Tale of the towers

REGARDING the picture and story of the Watts Towers [“Watts Towers: Support System,” July 9]: An actor friend, Nick King, called one day to say that he wanted me to see something that he and some friends had bought to save from destruction. The city of Los Angeles wanted to tear it down because it was an attractive nuisance and might fall over and injure someone. “It” was the Watts Towers. This was a Sunday and the city had set up a big winch. There was a huge steel cable around the leg of one of the towers.

The next morning they were to do a stress test. Nick suggested I climb up a way to see all of the things Rodia had used to cover the towers. I did. The towers and I didn’t fall over nor did they the next day! People do, though, when I tell this story.

JACK MOORE

Palm Springs