Liberace and The Case of Mr. Lin

The Case of Mr. Lin and the episode of The Liberace Show selected for this evening, both presented in prints recently donated to the Outfest Legacy Collection by archivist Jenni Olson, form a strange, matched set. The Case of Mr. Lin is a documented psychotherapy session between professor of psychology, Carl Rogers, and a client who, having granted his permission to be filmed, goes on to reveal his homosexual feelings on camera. His deeply personal revelations about self-image and family life make this a rarity of exceeding interest. In a very different type of self-revelation, Liberace devotes this episode of his popular television show to his “favorite person,” Mom, crooning sentimental ballads to mothers everywhere. Campy and downright eerie, the program outpaces The Case of Mr. Lin as a therapy session extraordinaire. Happy Mother’s Day!