Otis L. Wiese was named editor of McCall's at age 22 (23 or 24, by some accounts), soon after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. He had joined the magazine as an associate editor, becoming its top editor a mere four months later, when the incumbent suffered a nervous breakdown, according to one newspaper report.
Asked for the secret of his success, Wiese later said, rather reasonably, "One must first 'have the stuff' and then get good breaks."
Writing about his remarkable rise and the growth of McCall's under his leadership, Time magazine christened him "Boy Wonder Wiese."
Wiese remained with McCall's until 1958, when he had a falling out with new owners. He died in 1972, at age 67.
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