“As part of his subterfuge, he espoused politically conservative views.....”
You can call it subterfuge if you want to, but it is more likely quite a bit more complex than that.
Also, the idea that he had to “conceal” it for the sake of
his middle-aged “housewife” audience, is patently absurd on the face of it: every single one of them no doubt picked up on “what made him “different”, and they were okay with that.
It should be common knowledge by now the female of the species, whatever their age, are infinitely more amenable to
“accepting” someone like Liberace than the male of the species, whatever THEIR age.This leads me to the obvious conclusion that in areas like this, the male of the species has something to learn from the female of the species.
I have a friend in Las Vegas, who I emailed a few days ago, urging him to see the HBO movie.He was an Army buddy of mine
from Basic Training in 1966. He was a drummer and moved to Vegas in the 70s, and worked with EVERYBODY for more than 25 years. I knew he’d have some Liberace stories and he did:
he in fact worked with Liberace, who wanted him to tour with him in the 80s. But Libby was, uh, a little ‘thrifty’ with his musicians, and he couldn’t get together with Libby’s manager on pay and benefits, so it didn’t work out. However, he still called him one of a kind, a great entertainer, and remembered that the last time he saw him, he didn’t look well, with his face drawn tight (from those surgeries?),
He even got invited to his house once, and all he could say was WOW! As far as comparisons to this author (or was it you? I can’t go back and check) makes to the WHO and Jimi Hendrix, I think they’re absurd.....a much more obvious comparison could’ve been made to Elton John, a first rate musician, who “came out” with the most flamboyant , jokey costuming than any performer of his generation would’ve dared to. There is no “hiding” of true identity there, just the opposite.
Having said all that , I though Michael Douglas’s performance was great, even though I only saw part of the HBO movie....it will surely get him an Emmy nomination.
And if that quote is true , that Liberace had no use for the
“self-hating ideological faggots” he saw appearing on the scene, it only boosts him in my estimation, as a musician, a public figure, and yes, AS A MAN.
I actually recorded this, I think we’ll watch it tomorrow. Of course I remember Liberace, but not well. I think he’s a little before my time. And my father was a complete classical music devote, so we had no Liberace, no Welk, none of that.