Fairhaven Lecture Series: Too Much of a Good Thing is Wonderful

Description

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