Having just read a book on John Lennon (by his first wife) I got a real insight into the insanity of Beatlemania..... When they lived in London (the period of time between leaving Liverpool and settling in a big mansion in Weybridge) fans would camp outside their place, grab John's scarves, put chewing gum in the lock of their door so they couldn't get in etc.
It led me to thinking what other phenomenon has been somewhat similar to Beatlemania. I know Princess Diana was to an extent living in a insane, crazed media bubble from the time she first began going out with Charles until death. Then the Trump presidency has been pretty crazy. He is apparently the most heavily covered & reported on President in history with both supporters and detractors hanging on his every tweet. He was an absolute God send to the media.
Have there been any other manias that have approached the level of the Beatles, Princess Di & Trump?
There was a lot of public silliness by younger females re the young Frank Sinatra
Re: Media phenomenon and manias
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:39 am
by Jb1981
Charles Lindbergh.
Re: Media phenomenon and manias
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2021 9:10 am
by Lobby
Franz Liszt and Nicolas Paganini were probably the first performers to be subject to manic adulation from their fans. In Liszt’s case it even resulted in the creation of a specific term Lisztomania to describe it.
Lisztomania was characterized by a hysterical reaction to Liszt and his concerts. Liszt's playing was reported to raise the mood of the audience to a level of mystical ecstasy. Admirers of Liszt would swarm over him, fighting over his handkerchiefs and gloves. Fans would wear his portrait on brooches and cameos. Women would try to get locks of his hair, and whenever he broke a piano string, admirers would try to obtain it in order to make a bracelet. Some female admirers would even carry glass phials into which they poured his coffee dregs. According to one report:
Liszt once threw away an old cigar stump in the street under the watchful eyes of an infatuated lady-in-waiting, who reverently picked the offensive weed out of the gutter, had it encased in a locket and surrounded with the monogram "F.L." in diamonds, and went about her courtly duties unaware of the sickly odour it gave forth.
This type of behaviour had never been seen before.
