Category: Decades

  • Reading Drive-In Theatre

    The Reading Drive-in Theatre

     The Reading Drive-In Theatre opened on August 26, 1949. It cost 65 cents to per adult to watch “Perils of Pauline” on opening night. The Reading Drive-In was located on the 5th Street several miles north of Reading in Temple, Pa. The opening day newspaper ad boasted that the cost to build the entire outdoor theatre and…

    Read more: The Reading Drive-in Theatre
  • On this Day April 3rd

    Above the fold in the April 3rd 1987 Reading Eagle Trying to revitalize downtown The Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre opens 30 years ago today. In the Movie Theatres

    Read more: On this Day April 3rd
  • Boscov’s West Fire

    In 1962, the company began its expansion program with the opening of an exciting, contemporary “Boscov’s West” in November, located at 3564 Penn Avenue in Sinking Spring/West Lawn.  Boscov’s West caught on fire on November 20th, 1967 only 5 years after it had opened, and ironically the same exact day Boscov’s East, the newest venture was…

    Read more: Boscov’s West Fire
  • Reading’s Comfort Stations at 5th & Penn

    The Comfort Stations at 5th & Penn were essentially public restrooms that included toilets, showers, weight scales, 14 wash bowls with liquid soap, and pay compartments all of which seemed quite luxurious for when it was introduced in February of 1922. The showers and pay compartments cost 25 and 10 cents. Comfort stations became extremely…

    Read more: Reading’s Comfort Stations at 5th & Penn
  • On this Day March 31st

    Above the fold in the March 31st 1959 Reading Eagle Neighborhoods going up around the County   

    Read more: On this Day March 31st
  • The Shillington Diner

    The Shillington Diner can trace its roots back to the farmers market located at Museum Road and Lancaster Ave that opened in 1935. The Shillington Diner (later Restaurant) was built onto the market at 100 W Lancaster Ave and opened in 1948. In the beginning it just sold simple lunch foods for hungry customers visiting…

    Read more: The Shillington Diner
  • On this Day March 30th

    Above the fold in the March 30th 1981 Reading Eagle

    Read more: On this Day March 30th
  • The Reading Station Outlets

    The Reading Station Outlets were opened in 1992, to try solidify Reading’s status as “Outlet Capitol of the World”. Unfortunately due to the decline of the city most shoppers preferred to go to the Vanity Fair Outlet stores that were located further outside of the city in Wyomissing/West Reading. By 1995 the owners of the…

    Read more: The Reading Station Outlets
  • On this Day March 29th

    Above the fold in the 1973 Reading Eagle   

    Read more: On this Day March 29th
  • Croll & Keck

    Croll & Keck, a store specializing in men’s and boy’s apparel, was located on the south side of the 600 block of Penn Street, at 622 Penn Street; situated next door to Pomeroy’s Department Store.  It opened in 1898, with founders being John W. Gilbert, William M. Croll and D. A. Heffner. The first location of the…

    Read more: Croll & Keck
Berks Nostalgia