Leta Powell Drake Interview with Wladizu Liberace
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Junket interview with Wladziu Valentino Liberace - also known as Liberace - conducted in 1982 regarding the television series . Interview broadcast on KOLN/KGIN-TV (Lincoln, NE).
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My dad saw Liberace in an airport back in the 60's. He said he was laughing and talking with a group of fans and having a great time. He was truly a genuine entertainer and loved the adoration.
Liberace was still a big star when I was growing up in the 70s. He wasn't my cuppa tea! LoL But all the middle aged women at the time loved him and insisted he wasn't gay. Lol. My father saw Cary Grant. He was sitting with him first class & Grant got up during the flight and strolled around the plane greeting people!! My father couldn't believe it, he didn't have a shy bone and obviously EVERYONE on the plane loved it. I NEVER see anyone famous and I'm in NYC all the time.
Been watching clips of his shows & he just LOVED his audiences. 💖
@@SlimKeith11 Life was much better for everyone when a man's personal life wasn't shoved on stage & forced down the throats of audiences. Now that's ALL they do. And if you don't LIKE it - you're demonized. It's an upside down entertainment industry that's pushing an antihuman & destructive AGENDA. And men like Liberace would have HATED that his personal life was the only thing people talked about. He was a performer & loved doing that & that's what he was loved for.
Everyone knew he was flaming. Nobody gave a shit. Nobody still gives a shit. Do your own thing and keep your business off the street. I don't give a shit about what consensual relations people have.
@@PatrickFDolan Of course you gave a shit. You approved of Liberace because he never actually admitted publicly what he was doing privately. The furthest he went was being flamboyant. But if he had really come out and said what demographic he belonged to, you would have turned on him for "flaunting it," or "rubbing it in our faces." However, you wouldn't dream of advising straight men and women in a consensual relationship to be secretive.
More of that positive energy is needed in the world today.
I’m sure he’s had to tell the same stories a thousand times but he always does it with warmth, grace and kindness. RIP Lee and, thank you for what you left us😊👍🏾
Yes!
Yes too
Check the length of ash on the end of his fag.
A wonderful entertainer.a kind soul😊
Too bad kids today don't understand that this is how adults used to behave. Gracious, self-effacing, virtuous, humorous and confident. I remember being surrounded by attitudes like this when I was a child - not a single victim in sight. While a man of great means and fame, Liberace embodied these character attributes. How I wish these values would return.
Right. He’s a gentleman. He had to be patient to practice the 🎹 piano. Honestly some people today are too dangerous to be around.
You forget gentlelady like and not man like...nonetheless respect for the maestro...it's sad at his time he couldn't come out due to society issues...the way Freddy came out...I wish liberaci could have done it...the aids awareness lacking took away these brilliant musicians ..both liberaci and freddy
Well said
I think 🤔 mental illness and or addiction has caused society to have arrested development, seems most people never actual talk and act like a respectful adult.
An effeminate gay man 40 years ago has more testosterone and machismo than your average straight man today.
She is a good intetviewer. He never talks down to any interviewer. He is always so humble.
Indeed.
He was a real class act! Some of today's entertainers could learn from him.
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
Thank you but i bless myself!
My mother who played the piano and organ, absolutely loved him! She said his technique was astounding and the the thrill of her life was seeing him in person.
My Mother played both those keyboards as well & Loved Liberace too. On the subject of those times, I watched a video recently of abandoned homes, two of the homes featured were empty mostly But Both had Piano's in almost Every room of the house. I guess playing the piano was something Many people Learned how to do.
A gentle, warm, endearing, fully-grown, well-lived man with the innocence and playfulness of a sweet child.
Just a beautiful human being.
❤️🎶🎹🎶❤️
@King of All Buttocks Oh, but I do. I don't approve of the strong possibility that he might have dropped a few f-bombs throughout his time, either.
With a dirty little secret..he liked teenage boys.. lol..a closet pervert..don't be fooled .
He was secretly infecting people with aids...if he lived longer he would have gone to prison
Seems like a very gentle soul and a down to earth person not to mention a great musician. Best wishes to you Liberace - your legend lives on.
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
I love this man. He seemed so sweet & down to earth.
