Thursday, March 30, 2023

Meeting Liberace

I can't believe it took me this long (TEN years) to finally watch the HBO movie, Behind the Candelabra, a chronicle of the tempestuous six-year romance between megastar Liberace and his young lover Scott Thorson...

The movie is based on the book by Scott, who tells it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly truths about a legendary entertainer who went to outrageous extremes to prevent public knowledge of his homosexuality...

To be honest, although I didn't read the book, I have mixed feelings about the film. OUTSTANDING performances by all, however, I think it focused too much on the bad and ugly. Now, mind you, I don't think Liberace was a saint, but I believe the film was a bit one-sided in pointing out his negatives, while making Scott a poor little victim. 

True, Liberace was not open about his homosexuality with his public life, but that didn't make him a bad person. That was his own choice. Liberace gave 100% of his talent in his performances onstage. And frankly, that's all he was required to do. His sexuality was his own business. Besides, he never hid his flamboyancy onstage. He simply allowed the audience to have fun and to think whatever they wanted. 

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Meeting Liberace- 

Seeing the film instantly reminded me of when I met Liberace, while performing in a musical revue at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe (Harrah's is on the left in the photograph below). And what's ironic is that the timeline of the film starts in 1977, which is the year I was in Tahoe and met him. 

Tahoe, by the way, is freaking GORGEOUS! I was there in the summer. And what I loved is that even though daytime could get warmish, as soon as nightfall came, the temperature would drop into the low 50s. Oh, and Tahoe has zero humidity...

The revue I performed was called, Breck Wall's Bottoms Up, which was featured in the smaller showroom inside Harrah's casino. Liberace's show was featured in the main showroom (pictured below), which is where I watched him perform before meeting him...

Here are two collages I put together of Liberace onstage...

His show always began with him entering the stage in a Rolls-Royce, driven by a chauffeur. Which, incidentally, was his lover, Scott Thorson. You can see him in the photos below...

And what was especially spectacular is that at the end of his show, he would sing the song, "I'll Be Seeing You", as he flew into the air, and then off into the wings of the stage...

What was even more exciting is that after his show that night, they escorted me and a few of my cast members backstage to Liberace's dressing room, where we got to sit down and talk with him. The producer/director of my show (Breck Wall) was a bigwig in Vegas. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He and Liberace (known as "Lee" to his friends), were close. They had known each other for years. 

What I immediately noticed upon meeting Liberace was how gracious and down-to-earth he was. For all the glam and glitter onstage, I was surprised by how casual and relaxed he was offstage.

As soon as he walked over and sat down on the sofa next to me in his dressing room, I got all nervous and tongue-tied while speaking. The only thing I can remember talking to him about was telling him how much my mother loved him, and how fascinated she was with his jewelry; specifically his rings. And even more specifically, his baby grand piano ring, covered in diamonds.  

See below...

I can't believe I got the courage to ask him if I could see that ring up close and touch it, so I could tell my mother that I actually touched her favorite ring of his. 

And do you know what he did?

He extended his hand and said, "Sure...here you go!" And I touched it. 

The next day I called my mother in Florida and said, "Guess what? I TOUCHED LIBERACE'S BABY GRAND PIANO RING!!!!!!"

And she just about died!

In conclusion-

I certainly didn't know Liberace personally. I only had that one encounter with him. Yet, I could tell just from being in his presence that he had a very kind, gentle heart. What he did in his personal life is none of anyone's business. 

Liberace was born and lived at a different time than now. A time when certain things were not discussed. So perhaps that's why he didn't vocalize every inch of his life. Perhaps he wanted to keep his personal life separate from his professional one. And he had every right to do that. 

As Debbie Reynolds said in an interview I recently watched, "Today, I still think he would like to be remembered as Liberace the Great Showman, rather than his sexuality and illness."

And I think so too.

Nice meeting you, sir!

Have a grrrrrreat rest of your week, everyone!

💗

*In case you're interested, here is a wonderful interview about Liberace, that includes many people who knew him. And loved him.