The decades leading up to the 1979 Iranian Revolution were years of rapid cultural transformation. Tehran, the bustling capital, witnessed a surge of modernization under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, where Western cultural influences merged with Iranian traditions. Nightclubs, cabarets, and cinemas flourished, becoming key elements of the city’s nightlife. Among the prominent figures shaping this entertainment world was Parviz Hejazi, a cinema producer, impresario, and cabaret owner remembered both for his cultural influence and his tragic end. Known as the “Star Hunter,” he created platforms for young talents, produced music through his Apollo record company, and managed iconic cabarets such as Baccarat and Shokofeh No.
This text traces Hejazi’s life, his ventures in film and music, his role in shaping Tehran’s nightlife, and the circumstances of his death in 1976. It also situates him within the broader cultural landscape of Iran before the Revolution, examining how figures like him contributed to an era often remembered as the golden age of Iranian cabaret and popular music.
