Fifteen miles south of Hearst Castle, home of “Citizen Kane” inspiration William Randolph Hearst, is perhaps a more impressive dwelling: Nitt Witt Ridge, the house that former garbageman Art Beale constructed by hand from cast-off beer cans, shells, and other cast-off materials. We talk about his story on the latest “Shoot This Now” podcast, available below or right here.
Beal was orphaned by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and became a competitive swimmer, abalone diver and vaudeville performer — among other odd jobs. One way he made money was by hauling junk from Hearst Castle during its construction.
He began work on Nitt Witt Ridge in the 1930s after his attempt at a normal life passed him by. He recycled everything but cement, including pipe, electrical wire, and material he carted off from Hearst Castle. He carved the home out of the earth using only a shovel and a pick he called an “idiot stick.
Beal was orphaned by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and became a competitive swimmer, abalone diver and vaudeville performer — among other odd jobs. One way he made money was by hauling junk from Hearst Castle during its construction.
He began work on Nitt Witt Ridge in the 1930s after his attempt at a normal life passed him by. He recycled everything but cement, including pipe, electrical wire, and material he carted off from Hearst Castle. He carved the home out of the earth using only a shovel and a pick he called an “idiot stick.
- 7/24/2019
- by Tim Molloy
- The Wrap
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