American Hot Wax Poster

American Hot Wax

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

Starring: Tim McIntire, Fran Drescher, Jay Leno, Laraine Newman, Carl Weaver

Writer: John Kaye

Release Date:
March 17, 1978
Ratings:
5.6 / 10
Director:
Floyd Mutrux
Companies:
Paramount Pictures

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.