Music in Maine

The Dave Astor Show

Dave Astor (1919-2011) produced a variety show in Portland from 1956 to 1971. Beginning as For Teenagers Only on WGAN-13, the show moved to WCSH-6 in 1963, called The Dave Astor Show. For fifteen years, teens and their families gathered around the TV to watch Dave Astor on Saturday nights.

Inspired by national tv shows featuring teens and music like American Bandstand, Astor’s performance skits included music, dance, and comedy routines. Dave Astor’s weekly episodes featured students from local high schools who performed hit songs from the radio, often lip synching and sometimes singing live.

Astor grew up on Munjoy Hill in Portland. He was a World War II veteran and a lifelong member of Temple Beth El. His show encouraged many young people to pursue music careers, including Schooner Fare’s Steve Romanoff and big band musician Tony Boffa.

Dave Astor Show "Regulars"

Dave Astor taught his performers poise and professionalism. He trained them in choreography and “pantomiming”—his word for lip synching—during rehearsals.

Deering High School student Suzanne Svenson was a regular on the Dave Astor Show. The program often included series regulars and weekly guests from area high schools.

Series regular Tina Warming of Brunswick excelled at acrobatic dance moves, like jumping into the camera frame. In this photograph, she performed to Mississippi Mud by the Platters, wearing rolled up jeans, bare feet, and her father’s work shirt.

Tina Warming Lichtenberg performed on the Dave Astor Show from 1962 to 1966, mostly doing what she called “the funny songs.”

Deering High School student Willie Stewart played football, ran track, and was a regular on the Dave Astor Show. In 2021, Stewart’s son, Garrett, put his father’s experiences as a Black person performing on the show into context,

Although this was a common sight for people in this area, Jim Crow was still segregating the South. I don't believe my father truly knew what a big deal that was at the time. He had been here all his life and had wonderful lifelong friends of all backgrounds.