and his story propelled the fledgling Fate to national recognition.

In 1955, Curtis Fuller and his wife Mary took full control of Fate when Palmer sold his interest in the venture. The Fullers expanded the magazine's focus, and increased readership to well over 100,000 subscribers.

In 1988, Fate was sold to Llewellyn Publications (now Llewellyn Worldwide). In his farewell column, Curtis Fuller wrote, "Our purpose throughout this long time has been to explore and to report honestly the strangest facts of this strange world and the ones that don't fit into the general beliefs of the way things are."

In 1998, the magazine celebrated its 50th year of publication. When asked to comment on how a magazine like Fate survived through five decades, Carl Llewellyn Weschcke said, "No product, especially a magazine, can stay around for fifty years unless it meets a need. Fate recognizes that the impossible can be possible; we explore the unknown so that it can be known."

In September 2001, Galde Press, Inc., owned by editor-in-chief Phyllis Galde, purchased Fate. Galde has continued Fate's reporting of unusual events and active reader involvement in shaping the content of the magazine. [wikipedia]

The "fickle finger of fate" was mentioned at 2:40 in season 1, episode 35 of McHale's Navy, air date 6/13/63. Capt. Binghamton: "Carpenter, we've been tapped by the fickle finger." Lt. Carpenter: "Oh, yes sir. What finger was that, sir?" Binghamton: "Fate, you numbskull, fate." McHale's Navy is available on Hulu.