A friend who worked for the Tel-Co did service at Liberace's Palm Springs home...My friend is an amateur Pianist- Liberace helped him with some pieces he was trying to learn! Liberace was a down-to-earth- wonderful man. R I P
He was so cool, such a gentleman.
He was my next door neighbor in my hometown of Palm Springs. My childhood home was 222 Chino Drive. My mom hosted ladies luncheons in his house and had good things to say about his great hospitality. I rather enjoy his piano. My childhood piano from the above childhood home is downstairs here and my kids play on it. Lee never had a chance to come over and tickle the ivories as he threw his own big parties. :-) A very kind man with great musical and performance gifts. Pure art.
I live in Palm Springs. You can drive right up to his house. It is on the street like other houses and not surrounded by a fence or hedges like the other celebs.
@veronica carlson Back in the day, the celebs didn't feel the need to separate. Palm Springers wouldn't bother them. Barry Manilow's first house is right on the street too. Now he's on the mesa and protected by gates. Elvis had a house that is also right on the street. Celebs with homes in The Movie Colony are on the street but they've hidden themselves behind big hedges and fencing.
@veronica carlson The ones I just mentioned weren't on the same street as Liberace, but they were all on that side (west) of Palm Canyon. I meant they were on a street unhidden by hedges and fences. I just remembered that Marilyn Monroe and the Elvis/Priscella honeymoon cottage are also both on a street and not behind any kind of fortress. It's the celeb who live in The Movie Colony that have hidden themselves so well. I've had visiting friends who want to see celeb homes so I would drive them around to see the ones that are out on the open. They're always disappointed by the ones in The Movie Colony. I also take them out to where they can see the roof line of Manilow's house. Used to be you could go all the way up the mesa and see his house but I've heard he got tired of people hanging out by his driveway and now there's a gate at the head of the road. I was in Liberace's neighborhood a few months ago and noticed that it hadn't changed much.
Kuchi Kopi he and Oprah are not from the same time period.
veronica carlson he had stunning bones. He also had homes near the places he frequented that were just so he’d have his own washroom nearby! LOL
He was always so down-to-earth and accessible. A wonderful person and great talent. We miss you Liberace.
His interviews are great , he is very calm and soothing sounding...
That cigarette ash dropped off after 6 minutes! Liberace was fabulous!
He never took a DRAG. 🤣
My granddad used to do that. 🤪
And that's what you noticed?? 😢
I was wondering how long it lasted
i never knew he was half italian and half polish, and its amazing how he was always smiling, im the opposite im always looking down and depressed and glum, i would give anything to be a smiling extrovert like the great liberace was, and his smile never looked FAKE, he truly was always smiling and looked like a happy man, enough though he had his problems etc....
When my mood needs a positive boost, I watch his vids and that always does the job.
She's a great interviewer. Really listens, unlike so many.
I heartily concur ! Bless her heart !
He was always smiling .greatest 🎹 that ever lived he would be 100 years old today rip liberace
He really did his boyfriends wrong. He really didn't treat lovers the way he wanted to be treated.
@@munecamccoy846 yep
In every interview or show you see he always has a smile on his face and makes himself the butt of the jokes. He comes in for a lot of flak for hiding his sexuality but give me a break.....everyone knew and most didn't care......because he was talented , good natured and generous-to be like that all the time is class!
He has to smile because of so much plastic surgery!
I knew Liberace was gay before I knew what "gay" meant.
His personal private life was NOT what he put on display on stage. That's NOT why people loved him. And he would have HATED that. Now scum entertainers go out there & shove their crap in your face & your children's faces & you're demonized if you don't like it.
Liberace would have hated what so called entertainers are doing now.
@@kathyflorcruz552 ....and his friend, Little Richard. The younger generations (always obsessed with criticizing a past they didn't live in) keep forgetting a crucial, IRONIC factor: Liberace.....Little Richard....and even SYLVESTER JAMES....were religious. Their "god" wasn't aggressive Marxism (although they would inject moments of debauchery).
In 2017 (as you see on UA-cam) Little Richard was retired and re-committed himself to his faith in Christ. Sylvester (before he died of AIDS, in 1988) attended the Church of God In Christ. Liberace had his home blessed by a priest and said he was religious. So....I'm guessing Liberace had a clergymen near his bedside.....during his final weeks. I'm not Christian, but I don't like altering the past to appease certain groups.
