Another Unique Place to Visit Liberace’s Furniture – Belvedere Mansion in Galena Illinois

I wonder how some of Liberace’s furniture ended up at Belvedere Mansion in Galena, Illinois? 

Throughout Lee’s life he loved to collect furniture and give it away as gifts. Friends and children of those friends today hold onto many cherished pieces he passed along to them. Yet a place as auspicious as Belvedere Mansion just has me thinking there must be a really good story behind it.

Wayne Anderson noted the Liberace pieces on his tour of the property in his August 7, 2011 travel article: Architecture tells the tale of Galena’s illustrious history.

 Two chairs and a sofa had belonged to Theodore Roosevelt, many pieces had belonged to the pianist Liberace, one beautiful chair had come from the Vatican, and other pieces had come from celebrities in Hollywood, including the draperies from “Gone with the Wind.”

From this link you can take your own virtual tour of just a small bit of the mansion. The rooms displayed certainly have the feel of the interior decorating tastes of Lee. Fixing up homes, even those of his friends was one of Lee’s favorite hobbies. His friend Steve Garey has shared with me how when he was living in the guest house for several years after Lee’s mother passed away how when Steve would be out of town working on tour he would often come back home to find the place entirely re-decorated.

So if you find yourself in Galena Illinois stop on by the Belvedere Mansion for a great historic home with just a small hint of Liberace’s place in decorating history.

 

 

Liberace’s Tivoli Gardens Restaurant Now Closed

Sad news friends Carluccios Tivoli Gardens has now closed. Without much fanfare the news broke to the world on FaceBook:

Tivoli gardens with its unique architectural design from Liberace’s vision for a fine dining restaurant is another piece of history passing from the Las Vegas community.

I hope that this location can be re-purposed for another project that will capture the spirit and imagination that built our community.

The fine service, excellent menu, and great value of the Carluccio family restaurant will soon be at another location, but to me along with many other Liberace fans it will never be the same.

Thank you Carluccios for your fine care and honor to Lee’s legacy. John Hosier the owner has always been a gracious ambassador for the Liberace spirit. We wish he and his family of employees well.

Liberace’s Place in Palm Springs History – Celebrated in Palm Springs Life

Palm Springs Life has on its website a re-print of the original The Palm Springs Villager, December 1958 article Liberace’s Home in the Sun. It was featured as the publication’s home of the month for December.

The home featured is not Cloisters his beloved favorite home he purchased years later, this home sits at Kaweah Street (link to current Zillow details here.)

Palm Springs Life also features a story about the Chi Chi club the showplace of the desert where the stars performed including Liberace.

They also featured the Cloisters in a story about classic celebrity homes in Palm Springs.

Hollywood’s Wet Set about the pool culture of Palm Springs has mention of Lee’s unique pool.

The December 2010 Editors Letter makes mention of the connection between Michael Douglas to Palm Springs through his family who lived in the same community as Liberace. (Also note that in Behind the Candlelabra Scott Thorsen makes a special effort to mention that Kirk Douglas – Michael’s father was one of the classiest celebrities to come and honor Lee after his passing.)

Liberace: King of Glitz Gallery on Life Magazine Website

For my 100th post about Liberace on this blog please take a moment to celebrate his genius and fabulousness.

Photo from Bobs Liberace World - the ORIGINAL - Online Virtual Liberace Gallery. Please visit.

If you are a Liberace photo lover you will not want to miss this great gallery of photographs from Life Magazine on their website.

_____

Please honor the legacy of Lee Liberace by asking that a stamp be commissioned in his honor.

To get Lee on a stamp – it will take a stamp! The stamp committee does not accept email, electronic petitions, or any form of non-mail communication.

The official address to send this request to including why you believe Liberace should be honored with a stamp goes to:

Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
c/o Stamp Development
U.S. Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St., Suite 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432

Many of us no longer go to the post office on a regular basis or even buy stamps. There is another non-email option that will get your message in the hands of the USPS for just $1.00.

Easy letter sender which is linked from USPS will take your message, print it out, put it in an envelope, put on postage, and mail it for you – for just $1.00. So you can be just 10 minutes away from sharing with USPS Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee why Liberace should be on a stamp!

Click here to send an easy letter for just $1.00.

Either way – your snail mail or automated mail – getting the word out that Liberace a true American Icon should be honored with a stamp is easy and you will feel great having taken the time to promote his cultural legacy.