Odeon is the traditional name for ancient Greek and Roman buildings intended for musical activities such as singing, shows and poetry competitions, and it translates to singing place.
Seems like a sensible name for a cinema in that case. However, people have been shocked when it was revealed on social media that Odeon, which has cinemas in MetroCentre, Silverlink, and Durham, is actually an acronym.
On the Odeon Cinemas Facebook group, a post read: "Did you know that ODEON stands for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation?" Others pointed out the original definition of the word, but the secret definition has taken some by surprise.
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Someone admitted on Twitter: "I learned that was the meaning of ODEON recently. In York. On a bus tour."
Another wrote: "I was today years old when I found out that Odeon stands for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation!"
In an interview with his son Ronnie Deutsch, Business Live seemed to confirm the meaning of the word, writing: "Years later, it would become apocryphally known as 'Oscar Deutsch Entertains our Nation'." Ronnie Deutsch remembered being at the opening of the first Odeon cinema with his father Oscar in Birmingham in 1930, the first 1,638-seat ODEON in Perry Barr on August 14 and he went on to build an empire of cinemas across the UK.
People were similarly shocked recently when learning that ASDA stands for ASquith and DAiries. And if you were wondering what ASOS meant, it's As Seen On Screen.
Have you ever been surprised by any company names? Let us know!
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