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LMGI COMPASS
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Winter 2026
And then I saw it: the Reading Pagoda, a seven-story
fable rising out of the Pennsylvania countryside like
a fever dream from the Far East. It had no business
being here, and yet here it was. The Pagoda looked
as if it had been lifted straight from the Golden
Pavilion in Kyoto, and its architecture shares details
with traditional Japanese pagodas. Built in 1907 as a
prospective luxury resort that never opened, it stands
71 feet tall and was donated to the city of Reading in
1911. In 1972, it was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. From its upper floor, they say you can
see 30 miles on a clear day. It is the only large pagoda
in the United States and was clearly the star of the
Fam Tour. It is currently undergoing restoration, with
scaffolding up until June.
Fellow LMGI members John Hutchinson, Aaron Hurwitz, Scott
Currie and I were the lucky recipients of this quick Fam Tour. It
took us to select Reading-area locations of interest: the Reading
Regional Airport, the Mid Atlantic Air Museum, the Pleasantville
Covered Bridge and the Colebrookdale Railroad, a working
line complete with restored century-old train cars. The period
details on these cars were spectacular, and I made a note to tell
Lauri Pitkus/LMGI, the LM for The Gilded Age, about them; the
cars would be perfect for her show.
The Fam Tour was held in conjunction with the Reading Film
Festival in early October. Just under three hours from New
York City, Reading is out of the zone but still only about 120
miles from NYC and under 60 miles from Philadelphia. Filming
in Reading has happened occasionally over the years, most
notably for Witness, Girl, Interrupted and Blow Out. Film
Commissioner Harris sees future possibilities. ReadingFilm
is entering a new chapter, one where its stories, locations
and creative energy become a catalyst for real economic and
cultural growth. Her hope is that this first Fam Tour reveals
what they have always known: that Reading and Berks County
are true hidden gems for film production. Scott Currie, a Philly-
based LM and scout, agrees. "We saw an impressive array of
potential locations, including hospitals, high schools, theaters,
factory spaces and event centers. We also visited unique spots
like the Pagoda, a World War II aircraft museum and a fantastic
period train with its own private rail and stations. Reading is a
unique place."
John Hutchinson/LMGI
