Comments on: Helen at Watts Towers, Los Angeles, 1959

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 04:49:28 +0000

This is on my bucket list. I love this slide–one of the best ever

By: Bud Goldstone

Bud Goldstone — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:16:20 +0000

Helen’s camera caught some scaffold that was set up on the north of the tallest tower of the Watts Towers on October 19, 1959! The City of Los Angeles Building & Safety Dept had declared the Towers were dangerous and apt to fall of their own dead weight! Well they are still there and my test that 1959 day proved their safety under a 10,000 pound load!

By: Joseph

Joseph — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 06:38:17 +0000

For those who want company when visiting the Watts Towers a good time to do so is the third weekend in September. On Saturday is the Day of the Drum festival and the following day the Watts Tower Jazz Festival.

By: Rosanne

Rosanne — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 00:42:06 +0000

Hi Charles-
I was glad to get your slide of the week and to find out that your all time favorite place is the same as mine: The Watts Towers. However, you made the same mistake that everybody makes by attributing the Towers to Simon Rodia. Actually, the artist’s name was Sabato Rodia. Around 1900 he adopted the name Samuel and went by Sam. In 1939 the Los Angeles Times published it’s first story about him and called him Simon Rodilla. Other names reported in articles about him throughout the years included Sam Rodilla, Simon Radilla, Don Simon, Sam Radilla, Sabatino Rodia, and Simon Rodia, which seems to have stuck. The beautiful towers are his legacy, but for some reason, it just drives me crazy that he is still remembered by a name given to him by a bad reporter. Just trying to set the record straight!

Sincerly,
Rosanne
http://www.jingle-jangle.net

By: Charles Phoenix

Charles Phoenix — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 23:38:17 +0000

A tour of the Watts Towers is in the works. Stay tuned!

By: martin

martin — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 07:49:00 +0000

What is that scaffolding near the tower? Was this slide taken around the time the aerospace engineer (I forget his name) tested their strength? It looks similar to what the docent desribed during one of the tours I went on. Just wondering if Helen stumbled into a historic moment.
The towers are my favorite thing in Los Angeles and whenever I go there, about every 6 months, I discover something new. Last time I discovered that certain archways have an animal theme. Worth the drive, and there’s a fantastic shoe warehouse on Figueroa around 140th.

By: moochia

moochia — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 02:50:25 +0000

Oh that Helen!

Back in the late 70′s, I had the honor of being an original cast member (Government Clerk #2!) of an original musical about Mr. Rodia’s artistic endeavor entitled “Simon’s Towers” presented at a local community theatre. I still remember my show-stopping (*snort*) number which I performed with Government Clerk #1…Simon comes to our government office to get a building permit, and we, being bureaucratic drones, won’t give him one…and it went something like this:

Permit! Permits!
We issue permits!
For projects of construction,
There are prerequisites!

For some reason, Broadway never called. Imagine! But it’s OK. I’m not bitter.

By: Buz Carter

Buz Carter — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 02:41:53 +0000

You win, Miss Sharon!

I used to have a “people I fear being trapped on an elevator with” list (Flea, Robin Williams, and Dr.Smith). I now have a “folks I want to drive cross-country with” and you and Charles can sit upfront on the bench seat!

Thanks for your fantastic quips, insights, literary gems, and ability to suss out the true meaning of each slide.

Here’s to Miss Sharon!

PS. Phallic, Elle? No. I’m more seeing Madonna’s bullet-bra… errrr, perhaps in freefall.

By: Emilie Mason

Emilie Mason — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 02:12:48 +0000

We are delighted to again be receiving your email slides. Our server has a nasty habit of deciding what we should and should not receive. For the past few years we’ve missed out on your amusing commentary. Finally, with your new list-serve, we are once again connected with you.

Thanks for the change.
Emilie and Jeff

By: Miss Sharon

Miss Sharon — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 00:05:55 +0000

Mr. Charles!

Helen’s confident, toothy grin and her fetching striped shirt made me run right to my _Guide to Photographing Women_ by Robert Halmi (1956). Okay so the whole book is an excuse to make nudie photos of women into a “respectable” project, but no matter the genesis, the book is still useful. Thinking of the apparent difference between Helen in nightie and Helen at the Towers, I came upon this advice:

“There is strength in restraint. The art of achieving pictorial sex appeal is not in dress or undress — but in catching the suble facial expression — the smoky come-hither look in the eyes. I may add that to get a girl into such a mood for purely photographic reason is not easy — but it can be done. Above all, you must win her confidence in you and your camera, persuade her that you are after a first-rate artistic photograph — not a piece of corny cheese cake.”

Oh, Helen! Come hither indeed, you little striped shirted minx! You rejecter of corny cheese cake poses! You can make the Watts Towers sparkle with your smile!

xoxo!
Miss Sharon