Quest magazine

Quest magazine was published monthly by the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation from July 1977 to September 1981. It began life under the working name of "Human Potential" and was a project directed by Stanley Rader. The chairman of AICF was Herbert W. Armstrong. The editorial offices of Quest magazine were located next to the AICF Everest House book publishing company at 1133 Avenue of the Americas in New York City.

Brief history of the magazine

"Quest" magazine was originally conceived under the name of "Human Potential" and it was conceived by attorney Stanley Rader as the secular publication of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation funded by the Worldwide Church of God. The publishers hired a professional staff unrelated to the church to create a high quality glossy magazine devoted to the humanities, travel and the arts which were also a feature of the Ambassador Auditorium on the campus of Ambassador College in Pasadena, California.

Name of the magazine

A unique feature of the magazine was in its name. During its first year of publication it was seen on newsstands as "Quest 77"; which became "Quest 78" and so on, with each year of publication.

Original concept

The original concept name and design of "Human Potential" began in the aftermath of the failed prophecies of the Worldwide Church of God as outlined in the 1956 publication "1975 in Prophecy!", which was written by Herbert W. Armstrong and illustrated by Basil Wolverton.

Cultural orientation

The person attributed with creating the new direction of the church was attorney Stanley Rader. His growing importance as the right-hand man to Herbert W. Armstrong began in the wake of the sexual scandals created by Garner Ted Armstrong.

Before the creation of "Quest" magazine, in 1973 AICF helped to fund the controversial production of the movie "Paper Moon" staring the youngster Tatum O'Neal, daughter of actors Ryan O'Neal and Joanna Moore. Tatum O'Neal became the youngest-ever recipient of the Academy Award for "Best Supporting Actress" in which she played the part of a con-man's young partner who was played by her real father.

It was because AICF, through its activities such as the publication of "Quest" magazine, seemed to represent the exact opposite of the views and values of its ultimate sponsor that the Worldwide Church was increasing involved in splits and divisions among its ranks. These defections created dramatic losses in income for the church which in turn undermined the sponsored activities of AICF.

Eventual demise

Due to falling funds the church began to cut back on its funding of AICF and because "Quest" magazine (which was also supported by paid commercial advertising and a subscription price) never became a profitable enterprise, its assets were eventually sold off to other interests. Its last edition appeared on the newsstands in the month of September 1981.

References

External links

* [http://www.aci.net/Kalliste/Pasadena_memories.htm Memoir first published in 1979 by Ambassador College student and employee J. Orlin Grabbe]
* [http://www.hwarmstrong.com/ar/AICF.html Ambassador Report magazine article about the formation of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation]
* [http://www.hoselton.net/religion/hwa/coworker/781122.htm 1978 letter by Herbert W. Armstrong concerning the future of Quest magazine]
* [http://www.hoselton.net/religion/hwa/coworker/810424.htm 1981 letter by Herbert W. Armstrong announcing sale of Quest magazine due to editorial conflicts.]