In the early nineties I played at celebrations honouring Liberace in Las Vegas and I was invited to stay in his Palm Springs home. Years later I wrote Phyllis Diller when she was touring here in Australia about my time spent with Liberace's family and friends and she replied sending me a signed photo and a copy of the sheet music to the fugue she wrote and plays here. She adored Liberace saying he was the "sweetest man". Two great legends of show business. Two great musicians!
She studied at the Conservatory. She was the real deal when it came to playing the piano. She was a joy in my life and I will miss her. RIP, Ms. Diller.
MsLilyhorse , I had no idea she played. I was wondering how on earth she was going to pull THAT off!!! lol When my three kids & I lived in Vancouver for awhile (we’re Canadians who were all born & raised in Ontario Canada), my ten year old daughter & I went to one of Liberace’s concerts there....in ‘78. I think it cost $35 for each ticket!! lol
They were close friends in real life and I think that comes through in this skit. They had a great time together in real life and enjoyed cooking for each other.
I have seen Phyllis Diller play the piano on tv many many years ago. She played a very hard classical number that floored everyone. She actually was a very impressive pianist. I tried to find that clip on UA-cam but it doesn't seem to be there yet.
One of the worst things about our perception of Liberace's legacy is that people focus on his private life and forget he was one of the most incredible musicians and showmen of the last century.
I keep watching more and more of these Liberace videos, and the more I watch, the more I admire Liberace. Look how gentlemanly he is here with Phyllis Diller, even putting his hand behind her to steady her as the floor moves them. And listen to his amazing musicianship. He was charming, and a truly wonderful entertainer. I don't care about his private life.
Priceless...simply Priceless...two legends at their funniest :) Love(d) them both and miss them and their kind of entertainment...some substance unlike all the stupid reality shows featuring people who have no particular talent unless you count getting pregnant while a teen, having a famous parent, slapping on tons of makeup and having a baby, etc.
My mom took me to see Ms. Diller perform the Beethoven 1st Piano Concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony when I was a kid. She hammed it up of course, coming out in a wild costume with a feather headdress and making faces at the conductor behind his back but her playing was very good!
Wow - I’m jealous. What a blast ! Yep. She sure can play. I’m a bit of a pianist myself - so it really helps me appreciate how good she was! PHYLLIS ALWAYS !
@JubalCalif heavens to murgatroid!!! haven't heard that one in years. made me grin a big grin....as did your paul williams comment. thanks for the mirth.
Two American Icons. I will always remember Your gifts of laughter in this ol ' world. Truly missed......good side is its you and Bob headlining in heaven. Wow, what a gig.....
I am so happy for old footage.Was going through vids last year of Phylis Diller,every time she still amazes me.What an entertainer.We all gotta go,So glad that she lived as long as she did.Will always have vids to bring us back to better days.Thanks for Posting :)
IN the early 80s, I had the opportunity to perform with Phyllis Diller. Good musician and a warm and wonderful human being. Thanks for the memories, Phyllis.
Wow!! What a discovery !!! Liberace wore a humongous wig ! I noticed when they showed his/her neck, it was clearly a colors difference!!! Wow ! Another one that wore a big big wig was Ray Conniff. Unreal !! Of course it doesn't matter ! Conceted? They were wonderful and great musicians !!!
Remembered her on TV in the 60s and my mum and dad laughing at her down to earth jokes. PD learnt to play the piano but did not want to take it up as a career, but played privately. It shows how accomplished she was by making fun of the piano whilst playing!
Perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way one of these days and we will return to a time of sanity, goodness, and sincerity, as evinced by these two.
Amen! I hope that we won't even give a second of attention to what the mean spirited, hateful, grifter wealthy class have to say anymore. Enough of the whole lot of Trumpsters, Bezos, Gates and Musks of the world! We definitely have to kick in the arse the whole lot of Confederate degenerates too. Bring back the talented folks with class.
Have to agree with johonnywad. You feel like you are there with them and the show is just for you. My mother was very english but she loved seeing these two on tv and of course Lucille Ball. These people just exuded something that doesn't seem to exist any more. Liberace was SO gay and so out there that people couldn't knock him.
