Donk's Theater
223 Buckley Hall Road,
Hudgins,
VA
23076
223 Buckley Hall Road,
Hudgins,
VA
23076
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Per the story: The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. According to the application submitted for it’s inclusion, “Donk’s Theatre was constructed in 1946-1947 and features vernacular commercial form design with Art Deco touches.” It was originally built as a movie theater, and operated in that capacity until 1970.
Historic theater was destroyed by the weight of the snow on it’s roof on Friday night during the ongoing blizzard.
I attended a seminar on Mathews Theaters at the Historical Society the other night. The leader told us that the children of Donks were kicked out of the Be Jo Theater and barred for life for misbehaving. Mr. Dunton (Donk) had a verbal altercation with the Be Jo owner and told him he would build his kid his own theater and did right next door to his BBQ Stand just down the road from the Courthouse area. That is how Donk’s Theater came to life.
thanks Marvin nice intro on the theatre.
Cool looking little theatre.
This theater has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places: View link
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/krp4tm
Opened by W.C (Donk) Dunton and originally sat 504. Here is a 1947 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/22serf