Usually, on my visits to Vegas, I hurry past the Liberace Museum. Last time, in August, I hurried past to get my oil changed at Jiffy Lube, farther east, on Tropicana Blvd. Saturday was different however....Some people had negative views of Walter Liberace. He was America's precious, spoiled baby brother. Men steeped in machismo (e.g., my Dad) found his mincing ways grating.
Nevertheless, the women adored him, and with good cause. His flamboyantly kitschy ways disguised a true lover of good art, and he had a remarkably generous spirit. This Museum is a testament to his generosity. Indeed, with its elegance and derring do, it may be one of the best museums on Earth!
Left: What to wear; what to wear?One of these outfits cost $ 750,000 in 1975 dollars. Another was in the 600K range (in 1984 dollars). Since Liberace's fortune was in the $100 million range, he could actually afford these extravagant costs!
Left: Cars, cars, cars!
Left: Pianos, pianos, pianos!What did I forget?
Art, art, art!
Jewels, jewels, jewels!
Left: Turkey feathers. A million turkey feathers!Below: A sort of Czarist Russian look.
Left: A man who loved his dogs!
Philip Fortenberry, associate conductor for the Las Vegas show "Jersey Boys", came to the Liberace museum on this day to rehearse his accompaniment for a UNLV flutist's recital. As a courtesy, he played 'Strangers In The Night' on this amazing piano with the lucite top. The piano was notable for its clarity, and Fortenberry was notable for his powerful and emotional style.
Of course, musical instruments are meant to be played; they make rather forlorn museum pieces. Thus, the Museum will allow people who sign a release to play on Liberace's Rhinestone piano. Here, a music student named Alan from Long Beach, CA, tries out the piano.
Left: John Broadwood Piano (c. 1788). This rare Broadwood piano made by John Broadwood of London is one of the oldest pianos in existence.
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