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Liberace in Old Time Radio

One of the most flamboyant and beloved characters in Showbiz, Liberace presented "classical music with the boring parts left out."

Liberace

7 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 2 hours, 2234 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
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3 Audio CDs


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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Liberace
(1919 – 1987)

They say that the mark of true celebrity is to be known by a single name. In the case of our current subject, it may have been a matter of having a first name nearly impossible for general audiences to pronounce.

WÅ‚adziu Valentino Liberace came into the world on May 16, 1919, part of a set of identical twins, although his brother was stillborn. His mother was a pianist daughter of Polish immigrants while his father immigrated from Italy and played French horn for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Although they were a musical family, brother George played the violin and sister Angie was a pianist, music lessons were seen as an unnecessary and expensive luxury by their mother. Little WÅ‚adziu, known as Walter by his family and Lee by his friends, began to play the piano when he was four and was soon able to play complex pieces by ear.

LiberaceThe Liberace family faced difficult times during the depression, but Liberace was able to earn some money playing in theaters. He had a slight speech impediment which made him a target for bullies. This made his music an important refuge and he began playing semi-professionally, sometimes going by the name "Walter Busterkeys".

Concert pianist and former Prime minister of Poland Ignacy Paderewski was a friend of the family and advised that WÅ‚adziu had the best shot at becoming a star in the music business. He further recommended that he go by just his last name. Liberace trained in classical piano was invited to solo with the Chicago Symphony and joined the Works Progress Administration Orchestra. This helped him win a four-year scholarship to the Wisconsin College of Music.

After College, Liberace began to develop what would become his signature style. In 1939, after a classical concert in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he was called for an encore and choose to plat the popular novelty tune, "Three Little Fishies" with a decidedly classical flourish. Through the early Forties, Liberace moved away from straight classical performances, billed as "Pop with a bit of Classics". Liberace himself described the style as "Classical music with the boring parts left out".

This stymied the critics who complained that Liberace was too Pop for Classical listeners and too Classical to be Pop. Mostly, he was too flamboyant to be considered a serious artist. Liberace's signature candelabrum was a nod to the Chopin biographical film, A Song To Remember (1945, Columbia Pictures starring Paul Muni and Merle Oberon). He also purchased an over-sized, gold-leaf encrusted, Blüthner Grand Piano that he had carried with him on tour. A Liberace trademark over the years became performing with ever more extravagant pianos.

After settling in North Hollywood with his mother in 1947, Liberace became the darling of the local nightclub set and was also in demand for swank private parties hosted by Stars like Rosalind Russel, Clark Gable, Gloria Swanson, and Shirley Temple. Guest appearances on radio and early TV programs helped to boost his popularity, but Liberace became a household name when The Liberace Show began to weekly grace the small screen in 1952.

Liberace is credited with popularizing the term: "I cried all the way to the bank". In 1956, a London tabloid published a piece accusing him of homosexuality and other improprieties, for which he brought a libel suit. He sent the publisher a telegram: "What you said hurt me very much. I cried all the way to the bank." The jury awarded him £8,000 in damages.

Liberace left the earth plane for the great sparkling piano in the sky on February 4, 1987. Two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame were dedicated honoring Liberace, one at 6527 Hollywood Blvd for Contributions to Recording and the other for Television at 6739 Hollywood Blvd.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

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    COMMENTS

    He gave replicas of his piano rings to his lovers. One was up for auction years ago but out of my price range.... and huge. BIG FINGERS. Sad.

    Rob Verified Purchase

    I look forward to Mr Showmanship Collection! Toot toot!

    Rob Verified Purchase

    He paid for plastic surgery for his favorite lovers and GAVE THEM HIS FACE!!!

    Myrtle Verified Purchase

    More important facts: When someone asked him how he played the piano with all those heavy rights, he simply replied "very well." Known for his dramatic entrances on his Vegas shows, Liberace often flew over the crows to the stage.  Other Vegas show-offs (Bette Midler) stole this entrance and called it her own. He was very loyal to his mother.  She lived with him when he became famous and lived with him in his lavish housses.  His mother loved to gamble so Liberace installed loose slot machines in his houses for her to play. He was an avid dog lover and always had an entourage of pups with him.   He had a gold and diamond piano which actually played.

    Liberace's Biggest Fan Verified Purchase

    I always hated Bette Midler... now I have a reason!

    Buford

    I enjoyed these shows, although I was disappointed that the what’s my line segment contained the portion of the show that was Frank Lloyd Wright. Later in the show Liberace was a guest. Wonder if the file was corrupt. Otherwise I enjoyed the segments.

    Darcie Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    7 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 2 hours, 2234 min
    7 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 2 hours, 2234 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 7 shows – total playtime 2 hours, 37 minutes
    2. AAMH 540913 Jack Benny Liberace.mp3
    3. Bergen McCarthy 560401 Liberace Piano Lessons.mp3
    4. Chase And Sanborn Hour 540117 Liberace.mp3
    5. Doris Day Show 520502 17 Nobodys Sweetheart Liberace.mp3
    6. Howard Miller Show 57102955 Liberace.mp3
    7. Liberace Program 550112 Annette Warren.mp3
    8. Whats My Line 560603 Frank Lloyd Wright.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    7 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 2 hours, 2234 min
    7 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    72 MB – total playtime 2 hours, 37 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 7 shows – 72 MB – total playtime 2 hours, 37 minutes
    2. AAMH 540913 Jack Benny Liberace.mp3
    3. Bergen McCarthy 560401 Liberace Piano Lessons.mp3
    4. Chase And Sanborn Hour 540117 Liberace.mp3
    5. Doris Day Show 520502 17 Nobodys Sweetheart Liberace.mp3
    6. Howard Miller Show 57102955 Liberace.mp3
    7. Liberace Program 550112 Annette Warren.mp3
    8. Whats My Line 560603 Frank Lloyd Wright.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    7 recordings on 3 Audio CDs. Total playtime 2 hours, 37 min
    7 recordings on 3 Audio CDs
    total playtime 2 hours, 37 min

    Liberace Disc A001

    1. Doris Day Show 520502 17 Nobodys Sweetheart Liberace
    2. Chase And Sanborn Hour 540117 Liberace

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Liberace Disc A002

    1. AAMH 540913 Jack Benny Liberace
    2. Liberace Program 550112 Annette Warren

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Liberace Disc A003

    1. Bergen McCarthy 560401 Liberace Piano Lessons
    2. Whats My Line 560603 Frank Lloyd Wright
    3. Howard Miller Show 57102955 Liberace

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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