I remember telling my grandmother when I was about seven years old, and we were watching Phyllis Diller on TV, "Grandma, you should dress like her!" My grandmother laughed and said, "Yes, I guess I should!"
you know, they both said their lives were changed by the same self-help book. later when they met and discovered they'd both been disciples of the same book, they became close friends.
zyxmyk yeah that's interesting. Phyllis often referred to that book. I love that, because these days there are so many self help and transformative philosophies and modalities around but back then she would've been well ahead of her time reading that kind of new age literature. She was clearly a woman that was well ahead of her time in so many ways. I always adored her and felt she was a magical character. There are many great entertainers around these days but they lack originality, flair and that certain magical quality that Phyllis Diller had. As for Liberace, he was amazing also, but the problem is that his relationship with his toy boy ruined his reputation and the movie that was released starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas really exposed his darker side. He was quite complex: both very sweet apparently and then also very cruel in others. It's hard to know where the truth lay. Diller on the other hand seems to be remembered by everyone who knew her as really sweet and kind. Kindness is everything in life. Without it, it doesn't matter how talented you are because people forget even the most brilliant talent and only remember the kindness, when all is said and done.
LOL :D i was just thinking is it me or does no one know how to make a fashion statement anymore... i will be wearing my feather boa in her honor today...and maybe tomorrow...
I saw Phyllis Diller, Jack Benny, and one other comedian whose name I can't recall offhand, many years ago at the Queen Elizabeth Theature in Vancouver, British Columbia. They weren't there to do comedy. Phyllis played Beethoven's piano concerto #1. My memory's foggy but I think Benny played Beethoven's violin concerto. My vague memory of the 3rd performer is that he played clarinet.
looking for videos of her with an orchestra,,he always said he cried all the way to the bank and back to his museum,, trivia, how did he play with all those rings on his fingers?
@whatziz - of course, you would feel the same way about Roy Cohn, I'm sure, despite his conservative and anti-liberal actions, because, as it happens, there was 'something wrong' with him too (there were many things wrong with him, such as a congenital lack of heart or perspective).
I miss the talent we used to see on TV with the glammar and the glitz on specials and variety shows. I was hoping Rosie O'Donnell's variety show was going to make it. Now all there are are reality shows and the public is subjected to only amateurs rather than seasoned professionals in the entertainment industry. ...not that there isn't the occasional child prodigy ... but the child prodigies back then ... well Michael Jackson was one of them so enough said.
![Phyllis Diller • Classic Standup Routine • 1965 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RNhH9qMEqVk/mqdefault.jpg)
Phyllis Diller was the only one who could make it look like Liberace was in Casual Wear. RIP Phyllis.
In the early nineties I played at celebrations honouring Liberace in Las Vegas and I was invited to stay in his Palm Springs home. Years later I wrote Phyllis Diller when she was touring here in Australia about my time spent with Liberace's family and friends and she replied sending me a signed photo and a copy of the sheet music to the fugue she wrote and plays here.
She adored Liberace saying he was the "sweetest man".
Two great legends of show business.
Two great musicians!
FANTASTIC !!!!!! Yay, Phillip !
@@virghammer1 Virginia, just on 6 minutes ago, you brought me back here after 10 years! Yay indeed! Blessings!
Lucky you. Loved Phyllis Diller's comedy.
@@meme-tg6hr Blessings!
She studied at the Conservatory. She was the real deal when it came to playing the piano.
She was a joy in my life and I will miss her. RIP, Ms. Diller.
It sounds like a harpsichord because it is one. It was specially made for her, one of her favorite belongings.
Phyllis was actually an accomplished pianist who studied piano for many years. That is her own custom build harpsichord.
MsLilyhorse , I had no idea she played. I was wondering how on earth she was going to pull THAT off!!! lol When my three kids & I lived in Vancouver for awhile (we’re Canadians who were all born & raised in Ontario Canada), my ten year old daughter & I went to one of Liberace’s concerts there....in ‘78. I think it cost $35 for each ticket!! lol
You can sure tell he loved having her on his show, that smile of his and this wonderful laugh tells it all!
They were close friends in real life and I think that comes through in this skit. They had a great time together in real life and enjoyed cooking for each other.
What marvelous comedic chemistry! It's a joy to watch two such big personalities working together so effortlessly.
When Liberace asks someone to play piano on HIS show, that's when you know they're the real deal.
Two legendary entertainers. And now they're both gone.
Two greats together!
Words cannot express how wonderful this was to watch, this is a treasure. Thank you for posting this.
I have seen Phyllis Diller play the piano on tv many many years ago. She played a very hard classical number that floored everyone. She actually was a very impressive pianist. I tried to find that clip on UA-cam but it doesn't seem to be there yet.
Two great artists liberace so nice guy, they were really talented people.
One of the worst things about our perception of Liberace's legacy is that people focus on his private life and forget he was one of the most incredible musicians and showmen of the last century.
No, we don't. Most of us adore this man as much as you obviously, do.
Wow. Who would've guessed that so many 12-year olds would have an interest in Phyllis Diller & Liberace.
