Dosta Playhouse

122 N. Ashley Street,
Valdosta, GA 31602

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Martin Theatres

Functions: Dinner Theater

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Dosta Theatre

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Opened in 1941, this was a small one-screen theatre in downtown Valdosta, Georgia. It is one of the two remaining theatres from the Martin Theatre chain that still stand in Valdosta.

At one time the city of 50,000 was home to several Martin Theatres. After the last movie flickered off the screen in 1966, it was closed for several years. It reopened briefly in 1977 to 1979. It later served as a furniture warehouse after all the interior was gutted.

The local arts center and a group of thespians worked diligently to raise funds and grant money to restore the building to its original state.

The exterior is lined with tiny blue glass mirrors and the doors are Chinese Red. Pastel colors line the facade. The original red marquee still stands with the theatre name in black individual standing cut letters above each side.

Neon lights trim the marquee but the neon that lined the large glass windows on the facade are no longer present. The upstairs bathrooms and projection booth feature wagon wheel/porthole type windows. All can be seen from the front. The balcony face bares the Martin Theatre Logo emblazoned in red, gold, and white.

Today the Dosta Theatre is known as the Dosta Playhouse and is home to Theatre Guild Valdosta. The Guild purchased the building in the 90s and then later purchased adjoining buildings for much needed expansion.

The Guild produces 6 shows each year. Dinner is served at the four major shows on some nights. The acting troop is rapidly gaining popularity in the area and the old Dosta Theatre is once again a source of entertainment and community pride.

Contributed by Phil Jones

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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

WHITEFIELD on July 28, 2007 at 11:29 am

Here is a night picture.
View link

WHITEFIELD on July 28, 2007 at 11:32 am

Here is another.
View link

Samuel Augustus Jennings on April 13, 2009 at 5:40 pm

I remember the Dosta Theater during the early 50’s when Blacks were forced to sit in the balcony. During intermission we entertained ourselves by dumping cups of soda (and piss!), pop corn, and assorted debris over the railing on unsuspecting whites sitting below. We were determined to get even with Georgia crackers â€œby any means necessaryâ€.

Golden Summers in Valdosta

Downtown Dosta
picture show
Pissing from the balcony
on whites below

And the humiliating
back door
at Valdostaâ€™s
Dairy Queen store.

theatreorganmana on October 13, 2010 at 9:46 am

The Dosta Theatre was fabricated from an earlier storefront building. Newspaper accounts claimed that the new exterior facade cost “$30,000”. The theatre had its official opening on Monday, May 5, 1941.

Mike Rogers on October 13, 2010 at 4:21 pm

Classy guy SAJ. I dealt with your type at the IMPERIAL in Augusta where Blacks could set anywhere,funny thing James Brown would always catch a movie at the IMPERIAL he wanted to sit in the Balcony first row House left.He was bit more classy than you.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor on November 18, 2010 at 7:57 am

Here are my pictures from November 2010.

TLSLOEWS on November 18, 2010 at 8:30 am

Thanks for the photos Andy.