 This story was conceived when Garson Kanin (qv), trying to cheer  up his wife Ruth Gordon (I) (qv), was driving by Columbus Circle.  He told her he was going to put her name on "that billboard there"  in the biggest letters. He didnt. He wrote a screenplay instead.  Gordon suggested that the lead should be Judy Holliday (qv). Kanin  had originally considered a male lead, Danny Kaye (qv). When he  finished the screenplay, the lead had been written for Holliday.