Scott Thorson

Interesting book about Scott Thorson's time spent with entertainer Liberace. Scott started living with Liberace in the late 1970's when he was just 18. It chronicles some of Liberace's early life and his family. Also tells about Scott's going from one foster home to another. Written shortly after the death of Liberace and would have been quite a scandal at the time it was written. It reads towards the sensational side, written in 1988 he makes the most he can of Liberace being gay. Present day, 2018, it would still be tabloid fodder with the age difference but nothing like the scandal that it was in the 80's. Scott doesn't paint Liberace in a completely bad light though. He shows how at one point they did have a caring and loving relationship but Liberace did have an eye for much much younger men. There's a little about the court battle with the dissolving of their relationship but not the major part of the book. But book was written not too long after that would have been still in the news.… (mer)

At the time the palimony suit came out years ago this was quite the gossip scandal. Today it would barely make a blurb on any given number of websites. Scott Thorson dishes on the life he led with renowned performer Liberace but nothing much surprising seems to surface here as most of us are rather immune to shockwaves about celebrities in this day and age. One recurrent theme throughout the book is Liberace's extended efforts to keep his being gay a secret. How is that for absurdity. A shame he succumbed from AIDS but his risk prone behavior prompted his demise. Thorson on the other hand never seems to have recovered his life from the dependency he grew into along with the drugs.… (mer)

The name Liberace brings to mind a beloved piano player behind the bright Vegas lights. I'm not sure if this is the image that comes to mind for everyone else but it did to me.

I was too young to be caught up in all the controversy behind Liberace, his sexual preference and Scott Thorson. My image of Liberace came from my Grandparents rather than the hoopla of media surrounding Thorson's confession.

After reading this, I've learned quite a bit about Vegas show-business, Liberace and his lover(s). Not sure if I needed to know all of this but it was definitely a very compelling story. The book is in the eyes of Thorson, Liberace's lover and since Liberace is no longer with us... the story is very one sided. I always have a problem taking everything at face value when this is the case. Apparently there are articles after they broke up that tell Liberace's side of things but since he could never come out of the closet (which he was MOST DEFINITELY in) again, the retaliations toward Thorson weren't very credible.



I think the beauty behind a story like this one is the ability to look into the life of a celebrity and realize how much CRAZY surrounds them. They don't live like us, no way. Especially in this case, Liberace was able to coax Thorson into his bed using his money and fame. This isn't to say that Thorson didn't willingly oblige, however, this would be the case for many faced with the riches and fame dangled in front of their eyes. I can't wait to watch the HBO version now, starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas:

… (mer)