In 1978, the award-winning film "The Buddy Holly Story", starring Gary Busey as Holly, presented an engaging but inaccurate depiction of the band's early years. Allison and Mauldin's names were altered to Jesse Charles and Ray Bob Simmons, respectively, to avoid legal action due to their rights being sold to another film production that was also working on Holly's story. Niki Sullivan, Sonny Curtis, Bob Montgomery, Don Guess, and Larry Welborn were not portrayed in the film. The Crickets appreciated the film, but gave a thumbs down review and Allison was outraged by his fictional counterpart Charles' attitudes: vulgar, racist, alcoholic, and profane.