Vintage Photo Friday

Liberace and his piano-shaped pool.  Sherman Oaks, CA.  1954.  Valley Times Collection, LAPL Photo Archives.

Everyone here at the office is gearing up for the premiere (May 26th) of "Behind the Candelabra," the HBO movie based on the autobiographical novel and the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson.  The movie stars Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Thorson.  Debbie Reynolds is cast as Liberace's mother!

Liberace had many homes here in Los Angeles.  Notably, he built a home in Sherman Oaks in the early 1950's, just up the hill from my husband's family.  Family lore has it that Larry's brother, who was around 5 years old at the time, wandered up the hill while the cement was drying in the piano-shaped swimming pool at Liberace's house.  He put his hand prints and foots prints in the wet cement.  I'm told that this area of the pool was re-cemented.  Too bad.  I'd love to see those little prints at the bottom of Lee's pool!!

According to bing.com maps, aerial view, the pool is still there!

bing.com aerial view of 15405 Valley Vista Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA

One of my co-workers has a life-size cardboard cut-out of Liberace in his cubicle.  I did a few dance steps with Lee!

Ellen and the dashing Liberace in full Americana attire!

Have a dazzling weekend, my friends!