Archives West Finding Aid

The bulk of the Keene Curtis papers (1929-1996) consists of theater, film, and television scripts. The collection also includes programs, playbills, and theater posters as well as correspondence, notebooks, essays, reports, a diary, and artwork. Curtis (born 1923) graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A. in 1943 and M.A. in 1947. Reports, artwork, and notes resulting from art and speech classes he took at the university are located in boxes 1-3. Also located in box 1 are letters concerning Curtis's scarlet fever as a child, his diary, a scout notebook, the first play he wrote, and high school essays and artwork. These materials date from 1929-1940.

Curtis launched a successful stage managing and acting career around 1949 when he served as understudy to Jay Robinson in the role of Archie in the Broadway production of The Shop at Sly Corner. This script is located in box 28, folder 5. He subsequently became stage manager and production stage manager for several United States and European tours performing The Constant Wife, The Male Animal, Four Winds, Twelfth Night, and Silent Night, Lonely Night, among others, from 1949-1959. Set designs for productions Curtis managed are located in box 4. In 1960, Curtis became a charter member of the Association of Producing Artists (APA) thus appearing (and reappearing) in many of its productions in the United States, Europe, and Australia. He performed in Man and Superman, The Taming of the Shrew, The Seagull, Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, The Tavern, Much Ado About Nothing, War and Peace, and Annie. The collection contains many of these as well as other theater, play, and musical scripts from productions Curtis managed, performed in, auditioned for, or was offered a role in. They are located in boxes 5, 20-29, and 31-34 and date from the 1950s-1990s. In 1971, Curtis won the Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for his supporting role in the musical The Rothschilds. Correspondence regarding this award is located in box 2, folders 4-6.

Curtis has also appeared in many films including I.Q., Blade, Sliver, Annie, and The Wrong Damn Film. These scripts, dating from 1977-1995, are located in boxes 6-8 and 31-34. His television appearances have also been numerous. Curtis is well known for his recurring role in the television series, "Cheers," but has also played recurring roles in "Amanda's By the Sea," "Benson," "Hart to Hart," "Lou Grant," and "One in a Million." He also appeared on episodes of "Earth 2," "Eight is Enough," "Full House," "Hawaii Five-O," "The Lady's Not For Burning," "Murder She Wrote," "Coach," and "ER." Boxes 9-19 and 30-34 contain most of these, and other scripts, and date from 1974-1994. Curtis has also performed the voices for television cartoon characters in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," "Laverne and Shirley," and "Swat Kats." These scripts are located in box 6 and date from 1990-1994.

The collection also contains programs and playbills, located in boxes 35-47, collected by Curtis from theaters in Los Angeles, London, New York, and Washington, D.C. They are arranged alphabetically by the city in which they were performed, then by production title. They date from 1956-1993. Also included in the collection are theater posters for various productions. The posters, dating from 1956-1993, are signed by Curtis and cast members and are located in box 48.