Category: Decades

  • Reading Public Museum – 1950s

    Mrs. James Woodward enjoys an informal afternoon reading to a group of children on the spacious front lawn of the Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery. The Museum and Gallery house an important collection of art masterpieces, as well as an impressive scientific and historic collection. A particularly appealing feature is the garden surrounding the…

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  • Kaleidoscope at Berkshire Mall

    The Kaleidoscope was a store in the Berkshire Mall in the 70s. It sold jewelry, black lights and other psychedelic things. You could also get your ears pierced there. Do you remember this store?

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  • DeLuca’s Camera Center

    Deluca’s Camera Center was originally located at 617 Penn Street in Reading. It was founded in 1947 by Louis and Antoinette DeLuca. The article above from June 1990 mentions that the store moved to 518 Penn Street from 520 Penn Street. However it mentions nothing about it’s original location on the 600 block. In the…

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  • Ladies outside Reading Airport Terminal – 1960s

    Dedicated in September 1961, the terminal building at Reading Municipal Airport – also known as General Carl. A. Spaatz Field, in honor of Berks County’s famed air commander – is one of the finest in the land for a community this size. Airline offices, dining room, cocktail lounge, ticket booths are among the terminal’s many…

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  • The Berkshire Hotel

    Mrs. James F. Bell II and Mrs. Charles M. Guthrie Jr. with her son, Charles M. III leaving the North Fifth Street entrance of the Berkshire Hotel, Reading after lunching in the Mural Room. The Murals in this lovely dining area depict the history of Berks County dating back to the times of George Washington.…

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  • 600 Block Penn St – 1960s

    Image from “Berks Countians; The Wonderful Way We Live” Stores pictured from left to right:Manning-Armstrong – Foot-Craft ShoesJ&T Brakelmann JewelersMinros – Golden Rule JewelersDaniel’sBeverlyDeLuca’s Camera CenterJ.C. MummaThom McAn Shoes

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  • “The Racers” Screening at the Astor -1955

    From Rotten Tomatoes; The CinemaScope process gets a rugged workout in Henry Hathaway’s The Racers. Kirk Douglas stars as an Italian bus driver who dreams of entering the Grand Prix as a world-famous race car driver. Being Kirk Douglas, he achieves his goal, racing in all the major events around the globe. Dedicated to the…

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  • Reading Rug Company – Lancaster Ave

    Reading Rug Co, pictured in 1961, was located on Lancaster Ave. As far as I can tell Reading Rug Co no longer exists, though it at the time boasted it was one of the most outstanding carpet specialist in the United States. I’m not sure of it’s exact location, but it appears it could be…

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  • The Milk Man – Muhlenberg Dairy

    Ah, the milkman, fresh milk to your doorstep daily. A service that hasnt been utilized in at least 3+ decades, yet everyone has heard the term. How many of you still have your milkbox laying around? According to the Berks History Center website, “In 1907, the dairy industry began to flourish in Berks County with…

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  • Gadgets Restaurant

    Gadgets Restaurant

    Lets talk about Gadgets, the lesser-known and not as successful (as the likes of Showbiz Pizza Place and Chuck E. Cheese) animatronic themed restaurant from the early 1980s. From 1982-1984 this cutting edge restaurant was upstairs at the Berkshire Mall. It featured animatronic singing robots as entertainment. A 20-minute show entertained guests every half hour.…

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Berks Nostalgia