Too Much of a Good Thing is Wonderful: Liberace's Wisconsin Roots and Flamboyant Visibility from Milwaukee to Las Vegas
The entertainer known as Liberace was known as the consummate showman, someone who loved to perform and did so with pizzazz and excess. Born Władziu Valentino Liberace in West Allis, Wisconsin, Liberace's ascent (eventually becoming the highest paid entertainer in the world), and initial rise to stardom can be explained in part by his familial networks, working class background, and a confluence of opportunities that existed for the young performer in Depression-era Milwaukee. This lecture provides a window into Liberace's relationship with his hometown, but also considers how his career trajectory evolved, his embodiment of extravagance, and how his visible, yet closeted homosexuality remains an important part of his legacy.
Monday, January 23, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Presented by Anna Hajdik, Lecturer, Languages and Literatures
Lectures will be held on Mondays at 3 p.m. in the Olm Fellowship Hall of Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. They are open to the public. Registration is not required. Masks may be required in common areas at Fairhaven Senior Services. Please be prepared on arrival. Lectures will be recorded and posted to our website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures in this series and in past series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted online.
Check our website and follow us on social media for more information and updates on opening to the public. Any other questions, please contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003.