Liberace Museum Collection

The Liberace Museum Collection includes 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. Originally exhibited in the former “Liberace Museum” located in Paradise, Nevada, the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts now houses the primary collection at Thriller Villa, the former Las Vegas home of Michael Jackson, and displays Liberace’s automobiles and related artifacts at the Liberace Garage in Las Vegas.

History

Liberace Museum, Las Vegas, 2003

Liberace himself opened the Liberace Museum on April 15, 1979 in Paradise, Nevada, a census-designated place in the Las Vegas Valley. His brother George became the director and later George's wife, Dora, assumed that role. The museum was part of the Liberace Plaza, which Liberace owned and where his restaurant was also located. The museum had several buildings showcasing Liberace's unique costumes, pianos, cars, jewelry and artifacts. All the proceeds of the museum benefited the Liberace Foundation of Performing and Creative Arts. That foundation provided thousands of scholarships to college and graduate students. The Liberace Foundation is still operating in Las Vegas and manages the collection.

On October 17, 2010, the Liberace Museum closed "indefinitely, but not forever" according to Liberace Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Jeffrey Koep.[1]

Present-day locations and exhibitions

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."[2] It featured 15 performance costumes, a rhinestone piano, and a rhinestone-encrusted Dusenberg kitcar. The exhibition closed in October 2014.

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 exhibition space. [3] [4] According to the Liberace Foundation's website, private showings can be arranged by appointment.[5]

Liberace's 1972 Bradley GT with gold metalflake finish and silver candelabra emblems on the sides

As of April 7th 2016, a new commercial location has opened called, "The Liberace Garage" featuring all 8 vehicles from the Liberace Museum - 1961 Mirrored Rolls-Royce Phantom V; 1952 Red, White, and Blue Rolls-Royce Convertible; 1972 Bradley GT (pictured below); Ford Model A replica; London Taxi; Oldsmobile Curved Dash replica; rhinestone-encrusted Duesenberg Roadster kitcar; and the "VolksRolls" Volkswagen Beetle customized to look like a Rolls-Royce. The space also features a rhinestone-encrusted Baldwin piano, and stage costumes worn by Liberace.[6] [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Liberace Museum closing; final day of operation on longtime East Tropicana location Oct. 17 - Las Vegas Sun News". Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
  2. ↑ Bornfeld, Steve. "Hey Liberace, Got That in My Size?". Art. Vegas Seven. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "The Liberace Museum Collection is on the move". Indiegogo.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Case Study: FreshBooks Powers the Liberace Museum Inside Michael Jackson's Home". FreshBooks Cloud Accounting. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Liberace Museum and Exhibits". The Liberace Foundation. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  6. ↑ Townsend Rodgers, Lissa. "Liberace Garage Showcases Mr. Showmanship's Rides". VegasSeven. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "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.

Coordinates: 36°06′02.5″N 115°07′42.3″W / 36.100694°N 115.128417°W / 36.100694; -115.128417

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