[78-L] Another Museum Closes

[Cary Ginell]

I've been to the Liberace Museum, which had really become anachronistic, even in the modern glitzy world of Vegas in the 21st century. Nothing had been updated in years, the guides seemed to be going through the motions, and the material presented was basically kitschy, to show how opulent Liberace had become. His musical skills were strictly secondary and the whole place was treated as a joke. 
This was too bad, because the guy really had a lot of talent, and from secondary sources who I've interviewed, he was really a good, generous, kind man. Terry Gibbs once told me a story about Liberace coming to see him play in the 1950s when Gibbs had the female black pianist Terry Pollard in his band. Liberace enjoyed the show so much that afterward, he asked Pollard to come over to his table and have a drink with him. The hotel would not permit this because she was black, but according to Gibbs, Liberace "pitched a bitch and caused a big scene," threatening to leave and never frequent the hotel again. Liberace was a huge celebrity in those days, so the hotel took his threats seriously. Eventually, she was able to go over to his table where they had a nice talk. 
 
Cary Ginell
 
> Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:51:43 -0500
> From: kenreg at tds.net
> To: 78-l at klickitat.78online.com
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Another Museum Closes
> 
> Bill Knowlton wrote:
> > Just got word that the Liberace Museum is closing, joining the Roy Rogers Museum as toast.
> > 
> > Sad nobody cares anymore about anybody dead except Elvis <g>
> > 
> > 
> 
> Well, its really not a surprise. Although wildly popular in his day, 
> time moves on. As Taylor pointed on in another post, the the generation 
> that enjoyed Liberace and Roy Rogers, who's museum also closed, is 
> dieing off. Although I would enjoy going to either of those museums and 
> am sad to see them close, to be realistic I think the best hope is for 
> an entertainment museum that would be inclusive of all iconic performers 
> from various genres. Such a museum could highlight everyone from 
> Liberace to Harry Lauder. (And both men made 78s so this is on topic.)
> 
> -- Ken
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