Hello Everyone!

Our two current hits - MARTY SUPREME and SONG SUNG BLUE - are sticking around for another week!  These have been two very strong performers for us, and they'll be here until at least Jan. 8.  (MARTY SUPREME, in only 7 days, just crossed the line last night to become one of our highest grossing films of 2025.) On Jan. 8, we will open the highly anticipated film directed by Bradley Cooper - IS THIS THING ON? - starring Will Arnett & Laura Dern.

A Note About Ticket Prices!  At THE NEON, we have not raised our ticket prices in over 4 years.  With prices going up for everything across the board - electricity, gas, cleaning supplies, etc. - we find that it's unfortunately time for us to raise our traditional ticket prices.  All traditional engagement prices (including "Bargain Tuesday") will go up $0.50 starting this Friday.  

"Open Caption Mondays" are much appreciated by many of our regulars.  On Monday, January 5, our screenings of MARTY SUPREME and SONG SUNG BLUE will be presented with Open Captions (aka - captions presented on the screen). 

Crafty Cinema presents YOU'VE GOT MAIL

"Get ready for an afternoon of creativity, entertainment, and social activism at Crafty Cinema for a Cause at THE NEON hosted by the Savage Stitcher (Angie). This unique charity event brings together the joy of crafting with the magic of film, all while supporting WYSO. Bring your own craft project that you can work on in your seat, such as crochet, knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, etc. and we will all enjoy an afternoon showing of YOU'VE GOT MAIL with the lights up so you can work on a project. This is a free event with a suggested donation of $20 that will be collected at the door and all proceeds will go to our local NPR station - WYSO. There are a limited number of seats available for reservation on the link below (donation will still be collected at the event) and the rest will be offered as first-come-first-serve at the door."

SUN, JAN 11 | 12:30

NO SLEEP TIL KYIV

This new documentary is about regular people who risk their lives to build a pipeline of badly needed trucks and aid to front-line Ukrainian troops.  Jon Gudorf, one of the people in this film, is bringing the doc to THE NEON for a special, one-night-only screening on Thursday, January 15 at 7:30.  Tickets are $15 each. Gudorf writes, "Thanksgiving was approaching. Instead of a dinner table, I was approaching a military checkpoint deep within Ukraine on the outskirts of Kyiv in an old pickup truck. Part of an eclectic group of veterans, bankers, lawyers, tech start up owners who decided to drive into a country millions have fled..." This special screening will be followed by a Q&A with Gudorf.

THU, JAN 15 | 7:30

MLK DAY Special Screening
THE FIRE INSIDE

Save the date (please note the time change )!  On Monday, January 19 at 11:30am, we will continue our tradition of offering a FREE screening of a film focused on teens on Martin Luther King Day.  This year's selection is THE FIRE INSIDE, and the screening will be followed by a discussion in our large auditorium led by newly elected Dayton City Commissioner Darius Beckham. Tickets will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis - with doors opening at 10:45am.  
This event is presented in partnership with MLK Dayton, Inc, and complimentary popcorn & soda is sponsored by Dayton's own RubiGirls!
"THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time - a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach. Shields pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Claressa has to reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun."

REALLY BIG TROUBLE

Local comedian/actor Mike Canestaro is proud to present his first feature-length comedy at THE NEON on January 22 at 7:30. REALLY BIG TROUBLE is a western comedy filmed exclusively in Ohio, and it features a great deal of talent from the region. "A bored cowboy leaves his hometown seeking an adventurous reconnection with an old friend. In doing so, he soon finds himself way over his head as he ends up in a tussle with a posse of insane clowns and a corrupt mayor."

Mike's team is handling all tickets for this event through Eventbrite.  A link for $10 tickets is below.

THU, JAN. 22 | 7:30

YOU GOT GOLD:
A CELEBRATION OF JOHN PRINE

ENCORE ADDED! TICKETS ARE ALREADY FLYING! Join us for this special concert documentary - celebrating John Prine - featuring Lyle Lovett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Brandi Carlile, Bonnie Raitt and many more! "This concert film was shot in October, 2022, over two nights at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. More than 70 artists gathered with family, the Nashville community, and music fans to remember and pay tribute to the life and songs of John Prine.
Prine, widely celebrated as one of history's greatest songwriters, captivated millions of fans and earned the admiration of icons such as Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Dwight Yoakam, Jason Isbell, and Bob Weir, amongst many others."
Sunday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 1 at 5:00.  Tickets are $12.50 each.

