Harry Davis and John P. Harris moved 96 seats into an empty store to create the first movie theater in 1905. It was in our own state, Pennsylvania! To be exact, it was Pittsburgh and the name was the Nickelodeon. The name came from the cost per movie, a nickle, and the greek word for theater, odeon. Imagine that, paying only a nickel to see a movie!! To see a movie now it costs about 10 dollars per person. They played films in this room all day long and the first films shown were Poor But Honest and The Baffled Burglar.
Here is an article about the theater! http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/neighborhoods/downtown/down_n71.html
http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/first-movie-theater.html
I would love to see a movie thetre bring that back and make a movie night were they showed older films and only require a nickel to see it. It could be done!
ReplyDeleteIt would brign back a sense of appreciation for the old if we could re create this experience as Kyle proposed. Most people will unfortunately reply to "What is nickelodean?" as "the cartoon station for kids". Im glad that ic an use my PA pride for this one!!!
ReplyDeleteWow a whole nickle to see a movie...talk about inflation. People throw nickles away in the street. I would love to pay just a nickle to see a movie. Add on the popcorn and the soda and boy oh boy do you have yourself quite an expensive outing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of inflation. Back then a nickel could buy a ticket for a movie. Now, it will buy you a stick of gum. However, the added price is reasonable considering how much better movies are. The creation of movies was an important means to keep entertainment affordable. When viewing a play, people have to keep going for multiple performances and could only entertain those that were close enough or willing to travel. With the movie, it can be shown multiple times a day, reaching across the country, and the actors will not get tired, because it is the same recorded occurrence.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine only paying 5 cents for a movie. My parents and grandparents always talk about how they got into the movies for that price. I went to the movies this past weekend and it was $9.50 for students. That is so ridiculous.I remember paying like $4 to get into a movie. I agree with Matthew that this is a great example of inflation.
ReplyDeleteGreat article about Niccelodeon. I used to watch this station all the time as a kid. I would beg my parents to turn it on so I can watch whatever was on it. I like the picture too. Its funny what this theater turned into now and days!
ReplyDeleteA nickle? Wow, that was a deal and very nice! Sometimes I feel myself not even wanting to go to the movies due to prices. I'm not cheap but I mean a few years ago a movie would come out and it wouldn't come out to rent for a few months. Now a movie comes out and before you know it, it's already out on dvd! I think the movies is a waste of money now. Not that renting a 5.00 dvd is any better!
ReplyDeleteI always wondered where this word originated, i just figured it was a funny word they came up with for a kids channel--little did i know. Its interesting tos ee what movies origionally cost now its literally 200x as much
ReplyDeleteThis article just educated me. I always thought the cartoon station came up with that name on their own. Whether or not they named the network after this theater is another question. To only pay a nickle to see a movie- wow has time changed! Now we need 200 nickles!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wish I had a time machine to expirence something like this. A nickle a movie, you cant beat that. It's also pretty cool to know that this is wear the network Nickelodeon got their name from.
ReplyDeleteI wish movies were still a nickel! Its funny to think there was only one movie theatre back then. When I want to see a movie I have a couple different places to choose. Its pretty cool to think that first theatre was in PA.
ReplyDeleteTo know that the first movie theater was in Pittsburgh, PA is pretty interesting. That is something that i never knew until now. Movies were a nickel, which is funny because now you can't really get anything for a nickel. I went to the movies last weekend and spent 30 dollars for me and my girlfriend. Unbelievably expensive.
ReplyDelete