| Liberace’s Palm Springs Home |
 |
 |
 |
 Sunday, April 11, 2010Palm Springs, California  The once-locked gates were opened and the public streamed past garage doors initialed with a capital “L” and pillars tiled with Liberace’s name. Liberace’s first name was Lee, but his public knew him by his surname — Liberace. The home was still resplendent with Liberace’s trademark lighting, candelabra and chandeliers. One hallway fairly shone as the light glinted off every crystal near the ceiling. A marble bathtub in one of the suites looked luxuriously inviting, and a velvet settee sat in the middle of a mirrored room. Many parts of the Spanish-style home were inviting and ambient, and the view from the top of the building was spectacular. Liberace also maintained a wine cellar below the home. The site was formerly a hotel named The Cloisters, Liberace converted the expansive building into a home where he could entertain friends and family. He would frequently host scores of guests, and loved to cook traditional Italian dishes, spaghetti with meat sauce and homemade spinach pasta. Interestingly the location used to be connected to the home adjacent; Liberace’s mother Frances lived there, and the homes were connected by a walkway and gate.Liberace felt that Palm Springs gave him his chance at TV stardom: “I was playing my annual engagement at the Chi-Chi when I was first approached by the television people,” Liberace once told a reporter from the old Villager magazine.  One could imagine the gardens when they were no doubt meticulously manicured, although roses still bloom profusely. A magnificent pool, (disappointingly not in the shape of a piano), sparkled in the sun. A circular fountain, adorned with statues of a swan and cherub, reminded those busy checking out the furniture of opulent days gone by.My sister, a long-time Palm Springs resident, remembered Liberace as a kindly neighbor who opened his doors on Halloween to give out candy to trick-or-treaters. The days of celebrities enjoying relative anonymity seem to be over. Nowadays paparazzi would stalk the trick-or-treaters for the opportunity to snap a photo of a private moment.  Leaving the estate, I reflected back to my childhood days when my mother would watch Liberace’s weekly television show. He would entertain at the piano in black tie, the ever-present candelabra perched atop a baby grand piano.After Liberace’s death in 1987, Bob Hope remembered him by saying, “Lee was one of the world’s most gifted, popular pianists; a warm soul who contributed years of pleasure to millions. He was my friend for over 40 years.” It’s evident that Liberace loved living in Palm Springs; like many other stars, he found the combination of blue skies and sunny days irresistible. And for just a short while on Sunday, the rest of us were allowed a glimpse of the home and gardens he found so enjoyable. For more Janet Walker photos of Liberace’s home, click here.
|
