American Hot Wax (1978)
1959. New York City. The battleground was Rock and Roll. It was the beginning of an era. You shoulda been there.
91 min
This is the story loosely based on Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who introduced rock'n'roll to teenage American radio audiences in the 1950s. Freed was a source of great controversy: criticized by conservatives for corrupting youth with the "devil's music"; hated by racists for promoting African American music for white consumption; persecuted by law enforcement officials and finally brought down by the "payola" scandals.
- Release date
- March 17, 1978
- Country of origin
- United States
- Box office
- $11,000,000
Cast
- Tim McIntire as Alan Freed
- Fran Drescher as Sheryl
- Jay Leno as Mookie
- Laraine Newman as Teenage Louise
- Carl Weaver as Member of The Chesterfields
- Al Chalk as Member of The Chesterfields
- Sam Harkness as Member of The Chesterfields
- Arnold McCuller as Member of The Chesterfields
- Jeff Altman as Lennie Richfield
- Moosie Drier as Artie Moress
Crew
- Floyd Mutrux · Director
- John Kaye · Writer
- Art Linson · Writer
- Art Linson · Producer
- Kenny Vance · Composer
- William A. Fraker · Cinematographer
- Ronald J. Fagan · Editor
- Danford B. Greene · Editor
- Melvin Shapiro · Editor
- Terry Liebling · Casting director