Walt Curtis Explained

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

• John Trombold and Peter Donahue (eds.): Reading Portland: The City in Prose (2006).

External links

• • • Oregon's Salmon Poet PowellsBooks.Blog by Matt Love, September 2, 2009 http://www.powells.com/blog/?p=7644

Notes and References

1. Web site: Redden . Jim . 2023-08-26 . Well-known Portland poet Walt Curtis passes away at 82 . 2023-08-26 . PortlandTribune.com . en.
2. Jeff Baker, Portland celebrates poet Walt Curtis with two birthday parties, movie screening, The Oregonian 6/22/2010
3. Web site: Talking Earth . kboo.fm . 15 March 2007. June 3, 2021.
4. Web site: Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission . www.ochcom.org . 2015-10-13.
5. Web site: Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission . www.ochcom.org . 2015-10-13.
6. http://www.ochcom.org/writersmap.html retrieved 1013/2015
7. News: Catalina . Gaitán . Hundreds gather to celebrate legendary Portland poet Walt Curtis; 'He was astonishing' . 7 November 2023 . The Oregonian/OregonLive . 6 November 2023 . en.
8. Richard Speer "Walt Curtis A poet/painter rises from the ashes" The Willamette Week 6/29/2010