American Hot Wax (1978)

Director:

Floyd Mutrux

Writers:

John Kaye (screenplay)
John Kaye (story)
(more)

Release Date:

17 March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Musical

Tagline:

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

Plot:

This is the story loosely based on Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who introduced rock'n'roll to teenage American radio audiences in the 1950's...

Plot Keywords:

Rock And Roll | Stage | Doo Wop | Scapegoat | Payola

Cast

Tim McIntire	...	Alan Freed
Fran Drescher	...	Sheryl
Jay Leno	...	Mookie (Michael)
Laraine Newman	...	Teenage Louise
Carl Weaver	...	Chesterfields
Al Chalk	...	Chesterfields
Sam Harkness	...	Chesterfields
Arnold McCuller	...	Chesterfields
Jeff Altman	...	Lennie Richfield
Moosie Drier	...	Artie Moress, Buddy Holly Fanclub President
John Lehne	...	D.A. Coleman
Stewart Steinberg	...	Stone
Jack Edward Ellis	...	Phillips
Richard Forbes	...	Donahue
Stephen Pearlman	...	Peter Overmyer
Keene Curtis	...	Mr. Leonard
Pat McNamara	...	Gordie
Will Thornbury	...	Sid
Hamilton Camp	...	Louie Morgan
Chuck Berry	...	Himself
Jerry Lee Lewis	...	Himself
Screamin' Jay Hawkins	...	Himself
Charles Greene	...	Chuck Otis
Kenny Vance	...	Professor La Plano
Joe Esposito	...	Planotones
Bruce Sudano	...	Planotones
Ed Hokenson	...	Planotones
Stephanie Spruill	...	Delights
Joyce King	...	Delights
Yolande Howard	...	Delights
Brenda Russell	...	Delights
Richard Roat	...	Newscaster #1
Marion Perkins	...	Artie's Mom
Matthew Tobin	...	Artie's Dad
Bobby Johnson	...	Tap Dancer
Harold 'Red' Keller	...	Stage Manager (as Red Keller)
Elmer Valentine	...	Union Man
Charles Irwin	...	Timmy and the Tangerines
Jeanne Sheffield	...	Timmy and the Tangerines
Jo Ann Harris	...	Timmy and the Tangerines
Andrea Robinson	...	Girls Backstage
Gail Kantor	...	Girls Backstage
Patricia Clinger	...	Girls Backstage
Mark Diamond	...	Stagehand
Al Maines	...	Tap Dancer
Artie Ripp	...	Artie
Lenny Capizzi	...	Singing Group in Front of Theater
Chesley Uxbridge	...	Singing Group in Front of Theater
V.J. Maiano	...	Singing Group in Front of Theater
Maurice Starr	...	Kid Playing Garbage Can
John Hawker	...	Janitor
Heather Lowe	...	Harriet (D.A.'s Secretary)
Nora Denney	...	Louise's Mom
Garry Goodrow	...	Louise's Dad
Frank Campana	...	Leo Goldstein
Buddy Micucci	...	Moriarty
Arnold Johnson	...	Arnold (Musician in Bar)
George Poulos	...	D.J. #1
Doug Samaha	...	D.J. #2
Larry Hankin	...	Diamond's Manager
Dina Ousley	...	Stage Manager's Date
Dianne Brooks	...	LeVerne
Denise Maynelli	...	Lulu
Nancy Dalziel	...	Girlfriend
Andrea Claudio	...	Girl at Bar
Lonna Montrose	...	Girl at Bar
Ted Schwartz	...	Gary (Music Librarian)
Eric Mercury	...	Tyrone Blackwood
Johnny Haymer	...	Song Plugger
Melanie Chartoff	...	Debbie
Olivia Barash	...	Susie
Michael Heit	...	Mr. Morris (Manager)
Bob Mazzone	...	Johnny Foster
Tom Baker	...	Vinnie (Promo Man)
Daria Zetlen	...	Receptionist
Fil Formicola	...	Man Singing in the Hallway
Frankie Ford	...	Himself
Lisa Medford	...	Lily Belle
Hank Hamilton	...	Jerry Lee's Bodyguard
Sharon Dior	...	Mrs. Leo Goldstein
Ron Krietzman	...	Ron (Record Producer)
Connie Slamar	...	George's Girlfriend
Mary Peters	...	Big Red
Howard Storm	...	Billy Russo
Richard Perry	...	George (Record Producer)
Cameron Crowe	...	Delivery Boy
Scott Miller	...	Boy at Concert
Christopher Koefoed	...	Fat Frankie
William 'Wee Willie' Davis	...	Freed's Friend
Penny Long	...	Girl in Studio (as Penny Mutrux)
Mario Maglieri	...	Italian Man
Robert Ezrin	...	Record Producer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kristine Greco
Carol Jones	...	Girl in front of Theater (uncredited)
Scott McKinley	...	Boy at Concert (uncredited)
David Pollock	...	Fan (uncredited)
Kevin Scullin	...	Teen Rioter (uncredited)

Directed by
Floyd Mutrux

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Kaye		screenplay
John Kaye		story
Art Linson		story

Produced by
Fred T. Gallo	....	associate producer
Art Linson	....	producer

Original Music by
Kenny Vance

Cinematography by
William A. Fraker

Film Editing by
Ronald J. Fagan
Melvin Shapiro

Casting by
Terry Liebling

Art Direction by
Elayne Barbara Ceder

Set Decoration by
George Gaines

Costume Design by
Robert De Mora

Makeup Department
Lynda Gurasich	....	hair stylist
Gary Liddiard	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fred T. Gallo	....	unit production manager
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	executive production manager: Paramount (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frederic B. Blankfein	....	second assistant director
Barrie M. Osborne	....	second assistant director
Joseph B. Wallenstein	....	first assistant director (as Joe Wallenstein)

Art Department
George Tuers	....	property master
Richard Valesko	....	property master

Sound Department
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Robert Murray	....	sound effects editor (as Allan Murray)
Tom Overton	....	sound mixer (as Thomas Overton)
George Watters II	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Ken Speed	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dick Colean	....	camera operator
Marlin Hall	....	key grip
Doug Pentek	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mina Mittelman	....	costumer: women
Don Vargas	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Danford B. Greene	....	supervising editor
Alice Mayer	....	assistant film editor
Jan Wesley	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Milton Lustig	....	music editor
Kenny Vance	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Douglas Dean III	....	production assistant
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fotomat (Drive-Thru Movies) Video (1979) (USA) (VHS)
• Shocking Videos (????) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

91 min | Canada:95 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Netherlands:AL | Finland:S | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

The Wiltern - 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

In order to help promote the film, a syndicated, half hour musical variety special was shot called "Thank You Rock and Roll".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Artie is seen with copies of the albums "The Chirping Crickets" and "Buddy Holly and the Crickets", the latter being a re-issue of the former, and not released until 1962.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Alan Freed: You can stop me, but you're never gonna stop rock & roll!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cotton Candy (1978) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Come Go With Me

Rock and Roll will NEVER die!!

This movie has heart, soul and a passion for the music. A loving tribute to an exciting era. I grew up in Philadelphia, where guys doo-wopped in garages and on street corners, hoping Alan Freed would someday play their song. This movie successfully shows how important our new music was to us. Long Live Rock and Roll!