Liberace Museum Collection

The Liberace Museum Collection was a private museum collection that included many stage costumes, cars, jewelry, lavishly decorated pianos and numerous citations for philanthropic acts that belonged to the American entertainer and pianist Wladziu Valentino Liberace, better known as Liberace.

Liberace Museum
Shuttle and museum exterior (2009)
Established15 April 1979 (1979-04-15)
Dissolved17 October 2010 (2010-10-17)
Location1775 E Tropicana Ave
Paradise, Nevada
Coordinates36°06′02.5″N 115°07′42.3″W
FounderLiberace
Director
    • George Liberace
    • Dora Liberace
OwnerLiberace Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts

Originally exhibited in the former Liberace Museum located in Paradise, Nevada, the Liberace Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts now houses the primary collection of Liberace's outfits at Thriller Villa, the former Las Vegas home of Michael Jackson, and displays Liberace’s automobiles, related artifacts and occasional special exhibits at the Liberace Garage in Las Vegas.

History
Liberace Plaza and Museum roadside sign (2003)

The Liberace Foundation for Creative and Performing Arts was founded in 1976; Liberace endowed the Foundation with its collection along with $4 million in cash. He stated his hope for the Foundation to return his good fortune to musicians starting on their careers.[1] The Foundation acquired the entire shopping plaza on the southwest corner of Tropicana and Spencer, which would later be renamed the Liberace Plaza. The Plaza contained both the Museum and Tivoli Gardens, a restaurant designed and operated by Liberace.[2][3]

Liberace himself opened the Liberace Museum on April 15, 1979 in Paradise, Nevada, a census-designated place in the Las Vegas Valley.[4] Admission to the Museum cost $3.50.[5] His brother George became the director and later George's wife, Dora, assumed that role. The museum had several buildings showcasing Liberace's unique costumes, pianos, cars, jewelry and artifacts. At its peak, the museum attracted 450,000 visitors per year,[2] and was the third most-visited tourist attraction in Nevada, after the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam.[4][6]

The museum was expanded in 1988, tripling its size by expanding into the office, library, and apartment spaces in the Plaza.[6][7] The collection was housed in three buildings: the main building, displaying most of the pianos and automobiles; the Annex, with Liberace's bedroom (recreated from his Palm Springs house), jewelry, personal items, a mirrored Baldwin grand, and his on-stage capes and costumes, many designed by Michael Travis; and the Library, containing Liberace's musical arrangements, his archives, and a tribute to his family.[8][9][10]

The annual Liberace "Play-A-Like" Competition was started by the Foundation in 1993 to mark Liberace's birthday;[11] competitors were expected to embody "Liberace's joyful spirit of showmanship and entertainment ability" through their choice of music and costume. The competition was held at the Liberace Museum. It was expanded in 2006 as the Liberace Piano Competition to encompass traditional performances, and the young musicians could choose to play either a traditional Steinway grand or Liberace's rhinestone-studded Baldwin grand.[12] By 2008, the competition had outgrown the space at the Museum and the finals were held at the Community Lutheran Church.[13]

In 1995, 18 pianos were on display, including historically significant instruments that had previously been played by Frédéric Chopin (finished in green-and-gold, built by Ignaz Pleyel in the early 1800s),[10] Robert Schumann (built by Bösendorfer), and George Gershwin (built by Chickering & Sons), as well as an early piano designed by John Broadwood dated to 1788.[4] The rhinestone-decorated Baldwin grand that Liberace had debuted for his sold-out Radio City Music Hall concerts in 1986 was also on display.[14] Admission fees had risen modestly to $6.50 for adults.[4]

  • Liberace Museum, Las Vegas (2003)
  • Neon-lit signs for the Liberace Museum and associated restaurant Tivoli Gardens. Both were operated by Liberace; the museum closed in 2010, and the restaurant moved shortly thereafter.
  • Exterior "Wall of Music" decoration (c. 2000s)
  • Museum annex interior with mirrored Baldwin (2007)
  • Liberace's costumes (2007)
  • Rhinestone Baldwin and candelabra, by Carol Highsmith
  • Mirrored upright piano (2009)
  • Sign at the Neon Museum boneyard (2019)

All the proceeds of the museum benefited the Liberace Foundation, which provided 2,700 scholarships to college and graduate students totaling more than $6 million.[15][16] In 2000, the Foundation took out a $2 million loan to renovate the plaza and museum;[2] the renovation added 6,000 square feet (560 m2) to the museum to accommodate traveling exhibits, bringing the total size to 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2). It also added the round glass entrance and neon signs, cafe, and a Walk of Honors.[17] Siegfried and Roy hosted the grand re-opening ceremonies in 2002, which was also attended by Charo and Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt.[18]