Well said and well put. He brought a lot of joy to the people he entertained & was quite a generous individual. A true class act !!
Such a wonderful person. So bright and kind. A true Showman for his fans.
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
@@amytaylor8487 Hi Amy! I'm doing well, thank you. I hope you're safe and having a wonderful day! God bless you, too!
@@scottfulps2065 yeah I’m safe thanks for asking. God bless you. Where are you from?
Excellent interview. Reporter had amazing questions. You could tell she was a real fan
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
Indubitably ! A joy to see such a wonderfully talented interviewer ! And quite a lovely lady !
A great interview, humble gracious legend Liberace
I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion !!
So much warmth and sincerity.
That's for sure !!
That ash was hanging on for dear life 🤣
A very nice person with a great sense of humour very talented and a nice happy smiling face !!
I've always admired Liberace. He was a genuine entertainer and a gift to music. He was a great host and loved people. After seeing this interview with a cigarette I've changed my mind. Now I think he was a terrible person and I'm glad he is not of this earth.
@@TheCobalt100 Matthew 7 ( Judge not )
God gifted . And he wasn’t perfect ! Neither are you ! Only Jesus.....
@@TheCobalt100 that's a joke, isn't it? At that time nearly everybody smoked cigarettes.
@@cymbala6208 Yes, it was meant to be, Nowaday;s, anyone who uses tobacco is a target for the non-smokers.
*The real meaning of FABULOUS!*
I never met him . I only see him on TV. He seems to be really good with his fans. Talking and laughing with them. Loved life and always have a smile on his face.
Absolute genius on piano. I've been playing 50 years since I was a kid and I'm not even 1/10000th as good as Liberace was. Whatever he had, it just clicked with him like he always played, and don't even start asking me how he played wearing those rings
This really transports me back to a saner time
Those innocent days are long gone where people respected each other and honourable.
An amazing man. A wonderful talent. Sadly missed
Saw him live in concert ten days before he died. He was very I'll, but his performance was incredible.
Take any photos?
He always gave his audiences his very best!
Not possible as his final performance was November 2nd & he died the following February.
@@cliveglover7343 I know when I saw him and I remember his death. Where did I mention the month I saw him?
@@dancarroll2798 what this person is saying is more than ten days elapse between November and February and while we believe you say you saw him in concert not long before his death, it could not have been only ten days. He was in a coma prior to his death, and he was simply to ill to perform live only only ten days before it.
Like him, that cigarette is legendary.
Wonderful response! Liberace will always be an American hero!
"Too much of a good thing is wonderful"
THIS is the man who got a young Elvis to wear costumes back in the 50s when they were working together & Elvis was just starting. Liberace told him he couldn't just go onstage in regular clothes - and put him in a gold jacket & the rest is history. If you look at how Elvis eventually was just as famous for his costumes - you'll see it!
You speak the truth, Kemo Sabe !!
I wish he was still around I love to seen one of his shows.I love his piano playing.
I am shocked how well LEE played Piano who cares what he do in his free time Music is a GIFT
It should be understood a person's preferences are Not a choice.
I have 2 of his old shows on dvd and when I watched them I realized how talented he really was. They are in black and white. Listening to this interview he seems so approachable.
Great Pianist, Awesome Man and one First Class Person. Thank You Liberace! Glad I had the opportunity to enjoy his music and his piano. Sorry Elton John, Liberace is century’s ahead of your piano skills & playing.
sure wish I could have seen him in person.. He was a genuine man with unbelievable talent!
I remember on the Simpsons when Bart got a Liberace doll and pulled the string and the doll said..Party at Roddy McDowell's... Hillarios.
My Grandma Bea and Liberace were childhood neighbors back in West Allis/Milwaukee, WI. She was very proud to know him and always told me stories about growing up together. She was a pianist, too.
I wish he could have found happiness and peace in his personal life. And lived his life openly
He was actually extremely happy.
@@sebastianmelmoth685 Liberace sent his whole life seeking some form of acceptance as do most gay people...
@@neilbishop1686 LOL - I'm gay - married for 14 years now. Never looked for acceptance from anyone except my husband. Perhaps your perceptions of homosexuals... belong to a gentleman's club at Cambridge, circa 1910?
@@neilbishop1686 PS Liberace spent his whole life living a loud and proud homosexual existence with many lovers much younger than himself... and enjoying every minute of it. Just a pity he was not better informed about safe sex practices.
