POP/ROCKRuling Could Redirect Royalties: A New York...

POP/ROCK

Ruling Could Redirect Royalties: A New York federal court ruling giving royalties to the heirs of the man who wrote the song “When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along” could bring a windfall to the writers of favorite old tunes and their descendants. The case was brought by four heirs of Harry Woods, a now all-but-forgotten composer whose biggest claim to fame was the snappy 1926 hit. Judge Richard Owen ruled that the roughly $100,000 in royalties from versions of the song must revert to the composer’s heirs and not the song’s publisher. The publisher, the Bourne Co., contended that the versions in question were “derivatives,” the royalties for which, under current copyright law, go to publishers. All sides agreed that “Red, Red Robin”--performed in various forms over the years by Doris Day, Dean Martin and Al Jolson--was a test case, meaning that the judge’s ruling, unless overturned on appeal, would apply to virtually all other music copyrighted since the 1920s.

Calling All Country Fans: There’s plenty of country music coming up on TV. Naomi and Wynonna Judd will reunite to perform their hit “Love Can Build a Bridge” for the halftime finale at Super Bowl XXVIII, on Jan. 30. The halftime show, called “Rockin’ Country Sunday,” features Wynonna, Clint Black, Travis Tritt and Tanya Tucker. . . . Lorrie Morgan, Doug Stone and Marty Stuart host “Hot Country Jam ‘94,” a Feb. 19 NBC prime-time special celebrating “America’s growing infatuation with country music.” Headliners include Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, George Jones, Brooks & Dunn, Tracy Lawrence and Billy Dean. . . . And on cable’s TNT, Tritt hosts tonight’s “Our Favorite Movies: Winter Edition,” introducing Elvis Presley’s 1957 film, “Jailhouse Rock.” Tritt will discuss Presley’s impact on his life and career.

Happy Birthday, Dear Elvis: Speaking of Presley, Saturday marks what would have been his 59th birthday. Weekend festivities planned in his hometown of Memphis include a tribute on the front steps of his Graceland mansion, the annual “Elvis Presley Day” proclamation and cake-cutting, an Elvis Sock Hop and a special “Elvis Presley Birthday Concert” featuring the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, J.D. Sumner & the Stamps, and the Sweet Inspirations.

Wanna Buy a Theater?: The owners of the 3,000-seat Wayne Newton Theatre in tourist mecca Branson, Mo., have put the concert venue up for sale. Newton has no financial stake in the theater, and any new owner would have to decide whether to continue his contract. Owner Gary Snadon said he and his partners would “just like to get out of the theater business.” “I didn’t lose money, but I didn’t make any,” he told the News-Leader of Springfield. The asking price for the theater is $15 million. If it doesn’t sell, it will reopen in the spring with Newton, Snadon said.

MOVIES

Eastwood to Get Human Rights Award: Clint Eastwood has been tapped by the American Jewish Committee to receive its 1994 Sherrill C. Corwin Human Relations Award. The award honors Eastwood as “an outstanding leader in the entertainment industry whose efforts to promote intergroup understanding and cooperation have furthered the cause of human rights.” Past recipients include entertainment industry figures Jeff Sagansky, Ted Turner and Jack Valenti. The award will be presented during a Jan. 20 gala at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

DANCE

Human Steps Postpones Again: La La La Human Steps, the Montreal-based modern dance company that was scheduled to perform Jan. 14-15 at the Wiltern Theatre, has once again postponed its engagement. The company was originally slated to perform in October when lead dancer Louise Lecavalier suffered a chiropractic injury. Because of continued inflammation, doctors won’t let her perform yet, company director Edouard Lock said. New dates are expected to be announced shortly.

QUICK TAKES

Two new series, CBS’ “The Nanny” and NBC’s “The Second Half,” have received orders for additional episodes. CBS has ordered nine more episodes of its Wednesday night Fran Drescher comedy, giving the show a full-season order. And NBC has ordered four more episodes of its Tuesday night John Mendoza show. . . . Walt Disney Pictures’ animated musical “Aladdin” has passed the $200-million mark at the international box office, even surpassing the performance of all-time leading blockbuster “Jurassic Park” in Argentina, South Africa and Israel. The film grossed $217 million in U.S. theaters. . . . “The Arsenio Hall Show” celebrates its fifth anniversary Friday. Special guests include rapper Hammer, who debuts his new song, “Funky Headhunter,” and a musical performance by Stevie Wonder. . . . Country singer Tammy Wynette, hospitalized in Nashville with a severe bile duct infection, was taken off the critical list Tuesday and could leave the hospital by the end of the week, a Wynette spokeswoman said.