As we explore overlooked figures from history, we often find ourselves shouting about how these folks should have been celebrities, either in their time or in history books. But this week we're taking a step further back to examine the history of celebrity itself. And who better to lead us on that journey than former managing editor of People and Money magazines, Landon "Lanny" Jones.

More on Lanny

Landon Y. Jones (Lanny) is an author and magazine editor. He is the former managing editor of People and Money magazines, author of the biography William Clark and the Shaping of the West, and editor of The Essential Lewis and Clark. In 1980, he published Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation, which was a finalist for the American Book Award in Nonfiction. In 2015, he received the Henry R. Luce Award for Lifetime Achievement from Time Inc.

His most recent book, Celebrity Nation: How America Evolved into a Culture of Fans and Followers, was published in May 2023 by Beacon Press. Get it here.

Follow Lanny @lannyjones on ⁠Twitter⁠ and learn more about him and his work at www.lannyjones.com

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About this podcast: Shared History, is a comedy podcast and history podcast in one. Hosted by Chicago comedians, each episode focuses on obscure, overlooked and underrepresented historical events and people.

SPONSORS: This season of Shared History is sponsored by The Banditry Co.