Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-12
Theatrical
Barometer

Gains theatrical warehouse in Vest
Forty First street is filled up, and the
theatrical season Of 1922 has only
started. Last week the stage properties
Of more than a score Of road productions
were shipped into Gains from the distant
scenes Of their closings Then there has
been the steady grist of local shows that
failed. \ ramble through the six floors
of Gains is the equivalent Of finger
upon the pulse of theaterdom.
For the theatrical openings read the
dramatic columns OF your favorite
journal, for the theatrical clOsings visit
Gains. When business is poor in the
theatres, business is good at Gains an
institution known from coast TO coast
the final resting place Of finished pro-
ductions which were not finished
enough TO pay their keep In the theaters.
Gains Is the Greenwood cemtery OF
theaterdom, the graveyard Of productions
that have either Hoped" or outnved
their usefulness. On its crowded floors
IL sad mounds Of sets, drops and boxed
properties are the remains Of upward OF
800 Broadway productions. Not day
passes but another is trucked to the
door. and some are barely worth their
floor space This las been a banner
sea son at Gains for the rush OF busted
productions has been unprecedented.
Usually Gains has had to content it
self largely with the scenery and
properties Of new shows that died In
the Broadway district. But this year
last years New York successes" are
dying all over the country. in cities East,
North and South. Productions came IN
during the week from New Orleans and
Kansas City, Ottawa and Portland,
Maine
When ! want to find out what is really
going on IN theatrical business l talk
with half a dozen leading ticket specu-
lators and then saunter up TO Gains
The founder Of Gains was New YORK
policeman, who died few years ago.
His son 2. J. Cain. now runs the
dramatic and musical show underta King
business. Like household furniture. once
a production reaches Gains II does not
take long for il to become the absolute
property Of the Institution. The rental
charges soon run into ownership.
There is enough scenery and stage
properties in Gains to equip all Of the
theaters OF New York. London and Paris
good. fine, almost new material Cain s
first charge against The value of the
production is Sl3 a load aor hauling the
stuff either from the railroad station OF
the local tbeater where the show closed
whichever the case may be. The large
proportion Of the theatrical managers
who go broke, stay broke, and that is
where Gains undertaken shop comes IN
for its golden harvest
This Is the biggest theatrical season in
the history Of Gains, and corresponding
ly the worst elsewhere The Iamented
shows are being packed away so tightly
and rapidly that by Christmas one win
not be able to wedge oneself In between
the Grated and burlapped stage proper
TIES. But the contents are cF -enllly in
dezed and listed in, the office. and there
Is nothing painted or carpentered for
the stage which is not on one or another
OF the floors.
Hope of restoring the eyesight Of
Thomas P. Gore. formerly Senator from
Oklahoma, who has been blind for forty
years. has created wide interest through
out the eye and ear hospitals Of New
York. The specialists point to the IN
fulfilled hope Of the late Charles Broad
way Rouss, the merchant who for many
years mad up standing Offer Of $1,000
600 to any ocuiist who could restore his
vision.
He died blind On the other hand
there was the case Of John MarkIe the
coal operator. whose sight was restored
in Germany by his going upon a special
diet
1T all depends upon the fbers in the
optic nerve" said DR.. Bernard Samuel.
If they are once destroyed by disease
or otherwise and cannot be regenerated.
then the eye is hopelessly and permanent
~ blind. However. If there Il any
disease anterior to the optic nerve in the
media OF the eye. there is hope for the
patient. There can be cataracts and
stars In the cornes. We have hundreds
of such operations every day in hospitals
and the majority nre snccassf,I