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Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberace, by Alex Thorleifson, Scott Thorson
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In this unusually frank book Scott Thorson, Liberace's longtime lover, tells all: the good, the bad, and the ugly truths about the legendary entertainer who went to outrageous extremes to prevent public knowledge of his homosexuality. Liberace's unhappy childhood, dominated by a mother determined to force him into a concert career, serves as the prologue for a story that goes on to detail Liberace's early appearances in honky-tonks, his move to New York to seek fame, and, finally, his first booking in Las Vegas, where he was courted by the Mafia. As Thorson attests, such successes provide a bright counterpoint to a darker tale of a man hungry for power, given to every excess. Liberace's credo-"too much of a good thing is wonderful"-is reflected here in his acquisition of new lovers, luxurious homes, a large collection of pornography, and a total of twenty-six house dogs. Behind the Candelabra above all explores the fundamentally tender love affair between Liberace and Thorson-whom Liberace sent to his own plastic surgeon to have his face remodeled in Liberace's own image! This fast-paced story, sprinkled with anecdotes about famous entertainers such as Michael Jackson and Shirley MacLaine, ends with an intimate look at Liberace's final days as he lay dying of AIDS-and his deathbed reconciliation with Thorson. Thorson's story will also appear in the upcoming biopic of the same name starring award-winning actors Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.
- Sales Rank: #4415076 in Books
- Published on: 2013-05-14
- Formats: Audiobook, CD, Unabridged
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 8
- Dimensions: 5.30" h x 1.10" w x 6.40" l, .51 pounds
- Running time: 32400 seconds
- Binding: Audio CD
From Publishers Weekly
In 1977, the 18-year-old Thorson became "lover, friend and confidant" of the 57-year-old Liberace, a relationship that would continue until 1982. Here, with Thorleifson (coauthor of John Wayne) he relates the sorry, seamy tale of his "callous" eviction from the performer's Las Vegas penthouse in favor of a teenager and the public brouhaha that followed when he filed a palimony suit. The book is uncomfortably candid with revelations about "Lee"who was driven to experience sexual variety with younger males, even as he continued to publicly deny his homosexualityand Thorson's protestations that he was unfairly branded a street hustler by the tabloid press. Although the acrimonious suit was ultimately settled (the provisions were kept secret), Thorson notes that he has written this memoir because "I need the money." His bitterness at Liberace, who died of AIDS in 1987, lessens at the end of the book, and with back-handed gratitude he concludes: "Leaving Lee . . . may have saved my life." Photos.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"This memoir by Liberace's longtime lover has been made into a biopic. . . . Peter Berkrot provides a direct and unadorned narration." ---AudioFile
About the Author
Alex Thorleifson is a freelance journalist and coauthor, with Pilar Wayne, of John Wayne: My Life with the Duke.
Scott Thorson became famous for his relationship with and lawsuit against Liberace and his testimony against gangster Eddie Nash.
A veteran of stage and screen, Peter Berkrot's career spans four decades, and his voice can be heard on television, radio, video games, and documentaries. He has been nominated for an Audie Award and has received a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards and starred reviews.
Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
I Should Have Read The Book First...
By Constance M. Smith
...as is my habit with movies taken from books. However, the movie came on HBO one night in the fall when I couldn't find anything else on, so I thought, "I'll just watch a few minutes." Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, along with a strong, talented cast who understood the story they were telling very well, pulled me in and my fascination kept me glued until the end. Unfortunately, the basic story was old and tired except for the obvious change of older male to younger male homosexuals as opposed to the typical heterosexual May-December version. The homosexuality is not what bothered me, however. Troubling were the subtexts of Liberace attempting to maintain his narcissistic view of himself as The One Upon Whom God bestowed talent (especially involving his illness regarding the dry cleaning fluids in November 1963 which very nearly caused his death), and more troubling was the fact that his homosexuality was simply a minor detail in regard to his self-defined theological knighthood of his talent because God bestowed special favor on Liberace himself - and after all according to the Catholic catechism doesn't talent and wealth trump obedience?) After being able to peek through the one-sided mirror of hypocrisy, it was apparent that the only people allowed to see who he really was Behind The Candelabra were the young, sexy men who truly understood the real reason for his famous wink and smile. He needed to grow his narcissistic self love, and he drew Scott Thorson in to perpetuate it. Why was this unfortunate for Scott? Because of his rootless background and naive youth he was the perfect target for Liberace. After all, it wasn't like 16-year-old Scott's parents were going to come to Las Vegas and bang Liberace's gate down to save their underage child from the clutches of a modern-day bloodless vampire, who slept all day, was up all night plying his trade and working the hordes of young, adoring gay fans from which to choose his next quarry. He used his charisma and ostentatious wealth as bait, and then pulled the rug out from the used-up quarry when he was bored with and tired of his companion...whether said companion caused bad publicity or wouldn't do exactly what he was told, when he was told to do it.
