Eileen M. Dietrich

The Astor Theatre was built in the golden age of the movie theater and was renovated several times during the years until it closed in 1979. After standing empty for years, it was demolished to make way for a Civic Center (the Santander Arena -what's known to the locals as the hockey rink where the Reading Royals play).

Eileen Dietrich has preserved the memories of this fantastic art deco theater in her book, from its heyday until it deteriorated. The book also includes the many stars who came to the theater over the years. There is a selected bibliography and notes

I spent many a Saturday afternoon at the Astor or its three Penn Street sister theaters, the Loew's, the Embassy, and the much smaller Warner Theater enjoying the main feature, the cartoon and the news. It was wonderful to remember those days… (més)