Category: Nostalgia

  • 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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  • 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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  • Ye Olde Spring House

    Ye Olde Spring House

    The Ye Olde Spring House building is now Bean Funeral Home, and its address is 3825 Penn Avenue.  The restaurant’s address was formerly 425 Penn Avenue. According to Bean’s website, “Our Sinking Spring funeral home has a fascinating history. The two story early-colonial structure was constructed in 1802 as a farmhouse, and was used through…

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  • Freeman’s Esso – Sinking Spring – 1954

    Anyone know where this gas station stood? The addresses have changed since the 50s so it doesn’t pinpoint a location, though I’m thinking on the corner of Penn and Cacoosing Ave’s, where Lesher’s Service Center once stood.

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  • Movie Premiere Street Parade – Astor Theatre – 1948

    Street parade for the opening of “Hollow Triumph” at the Astor theatre in Reading, Pennsylvania, where Lester Stallman is the manager of the theatre. Were movie premiere parades common back in the mid century?

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Berks Nostalgia