Fabulous!
i just adore these two and miss them both....
thank you for all the entertaining hours you have given xo
I keep watching more and more of these Liberace videos, and the more I watch, the more I admire Liberace. Look how gentlemanly he is here with Phyllis Diller, even putting his hand behind her to steady her as the floor moves them. And listen to his amazing musicianship. He was charming, and a truly wonderful entertainer. I don't care about his private life.
Priceless...simply Priceless...two legends at their funniest :) Love(d) them both and miss them and their kind of entertainment...some substance unlike all the stupid reality shows featuring people who have no particular talent unless you count getting pregnant while a teen, having a famous parent, slapping on tons of makeup and having a baby, etc.
Two legends. Glorious!
Wonderful. May they rest in peace.
Greats!
That WAS entertainment. Truly talented people
My mom took me to see Ms. Diller perform the Beethoven 1st Piano Concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony when I was a kid. She hammed it up of course, coming out in a wild costume with a feather headdress and making faces at the conductor behind his back but her playing was very good!
+tbhamdg She came to Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Beautiful soul. I hate this Liberace camp....
tbhamdg , it’s very obvious you’re in a southern state! 😁 👍🏻 🇨🇦
Wow - I’m jealous. What a blast ! Yep. She sure can play. I’m a bit of a pianist myself - so it really helps me appreciate how good she was! PHYLLIS ALWAYS !
RIP Phyllis....you will be missed.
Phyllis, ROCK ON !! She will be 92 in July 2009. Good for her, I've enjoyed her for 50 years since I was a little kid.
RIP Phyllis!
@JubalCalif heavens to murgatroid!!! haven't heard that one in years. made me grin a big grin....as did your paul williams comment. thanks for the mirth.
OMG! This is the infamous Baldwin electric "harpsichord"! I've seen photos before, but have never heard one.
Two American Icons. I will always remember Your gifts of laughter in this ol ' world. Truly missed......good side is its you and Bob headlining in heaven. Wow, what a gig.....
Both wonderful entertainers.
So cute!
She is another example of the best comedy people being artists and musicians too!
I am so happy for old footage.Was going through vids last year of Phylis Diller,every time she still amazes me.What an entertainer.We all gotta go,So glad that she lived as long as she did.Will always have vids to bring us back to better days.Thanks for Posting :)
What fun he made music and sharing with others. thanks for posting.
IN the early 80s, I had the opportunity to perform with Phyllis Diller. Good musician and a warm and wonderful human being. Thanks for the memories, Phyllis.
Phyllis is the girl version of Liberace! lol I love these two together LOL
Rest in peace Phylis Diller
I loved both od them. Would watch Liberace with my Grandmother. What wonderful memories! Thanks for the video.
Wow....so amazing this is available on youtube!
they were good friends. Glad you posted this.
The Clarences love & support Libby & Phyllis! Legends!
Wow!! What a discovery !!! Liberace wore a humongous wig ! I noticed when they showed his/her neck, it was clearly a colors difference!!! Wow ! Another one that wore a big big wig was Ray Conniff. Unreal !! Of course it doesn't matter ! Conceted? They were wonderful and great musicians !!!
"I washed it, and it shrank." LOL
Plenty of laughs in Heaven today! RIP xx
What a talent.. I love Phyllis' composition.. Tremendous !!
Of COURSE I have a Baldwin..... who ever heard of a hairy piano...
OMG, I love Phyllis.... one of St. Louis' own!
😝 !!!!! Ain’t she absolutely the best?!
Rest well Phyllis Diller
Just a couple of old queens hanging out. Real entertainers..talented..real..relatable loved R.I.P
Happy Birthday Tim!!
Remembered her on TV in the 60s and my mum and dad laughing at her down to earth jokes. PD learnt to play the piano but did not want to take it up as a career, but played privately. It shows how accomplished she was by making fun of the piano whilst playing!
Two wonderful hammy goofs! We were so lucky to enjoy them on TV when we were growing up. I miss them.
Diller was a highly skilled pianist.
What Phyllis is playing is a Baldwin Combo Electric Harpsichord (also used by The Beatles)
RIP Phyllis
I love liberace he was so great. I loved his costumes and his showmanship. He loved his fans.
Loved the chemistry between these two. Exceptional playing by Phyllis.
THIS IS HOW TO LIVE. They were 100% themselves! What fun!
Perhaps the pendulum will swing the other way one of these days and we will return to a time of sanity, goodness, and sincerity, as evinced by these two.
Amen! I hope that we won't even give a second of attention to what the mean spirited, hateful, grifter wealthy class have to say anymore. Enough of the whole lot of Trumpsters, Bezos, Gates and Musks of the world! We definitely have to kick in the arse the whole lot of Confederate degenerates too.
