1933 Goudey Indian Gum #55, General Custer ⭐
George Armstrong Custer really was the closest thing the 19th century had to a rock star, especially during and just after the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Custer became a national celebrity while still in his early 20s.
He was repeatedly featured in newspapers, engravings, and illustrated magazines—the mass media of the era.
The public knew him by name, face, and reputation, which was unusual for a junior officer.
Custer cultivated a flashy, rebellious style - long flowing blond hair, flamboyant uniforms, velvet jackets, red scarves, and sometimes buckskin.
He openly rejected the stiff, conservative image expected of Army officers—very much like a rebellious celebrity flaunting convention.
In terms of visibility, swagger, youthful fame, devoted fans, loud critics, and lasting mythology, George Armstrong Custer absolutely functioned as a 19th-century rock star figure—with all the brilliance, ego, and self-destruction that comparison implies.
