Liberace Museum Closes Its Glittery Gates

NPR ^ | 10./15/10 | Ted Robbins

[WVNan]

Yeah, but the title of this thread made me start thinking of the past so strongly that I thought of naming my autobiography “They Closed the Liberace Museum.”

[I_be_tc]

My 2nd cousin did the act for the museum. Have to let my family members know.

[television is just wrong]

I went there a very long time ago. It was not full then, and that was when NAB was there for their annual convention.

[Viking2002]

Now, that I DIDN'T know.......!

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Revolting cat!]

I once met a glamorous fellow named Bryce, who said he was a friend of Liberace’s. When I heard from him the word “scrumptious”, I knew there was no reason to disbelieve him (true story!)

[Borges]

He believed in capitalism with all his heart and had no use for anti-establishment types - the establishment had treated him well

[righttackle44]

I could have sworn he had a gig in Branson last year.

As the British colonel said:

Couldn't have. Dead you know.

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

I had no idea so many people here liked Liberace even though he was a flaming you you what.

I was not around then, but I guess its no different than today with all the people tolerating this sort of entertainment.

bread and circus...

[PghBaldy]

A shame. A real talent and a superstar. He also was good to his mother and to a (now defunct?) hospital here in Pittsburgh, St. Francis: "A very young and lovely nun wearing a white habit came to see me late one night, when I was very near death. She said she was going to pray to Saint Anthony for me, and he would make me well. The very next day, I began to get well. I described the nun to the Mother Superior at the hospital and asked who she was. The Mother Superior said 'There are no nuns in the hospital who wear white habits.'" http://hauntsandhistory.blogspot.com/2009/02/liberaces-midnight-visitor.html

[Borges]

What ‘sort’ of entertainment? He never brought his sexuality into his act.

[Revolting cat!]

Does that mean that Wladziu (as he was known to friends) appeared in drag a a nun?

[Stentor]

Couldn't have. Dead you know.

Have a family friend who is a travel agent. Years ago, she and her employee took a trip to Branson to check it out. As they drove down a main drag, they would see a billboard for a theater or show and exclaim at the same time "I thought he/she was dead".

[xp38]

I never liked him. Whenever he showed up on Carson or any other show I flipped the channel.

[Viking2002]

Not biting the hand that feeds you is a good philosophy, unless that hand is an entitlement program funded by everyone else's hand. The man apparently wasn't stupid.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[KamperKen]

"Liberace had genuine virtuoso technique and could have been a first rate concert pianist.

He debuted with the Cleveland Orchestra at age 14 in the Liszt E-flat major piano concerto, which should say all that needs to be said about the level of his pianism.

I saw some recordings of his 1950's TV show and his technique then was impressive. It's too bad he's underrated as a musician and pianist. I speak from the vantage point of over 30 years of attending live piano recitals.

There aren't many contemporary popular musicians that can approach him in technique and accomplishment.

[FourPeas]

My grandmother was a huge Liberace fan. She often retold the story of seeing his show in Vegas where he would hold out his hands with a myriad of sparkling rings and ask the audience, “Do you like my rings?” Then after a short pause when all the middle-aged ladies would ooh and ahh, he’d reply, smiling ear to ear, “You should. You paid for them.” He was a great showman.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

This will leave a gaping hole in the entertainment world.

[Revolting cat!]

Well, we'll always have the Eddie Fisher lookalike pretending to be Liberace! Two for the price of one.

[TASMANIANRED]

The first Elton John.

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

like that matters...

like I said bread and circus

it still amazes me how FR would be defending one of the most homosexual men.