According to the Cornell University Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group, on average, you can expect a chair or recliner to last about 10 years with regular use.
The chairs at downtown Dayton’s only movie theater, THE NEON, have been around for 30 years, though they were reupholstered 15 years ago when the theater closed for remodeling and reopened with 2 screens. With an average of 60,000 people a year attending shows, we’d say this is more than average usage! It’s time to replace those chairs!
Neon Manager Jonathan McNeal anticipates “closing the theater on a Monday, ripping up the old chairs, fixing the floor painting in mid-September. Since we’re open 365 days a year, this brief closing will give us time to do some other minor touch-ups we can’t do at any other time. The new seats are a forest green faux leather rockers and the arm rest between seats will go up, and the cupholders are much nicer than the ones we have now. We’ll also have the aisle seats on the back 2 rows in each theater with arm rests that go up, allowing for easier seating for those with mobility issues. We’ll be losing a few seats in each theater but gaining more room for wheelchair or scooter seating.”
Diagram of # of seats sold on display at the theater.
The entire project will cost about $50,000. That’s $250 per seat!
So THE NEON has launched a campaign to find some “NEON Lumbar Supporters” to help fund this project.
For each donation of $250, you will be buying a Brand New Comfy Chair for THE NEON. As a special “Thank You,” they will recognize you (or your company) in our lobby when the project is done. We will also give you a card for one complimentary small popcorn per month for the next 12 months.
If you’d like to go upgrade to the “Sitting Pretty” level (at $350 or more), you will have the option to claim two of the current seats upon removal (while supplies last) in addition to the “Thank You” details listed above.
Neon Manager Jonathan McNeal wants you to know “that although they are a for-profit small business, they offer very reasonable prices and our profit margins are slim. Any donations you make are not tax deductible, but they are greatly appreciated.”
If you’re interested in making a donation, we encourage you to come into THE NEON and check out our sample seats. You can also use GoFundMe and make a donation online or you’re also more than welcome to make your donation in person with a credit card, check or cash during the traditional operating hours of the theater.
McNeal shared that this project has been in the planning stage for over a year and he conferred with Jenny at the Little Art, who went through a recent upgrade at the Yellow Spring theater.
