When Les Paul was a young boy his mother let him take apart the phone.
The inventor in him wanted to see how it worked. She let him drill holes in the piano to see what kind of sound it would make. Her living room was not especially neat and orderly, but a laboratory of her son’s latest projects.
Paul’s mother, Evelyn Polfuss, was his biggest fan and supporter. One could say the music industry owes a debt of gratitude to Mom. She was the one who suggested playing the guitar instead of the piano.
“It was actually his mother who encouraged him to take up the guitar. He originally wanted to play the piano, but his mother told him if he wanted to perform, not every place would have a piano ... ” said Kirsten Lee Villegas, president and chief executive officer of the Waukesha County Museum.
The story of Les Paul’s relationship with his mother is a beautiful and endearing part of the Les Paul Exhibit unveiled to the community Sunday.
It’s no secret that Paul gives a huge credit for his success to his mom, Villegas said. “The section on his mother is a beautiful testimonial. In his own words, his mother was the single-biggest influence on his life,” she said.
This part of the exhibit encapsulates that, as well as shares the influence of another important woman in Paul’s life: his wife, Mary Ford.
Villegas said the exhibit also shares Paul and Ford’s story, which evolved from two musicians who shared a kindred spirit to a love story.
“This section called ‘Love Story’ really dedicates the relationship they created to become a major international music sensation. In that section we have some really sweet, quaint artifacts,” said Villegas.
Paul even made trophies for both women. He presented his mother with a trophy for her 100th birthday which he made out of a Miller beer can and beer label.
“It’s a very kitschy, fun way of showing how much he loved his mother,” said Villegas. The museum acquired the item at auction, as well as the first guitar Paul ever played, a 1927 Gibson L5 acoustic model.
While the exhibit is chock-full of Paul relics any fan will adore to see, the exhibit sends a message too.
“We took a very solid approach to honor a Wisconsin icon. It was who he was as a person and what influenced him. And then we take it a step further and ask others to think about who they are and the impact they can have on others,” Villegas explained.
Fitting in with the new exhibit honoring a legendary thinker and dreamer is a chance to share your dreams at the end. Villegas said American Family Insurance has sponsored a “dream wall” where you can inscribe something after your inspirational tour through Paul’s life.
The exhibit opens to the public at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Visit www.lespaulexperience.org or call the museum at (262) 521-2859 for more information.