It took Italian immigrant Simon “Sam” Rodia more than 25 years to build the Watts Towers, starting work on the massive, one-of-a-kind structure in 1921.
The city later protested.
Rodia had no permits to build the structure on the vacant residential lot he owned at 1765 E. 107th St.
But the towers could not be easily taken down or moved. And so Rodia’s vision and landmark in South Central Los Angeles remained and was, over the years, warmly embraced — drawing thousands of visitors each year to see the creation.
Rodia’s story will be told with a showing of the 2006 documentary “I Built the Tower” at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., in San Pedro. Admission is free but reservations are requested through eventbrite.com. It is being presented in commemoration of the towers’ 100th anniversary by the Los Angeles Harbor International Film Festival.
Stephanie Mardesich, founder and director of the film festival, said members of the Watts community are expected to attend, as will representatives of the Harbor Interfaith Services, YWCA Harbor Area and Toberman Neighborhood Center.
The film, made by Edward Landler and Brad Byer (Rodia’s great-nephew, who is now dead), includes audio interviews of Rodia from the early 1960s.
Archival footage and interviews include scenes of Naples and the southern Italian region of Campania, where Rodia was born, and of the San Francisco Bay Area, where the immigrant lived before coming to Los Angeles. He’d also lived in Long Beach before moving to Watts.
Lander will be on hand for the screening to participate in a question-and-answer session following the film. Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker, will also participate in the Q&A. McOsker is co-presenting the event as part of his goal to better connect the five disparate communities that make up the 15th District that he represents — Watts, Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, Wilmington and San Pedro.
“The documentary film…
Read the full article here