1969 Rowan & Martin's Laugh In "Flying Fickle Finger of Fate" Trophy
It seems like fate by which I found this "Flying Fickle Finger of Fate"--at an antiques/collectibles shop where I never find anything but popped into on a whim, just as they were closing, making a quick 5 minute loop around the shop and grabbing it--not knowing what it was but thinking is was a fabulous, weird thing--from a shelf filled with tchotchkes. Laugh In (1967-1973) was a bit before my time, so I didn't recognize it was as the trophy that Rowan & Martin ironically awarded on the show as a sort of middle finger, calling out celebrities, politicians, and various entities for wrongdoings and dubious deeds. I'm only now really realizing not only what a cultural phenomenon the show was, but also how hugely influential, not just launching Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, etc., but also precursing everything from SNL to Ali G and so much more. There was once a gold sticker on the front of the base reading Flying Fickle Finger of Fate. That is gone, but there is a copyright mark inside t