Joseph Gabriel, Katalin, and Wes Winters hit the stage in Fundraiser for Performing Arts Society of Nevada

If you are in Las Vegas on February 27th do not miss a great show by great performers who really put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting the arts in our community.

First we have Joseph Gabriel whom in addition to his world famous work as a master magician is also the magic hands behind the Liberace puppet.  The puppet implies on his Facebook page that he may even be a special guest performer. Additional thanks go to Joseph Gabriel for this appearance on Fox 5 Vegas with the puppet where he urged the public to get online and read the tax documents of the Liberace Foundation. He was at the closure of the museum and has shown incredible respect for Liberace’s legacy even collecting videos from Liberace supporters.  This blog has also shared information from the tax documents for the foundation.

Link to Joseph Gabriel’s Appearance on the More Las Vegas Show (network requires you view commercial before video will show)

The lovely Katalin is not to missed or overshadowed by her fabulous co-stars. Check out her amazing website.  Not just any showgirl she performs her own brilliant illusions. She also shares her love of Liberace.

Wes Winters rounds out the show as the longest running Liberace tribute artist in Las Vegas. You may even recall that the showroom at the Liberace Museum was named for Wes for many years. You can still be lucky enough to catch Wes at Envy the Steakhouse for the legendary bottomless mimosa Sunday brunch.

I think it is incredible that these performers have carried on the spirit of bringing arts to our community by donating their efforts to benefit the local community through the Performing Arts Society of Nevada in the brown bag concert series. I checked and unlike other non-profit institutions in our community this foundation does not run with a heavy overhead of overpaid folks who posture a love of the arts. Check out the form 990 note that it was completed to the IRS promptly, all activities clearly outlined, and compare compensation.  I hope we all start look at arts groups in our community to ensure that our donations go to those organizations invested in the arts as a means to enhancing quality of life in our community.

When the Liberace foundation fell into mis-management they lost these great performers and many more whom in an open environment with input how to resolve the unique challenges facing the foundation calling upon their collective wisdom would have been willing to work together to forge solutions.

Where is Jack Rappaport? When the cake cutting is over where is he and does he have what it takes to be running the foundation? Or is he? He is not at the helm of its Twitter.

In the come-back town of Las Vegas anything can still be possible for Liberace if the doors and the books fly open to resume the true spirit of his legacy.

 

 

 

Liberace on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Here is the link to the detailed Walk of Fame map for Hollywood created by the LA Times.
Interactive Hollywood Star Walk – LA Times
You can also enjoy your visit to the Star Walk with the official Hollywood Chamber of Commerce iPhone App with walk details.

Unlike the Palm Springs walk of fame where you can adopt a specific star, you can become a friend of the Star Walk for $25.

Liberace has two stars on the Hollywood Star Walk both inducted on February 8, 1960:

In recognition of his musical achievements his star is at: North side of the 6500 block of Hollywood Boulevard

a second star in recognition of his television achievements: North side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard

 

__________________________

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.

 

Does Liberace Qualify to be Portrayed on a Postage Stamp?

The US Postal Service Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee uses 12 criteria for selection of subjects for postage stamps. (Link to official page)

Following are the 12 major criteria now guiding subject selection:  1. It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects. Response: Liberace is a true American icon. 2. No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage. Response: Liberace passed away February 4, 1987 3. Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on, or in conjunction with significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than five years after the individual’s death. The Committee will not accept or consider proposals for a subject until at least two years after his/her death. The only exception to the five-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first birth anniversary following death. Response: Liberace passed away February 4, 1987 4. Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years. Response: Liberace was an individual – yet he did have historic performances in excess of 50 years ago. 5. Only events, persons, and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered for commemoration. Further, it is an important goal of the stamp program to assure inclusion of the Nation’s diverse population especially women and minorities in choosing stamp subjects. In furtherance of this goal it is important to identify as possible subjects persons who have overcome great challenges or active discrimination to enter a field or accomplish an aim and thus created opportunities thereafter for others similarly situated. Events, persons or themes of local or regional significance may be recognized by a philatelic or special postal cancellation, which may be arranged through the local postmaster. Response: Liberace was a true American talent, a philanthropist, and a Gay American who overcame harsh cruelty at the hands of tabloids throughout the course of his career. Liberace lived his life in dignity while transforming entertainment for generations to follow. 6. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor fraternal, political, sectarian, or service/charitable organizations. Stamps or stationery shall not be issued to promote or advertise commercial enterprises or products. Commercial products or enterprises might be used to illustrate more general concepts related to American culture. Response: Liberace does not fit into these categories 7. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor individual federal agencies, cities, towns, municipalities, counties, primary or secondary schools, hospitals, libraries, or similar institutions. Due to the limitations placed on annual postal programs and the vast number of such locales, organizations and institutions in existence, it would be difficult to single out any one for commemoration. Response: Liberace does not fit into these categories 8. Requests for observance of statehood anniversaries will be considered for commemorative postage stamps only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the state’s first entry into the Union. Requests for observance of other state-related or regional anniversaries will be considered only as subjects for postal stationery, and again only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event. Response: Liberace does not fit into these categories 9. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs. Response: Liberace is not a religious figure 10. Semipostal stamps are designed to raise funds for causes determined to be in the national public interest and appropriate. Semipostal stamps are sold for a price above their postage value. The differential between the sales price and the postage value of semipostal stamps consists of an amount (less a deduction for the Postal Service’s reasonable costs) to be given to other executive agencies in furtherance of specified causes. The Postal Service issues semipostals in accordance with the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act and the Semipostal Authorization Act. Response: Liberace does not fit into these categories 11. Requests for commemoration of universities and other institutions of higher education shall be considered only for stamped cards and only in connection with the 200th anniversaries of their founding. Response: Liberace does not fit into these categories 12. No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past 50 years. The only exceptions to this rule are traditional themes such as national symbols and holidays.

Response: Liberace does not yet have a stamp issued in memory of his contribution to arts in our nation.

Liberace meets all of the requirements as laid out in the official US Postal Service regulation above.

Now that you know he meets the the standards contact USPS today and tell them to put Lee on a stamp! Click here for instructions!

Time to Honor Liberace with a USPS Stamp!

Back in 1993 the US Postal Service issued perhaps its most popular stamp of all time – Elvis Presley. Yet 17 years later his pal Liberace is still without a stamp of his own.

The time has come to convince the US Postal Service that Liberace a true American talent who exemplified the American dream from his humble roots all the way to the greatest pinnacles of success through film, television, and stage performances be honored with a United States postage stamp.

The process of selecting great Americans to appear on postage stamps is a long one. Once approved it takes another 3 years to issue the stamp. We owe it to Lee to make it happen ensuring that his legacy never be forgotten to future generations.

This is the link explaining the entire process and that all requests must be submitted in writing – NO EMAIL.

To get Lee on a stamp – it will take a stamp!

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.