Liberace exhibition at Cosmopolitan

The 30-year loan carried both a 9.5% interest rate and penalties for early repayment; expenses outpaced revenue for seven of the ten years between 1998 and 2008, driven by falling attendance (in 2002, attendance had dropped to a quarter of its peak at 100,000 per year, and by October 2010, just 36,000 had visited that year) and lost income from vacant storefronts in the Plaza. The reduced revenues would force the Foundation to subsidize museum operations from its dwindling endowment.[16][19][18][20][2] In 2008, the Foundation awarded a total of $112,000 in scholarships; that dropped to $62,000 in 2009.[21]

In January 2010, Jack Rappaport, the director of the museum, announced it would be moving to the Strip.[22] However, the Liberace Foundation announced it would close the museum in September[23] and on October 17, 2010, the Liberace Museum closed "indefinitely, but not forever" according to Liberace Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Jeffrey Koep.[24][25][26] Koep stated the museum would continue to exhibit costumes from the collection as a traveling show under the management of Exhibits Development Group after its closure.[19]

Present-day locations and exhibitions
Key locations of the Liberace Museum Collection
1
(former) Liberace Plaza, Museum and Restaurant; 1775 E Tropicana Ave
2
Thriller Villa, 2710 Palomino Ln
3
Hollywood Car Museum, 5115 Dean Martin Dr

The Liberace Foundation is still operating in Las Vegas and manages the collection. In November 2013, the Liberace Foundation exhibited a portion of Liberace's collection at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, in an exhibition titled "Too Much of a Good Thing is Wonderful: Liberace and the Art of Costume."[27] It featured 15 performance costumes, the rhinestone Baldwin piano, and a rhinestone-encrusted Excalibur kitcar. The exhibition closed in October 2014.

The sign for the Liberace Museum was restored and relit in 2014, featured at the Neon Museum boneyard.[28]

Thriller Villa

The Liberace Foundation announced in 2015 that the Museum Collection is being housed inside one of Michael Jackson's former residences in Las Vegas, and features a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) exhibition space.[29][30] According to the Liberace Foundation's website, private showings can be arranged by appointment.[31] The building, now known as Thriller Villa, was originally built in 1952 and expanded in the 1990s as Hacienda Palomino by local theater developer Horst Schmidt; after Schmidt died, it was sold to Aner Iglesias, the honorary consul of El Salvador, in 2004.[32][33][34] Jackson rented the house from 2007 until his death in 2009.[35]

Liberace Garage

As of April 7th 2016, a new commercial location has opened called, "The Liberace Garage" featuring all 8 vehicles from the Liberace Museum, housed in the Hollywood Cars Museum.[36] The space also features the rhinestone-encrusted Radio City Baldwin piano, and stage costumes worn by Liberace.[37][38]

For the 2019 Grammy Awards, Chloe Flower performed on the rhinestone Baldwin, flown to Los Angeles for the award ceremony, while backing Cardi B.[14]

Liberace vehicle collection
YearMakeModelImageNotes
1901OldsmobileCurved Dash Replica, 3/4-scale
1931FordModel A Replica, used on stage at his Las Vegas Hilton residency in the 1970s.[39] Painted red.[40]
1954Rolls-RoyceSilver Dawn convertible Custom painted in red, white, and blue; known as "Bicentennial" or "Stars and Stripes"
1957AustinFX3 Liberace would pick up friends from the Palm Springs Airport in this customized London Taxi.[40][41]
1962Rolls-RoycePhantom V Landau top; mirrored tiles applied by John Hancock, includes a full bar and mobile phone.[39]
196xExcaliburRoadster Rhinestone-encrusted kitcar, aka the "Rhinestone Roadster"; sometimes misattributed as a Duesenberg replica or as a "Mercedes Excalibur" and dated to 1934.[39][40][41]
1971VolkswagenBeetle "VolksRolls" customized to look like a Rolls-Royce by George Barris; California vanity plate registration "VWRR JR".[41]
1972BradleyGT Finished in gold metalflake[40] with silver candelabra emblems on the sides

