Hello Everyone!

Surprise!  We had room to sneak WIDOW CLICQUOT up a week.  This gorgeous period piece, based on the biography THE WIDOW CLICQUOT: THE STORY OF A CHAMPAGNE EMPIRE AND THE WOMAN WHO RULED IT, will now open this Friday.  Additionally, we'll open the fantastic new film from WSU grad Nicole Riegel - DANDELION - starring the incredible Kiki Layne and with the film’s songs co-written by Grammy Award winners Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National.  Nicole will join us for a special Q&A on Friday evening, and tickets are still available! (Check out this LINK for a great article from DAYTON DAILY NEWS about Nicole and her film.)

If you still need to see THELMA or TOUCH, they'll both stick around for another week.  If you need to see KINDS OF KINDNESS, this Thursday will be your last chance.

Be sure to check out all of our special events below.  I've just added a couple that are sure to start a tizzy for tickets!

"Open Caption Mondays" are back!  On Monday, July 22, all screenings of TOUCH, THELMA, DANDELION and WIDOW CLIQUOT will be presented with Open Captions (aka - captions presented on the screen). 

Synopsis for DANDELION: We're excited to bring the 2nd feature from WSU grad Nicole Riegel to town!  This new film premiered at the SXSW Film Fest earlier this year and went on to play at several festivals. "DANDELION follows a singer-songwriter in a downward spiral as she takes a last effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she meets Casey, a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago." This film features an incredible central performance by KiKi Layne (IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK) and music by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National.  Join us for a special screening followed by a Q&A with Riegel on Friday, July 19 at 7:30!

Synopsis for WIDOW CLICQUOT: "WIDOW CLICQUOT is based on the true story behind the Veuve Clicquot champagne family and business that began in the late 18th century. After her husband's untimely death, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot flouts convention by assuming the reins of the fledgling wine business they had nurtured together. Steering the company through dizzying political and financial reversals, she defies her critics and revolutionizes the champagne industry to become one of the world's first great entrepreneurs."

Cult Movie Night: FRANKENHOOKER

Victor Bonacore's "Cult Movie Night" returns in July with one of the most notoriously hilarious 90's films that Bill Murray once said "If you see one movie this year it should be FRANKENHOOKER." After making horror history with BASKET CASE and BRAIN DAMAGE, the incomparable Frank Henenlotter unleashed FRANKENHOOKER—the greatest transmutation of Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN that you’ll ever see...Feeling like a twisted mash-up between John Waters’s SERIAL MOM and Stuart Gordon’s RE-ANIMATOR.
Many critics compared last year's POOR THINGS to FRANKENHOOKER.  If you don't have a date, she'll will be yours!"
Cult Movie Night is complete with a vintage trailer reel and a sneak peak at the next Cult Movie Night. Tickets $13.

Thu, July 18 | 7:30

8 Weeks of Friday PATIO PARTIES

We kick off our patio parties this Friday, and our first host is President & CEO of The Dayton Art Institute -Michael Roediger! Michael is a big supporter of THE NEON, and his willingness & enthusiasm for us to create a partnership with DAI for our "Exhibition On Screen" series has helped to create one of our most successful collaborations! Thank you, Michael - we’ll see you on the patio - Friday, July 19 - 5:30-7:30!

You can mark your calendars for other guest hosts, too.  On July 26, Debbie Lieberman, Judy Dodge & Carolyn Rice (3 of our County Commisioners) will host the party, and on Aug. 2, we'll welcome Brian & Mark Sharp as our hosts.

Many thanks to our sponsor Russell Total Wealth and Wellness - “We help good people make great decisions so they can enjoy an amazing retirement."

Fri, July 19 | 5:30-7:30

Art House Theater Day: JULIA'S STEPPING STONES + GROWING UP FEMALE

Join us on "Art House Theater Day" for a special screening honoring & remembering our old friend and filmmaking legend Julia Reichert. "Julia grew up a working-class girl in the 1960s, before the Women’s Liberation movement. She went on to become a pioneering Oscar & Emmy winning documentary filmmaker. Julia passed away in December 2022, but before her death, she recorded the story of how she became a filmmaker. Her partner in film and love, Steven Bognar, spent 2023 crafting Julia’s story into a film, which premiered in April at the Full Frame Film Festival - JULIA'S STEPPING STONES.  This short is paired with GROWING UP FEMALE - the very first film of the modern women's movement. Produced in 1971, it caused controversy and exhilaration."  We were honored to have hosted Julia's 50 YEARS IN FILM retrospective in 2021 & 2022 - with Julia attending several of the screenings.  We're delighted to know that what she presented in the Fall of 2021 has been captured and turned into a film. Tickets to this event are $12.50 each - available now!

