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DID flamboyant pianist Liberace really make "goo-goo eyes" at a handsome young buck? And what exactly was actress Maureen O'Hara doing with her male companion in Row 35 of Graumann's Chinese Theatre?

These sound like the type of stories that fill the pages of today's plethora of celebrity and gossip magazines. But these leering tales are plucked from the pages of Confidential magazine 50 years ago. This American publication led the way in shattering wholesome star images, no matter whether the tittle-tattle was true.

Jonathan Ross recalled this top-selling periodical of its day as he strolled down Hollywood Boulevard which, despite its glamorous image, has seen better days, like many of the town's cosmetically-enhanced performers.

Secret Map of Hollywood is a new series that allows Ross to regurgitate the history of Tinseltown through its streets. The four-mile stretch of Hollywood Boulevard gave him ample ammunition for a good gossip.

The magazine published exclusives about homosexuality, drugs, alcoholism and menages a trois that other publications wouldn't. Occasionally the stories were even true.

When the studio that employed Rock Hudson discovered Confidential intended publishing a story that he was gay, they traded another story in exchange for not printing the Hudson expose. Readers learnt about Rory Calhoun's time in a reform school rather than Hudson's sexual preferences (which he managed to conceal most of his life).

Insinuating that Maureen O'Hara and her male friend enjoyed themselves in Row 35 without watching the film was a story too far. She denied it, producing her passport to prove she was out of the country on the day of the alleged incident.

She sued the magazine. After two weeks of arguing, there was a hung jury. The judge ordered a retrial but a deal was struck. Confidential agreed not to publish any more salacious stories - and, unsurprisingly, didn't remain on the newsagents' shelves for very much longer.

Ross, muttering something about "scanty panties", visited a members only shop called Trashy Lingerie where an assistant listed the names of people who've bought underwear there: Britney Spears, Cher, Geri Halliwell, Madonna, Courtney Love, Robbie Coltrane.

Hang on a minute, Robbie Coltrane, the large Scottish actor. It doesn't bear thinking about what he purchased, or for whom. Perhaps she confused him with someone else.

Then Ross went on to the Silent Movie Theatre which, as the name suggests, is devoted to screening silent movies. One day back in 1997 the place resounded with the sound of screaming as a bloody and calculated murder took place.

The projectionist, the aptly-named Dave Slaughter, recalled the owner was a closet homosexual whose rough trade boyfriend paid someone to murder him. He even suggested shooting a box office assistant to ensure it looked like a robbery.

The boyfriend's mistake was hiring a hit man who'd never killed anyone before and bungled the job. He was caught after an eyewitness described him for a photo-fit on a TV programme. Ah well, that's show business.