Peanut Bar transformed into speakeasy for local documentary shoot
Dec. 4—Schott Productions recently teamed up with Michael Leifer to create a speakeasy at The Peanut Bar in downtown Reading to film scenes for a documentary short film on the history of Reading and Berks County called "From the River."
Leifer's grandfather and grandmother ran the Central Café, a speakeasy, at several locations in the 1920s before going legit as Jimmie Kramer's Olde Central Café following the repeal of prohibition in 1933. Later renamed The Peanut Bar, the beloved restaurant has been run by three generations of the
Kramers and Leifers at its current location at 332 Penn St.
"Given its history as a former speakeasy and knowing Michael's love for history, I knew that the Peanut Bar was the perfect location in which to film this re-enactment," said Tracy Schott, the director/producer of the film. She and her producing colleague, Sue Lange, recruited 20 actors and extras to be flappers, mobsters, workmen and fun-loving folks not about to give up their libations because of a law.
"The entire crew and cast did an amazing job, and everyone seemed to have a good time," said Schott.
"It was fun to relive our old days as a speakeasy. I'm proud of the history of this place and enjoy sharing it with Reading" said Leifer.
"From the River" is a short documentary film that Schott describes as a 30-minute sprint through 350 years of history. The film explores some well-known and not so familiar people and events.
"I'm especially interested in sharing stories beyond those already known, including the influence of the native Lenape, women, freed blacks and immigrants from around the world — including Max Hassel, Reading's favorite bootlegger. My hope is that this film will inspire the next generation to learn more about our shared past, as there are some lessons that can only be learned by looking back."
After five years of research, writing and shooting, the film will soon be in edit and is expected to be completed next spring.
Music
"Holiday Fruitcake 3," an EP containing seven fun, original, alternative holiday songs, has been released on the Reading-based Smoking Bishop label, a Dave Kline Productions subsidiary.
"Holiday Fruitcake 3" is the third annual release in the Holiday Fruitcake series. 2020's "Holiday Fruitcake," All three are all available on all major digital download platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple iTunes, Deezer, Spotify and YouTube. .
Intentionally produced in very limited quantities, CD hard copies are only available from the bands involved with the projects or by emailing daveklineproductions@gmail.com.
Songs on the new EP include "Happy Time of Year" by MO7S, "Keep the X in Xmas" by Steve Walker, "When I Come Home for Christmas" and "Hex Highway Christmas Ball" by the Hex Highway Rangers, "Jingle Jangle of the Bells" by Fezie's Wig, "Santa's Gone Rockin' Tonight" and "Merry Christmas Hare Krishna" by Busker Incognito & The Christmas Balls. They were all recorded and mixed at Mount Penn's Gangsta Beagle Studio, with Dave Lewis handling recording, editing, mixing and mastering.
A video of "Santa's Gone Rockin' Tonight," created by Bob Robert Yost, has been released on youtube.com. The song was written by Dave Kline, with backing vocals by the Buskerettes (Amy Lewis and Melissa Tomaszewski), and Mike Anderson on sax, Chuck Steinle on drums, Dave Lewis on guitar, Kyle Madeya on bass, and Busker Incognito on vocals.
----The Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College has added a performance by Beatlemania Now to its 2022-2023 season. The Beatles tribute band will perform March 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at millercenter.racc.edu.
Phil Roura of the New York Daily News calls the Beatlemania Now show "a fab force," saying, "Every now and then a show comes along that doesn't just entertain but has a sense of history. That's exactly what you'll get at Beatlemania Now, a tribute to the Fab Four.
Through five scenes and costume changes, the shows' cast performs against a backdrop of images spanning the 1960s.
Art
Art Plus Gallery, West Reading, presents "Metamorphosis," an exhibition of woodturning artistry by Tim Kravatz, through Dec. 31, with a reception Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Kravatz's genius for turning blocks of wood, often rather gnarly ones to begin with, into creations of extraordinary beauty and imagination will be on full display in this holiday show. In addition to major works there will be new arrays of his ever popular bracelets, birdhouses and ornaments.
Theater
Performing artists and writers are invited to submit to Reading Theater Project's eighth annual 5-Minute Fringe Festival. This year, the theme is "Shadows." Whatever you create should be your own interpretation of Shadows, literal or metaphorical, in whatever performance medium is best for you.
Fringe offers a platform for performing artists to create new work, develop and explore theatrical ideas, challenge their own expectations, and collaborate with an artistic community.
There will be an information meeting/brainstorm session on Tuesday at 7 p.m. over Zoom. All are welcome to attend, especially those who are new to the 5-Minute Fringe. Email info@readingtheaterproject.org to sign up and get the Zoom link.
The 5-Minute Fringe will be held at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education's Schumo Theater from Feb. 16-19. For more information and to apply, visit https://readingtheaterproject.org/5-minute-fringe-festival-2023/.
