cary-james
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World AIDS Day (2025)

Happy World AIDS Day. 🕯️ Today, we honor the lives of the millions lost to HIV AIDS, including Liberace and his longtime partner Cary-James. Liberace first learned he was HIV positive in the summer of 1985.1 According to Cary-James, the discovery was made during a routine medical examination in which Liberace was told that he’d Continue reading
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Finocchio’s and the “Liberace Effect”

Happy Pride Month everyone! 🌈✨ This week, I thought I’d kick things off by sharing a piece from my collection which has a special place in both gay and Liberace history: a Liberace-autographed menu from the “fabulous” legendary drag club Finocchio’s! Originally opened as a speakeasy back in 1920s San Francisco, Finocchio’s would undergo its Continue reading
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Liberace: Punk Rocker?

Happy 2025 everybody! Recently, I came across this funny (and perhaps apocryphal) newspaper article from the Staffordshire Evening Sentinel which details Liberace’s visit to a punk clothing shop in London on May 21st, 1983. While the article doesn’t specify which punk clothing shop Liberace may have visited, my friend and punk history blogger The Hotter Continue reading
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Famous Friendships: Liberace and Dolly Parton

This week, pop superstar Beyoncé released her latest album, Cowboy Carter, to rave reviews. A lush and eclectic celebration of all things country music, Cowboy Carter features several collaborations with some of the genre’s most iconic stars including Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. Liberace was a great fan and casual friend of Parton’s who spoke Continue reading
