Liberace and Victor Borge at Lugene's Worth Ave.

circa 1985

 

 

In the spring of 1984 Liberace's premier engagement at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall broke all sales and attendance records of the 51-year history of the Art Deco palace. More than 80,000 people were on hand for what Liberace described as "the fulfillment of a dream and the culmination of my 40 years in show business." Commenting on the engagement, The Wall Street Journal said: "Liberace occupies his own special rhinestone-studded niche in the American dream."

 

Listen to sound clips - turn off jazz piano on home page. (Note - loads very slow)

Over the years Liberace acquired an astounding array of prestigious awards, including: Instrumentalist of the Year, Best Dressed Entertainer and Entertainer of the Year.

He also earned two Emmy Awards, six gold albums, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's highest paid musician and pianist.

Best of all, he was known and loved throughout the world as "Mr. Showmanship."

He can be seen here with the Vice President of the former Lugene Optical, Bert [Gus] Kallback.

Click here to visit the Liberace Museum located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photo circa 1985, Mort Kaye Studios, Palm Beach, Florida

 

Victor Borge was born in Copenhagen, Denmark Januar 3, 1909, the son of Bernhard and Frederikke Rosenbaum. He was named Børge Rosenbaum, and his musical talent was no surprise as his father was a musician in the Royal Danish Chapel.

Listen to sound clips - (Turn off jazz piano on home page.)

Victor Borge was educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Music by Olivo Krause, and later by Victor Schiøler, Frederic Lamond and Egon Petri. He had his piano debut in 1926 at "Odd Fellow Palæet" in Copenhagen and was recognized as a very talented musician.

During the 1930's he became one of Denmark's most popular artists. He started his career as a classical pianist, but his talent for making the audience laugh was soon obvious, and he started developing his unique blend of humor and music. He had his revue debut in 1933 and his film debut in 1937.

In 1940 he was forced to leave Denmark, and he traveled from Petsano to New York. Although he didn't speak English he soon managed to "translate" his humor, and he performed for the first time in Bing Crosby's radio show in 1941.

In 1942 he was pronounced "the best new radio performer of the year" by the american press, and his radio and TV shows became extremely popular. He became an American citizen in 1948, and had his own show, "Comedy in Music", at The Golden Theatre, New York 1953-56.

He can be seen here clowning with Bert Kallback, at the former Lugene Optical Centre located next to the Taboo on Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, Florida.

Photo circa 1985, Mort Kaye Studios, Palm Beach, Florida

 

Late 1940's Dance Band

Ray Lowery's Dance Band in rehearsal, 1946, Mt. Kisco, New York.

After serving in Okinawa in WWII, Bert Kallback played in the Ray Lowery Dance Band from 1946 to 1948, located near Mt. Kisco, New York, playing gigs at nearby resorts, such as Peach Lake, New York. The band members used to clown around on stage, wearing mops on their heads and singing songs of the then famous Andrew Sisters.

Gavin MacLeod was raised in Pleasantville, New York.

Photo - IMBd

The young drummer in the above picture with Bert is Al See. Al See moved to Hollywood and changed his name to Gavin McLeod, who is now the former star that played the role of Captain, from the television series titled "The Love Boat."

Al See also watched your Webmaster when five-years old off of Mt. Holly Road in Katonah, NY. At the time the property was called the Dallas Estate, (owner of the former Revereware cookware.) It is where Webmaster's Swedish grandparents worked, responsible for the estate's landscaping after they had immigrated to America through Ellis Island (See their Wall of Honor.) The home above the lake behind the estate was later owned by Sting.

 

 

 

"Freedom is Knowledge"