Walt Curtis
Walt Curtis (July 4, 1941 – August 25, 2023) was an American poet, novelist, and painter from Portland, Oregon. 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.
Walt Curtis
- Born
- Walt Curtis was born on 4 July 1941. · Portland.
- Died
- Walt Curtis died on 25 August 2023.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- novelist · painter · poet · actor · publisher
- Fields
- poetry · gay literature · fiction
- Movements
- Beat Generation
- Languages
- English
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Walt Curtis (July 4, 1941 – August 25, 2023) was an American poet, novelist, and painter from Portland, Oregon. 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.
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wikidata · Q2906117 · wikipedia · Walt Curtis
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Walt Curtis was born at Portland.
Birthplace
Portland
Residences
Books
He hosted the poetry radio show "Talking Earth" at KBOO from 1971. He wrote about and championed Oregon literary figures such as Joaquin Miller, Hazel Hall, Frances Fuller Victor, and many others. He also acted in Property in 1978 and Paydirt in 1981. Portland Mayor Sam Adams declared July 1–7, 2010 "Walt Curtis Week." Curtis died on August 25, 2023, at the age of 82.
• 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)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Walt Curtis”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2906117: Walt Curtis
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Redden, Jim. Well-known Portland poet Walt Curtis passes away at 82. PortlandTribune.com. 2023-08-26.
- 2.Jeff Baker, Portland celebrates poet Walt Curtis with two birthday parties, movie screening, The Oregonian 6/22/2010
- 3.Talking Earth. kboo.fm. 15 March 2007.
- 4.Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission. www.ochcom.org.
- 5.Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission. www.ochcom.org.
- 6.https://www.ochcom.org/writersmap.html retrieved 1013/2015
- 7.Catalina, Gaitán. Hundreds gather to celebrate legendary Portland poet Walt Curtis; 'He was astonishing'. The Oregonian/OregonLive. 6 November 2023.
- 8.Richard Speer "Walt Curtis A poet/painter rises from the ashes" The Willamette Week 6/29/2010
References
Citations
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reference work
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General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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