Liberace’s Las Vegas run ending with museum closing

Last call for the Liberace Museum.
Today and Sunday are the final days to check out the feathery costumes, the flamboyant cars, the one-of-a-kind pianos and the not-so-discreet jewelry that was part of the showman's shtick.

Another piece of Las Vegas history, the museum Liberace opened himself in 1979, closes at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Since the Sept. 11 announcement of the closure, attendance has soared, the same way Liberace himself used to soar across the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton.

Plans are under way to take the most spectacular part of the $12 million collection on the road, but nothing definite has been signed.

Folks I ran into Thursday tended to be locals in their 50s and 60s. All had vivid memories .

Judy Welch "loved the capes." As a 12-year-old, she saw Liberace perform once in Sparks, "and he made it such a fun show." But she and her husband, Bill, agreed, "You almost have to be older to appreciate this."

They had lived here for 11 years before their first and last museum visit Thursday.

Ex-Texans Stan and Gwen Balch always meant to come during the three years they have lived here, but it took the closure to make it happen. They remembered Liberace's black and white television shows from the 1950s, so seeing the costumes, especially in color, was their highlight.

Bob and Joanne Stone have lived here 10 years.

"We've passed by it a thousand times and always meant to come," he said.

The Stones understood why it's closing. Location. The museum -- in a strip mall at 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. -- isn't within walking distance of the Strip.

At first, Liberace displayed gifts fans had given him -- such as miniature grand pianos, one made of toothpicks, another out of Popsicle sticks, still another of pennies. But those have disappeared.

In the 1970s, I had to be dragged to his show at the Las Vegas Hilton . I thought myself too hip for Liberace. Then I had a wonderful time and by choice went twice more, laughing all the way. His self-mocking sense of fun and his enthusiasm were infectious. When he came out in a red-white-and blue hot pants costume with matching cape (his most recognizable costume), fans were laughing with him, not at him.

Poor investments dropped the museum endowment from $10 million five years ago to $1 million today, The Wall Street Journal reported.

As the endowment decreased, costs of running the museum increased. Tax returns showed the museum lost about $1 million in 2007 and again in 2008.

Jack Rappaport, president of the Liberace Museum, said the foundation decided it was necessary to focus on Liberace's first priority, scholarships .

In its heyday, about $450,000 a year went into scholarships, but by 2008, it dwindled to $104,500. Since Liberace created the foundation in 1976, more than $6 million in music scholarships has been awarded.

"The endowment funds started keeping the museum open instead of having the fund support scholarships," Rappaport said.

Attendance steadily dwindled. The first 10 days of September, attendance averaged 98 a day. After the closure was announced, attendance nearly quadrupled, jumping to an average of 385 a day the first two weeks of October, according to accountant Michael Sharon.

Liberace started playing the piano at age 4 and at one point was the highest paid entertainer in the world.

He may not have had an original hit, but his signature song "I'll Be Seeing You" should start you humming, maybe even heading to that museum one last time to see Liberace's sparkle and bling before it's all packed up and stored in a warehouse.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.