The Amazing Watts Towers: History & 4K Video Drone Flight!

The vision of one man, Simon Rodia, is responsible for the magnificent cultural icon that exists today in Central Los Angeles. Mr. Rodia, an Italian immigrant who left the coal fields of Pennsylvania in search of a better life, was a cement mason and tile setter in Los Angeles. Beginning in 1921 and lasting until 1955, he used every spare moment to work on his beloved towers. The towers, one of which is over 100 feet tall, were made mostly from recycled material, a real novelty in an era 50 years before recycling was to become popular. He often fought with the City of Los Angeles about permits and, in 1959, upon his abandoning the property, the City of Los Angeles tried desperately to have the towers demolished. They even went so far, in October of 1959, to conduct a strength test on the towers, suing a crane and a lateral pull of 10,000 pounds. The towers were not moved, but the crane itself became damaged. By the time of the test, the towers had become a rallying point of pride and a wave of cultural preservation ensured the towers would survive. As I write this, restoration work is taking place, as many tiles had started to come loose and fallen off. Still, though, the towers can be seen from the streets.

Music Credit: Ross Bugden Music, "Olympus," Epic & Dramatic Cinema Trailer Music. Find Ross's music on:
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