Morton Marcus
1936 – 2009
Poet • Author • Teacher • Film Critic
Morton Marcus was a poet, author, teacher, film critic, as well as an activist for the arts. Born in New York City, Morton spent most of his professional life in Santa Cruz, California, and he is strongly associated with its poetry and art community. He published 11 volumes of poetry, a book of translations, a novel, and a memoir.
Morton hosted KUSP’s The Poetry Show, facilitated film discussion groups at the Nickelodeon Theater, and was the co-host of a television show about film called Cinema Scene. He taught literature, creative writing, and film history at Cabrillo College, California, for 30 years. More than 500 of his poems have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY
• NEW: The Marcus Poetry Archive at UCSC Special Collections has completed digitizing over 200 of Marcus' interviews from his radio show, THE POETRY SHOW, the longest running poetry show in America.
• Morton Marcus broadsides on permanent display at the Cabrillo College Swenson Library.
• Tour the Morton Marcus Poetry Archive @ UC Santa Cruz.
The collection contents can be viewed HERE.
Enter the Annual
Poetry contest!
The Annual Morton Marcus Poetry Contest is closed for 2023. Submissions for 2024 are open from May to September HERE.
Journalist Wallace Baine writes, “Jana Marcus Explores Family History and a Mob Murder in ‘Line of Blood’ - her new book serves as requiem for author’s late father Morton Marcus."
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