Astor Theatre

730-42 Penn Street,
Reading, PA 19602

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wmlawrence
wmlawrence on January 3, 2022 at 8:46 am

Facebook Page for the Astor https://www.facebook.com/groups/801514174135826

ProfNiedermeier
ProfNiedermeier on March 31, 2017 at 3:42 pm

Just came across this 1987 article from Allentown’s Morning Call newspaper. Fairly lengthy piece that gives some history on the theatre and the (then current) fight to save it. http://articles.mcall.com/1987-09-06/entertainment/2586721_1_tiles-art-deco-reading

rivest266
rivest266 on June 21, 2014 at 4:06 pm

October 3rd, 1928 grand opening ad can be found in the photo section.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 11, 2014 at 3:46 pm

Our description says the Astor opened in 1938. This must be a typo. It opened in 1928. The September 11 issue of the Reading Times said that the projected opening date was September 21.

slip
slip on September 28, 2012 at 8:18 am

There were early and lates shows… Early setlist They Love Each Other Russian Lullaby After Midnight Stir It Up How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) Who Was John Friend Of The Devil Midnight Moonlight

Late setlist The Way You Do The Things You Do Catfish John Sugaree Knockin' On Heaven’s Door Mystery Train Tore Up Over You Mission In The Rain > My Sisters And Brothers Ride Mighty High

Elvis Presley’s drummer, Ron Tutt, was the Garcia Band’s drummer also, in the same time frame.

slip
slip on September 28, 2012 at 8:14 am

The Grateful Dead never played here but the Jerry Garcia Band performed here on 9/20/76.

Steerforth
Steerforth on September 6, 2011 at 5:53 pm

Don’t think so. This has all their shows as far as I know.

http://www.dead.net/shows/

Steerforth
Steerforth on September 6, 2011 at 5:48 pm

Maybe September 20, 1976, but the information is scant.

http://tinyurl.com/3p2caup

masterJemstar
masterJemstar on September 6, 2011 at 3:12 pm

Hey I was hoping you could tell me what Year the Greatful Dead played the the Astor I think 1968 and how could I find any photo’s of the Band….not sure if the played as The Warlock’s or the Greatful Dead any info would be nice..would love to know the setlist and how many shows Jerry or the band played. Reading PA

jtylka
jtylka on August 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm

two glass doors from the Astor are for sale on Reading craigslist

jtylka
jtylka on January 4, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Hi JimmiB since you worked at the Astor I am looking for someone to verify something in a photo that I have. If you can contact me through email or call me 484 769 8766 I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks Jim

JimmiB
JimmiB on January 3, 2011 at 11:58 pm

Here’s a picture I just came across in my files. The Astor in it’s glory.
After it was taken over by William Goldman it recieved the rounded marquee.
View link

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 3, 2011 at 4:51 am

The street name in the header needs to be changed from Pennsylvania Street to Penn Street.

Steerforth
Steerforth on September 15, 2010 at 6:51 pm

Thanks. I always remember the magnificent Radio City Music Hall back in the 1950s and early ‘60s. What a glorious theatre.

I was a youngster, and I was mortified that my parents would pack sandwiches and would eat them in the lobby when we visited NYC and the Music Hall.

I recall folks could smoke while watching the film, too. I guess that was true in many if not most theatres.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on September 15, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Thats a great story Steerforth, Red Skelton was one of my favorites.Welcome to Cinema Treaures.

Steerforth
Steerforth on September 15, 2010 at 5:51 pm

I managed to narrow the time-frame down. Red Skelton was in Reading in early 1978 to support the restortion.

It’s a shame, because it was a beautiful theatre in its day.

Many years later (2008) – and purely by chance – I met Red’s widow in Riverside, California, where he had lived.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on September 15, 2010 at 5:02 pm

Sad photos of the Astor.

Steerforth
Steerforth on September 12, 2010 at 7:59 pm

Didn’t Red Skelton visit Reading in the early 1980s to support the restoration of the Astor Theatre?

Reason I ask is that I ran into him at 5th and Penn Streets in front of Whitners on one cold February morning in the early 1980s (I think it was).

He was a very gracious gentleman -almost “shy”. He gave me his autograph, and that was that.

Any recollections?

rivest266
rivest266 on February 7, 2010 at 1:46 pm

I found the grand opening ad on October 3rd, 1928
ad is on this page at
View link

jtylka
jtylka on September 7, 2009 at 2:57 pm

JimmiB is there a way I can contact you with a question about the Astor? If so my email is

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 7, 2009 at 12:03 pm

I don’t think we’re going to agree on this, so let’s table this for the time being. The discussion was predicated on the incorrect assertion about the Glazer book, so let’s leave it at that.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 7, 2009 at 11:58 am

They probably don’t want the thumbnails posted either, if you use that reasoning. I imagine if they object to dissemination of their photos on the internet, whether its a small image or a larger one is probably irrelevant.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 7, 2009 at 11:40 am

I can’t load that site on the BB. I think it was the last image. I have seen the Glazer book advertised on Amazon, but I never got around to buying it.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 7, 2009 at 11:19 am

No, it’s not from the Irvin Glazer book. The sketch is found on the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings site, numerous photos of which have already been posted by various contributors.