Jackie Curtis Papers

Provenance

A gift of Jackie Curtis’s estate.

Use Restrictions

Any copyright to these materials owned by the donor(s) is retained until their death(s), upon which copyright is transferred to The Center.

Scope and Content

The collection contains play scripts and poems written by Jackie Curtis as well as scripts for plays Jackie appeared in as an actor. It includes other examples of Jackie’s writing in journals and notebooks of random ideas for stories, plays and dialogue. There are several scrapbooks containing photos and collages with notes and comments. There are posters, flyers, programs, reviews, photos and publicity materials for plays Jackie wrote and appeared in as well as for plays by others Jackie performed in. There are also posters and other material related to Jackie’s cabaret performances. There are clippings and copies of interviews and articles about Jackie Curtis, some written after Jackie’s death. There are letters to and from family and friends. There is a large amount of photos pertaining to Jackie’s career as a performer, mostly in drag, but some not. While many of the photos are formal headshots and portraits, there are also many informal snapshots with friends at parties and events. There are also some family and childhood photos and many of teenage Jackie. There are some receipts and records related to Jackie’s hospitalization and prescription drug use in Jackie’s last years.

History or Bio

Jackie Curtis is mostly known for appearing with fellow “Superstars” Candy Darling and Holly Woodlawn in several Paul Morrissey films such as “Women in Revolt,” produced by Andy Warhol. However, Jackie’s work as a playwright and performer in the downtown theater scene in the 1960s and ’70s is Jackie’s most influential legacy. Jackie was born in 1947. Jackie’s parents divorced when Jackie was very young, and Jackie was raised mostly by Jackie’s grandmother in the East Village of New York City, who owned a local bar called Slugger Ann’s. Jackie attended the School of Art and Design and Hunter College. Jackie became fascinated with performing at an early age, attending theater and collecting autographs. When Jackie was twelve Jackie was befriended by Carol Burnett who was appearing in “Once Upon A Mattress” at the theater across the street from Jackie’s grandmother’s bar. At nineteen Jackie appeared in a play by Tom Eyen at La Mama, “Miss Nefertiti Regrets,” that starred Bette Midler. Around this time Jackie began creating the persona that defied gender and sexuality classifications of the time, appearing in female attire but quite often without any pretense of “passing,” with slapdash makeup and shabby thrift shop dresses. Jackie wasn’t male, female or transgender, “just Jackie.” Jackie became a fixture of Andy Warhol’s factory scene and played the part of “superstar” with relish. Jackie’s association with Warhol helped get Jackie’s first plays noticed, such as “Glamour, Glory and Gold” in 1967, which Jackie wrote and appeared in along with fellow Warhol “superstar” Candy Darling and a young unknown actor named Robert De Niro. Jackie’s play “Heaven Grand in Amber Orbit” was produced by John Vacarro’s Playhouse of the Ridiculous in 1969. “Vain Victory” written by and starring Jackie ran at La Mama for many months in spite of mixed reviews. In addition to appearances in film and plays, Jackie performed successfully in several cabaret venues. Some of Jackie’s poems were published, and Jackie often participated in Poetry Project events. Jackie spent some time in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, unsuccessfully attempting to find serious acting roles. In 1983 Jackie appeared in “I Died Yesterday” by Nick Markovich about Frances Farmer. Jackie’s last appearance was in Jackie’s play “Champagne” in 1985. That same year Jackie died of an accidental heroin overdose.

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