On this thread there are multiple examples that show that’s not true. We’ve got celebrity stuff as front page news dating back to the Civil War. Yes we do have more media now, which translates to more celebrity news, but as long as there’s been news (dating back to Roman criers) celebrities have been a front and center portion of it.
Examples of 24-7 obsessive celebrity worship? I doubt it. I also doubt it was nearly as common then as it is now.