Actually he was not out and he carefully hid his sexuality. He once sued a British newspaper for calling him a fruit. In the last book he wrote he said that the love of his life was a woman. He denied being gay until his death.
I miss Leta. She is a Nebraska treasure. Very classy, beautiful, well spoken. And Mr. Liberace was a beautiful, awesome, incredibly talented dude.
A true entertainer and a gentleman that cared about his profession with passion.
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
As I do when I take off my hat, you make a good point.
What a lovely man
He knew what his audiences wanted & was extremely gifted at giving it to them. Bless his heart!
He was a brilliant entertainer......
What a wonderful legend! ❤️❤️❤️
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
That's for sure !!
Love Liberace🌹 Wonderful smile😀
A beautiful soul. God bless you, Liberace 🙏🏻
He started the Elton John and Elvis fashion style. Kind individual
What a beautiful man!
True GENIUS on the keyboard, RIP Lee.
He was good but not a genius more of a showman
My grandfather was a big fan. Listened to a lot of his records growing up. He seemed like a really nice man.
A Icon , awesome talent , a true showman RIP
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
He seemed like such a nice dude.
Back when people could control an impressive cigarette ash.
Back when you could smoke without feeling like a social leper. I remember being able to smoke at my desk in the office I worked at in the 1980’s. You were allowed to smoke on the bus, in the cinema, in pubs and restaurants. Now, we smokers are herded into a “designated smoking area”. They’ve even banned menthol cigarettes now here in the UK.
Liz Ion Exactly! I’m not sure if it’s any better here in Southern California when it comes to what seems to be a shamming of those that smoke in public. I don’t believe it’s the governments place to tell business owners they aren’t allowed to have customers smoke inside! If they want to allow people to smoke be it in smoking or non smoking sections than that’s on them. If people want to go to a restaurant or Pub that allows smoking they will, and if not they won’t. It’s that simple!
@@lizion5926 Targeted individual mentality you got going on there. Have you thought about quitting smoking? It's practically useless. At least alcohol, even though not being any better, gets you at least high.
Liz Ion Haha, I no longer smoke, but I remember those days of smoking at my desk in the 1980s and part of the 90s. I was a mortgage processor, and we had to prepare all the documents using a typewriter. I’d be typing with a cigarette in my mouth. And smoking in nightclubs...those were the days! I always say, it’s too bad cigarettes are unhealthy, because I really enjoyed them.
Liz Ion I wasn’t a smoker... but I remember coming home from the bar and having to leave my clothes hanging in the garage, because they smelled so terrible. They used to have smoking and non-smoking sections in restaurants. What a joke that was!
The glitz was legendary of course, but a phenomenal musician as well.
Indeed !!
Would you please get this man an ashtray!
Will Goebel lol
😂
😅😅😅
Lisa M he was too kind.
Lol
I can remember watching him on television as a little girl and I was always MEMORIZED . What a talent. May he RIP.
……don’t you mean ‘mesmerised’…………
I think I would like to have known him. He always seems so pleasant and humble. His stage persona did leak into his personal tastes, or vice versa, but no one can say he didn't exude humbleness and humility. As I become older, and understand more about him and his career, I come to appreciate just how good of a pianist and entertainer he was. As far as he being gay or flamboyant, who cares. We all have our pitfalls. But, he comes across as a very personable and kind gentleman. I'll close by saying this. There are tons of bad tupees and hairpieces out there, but Liberaces has to be one of the best worn out there. Very well done. RIP.
Interesting interview. "I started as a serious musician" reflects an unusual humility and self deprecating analysis. His acute commentary about his show, his audience, his t.v. show, taxes and his humor about his wardrobe and show demonstrates a pretty incisive thinker who carefully crafted his career. Very impressive.
@Mary Deakins
Don't agree. Like Elvis, I think he loved the persona he created that his fans worshipped. He was the highest paid entertainer for a long period. Nobody matched him. No classical pianist could match his earnings. He was one of a kind and knew it. He might have considered other paths, but, never seriously. He gave his career a lot of thought and cultivated it. This interview reflects he gave his career alot of thought and wanted his legacy preserved. I don't believe he had any regrets except perhaps the way he died and that his legacy was tarnished and unpreserved.
