I would like to thank the following for sharing with me their knowledge and impressions of Los Angeles: Mark Bennett, Tom Henyey, Dr. Fred Kogen, Tommy and Bobbi Farrell, Virginia McDowall, Hal Riddle, Griffin Dunne, Jennifer Beals, John Waters, Eve Babitz, Lisa Phillips, Todd Eberle, Ellen Krass, Anne Philbin, M. G. Lord, Jeremy Strick, Michael Maltzan, Richard Serra, Marc H. Glick, Marie V. Sanford, Dan Sonenberg, Amy Gross, and the Staff at The Motion Picture and Retirement Fund, Wintec Energy, and La Quinta Resort and Club. I would also like to thank Peter Gay and Pamela Leo and the Center for Scholars and Writers at The New York Public Library. My agents, Andrew Wylie, Sarah Chalfant and Jin Auh. Larry Porges and Elizabeth Newhouse at National Geographic. And at the Chateau Marmont, great thanks to Andre Balazs, Philip Pavel, Pat Abedi, Carol O’Brien, Erin Foti, Romulo Laki, and the hotel staff.