Evening star., 1954-05-23


cracks as Red Skeletons: lib
Grace cracked his head when
he dived in his pool. Brother
George forgot to life the lid" !"
Pool Fontostic
That pool is q fantastic
thing. built In the shape Of q
piano with q keyboard along
its edge. It's part Of his
100000 home In Sherman
Oaks. one of the fancier sec
tions Of the San Fernado VAL
ley. where Liberace lives alone
with his mother.
The house is q showplace of
modern architecture. probably
the most talked about in Hol-
lywood since Valentines fall
cons lair.
The master Of this modern
istic manSe is half Italian. half
Polish, combining the hand
some features of both. His
dark brown eyes and slightly
dark complexion, from an
Italian father. set of a glean1-
ing row of even white teeth
perpetually visible in q smile
almost as famous as Ike's. It's
all topped of by q luxurious
crop Of wavy gray hair. He has
been prematurely gray since he
was 81, a fact attested to by
his barber although there have
been stories that it's all part
Of the act.
There are other stories
which give him more concern.
"One writer" says Liberace.
wrote a syndicated series
that was supposed to be all
about my personal life. yet
never once contacted me or
any member of my family or
staff. He took it all from a
disgruntled employe who
worked for me-"
Lowyer indignant
The Liberace lawyer. John
Jacobs. was even more out
spoken:
There was much derision
about Liberace's devotion to
his mother. He was accused
Of 'momism,' a term invented
by a notorious woman hater.
The term was used almost as
an expletive, like communism
or Naziism. It was given q
sinister connotation.
"Liberace does love his
mother. It is true that he
treats her well and is ex-
tremely grateful to her for
everything she did for him in
his struggling years. When
has loving ones parents be-
come a sinister behaviour"
Liberace's great appeal
among middle-aged and ell
derly women no doubt stems
from his great public devotion
to his mother. who has ap-
peared on the show and often
travels with the encourage.
He realizes this and offers his
own explanation:
Unfortunately" he says,
there are too many lonely
mothers around today, de-
serted by their children when
they need them most. Perhaps
they are starved for affection
from their own children and
enjoy a little happiness vicari-
ously when some one else loves
his mother publicly"
Associates say there's no
mystery about why Liberace
doesn't go out more. seldom
dates. He's just too busy. Says
Jacobs: "The piano is a jealous
mistress"
Liberace hit the big time in
1851. Paul Weston, head Of
artists repertoire for Colum-
bia Records, recalls that he
first hired the pianist as q
guest on a CHS radio show.
He Was q Hit
"He was a smash and I rec
commended that Columbia sign
him. It was the best CONNER
cial move we ever made. He
not only sells more albums
than any other artist, there is
no one who even comes a close
second"
His first TV show followed
the same year, and has been
growing in popularity ever
since. But like most stars who
rocket to overnight success,
there was a lot Of hard work
getting up to that moment.
Born Wladziu Valentino
Liberace in Milwaukee in 1920,
he started playing piano at
the age of 4. His mother first
hoped he would grow up to be
an undertaken: an uncle was
successful in the business.
But his interest in music
was so obvious that she did
everything. she could to en-
courage him.
She persuaded Paderewski.
a fellow countryman, to come
to the Liberace home to hear
her son. Friends say 1t was
Paderewski who sold the fam
lily on the idea Of using O
single name for showmanship.
Father Liberace was his
sons first teacher. At 16. he
made his professional debut
under sponsorship Of the late
DR.. Frederick Stock, former
conductor Of the Chicago
Symphony. AS q recitalist, he
went through the usual rou-
tine Of half-filled concert halls
before long-hair audiences.
Then he branched out, to Jazz,
semiclassics, even hillbilly.