Mary Deakins
I don’t think so. It seemed as if his purpose from the begging was to introduce classical piano to American audiences and the only way to do it was by making it entertaining. That way people would keep interested.
I watched a video of one of his concerts in London that actually made me see that. He talked to the audience about the history of the Albert Royal Hall, Chopin, Mozart and the different kinds of pianos there are. Then he played classical pieces with a modern twist. Very educational.
That was his intent.
I agree. A sharp mind.
Despite all of his personal drawbacks, he always owned the keyboard. He was a virtuoso, hands down.
Everyone has personal drawbacks.
He was a child prodigy at 7 years old. Definitely one of the best ever.
What personal drawbacks?
Love this lovely man,he had a lot of respect not only for his parents but for the whole world.🕯️💜🕊️⭐️
He was so kind. In the 50s and 60s he was good to everyone even me. I felt worth something, he did that
2:30 Paderewski was a great polish pianist but also a Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Poland. He appreciated young Liberace's talent.
He was amazing RIP X
Leta Powell Drake, This is a great interview!
Any friend of Betty White is a friend of mine, that's how I see him 😊
Wow...great QUALITY VIDEO....and interesting interview !!!
Seen him live concert in 1976 outrageous costumes and a showman. Note the poor cosmetic surgery but a great human being with a gentle heart.
He was a great Artist and Entertainer.
This is such a great interview. Liberace was so charming and sweet and looked amazing....and Leta looks fabulous, obviously dressing for the interview. RIP to these wonderful mavericks.
Wonderful eye opener interview🙏
When the camera started zooming in at about the 4:00 mark, I thought it was heading for the hanging ash. Anyway, loved Liberace and he was an unbelievable pianist.
He was even quite philanthropic, too. Never heard this mentioned before.
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
@@amytaylor8487 Good, thank you! God bless you as well.
@@davef.2811 thank you Dave. Where are you from?
@@amytaylor8487 Miami, FL
@@davef.2811 okay cool. What are you doing rn
Class act! Miss him!
Hello how are you doing today hope you’re safe God bless you 👋👋
527 comments, 500 of them about a goddamned cigarette...
I know, pathetic.
At 5:44 he remembers to finally tap the long ashes from his cigarette.
Liberace also had to suffer the hardships of the artists. Being in Las Vegas I was a young girl my grandmother and my aunt took me to a big hotel showroom and It was empty, we were about eight people and never the less the show was extraordinary exclusively for us.
What a lovely gentleman ❤ so classy I'm drinking my coffee and smoking a cigarette 🚬 enjoying to hear him talk
Say what you wanna say about the guy but he sure could play the piano!
What a great entertainer he was
A showman the like the world will never see again....... Like Elvis a one off!.....
A very gracious gentleman :)
Pure class.
He was a cool guy, not my type of entertainment, but a good guy. RIP
Very respectful, Oz....very respectful!!
SAD TO WATCH. HIS SPIRIT SEEMED KIND. #RIP
Charles James I agree very sweet and noble. Seems an awesome gentleman.
He looks very kind and generous..
I would have loved to of met him. He fascinates me. 💙
I of heard that he was quite approachable.
Always luved Liberence because he looked very much like my father.
So he literally goes to the IRS to show them the clothes he wore on stage we're part of his act, and he got to use them as a tax write off. I wish I could've seen that! Also, I had no idea he smoked and I've been a fan as long as I could remember.
An extraordinary but tragic man at the same time. His clear warmth and intelligence shines through. It’s very easy to underrate this man whose life seemed superficial and shallow. He most probably wasn’t .
You wanna get into entertainment? study this man!!
I think they've already gotten into him! : l
@@danseabreeze1404 So what!
He even holds his cigarette with class.
He never took a drag and let the ash accumulate to about 3 inches until it finally fell off the end of his fag onto the table. 🤣
Anyone listening to the interview or just mesmerised by that ash?
What a great interview. So glad this popped up on my recommended, although I don’t know why?
He was a very talented and sweet man.
An artist in disguise - respect to Lee!
Imagine If this generation got to experience a man like him in 2024.
W😎W Walter did very well 4 himself RIP. 💔💔💔🎀 🎼🎵🎶👍👌
I saw Liberace at the Las Vegas Hilton during the late 70's. Unbelievable showman and talent.