13 Fascinating Insights About Liberace

Wladziu Valentino Liberace, famously dubbed Mr. Showmanship, amassed a fortune through his dazzling and extravagant stage acts. While his opulent lifestyle often steals the spotlight, there’s far more to Lee, as he was known among friends, than his glittering attire and iconic piano candelabras. To commemorate what would have been his 100th birthday on May 16, here are 13 intriguing details about this legendary performer.

1. Liberace displayed prodigious talent from a young age.

Imagine if YouTube had been around in the 1920s—clips of a young Liberace mastering the piano would have undoubtedly taken the internet by storm. Born on May 16, 1919, in Wisconsin, Liberace began playing the piano at the tender age of 3 and started formal lessons shortly after. His ability to play by ear allowed him to mimic the tunes his older siblings performed, showcasing his extraordinary talent. Recognizing his genius, his father, a professional musician who once toured with John Philip Sousa's band, enrolled him in the Wisconsin College of Music by the time he was 7.

2. During his teenage years, Liberace performed under the stage name Walter Busterkeys.

As a young performer, Liberace entertained audiences in clubs, cinemas, orchestras, and classical music contests across Wisconsin and the Midwest. Finding his full name—Wladziu Valentino Liberace—less suitable for the stage, he adopted the name Walter Busterkeys. However, around 1940, he chose to go by a single name, inspired by his idol, the renowned Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski, who also used only his surname.

3. Liberace faced criticism from classical music critics despite his fame.

Liberace often described his music as classical with the dull parts removed. By blending pop elements into his classical performances, he alienated traditionalists. Critics also dismissed his piano skills, claiming his focus on flashy costumes, humor, and theatricality overshadowed his technical artistry, accusing him of favoring simple trills and superficial techniques over depth.

4. The phrase 'laugh all the way to the bank' was popularized by Liberace.

In 1954, Liberace penned a sarcastic letter to a critic who had delivered a harsh critique of his performance. He mockingly expressed gratitude, stating that he and his brother had 'laughed all the way to the bank' after reading the review.

5. Liberace's home famously included a swimming pool shaped like a piano.

Thanks to his immense wealth, Liberace's residences were adorned with extravagant designs and lavish furnishings. His Sherman Oaks, California home, shared with his mother during the 1950s, was a testament to his love for music. The property featured musical notes on the iron fence, staffs above the entrance, and the iconic piano-shaped pool, complete with black and white keys painted on the concrete to resemble a grand piano.

6. In the 1960s, Liberace appeared as twin characters on the TV series Batman.

Following the success of his variety program, The Liberace Show, he made a memorable appearance in two 1966 episodes of Batman. Liberace played dual roles as a concert pianist and his villainous twin, delivering a wonderfully campy performance.

7. Liberace was one of Barbra Streisand's earliest supporters.

In 1963, Liberace asked a young Barbra Streisand, then 21, to open for him during a month-long Las Vegas engagement. Despite his admiration for her, the audience initially didn’t connect with her performances. To remedy this, Liberace took the unconventional step of introducing her on stage each night, a rare move for headliners. His endorsement helped the audience warm up to her, and soon, Streisand began receiving glowing reviews.

8. A Liberace costume nearly proved fatal.

During a 1963 performance in Pittsburgh, Liberace collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. The incident was caused by his costume, which he had cleaned using carbon tetrachloride. The chemical seeped into his skin, and he had inhaled its fumes all day in a poorly ventilated space. In his autobiography, Liberace recalled feeling dizzy and ill during his first number, forcing him to leave the stage. Despite doctors giving him only a 20 percent chance of survival and administering last rites, he miraculously recovered.

9. Liberace spent decades denying his homosexuality.

While Liberace was openly promiscuous and gay in his personal life, he consistently refuted claims about his sexuality in public. In the late 1950s, he successfully sued newspapers and tabloids for libel after they suggested he was gay. Even when his former partner, Scott Thorson, filed a palimony lawsuit against him, Liberace continued to deny his sexual orientation. Upon his death in February 1987 at age 67, his spokesperson attributed the cause to congestive heart failure, but the coroner’s autopsy revealed he had succumbed to AIDS-related pneumonia.

10. Betty White shared a close friendship with Liberace.

In a 2011 interview with CNN, Betty White shared that during their early careers, a mutual television producer often asked Liberace to accompany her to events, a gesture many interpreted as her serving as a beard for the closeted star. White fondly recalled a windy night when Liberace escorted her to a movie premiere. Instead of helping her out of the car, he was preoccupied with keeping his hair perfectly styled. She described him as a kind-hearted and cherished friend.

11. Liberace authored a cookbook.

Liberace, who owned Tivoli Gardens, a Las Vegas restaurant, channeled his passion for food into a cookbook. His 1970 publication, Liberace Cooks!, included a variety of recipes, from pierogi and squid casserole to braised oxtails and calves’ brains in black butter.

12. His sole leading role in a film was a colossal disappointment.

In 1955, Liberace starred in Sincerely Yours, playing a concert pianist who loses his hearing. Despite being distributed by Warner Brothers, the film was a commercial disaster. Reflecting on its failure at the 1982 Academy Awards, Liberace humorously remarked, 'I’ve done my part for motion pictures—I’ve stopped making them.'

13. Liberace designed a disappearing toilet.

Liberace created a retractable toilet that could fold into the bathroom wall. In a 1981 interview with Rolling Stone, he explained, 'There’s no reason a bathroom should display a toilet—it’s simply unglamorous.' Despite securing a patent for the rotating toilet, the invention never gained widespread popularity.