Film Word of the Week: Nickelodeon

By Kierston Drier

Anyone born after the 1980’s is likely to conjure up the classic warm-and-fuzzy nostalgia at hearing the word “Nickelodeon”. The image likely involves Saturday morning cartoons, flannel feet pajamas, and sugar-crusted cereal. But the history and origin of this family-friendly word trails back long before the TV network used it to brand their franchise. Believe it or not, the word Nickelodeon travels back to the 1880’s, and, diving even deeper, into Ancient Greece. Surprised? Don’t be. Today on Film word of the Week we will break this down.

Nickelodeon can trace its base root word “odeon”  from  “Melodeon” which means ‘Music hall.” The root of that word can be linked to the Greek work “Oideion”  which loosely means “building for musical performances.” This is likely based on the ritual practice of community-wide attendance at theatrical performances. A practice that was viewed by the Greek civilization of as…