American Hot Wax (1978)

03/17/1978 1h 31m

1959. New York City. The battleground was Rock and Roll. It was the beginning of an era. You shoulda been there.

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Overview

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.

More movies from 1978

Cast Ages at Release

Tim McIntire

as Alan Freed

Born 07/19/1944

Died 04/15/1986, age

Fran Drescher

as Sheryl

Born 09/30/1957, age

Jay Leno

as Mookie

Born 04/28/1950, age

Laraine Newman

as Teenage Louise

Born 03/02/1952, age

Stephen Pearlman

as Peter Overmyer

Born 02/26/1935

Died 09/30/1998, age

Pat McNamara

as Gordie

Born 07/22/1933, age

Screamin' Jay Hawkins

as Self

Born 07/18/1929

Died 02/12/2000, age