Bring back the talented folks with class.
I had no idea about her musical talent! Wow such amazing memories
Have to agree with johonnywad. You feel like you are there with them and the show is just for you. My mother was very english but she loved seeing these two on tv and of course Lucille Ball. These people just exuded something that doesn't seem to exist any more. Liberace was SO gay and so out there that people couldn't knock him.
very well!!!!
My favorite concert pianist in the world the one and only Phyllis Diller.
they'd make an awesome couple
I remember telling my grandmother when I was about seven years old, and we were watching Phyllis Diller on TV, "Grandma, you should dress like her!" My grandmother laughed and said, "Yes, I guess I should!"
you know, they both said their lives were changed by the same self-help book. later when they met and discovered they'd both been disciples of the same book, they became close friends.
zyxmyk yeah that's interesting. Phyllis often referred to that book. I love that, because these days there are so many self help and transformative philosophies and modalities around but back then she would've been well ahead of her time reading that kind of new age literature. She was clearly a woman that was well ahead of her time in so many ways. I always adored her and felt she was a magical character. There are many great entertainers around these days but they lack originality, flair and that certain magical quality that Phyllis Diller had. As for Liberace, he was amazing also, but the problem is that his relationship with his toy boy ruined his reputation and the movie that was released starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas really exposed his darker side. He was quite complex: both very sweet apparently and then also very cruel in others. It's hard to know where the truth lay. Diller on the other hand seems to be remembered by everyone who knew her as really sweet and kind. Kindness is everything in life. Without it, it doesn't matter how talented you are because people forget even the most brilliant talent and only remember the kindness, when all is said and done.
LOL :D
i was just thinking is it me or does no one know how to make a fashion statement anymore...
i will be wearing my feather boa in her honor today...and maybe tomorrow...
phillys plays very well!
The world is shorter of wit today. RIP, Phyllis and keep laughing.
I saw Phyllis Diller, Jack Benny, and one other comedian whose name I can't recall offhand, many years ago at the Queen Elizabeth Theature in Vancouver, British Columbia. They weren't there to do comedy. Phyllis played Beethoven's piano concerto #1. My memory's foggy but I think Benny played Beethoven's violin concerto. My vague memory of the 3rd performer is that he played clarinet.
He's really the consummate macho male with those porkchop side burns. Gotta love him.
Huge, fan of both of these people. Always have been, always, will be. I don't need a protest, to tell me how I should, feel.
RIP Phyllis - classy comdienne
Wow, had no idea Phyllis played the piano and that composition was great. I wonder why she didn't include it more in her act?
Yes... Very good friends in real life.
RIP Phillis.
Liberace actually said - "I'm CRYING all the way to the bank", but its often mosquoted as "laughing all the way to the bank".
No it is not. He danced all the time on his show with women and dances beautifully. He adored women.
@JubalCalif when i hear heavens to murgatroid, i think it's time to leave for school ... morning cartoons! what great memories.
I agree!
I think Phyllis would love that. I can almost hear her laughing. :)
How a true great queen of comedy- and Phyllis’s duller was good too.
Drain the pool!!
You know, Phyllis & Lucy had a very similar laugh..
@Bingsboy .... sure are... and we don't have these kind of performers today... not to their level.
Phyllis would've made a fabulous First Lady!!
Got THAT right, D.!
looking for videos of her with an orchestra,,he always said he cried all the way to the bank and back to his museum,, trivia, how did he play with all those rings on his fingers?
Yes, I do.
seriously????
yes my dear, and oh so fabulous!
That was not a piano she was playing, it was a harpsichord. And she played it very well.
ESPECIALLY The Showmanship Part.
@whatziz - of course, you would feel the same way about Roy Cohn, I'm sure, despite his conservative and anti-liberal actions, because, as it happens, there was 'something wrong' with him too (there were many things wrong with him, such as a congenital lack of heart or perspective).
I miss the talent we used to see on TV with the glammar and the glitz on specials and variety shows. I was hoping Rosie O'Donnell's variety show was going to make it. Now all there are are reality shows and the public is subjected to only amateurs rather than seasoned professionals in the entertainment industry. ...not that there isn't the occasional child prodigy ... but the child prodigies back then ... well Michael Jackson was one of them so enough said.
Love your channel
the book was by a guy named claude m. bristol.
How right you are; I'm sure Lee knew that, but was too polite to point it out to the woman.
showmanlee : Have heard that the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas is closing this weekend? Sad but true.
He was an excellent dancer; check out showmalee website. H has nearly 200 vids, some of them have Lee dancing. Enjoy!
@Darkmanskin
Betty and Phyllis are great friends.