SUN, JAN 25 | 5:00
SUN, FEB 1 | 5:00

IRON LUNG

A few weeks ago, we had at least 50 emails, phone calls and social media requests for IRON LUNG - a new horror film made by Markiplier - a famous YouTube creator with a very loyal following. The requests kept coming, so we went ahead and booked the film to open with 3 shows starting on Jan. 29...then we booked 3 more. In just a few weeks, we've sold over 500 tickets!

"An ocean of blood. The only hope left after The Quiet Rapture. In the rusting halls of crumbling space stations, the last remnants of humanity craft a submarine to explore the bleeding depths... and weld one soul inside to pilot it. But hope in this void is as illusionary as the starlight. This is not an expedition. It's an execution."

THU, JAN 29 | 7:30 & 10:00
FRI, JAN 30 | 10:00 & 10:15
SAT, JAN 31 | 10:00 & 10:15

GROUNDHOG DAY

We're celebrating Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day with a special screening of GROUNDHOG DAY in 2026! "A narcissistic TV weatherman, along with his attractive-but-distant producer, and his mawkish cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over."
Tickets are $10 each.

MON, FEB 2 | 7:30

MT. ZION RAISED ME: I'M A PK

Local comedian Michael Jackson is bringing his new comedy special to THE NEON for its world premiere!
"Preacher’s Kids have a story to tell, but they are not always allowed to share it, or the secrets. Well this Preacher Kid, Comedian Michael Jackson is going to spill the beans on the secrets of being a PK in Mt. Zion Church of God Holiness, Dayton Ohio. So come along and take a journey through the life and times of a born preacher’s kid, with one of the craziest PK’s that Dayton, Ohio has to offer. Comedian Michael Jackson definitely has a story to tell in this new video special, and he will keep you laughing with his hilarious real life stories from his mischievous childhood growing up in church."
Sunday, Feb. 8 at 5:00 - tickets are $10 each.

SUN, FEB 8 | 5:00

NEON Nostalgia Night - Valentine's Edition

You're reading it here first!  This year's "NEON Nostalgia Night - Valentine's Edition" will be in honor of the late Rob Reiner - featuring the classic film WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.  More details will be available in next week's newsletter, but I wanted to give you the opportunity to save the date and start making plans.  We'll put tickets on sale next Wednesday.

THU, FEB 12 | 7:30

SILVER STREAK

Many thanks to everyone who has been so generous with our end-of-the-year campaign.  As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, a nice piece of our budget comes from donations.  Though we accept donations at any time throughout the year, we always have a campaign toward the end of the year while many folks are deciding which organizations to support...and it's been wonderful to hear from so many folks this year.  Thank you!

Click the link below to read more about our "Silver Streak."  There's even a sweet video that our board member Megan made that honors the time and passion that Diana and I have invested into THE NEON over these years.  We appreciate you considering a donation toward keeping our mission alive. 

This is the last newsletter of 2025! Thanks so much for coming along with us for a great year. 
See you in 2026!
Jonathan

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31 – THURSDAY, JAN. 8:

MARTY SUPREME (R) 2 Hrs 30 Min
Wednesday-Wednesday (Dec 31 & Jan 7): 1:00, 4:10, 7:20
Thursday (Jan 8): 1:00, 7:20

SONG SUNG BLUE (PG-13) 2 hrs 13 Min
Wednesday & Thursday (Dec 31 & Jan 1): 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
Friday & Saturday (Jan 2 & 3): 11:15, 2:00, 4:45, 7:30
Sunday-Wednesday (Jan 4-7): 1:30, 4:30, 7:30
Thursday (Jan 8): 1:30, 4:30

IS THIS THING ON? (R) 2 Hrs
Thursday (Jan 8): 4:50, 7:30
More Dates & Times for this title are available on our website.