 Curtis attended Montclair State University, studying English and later New York University where he studied film.In 1976, he relocated to San Diego where he began working at XETV

In 1980, Curtis and Bruce Mueller created the cult-XETV show "Disasterpiece Theatre" where they presented the worst movies ever made (long before "Mystery Science Theater 3000").Curtis hosted the show as "Sal U. Lloyd" and would act in skits to interrupt the show as well as display subtitles to comment on the movie.