References
  1. "About: The Foundation". The Liberace Foundation for the Creative and Performing Arts. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. Katsilometes, John (October 16, 2010). "Amid apathy and dwindling revenue, the jewel box that is the Liberace Museum closes Sunday". the Kats Report [blog]. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. Crewdson, John (February 15, 1987). "Liberace's death raises privacy questions". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  4. Thompson, M. Dion (May 14, 1995). "Liberace museum might be only sure bet in Vegas". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  5. Katsilometes, John (May 11, 2010). "Liberace Museum celebrates, contemplates move; Human Nature gets two years at I.P.". the Kats Report [blog]. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  6. Schmich, Mary T. (August 24, 1989). "Liberace Museum a dizzying tribute to the Lord of Rings and Rhinestones". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  7. Collins, Glenn (September 23, 1990). "Mr. Entertainment Is Still Playing Vegas". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  8. Kearney, Syd (October 11, 1995). "Liberace Museum delivers on glitz". Albany Times-Union. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  9. Dickman, Michael H. (September 11, 2009). "The Liberace Museum". Living Las Vegas: Real life in the shadow of the Strip. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  10. Watson, Catherine (January 1, 1989). "Who said this town didn't have class?..." Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  11. Edwards, Megan (May 19, 2004). "Something Even More Spectacular: The Liberace 'Play-A-Like' Contest". Living Las Vegas: Real life in the shadow of the Strip. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  12. Edwards, Megan (August 25, 2008). "Something More Spectacular: The Liberace Piano Competition". Living Las Vegas: Real life in the shadow of the Strip. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  13. Sedenquist, Mark (October 13, 2008). "When I Hear Liberace, I Hear Laughter". Living Las Vegas: Real life in the shadow of the Strip. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  14. Katsilometes, John (February 11, 2019). "Grammys: Cardi B's pianist shines and so does Liberace's famous piano". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  15. Corliss, Richard (November 3, 1986). "Liberace: The Evangelist of Kitsch". Time. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  16. Kelly, Caitlin (September 27, 2010). "Where have you gone, Wladziu Valentino Liberace?". Fortune. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  17. "Liberace Museum to remain open during summer renovation". Travel Weekly. July 6, 2001. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  18. "Newly expanded Liberace Museum in Las Vegas has all pianist's flash". Kitsap Sun. The Associated Press. June 2, 2002. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  19. Peterson, Kristen (September 16, 2010). "Behind-the-scenes drama at the Liberace Museum". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  20. Greene, David (September 14, 2010). "Liberace Museum To Close Its Doors". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  21. Welch, Chris (October 16, 2010). "Show's over for Liberace Museum in Vegas". CNN Travel. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  22. Gutierrez, Lourdes (January 19, 2010). "Liberace Museum moves to the Strip". Best of Vegas. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  23. "Liberace museum in Las Vegas closing". UPI News. September 12, 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  24. Katsilometes, John (September 10, 2010). "Liberace Museum closing; final day of operation on longtime East Tropicana location Oct. 17". the Kats Report [blog]. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  25. Nagourney, Adam (September 18, 2010). "Mr. Showmanship's Show Is Closing". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  26. Elfman, Doug (October 17, 2010). "Liberace Museum strikes final notes". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  27. Bornfeld, Steve. "Hey Liberace, Got That in My Size?". Art. Vegas Seven. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  28. Peterson, Kristen (September 18, 2014). "Liberace and Jerry's Nugget signs glow again in Neon Museum's boneyard". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  29. "The Liberace Museum Collection is on the move". Indiegogo.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  30. "Case Study: FreshBooks Powers the Liberace Museum Inside Michael Jackson's Home". FreshBooks Cloud Accounting. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  31. "Liberace Museum and Exhibits". The Liberace Foundation. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  32. Devore, Holly Ivy (November 9, 2014). "Jackson's last Vegas home, Thriller Villa, offers surprises". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  33. Tablang, Kristin (June 28, 2016). "Thriller Villa: Move into Michael Jackson's Former Las Vegas Mansion for $9.5 Million". Forbes. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  34. Luschek, Mat (December 20, 2018). "Liberace lives on inside the Thriller Villa in Las Vegas — VIDEO". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  35. Blatter, Lucy Cohen (June 2, 2016). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller Villa' in Vegas Hits Market at $9.5 Million". Mansion Global. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  36. Jones, Jay (April 28, 2016). "Liberace's over-the-top cars go back on display in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  37. Townsend Rodgers, Lissa. "Liberace Garage Showcases Mr. Showmanship's Rides". VegasSeven. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  38. "Liberace Garage at Hollywood Cars Museum adds the late Entertainer's Classic Red, White and Blue "Bicentennial" Rolls Royce". VegasNews.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  39. "Liberace fancied unique cars". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 7, 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  40. McFerrin, Linda Watanabe (April 29, 2001). "Looking for Liberace / The new Vegas still celebrates the true king of the strip in a museum named in his honor". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  41. Garrett, Jerry (May 23, 2013). "The Flamboyant Cars of Liberace". Wheels [blog]. The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
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