Combining my motorcycle and art addiction makes touring a very stimulating and rewarding experience, especially when seeing something as brilliant as the Watts Towers, by Simon Rodia. An Italian immigrant, Simon began construction on the Watts Towers in 1921 and for 34 years he worked single-handedly to build his towers without benefit of machine equipment, scaffolding, bolts, rivets, welds or drawing board designs. Besides his own ingenuity, he used simple tools–pipe fitter pliers and a window-washer’s belt and buckle–and the towers rose out of steel girders, wire mesh, and slender reinforced concrete. The surface is decorated with tiles, sea shells, pottery, glass and hand-drawn designs.

“In 1955, when Rodia was approaching 75, he deeded his property to a neighbor and retired to Martinez, California to be near his family. A fire ruined Rodia’s little house in 1956. within a few years the Department of Building and Safety ordered the property demolished. A group of concerned citizens, calling themselves “The Committee for Simon Rodia’s Towers in Watts”, fought successfully to save the Towers by collecting signatures and money and devising an engineering test in 1959 that proved the Towers’ strength and safety.

In 1975, the committee, which had persevered the unique work of art for 16 years, gave the ‘Towers and adjoining Arts Center building to the City of Los Angeles for operation and maintenance. In 1978, the Towers were deeded to the State, which undertook extensive restoration of the three main towers. . In 1985, continuing restoration responsibilities were given to the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and currently both the Towers and the Watts Towers Arts Center are under the operation of the Cultural Affairs Department.” Information provided by http://www.wattstowers.us/history.htm

There have been two documentaries dedicated to the building of the Towers. One can be seen it its entirety on Youtube.

The other is a feature length film entitled, “I built the Tower” and can be ordered from here.

I have not seen this film, but it can be sampled on youtube.

If you find yourself in the “City of Angels” I highly recommend seeing the Watts Towers which surely contributes to the pride of Los Angeles and its angelic name.