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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2008)
NOVEMBER 21, 2008 iUStlOUt 25 I 4% Total Commission. No Kidding Continued from Page 23 master’s degree and begin his own practice for drug addiction. “1 knew I always wanted to empower and create positive self-esteem in our community,” Kallioinen said. “Being a public figure and participating in nu merous fund-raisers and organizations wus a way for me to raise awareness with love and laughter." my intellectuality” instead of fixating on his fame with Mala Noche, he says. As pnxif, he points to his 35 years on KBOO-FM co-hosting The Talking Earth, a program about words and ideas. Indeed, Curtis has been a Portland poetry legend almost, it seems, as long as he’s been in town (he arrived to the Rose City from Oregon City in 1959), pub lishing, reading and ranting his voluminous words with the zeal of a pulpit-pounding preacher. WALT CURTIS WALTER COLE • CONGRATULATIONS ON 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. HOPE TO SEE ANOTHER 25 YEARS PLUS. BLACKOUT j| L eather P roductions • WWW.BLACKOUTLEArHLR.ORG f.i* st red'/wet Claim to Fame: Author of the chapbook Mala Noche, the inspiration for Gus Van Sant’s first feature film. So They Say: “I’m the ‘outsider,’ a gay one, who lived Mala Noche, loved the Mexican boys, wrote vividly and well about the relationship—and also about racism which is directed toward Mexi- cans.... 1 did this in 1977, exposing myself to as persions and criticisms from all quarters. If seems somewhat bizarre, bitchy and inexplicable that my effort wouldn’t he recognized in a ‘gay’ community newspaper published in Portland.” (February 1990 letter to the editor) Walt Curtis is digging for magic. In his inner Southeast Portland basement hovel, he zips from bookcase to corner to desk, unearthing Stumptown queer history artifacts like some possessed archaeologist. Curtis digs out some old papers and magazines from the 1970s, with titles like Willamette Bridge and Portland Scribe, taking care to point out an article oh early gay liberation, and shows off some of his early poetry in the long-forgotten poetry mag Mississippi Mud. Then he offers up rare finds from his bcxik-scouting adventures, plucks the strings of a bizarre- instrument inspired by Harry Partch and points overhead to an elegant Calder-like mobile made by an old friend named “Ghost/ Claim to Fame: Reign ing producer of the epony mous Dar- celle XV drag club. So They Say: “It worked out for the best—15 is a much better number than 14 ” (Oct. 3, on how Darcelle landed her title as Rose Empress XV) Who’s Next: Kendall Clawson of Q Center and Michael Kaplan of Cascade AIDS Project. Ask Walter Cole to rattle off 40 years of Port land drag history while he’s sewing 20 yards of chiffon. Then sit down and let the dazzling show begin. Cole can spin out an oral history of Port land gay nightlife with the same type of bravura flourish he brings onstage to an Ethel Merman showtune. And just like Merman, he’s all guts, brass and balls—and some kind of larger-than-life Portland legend. The septuagenarian Portland native, propri etor of the longest continually running drag show case in the United States, shrugs off the “legend" status with a wink. “I do what I do. I-suppose if you live long enough you become a legend, an icon and those sorts of things—an institution." But an institution he is: a ubiquitous presence at most major gay events, especially Portland’s Imperial Sovereign Rose Court; an indefatigable entertainer still MCing four nights a week of live shows at his Old Town club; and, as suggested in “1 wish that people would talk a little bit about Continued on Page 28 Did You Overdo it? Lower Back Strain, Sprain or Back Spasms? The Fanno Creek Clinic is conducting a clinical research trial with an investigational dose of a medication that has been prescribed by physicians for more than 40 years to treat these uncomfortable symptoms. I 1 18-70 Years of Age Possibility of 4 visits within 14 days Qualified participants receive study related care, study medication and may be compensated for time and travel. Next time you have low back pain/spasms, please call Lisa Zeigler at 503-452-0915 x30 or email lisaz@fannocreek.com (must be within 3 days of 1st symptoms) Jonathan Murray jonathan@2busy2do.com 2busy2do . r .. , toll free 888.880.BLSY office 503.756.6450 tax 503.477.5545 2busy2do.com •_______________________________________________ ELAINE WALSH AUTO BUSINESS RENTERS HOME LIFE RESTAURANTS WORKERS COMR MULTIPLE POLICY DISCOUNTS OFFERED. Phone : 503 655 7724 FARMERS Fax: 503 650 9031 www.farmersagent.com/ewalsh .1