Thu, July 25 | 7:30

Red Carpet Movie Event: THE UNBREAKABLE MARRIAGE, BOY MEETS GIRL & THE JOURNEY TO FOREVER

Tisha Griffith and Bertha Davis are bringing 3 new films to THE NEON. "Join us for an unforgettable celebration of the magic of cinema at the premieres of BOY MEETS GIRL - a thought-provoking short film of two people from different worlds and THE UNBREAKABLE MARRIAGE - an inspiring full-length feature from the award winning writer Tisha Griffith, followed by her documentary short, THE JOURNEY TO FOREVER. Come experience the glamour of the red carpet as we kick off the festivities with light bites, drinks, and exclusive swag. Then, settle in for an evening of cinematic excellence as we showcase three films that are sure to captivate with their compelling narratives and powerhouse performances. Tickets are $25 each in advane, $30 day of show."

Sun, July 28 | 5:30PM

FLIPSIDE - presented in 
Partnership with Skeleton Dust Records

"When filmmaker Chris Wilcha revisits the record store he worked at as a teenager in New Jersey, he finds the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness from his youth slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. FLIPSIDE documents his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. In the process, Wilcha captures THIS AMERICAN LIFE icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and uncovers the unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive—a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of trying to live a creative life."  One of my favorite films from last year's Toronto International Film Fest! (The film's trailer does not do the film justice.)

Wed, July 31 | 7:30

CatVideoFest 2024

CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area. At THE NEON, 10% of all ticket sales will go to The Humane Society of Greater Dayton, and we'll be joined by kittens in our lobby on Sunday, Aug. 4 for our 12:30 screening!

Sun, Aug 4 | 12:30

Neon Nostalgia Nights: TO CATCH A THIEF

Join us for the next in our "Neon Nostalgia Nights" series (formerly known as "Date Night") on Aug. 8. It will be a special night on the French Riviera - one of glamour, mystery and romance - with the Hitchcock classic TO CATCH A THIEF - starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. Thur, Aug. 8 at 7:30.  We're encouraging you to wear your chic, resort-style clothing...think white linen shirts, striped tops, sundresses, and wide-brimmed hats!  We'll have more details to share soon.
Special Thanks to our sponsor - Brian Sharp of SharpGroup - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty!

Thu, Aug 8 | 7:30

AMERICAN DELIVERY - presented by Fiver Rivers Health Centers

SAVE THE DATE!Join us for an interesting and informative evening with a free screening of AMERICAN DELIVERY (that includes Free Popcorn). The discussion and Q&A after the film will include representatives from Carolyn Jones Productions, the staff from Five Rivers Health Centers who are featured in the film and others who are working on the front lines to bring awareness to the high infant and maternal mortality rates in our area - particularly for Women of Color.  AMERICAN DELIVERY includes real-life stories of women who benefitted from midwifery care and how this method of care is positively impacting the pre-natal and delivery experiences for women in our community and across the country. Pregnant women who receive high quality, comprehensive pre-natal care, specifically from a midwife, are more likely to have positive birth outcomes. The movie is beautifully filmed and edited and sheds light on the challenges women face while going through pregnancy in the U.S.  More details about claiming your free ticket will be available soon!

Wed, Aug 14 | 7:30

Exhibition On Screen: CEZANNE

Our next Exhibition On Screen event is scheduled with our special guest from Dayton Art Institute - Dr. Jerry Smith.  Join us for this one-time screening. "Dedicated to the portrait work of Paul Cézanne, the exhibition opens in Paris before traveling to London and Washington.  One cannot appreciate 20th century art without understanding the significance and genius of Paul Cézanne. Filmed at the National Portrait Gallery in London, with additional interviews from experts and curators from MoMA in New York, National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and Musée d’Orsay in Paris, and correspondence from the artist himself, the film takes audiences to the places Cézanne lived and worked and sheds light on an artist who is perhaps one of the least known and yet most important of all the Impressionists."

Sun, Aug 18 | 5:00

We truly appreciate all of your support!
Hope to see you soon,
Jonathan

KINDS OF KINDNESS (R) 2 Hr 44 Min
Wed & Thur (July 17 & 18): 7:20
FINAL DAY - July 18!

THELMA (PG-13) 1 Hr 37 Min
Wed & Thur (July 17 & 18): 3:00, 5:10
Fri, Sat, Sun (July 19-21): 12:20, 5:15
Mon–Thur (July 22-25): 2:50

TOUCH (R) 2 Hrs 1 Min
Wednesday (July 17): 2:30, 5:00, 7:30
Thursday (July 18): 2:30, 5:00
Fri, Sat, Sun (July 19-21): 2:30, 7:20
Mon-Wed (July 22-24): 5:00, 7:40
Thur (July 25): 5:00

CULT MOVIE NIGHT
FRANKENHOOKER  (R) 1 Hr 25 Min + preshow
Thursday (July 18): 7:30

WIDOW CLICQUOT (R) 1 Hrs 29 Min
Friday (July 19): 12:50, 3:00, 5:10
Sat & Sun (July 20 & 21): 12:50, 3:00, 7:30
Mon–Thu (July 22-25): 3:00, 7:30

DANDELION  (NR) 1 Hr 53 Min
Friday (July 19): 7:30
Sat & Sun (July 20 & 21): 5:00
Mon-Thur (July 22-25): 5:10

ART HOUSE THEATER DAY
JULIA'S STEPPING STONES & GROWING UP FEMALE
Thursday (July 25): 7:30