Editing Liberace (section)

==={{anchor|The Liberace Show}}Early television work and ''The Liberace Show''===
[[File:Liberace.jpg|thumb|Liberace performing in 1983]]
Liberace mostly bypassed radio before trying a television career, thinking radio unsuitable given his act's dependence on the visual.<ref name=pyron278>Pyron, 2000, p. 278.</ref> Despite his enthusiasm about the possibilities of television, Liberace was disappointed after his early guest appearances on ''The Kate Smith Show'' and [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]]'s ''Cavalcade of Stars'', with [[Jackie Gleason]]. Liberace was particularly displeased with the frenetic camera work and his short appearance time. He soon wanted his own show where he could control his presentation as he did with his club shows.<ref name=pyron132>Pyron, 2000, p. 132.</ref>

His first show on local television in Los Angeles was a smash hit, earning the highest ratings of any local show, which he parlayed into a sold-out appearance at the [[Hollywood Bowl]].<ref name=pyron141>Pyron, 2000, p. 141.</ref> It led to a summer replacement program for [[Dinah Shore]].

The 15-minute network television program ''The Liberace Show'' began on July 1, 1952, but did not lead to a regular network series. Instead, producer Duke Goldstone mounted a filmed version of Liberace's local show performed before a live audience for syndication in 1953 and sold it to scores of local stations. The widespread exposure of the syndicated series made the pianist more popular and prosperous than ever. His first two years' earnings from television netted him $7&nbsp;million, and on future reruns, he earned up to 80% of the profits.<ref name=pyron162/>

Liberace learned early to add "[[Schmaltz#Derived meanings|schmaltz]]" to his television show and to cater to the tastes of the mass audience by joking and chatting to the camera as if performing in the viewer's own living room. He used dramatic lighting, split images, costume changes and exaggerated hand movements to create visual interest. His television performances featured enthusiasm and humor.

Liberace employed "ritualistic domesticity", used by such early TV greats as [[Jack Benny]] and [[Lucille Ball]].<ref name=pyron145>Pyron, 2000, p. 145.</ref> His brother George often appeared as guest violinist and orchestra director, and his mother was usually in the front row of the audience, with brother Rudy and sister Angelina often mentioned to lend an air of "family". Liberace began each show in the same way, then mixed production numbers with chat, and signed off each broadcast softly singing "[[I'll Be Seeing You (song)|I'll Be Seeing You]]", which he made his theme song. His musical selections were broad, including classics, show tunes, film melodies, Latin rhythms, ethnic songs and [[boogie-woogie]].<ref name=pyron154>Pyron, 2000, p. 154.</ref>

The show was so popular with his mostly female television audience, he drew over 30 million viewers at any one time and received 10,000 fan letters per week.<ref name=pyron156>Pyron, 2000, p. 156.</ref> His show was one of the early ones to be shown on British commercial television in the 1950s, where it was broadcast on Sunday afternoons by [[Lew Grade]]'s [[Associated TeleVision]]. This exposure gave Liberace a dedicated following in the United Kingdom. Gay men found him appealing. Darden Asbury Pyron wrote "Liberace was the first gay person [[Elton John]] had ever seen on television; he became his hero."<ref name=pyron175>Pyron, 2000, [https://archive.org/details/liberaceamerican00pyro/page/175 p. 175.]</ref>