Walt Curtis (July 4, 1941 – August 25, 2023) was an American poet, novelist, and painter from Portland, Oregon. [1] His autobiographical work, Mala Noche (1977), became the basis for Gus Van Sant's 1985 film of the same name. He was the co-founder of the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission. [2] He hosted the poetry radio show "Talking Earth" at KBOO from 1971. [3] He wrote about and championed Oregon literary figures such as Joaquin Miller, [4] Hazel Hall, [5] Frances Fuller Victor, [6] and many others. He also acted in Property in 1978 and Paydirt in 1981. [7]
Portland Mayor Sam Adams declared July 1–7, 2010 "Walt Curtis Week." [8] Curtis died on August 25, 2023, at the age of 82. [1]
Books
- Angel Pussy (1970)
- The Erotic Flying Machine (1970)
- The Sunflower and Other Earth Poems (1975)
- The Mad Bombers Notebook (1975)
- The Mad Poems, The Unreasonable Ones (1975)
- The Roses of Portland (1974, poetry)
- Mala Noche (1977)
- Peckerneck Country (1978)
- Journey Across America (1979)
- Rhymes for Alice Bluelight (1984)
- Salmon Song, And Other Wet Poems (1995)
- Mala Noche: And Other "Illegal" Adventures (1997)
Films
- Penny Allen: Property (1978)
- Penny Allen: Paydirt (1981)
- Gus van Sant: Mala Noche (1985) as George
- Bill Plympton and Walt Curtis: Walt Curtis, The Peckerneck Poet (1997)
- Sabrina Guitart: Salmon Poet (2009)
- Courtney Fathom Sell: An Afternoon with Walt Curtis (2010)
References
- ^ a b Redden, Jim (2023-08-26). "Well-known Portland poet Walt Curtis passes away at 82". PortlandTribune.com. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ Jeff Baker, Portland celebrates poet Walt Curtis with two birthday parties, movie screening, The Oregonian 6/22/2010
- ^ "Talking Earth". kboo.fm. 15 March 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission". www.ochcom.org. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
- ^ "Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission". www.ochcom.org. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
- ^ http://www.ochcom.org/writersmap.html retrieved 1013/2015
- ^ Catalina, Gaitán (6 November 2023). "Hundreds gather to celebrate legendary Portland poet Walt Curtis; 'He was astonishing'". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ Richard Speer "Walt Curtis A poet/painter rises from the ashes" The Willamette Week 6/29/2010
- John Trombold and Peter Donahue (eds.): Reading Portland: The City in Prose (2006). ISBN 0-295-98677-8
External links
- Walt Curtis at IMDb
- Walt Curtis discography at Discogs
- Oregon's Salmon Poet PowellsBooks.Blog by Matt Love, September 2, 2009 [1]
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