Home > “Break a Leg” > About the Book > Photo Gallery

Break a Leg was inspired by a lot of real people, places, and events. Many of these inspirations are illustrated here. Some of these pictures tie into the story, while others don’t, yet they all help illustrate where the book came from. Select each picture to learn more.

Photo credits

The Academy Awards at the RKO Pantages Theatre. “Gigi” would win a record-breaking nine Oscars that night, although “Ben-Hur” would beat its record just a year later, with ten.
Downtown Los Angeles at night
The Biltmore Hotel overlooking Pershing Square
Downtown L.A. on a clear day, as seen from atop City Hall.
The new Pasadena Freeway– a.k.a. the Arroyo Seco Parkway– cutting through Elysian Park
Vice President Richard Nixon meeting costumed characters at Disneyland
Residents of Chavez Ravine say goodbye to their neighborhood for the last time. The area would be bulldozed to make way for Dodger Stadium.
Sheriff’s deputies evict the last residents of Chavez Ravine. The area would be bulldozed to make way for Dodger Stadium.
Sheriff’s deputies evict the last residents of Chavez Ravine. The area would be bulldozed to make way for Dodger Stadium.
Bulldozers demolish the last few homes in Chavez Ravine.
Residents of Chavez Ravine survey the ruins of their homes.
Chavez Ravine after being cleared for Dodger Stadium construction
Bob Hope greets his dog after coming home from a trip
California wasn’t the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement, but it wasn’t immune from it either. Pictured here is a protest in Pasadena.
Senator John F. Kennedy campaigns with California Governor Pat Brown
Drive-in church service
San Pedro’s Chamber of Commerce Building, with the L.A. Harbor behind it
The Watts Towers started off as a folk art project in one of L.A.’s most impoverished neighborhoods. The city was worried that the towers could collapse, so it tested their strength. The towers passed the test and remain a landmark to this day.
The San Diego Freeway under construction. Sepulveda Boulevard is at right, and the soon-to-be-famous Mulholland Bridge is in the background.
The Shakespeare Bridge in Los Feliz
A classic movie palace
The Bradbury Building at the corner of Third and Broadway
The premiere of “Cleopatra”, the biggest and most controversial film of its time
The brand-new Four-Level Interchange before opening to traffic, with City Hall in background
Angels Flight Railway
Good Samaritan Hospital
The “old” L.A. County Hall of Records
Marilyn Monroe leaves the courthouse after divorcing Joe DiMaggio
Bunker Hill before urban renewal, with the Angels Flight Railway climbing the hill in background
A smoggy day in downtown Los Angeles
Presenting plans for the East L.A. Interchange
Pacific Electric “Red Cars” sitting in the scrap yard
Lobby of the Los Angeles Theatre
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