Ahead of the Curve

I am quite looking forward to the debut of "Behind The Candlelabra" which is a made-for-TV HBO presentation.  It is the story of Liberace and his last lover, Scott Thorson and should be full of pretend realism.  Movies always are.  Michael Douglas stars as Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott.  The film couple were together for five years. 

I have always loved Liberace's in-your-face sly humor, all of it directed at himself.  We have toured the former museum (gone now) a couple of times, acting as guides to friends and family visiting there who wanted to see the sights.  Liberace was definitly "a sight."

I remembered that Thorson had written a book and sure enough it was in the library.

Some examples of Liberace's generosity - on their first Christmas together he gave Thorson:  
Two diamond rings
A black mink coat
A white mink jacket
A coyote-and-leather coat
A sapphire cross
A gold watch, wreathed in diamonds
Lots of clothes
A Maltese puppy named "Georgie
A Schnauzer named "Precious" 
A Bassett named "Lulu."

Liberace didn't limit his gifts to Christmas.  Thorson relates the time they were out walking*, I admired a passing car.  A few days later, Liberace gave him a custom Camaro.  Thorson was startled and asked him why?  "Because you admired it" was the reply.  Thorson laughed and said, "No, the one I was admiring was a Rolls-Royce!"   Within a few days a ribbon-wrapped Rolls was waiting for him on the floor of the Hilton Casino. 

Liberace was also extremely shrewd.  He paid $3 million for the property he built for his museum on Tropicana.  Since he was donating the land and building to his own non-profit orgnization, he got a great tax write-off!

* Which is why I doubt this story.  Liberace off-stage was nearly paranoid about his privacy.  No one dared to "just show up" at any of his houses.  So the picture of the two of them, arm-in-arm parading down a public street is ...unikely in my opinion.