I think that sometimes we lionize celebraties...think back...did Robert Mitchum get this type of reaction from his films? These people that we so idolize and see out in public with baggy shorts and hooded looks complete with sunglasses going about their business are making millions from their films...do they think about US? They make a movie, forget about it and go on to the next....maybe I'm a socialist but really life is short...let's concentrate on ourselves
That was before my time, but I think it's impossible to compare the two times. Back then, the studio system was extremely strong and held serious control over the media and what could be published and what couldn't. Information wasn't as readily available as it is now, teenagers and single women weren't as free to act as they are now. [shrug]
Plus idolization of someone is quite natural and harmless unless it becomes destructive in some way. It's easy to idolize someone who does what they love, makes a lot of money and becomes quite public in doing in and can travel the world doing great works of charity. It's easy to idolize such a person. Sure beats the shit out of trying to idolize your neighborhood corporate cubical rat who deals with nothing but petty mundane problems with their bosses and humdrum paperpushing 9-5.