I for one, would be interested in the real etymology of the suffix
"-ola,"  Of course, we had the VictrOLA, the music "JazzOLA,"
"MotorOLA", "MazOLA," and many, many more during ca. 1910-1920.

In the 1950's we discovered the prefix "Mark."  We had the Electrolux
Mark II, the Bentley MK VI, the "Mark" Lincolns and others.  A little
later on we had "-matics." and so on.  This is an obscure nugget of
English-speaking cultural history which I find intriguing.

When did "ola" first appear as a contemporary "cool" expression?
And why?

I'll bet MMD subscribers have as many explanations as the true secret
of Welte-Mignon recording technology -- another mystery which,
unfortunately, may be lost to the ages.

Bruce Duncan
Rockville, MD

 [ Coca Cola is probably involved; the famous brand name has been
 [ around for a long time, as have the Gulf Coast towns of Osceola
 [ and Pensacola.  Mark comes directly from ordnance, where it
 [ designates a particular modification of any model in firearms,
 [ especially cannon (Merriam's Dictionary, 1927).  The suffix
 [ "-matics" seems a derivative of automaton.  -- Robbie