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Podcasts Take Two
'I Build the Tower' tells struggle of Watts Towers creator, community
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Aug 5, 2015
Listen • 10:07
'I Build the Tower' tells struggle of Watts Towers creator, community
The history of the Watts Towers and the man who built them.
City water workers will be flushing water in the area over the next couple of weeks after complaints of brown murky tap water.
City water workers will be flushing water in the area over the next couple of weeks after complaints of brown murky tap water.
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Photo by matt northam via Flickr Creative Commons
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The history of the Watts Towers and the man who built them.

Next Tuesday marks 50 years since the Watts Riots. Even though it's been a half century, the name Watts is still synonymous with the tumultuous event.

But ask residents, and they'll tell you the South L.A. neighborhood is so much more than the 1965 unrest. It's also known for its arts scene — music, painting, poetry — and the iconic interconnected sculptures that make up the Watts Towers.

The history of the towers and the man who built them — by hand — is documented in a film called "I Build the Towers."

It was produced by Edward Landler and Brad Byer, who is the great nephew of Sam Rodia, the man behind the towers.

Landler sat down with host A Martinez to talk about Rodia and what his work means to the Watts community.

"I Build the Tower" screens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. The film will be followed by panel discussion. For more information, click here.