Embassy Theatre
739-49 Penn Street,
Reading,
PA
19601
739-49 Penn Street,
Reading,
PA
19601
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 13 comments
There is an old comment that states Richard Wolfe (who operates the Roxy in Northampton) was the last operator. Actually, he informs me today as to the following: “Paul Angstadt and myself had a lease for the Embassy when it burned. The fire occurred two weeks before we were to take over.”
Boxoffice of February 16, 1970, reported that Fabian Management Corporation would not be renewing its lease on the Embassy Theatre in Reading, and that the house would be shuttered on March 31.
The Embassy was built on the site of a silent era house called the Empire Theatre, which appeared at 739 Penn Street on a list of Readings movie theaters that was published in the January 1, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World.
April 4th, 1931 grand opening ad also in photo section.
April 4th, 1931 grand opening ad is at View link
Here is a larger version of the circa 1931 photo posted on 2/26/05:
http://tinyurl.com/qxrw8x
When I was an usher at the Astor, across the street, I often went to the Embassy (we could get in for free). It was a magnificent building. I remember the fire. That was a shame. The same company owned the Reading Drive-In Theatre in Temple, PA, the first drive-in in the Reading area, where I also worked as a ramp boy, the drive-in equivilant of an usher. That was like a promotion! I went from an usher at the Astor at 50 cents an hour to the drive-in for 75 cents.
Someone is selling programs from the Embassy on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/24zbuq
Warren…how can I access your photos of the Embassy. The site tells me they are not there? Can you repost them or send them to my email address? Thanks Warren
Do any interior photos exist of this theater? From the brief description above, it sounds like it may have resembled the Auburn Schine Theater which also takes a futuristic bent. I would be very interested in seeing photos.
“….demolished in 1972 to make way for a shopping mall that never got built.” So sad, Reading!
The last operator of the Embassy Theatre (with his partner and former Reading mayor Paul Angstadt) was Cinema Treausres favorite Richard Wolfe who currently runs the Roxy in Northampton PA.
Here is a small photo (DON’T try to expand without a subscription):
View link