[SOLVED] event.preventDefault() stopped working?

// Problem: user when clicking on image goes to a dead end=poor UE
// Solutioin: create an overlay with the large image - Lightbox
var $overlay = $("<div id="overlay"></div>");
var $image = $("<img>");
var $caption = $("<p></p>");


// Add umage to overlay
$overlay.append($image);

// Add caption to overlay
$overlay.append($caption);

// Add an overlay
$("body").append($overlay);

// Capture the click event on a link to an image
$("#imageGallery a").click(function(event){
    event.preventDefault();
    var imageLocation = $(this).attr("href");
  // Update overlay with the imge linked in the link
    $image.attr("src", imageLocation); 

  // Show the overlay  
    $overlay.show();

  // Get child's alt attribute and set caption
    var captionText = $(this).children("img").attr("alt");  
    $caption.text(captionText);

});


//3. When overlay is clicked 
$overlay.click(function() {
  //3.1 Hide the overlay.
  $(this).hide();

});