Not that Thorson is blameless in this romance-turned-tragedy. His naiveté quickly evolves into a self-serving understanding of how valuable his desired assets became in getting what he wanted from the much older Liberace, who played against type by showing how much he wanted and needed Scott - who later became what all of Lee's previous companions became by not being smart enough to recognize what caused the previous companions to lose their place in the sun...becoming a spoiled brat. The tantrums, substance abuse, and failure to allow the relationship with Lee evolve into what Lee really wanted, which was to be spoiled himself. The old belief that "If you want to know how someone wants to be treated, pay attention to how they treat you" was an unspoken need of Lee's, yet he ensured that he would never have this need fulfilled by choosing young, selfish, and ultimately spoiled companions who were obsessed with getting what they wanted rather than giving Lee what he wanted for himself. The whole story, when viewed from both perspectives, was doomed for failure no matter what Lee or Scott did to try to save it. A tragi-comedy-drama that ends with the premature death of the Svengali, the failure of the quarry-target to grow up past the age of his emotional attachment to said Svengali, and the predictable entanglement with drugs, criminals, murder, hiding out in Witness Protection but being stupid enough to stick his head up whack-a-mole style and getting whacked, chronic pain from gunshot wounds near the spine, anal cancer, and yet not being smart enough to realize that had he gotten AIDS from Lee that his chance at a good life would be over. Does Thorson have a death wish? It would seem so. He would be smart to start making his life count for something more than, "I was Liberace's boyfriend in the 70's and 80's" because most people now under age 35 don't even know who Liberace is, or was. Scott's bisexuality, homosexuality, etc., is not as shocking now as it was back in the day with Liberace, so he should take the advice of people who tell him to clean up his act, live a clean and circumspect life no matter whom he is sleeping with, and for heaven's sake, grow up!! Does Thorson believe that he is the only person on planet Earth who has been betrayed by a lover? Get over it and find a purpose besides crying "Liberace loved me and left me" because not only is it too common, but Scott is now demonstrating the most disturbing aspect of any personality disorder common to Lee's former companions...narcissism.
Why did I say that I should have read the book first? Because the movie downplays Thorson's first-person narrative, and hence his responsibility for where his life ended up, and the reader is subjected to Thorson's limited perspective of life and love. In spite of his narrow view in which he provides the feeling that is taken away from the book, this reader has the overwhelming need to take a shower after reading the final page. Michael Douglas more than earned the Emmy Award for his portrayal of the too-wealthy-for-his-own-good Liberace. Matt Damon moved up in the Top 5 favorite actors on my list for his portrayal of the flawed and rags-to-riches-to-rags Scott Thorson. Damon's portrayal of Thorson was quite sympathetic to say the least, but my gratitude extends to him and Douglas both for keeping the viewer interested and tuned in, not just feeling dirty and needing a shower. Watch the movie, read the book, but understand going in that we all have a relative, a crazy uncle or cousin, who is just like Thorson. Whatever you do, don't believe his stories, and don't lend him money.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Book so much better than movie
By Harold J.
The book gave so much more detail of Liberace's success, his flaws, his power, his strengths and his compassion and passion. It also revealed in intimate detail the "odd" relationship between Liberace and Scott; They were lovers, companions, friends and shared a father/son moments. In the beginning I felt Scott was taking advantage of a opulent lifestyle rather than having any feelings for Liberace. But I felt as time past, Scott truly loved the man and after 5+years of a love relationship became a victim of abuse, both financially, physically, and emotionally. I was in awe of the warmth, love and devotion, these two men gave to each other, regardless of the vast age difference. I grew up in the Liberace stardom years, but the book renewed my admiration for his very talented abilities, both as a pianist and showman. I felt in the book Scott made himself sound so much the "hero" than he really was: a take charge guy, devoted, giving into every Liberace whims. The only negative part of his story was his involvement in drugs. Yet he blamed the Doctor for making him an adidcit. But when I read his afterthought, I quickly change my mind. His dealings with the underworld, his progressive drug problem, his "squealing" on the underground boss, his evangelical preaching, his return to the drug world, makes him appear to be a very unsavory person. In my opionion, he used the Liberace relationship from the beginning to the end. A great read!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
You Never Really Know Someone--Totally!
By Kiwes
This was an exceptional book on so many levels. First, I am just amazed at the type of life Scott Thorsen led and is currently leading today. Telling a story like this couldn't have been easy, but I'm so glad he was forthcoming in telling the story the way it should have been done.
I realize many in Liberace's camp did not want to see this book come to fruition, and, with good cause, I suppose, due to the fact it doesn't picture Lee(Liberace's nickname) in a good light. I always knew that he was gay, and why he went to great lengths to conceal his sexual identity, which to me, was so obvious, is beyond me. But in his defense, he came up in an era where being openly gay wasn't exactly something you shouted from the rooftops.
Scott was such a naïve young man when he met Lee, and a bit ignorant to the cold and calculating ways of Lee. I always enjoyed Liberace's performances, when I had the rare chance to watch him on TV, and his sexual preference never bothered me one way or the other.
I think Scott helped himself tremendously by telling his great love affair with Mr. Showman himself. I know it had to be great therapy. It's a great story, but such a sad one as well. Outstanding read. I wish Scott all the best!
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