QUAKE UPDATES

Money Moves: Some proceeds from the American Jewish Committee’s canceled Jan. 20 dinner, which was to honor Clint Eastwood, will be donated to the Los Angeles Earthquake Recovery Fund at Eastwood’s request. The presenation to Eastwood of the Sherrill C. Corwin Human Relations Award, was canceled in the wake of the Jan. 17 earthquake. Said Los Angeles AJC Chapter President Ira E. Yellin: “Since the Sherrill C. Corwin Award celebrates the concern of people for their community and fellow men and women, we applaud Mr. Eastwood’s request that we put our principles into action.”

* More Shaking: “Later With Greg Kinnear,” NBC’s late-night talk show featuring new host Kinnear, will premiere Feb. 28, two weeks later than originally scheduled, due to production delays resulting from the earthquake. “Later’s” current host Bob Costas will tape two additional weeks of original programs from New York with guests to be announced.

* NEA Quest: Los Angeles Cultural Affairs manager Adolfo V. Nodal is currently in Washington, D.C., seeking National Endowment for the Arts emergency funds to help artists struggling in post-quake L.A. At the NEA, which provided recovery funds to the city following the 1992 riots, NEA chair Jane Alexander told The Times that no money has been earmarked for the quake yet, but “we are investigating that now through our congressional liaison department . . . they are really looking to see how we can help, if we can help.” Meanwhile, the California Arts Council’s new director, Barbara Pieper, announced that the CAC would extend some grant application deadlines and provide new or additional funds to affected arts organizations.

MOVIES

Special Screening: Director Jim Sheridan will screen his film, “In the Name of the Father,” at the British House of Commons Tuesday at the invitation of two Members of Parliament active in British-Irish politics. The Universal Pictures film, which stars Daniel Day-Lewis, recounts the story of Gerry Conlon, a Belfast youth who was convicted and imprisoned after being falsely accused of the terrorist bombing of a Guildford pub. The powerful film, which is based on Conlon’s book, opened in limited release on Dec. 29 here and will be released in the United Kingdom on Feb. 11.

STAGE

Closing Down: San Bernardino Civic Light Opera--a professional company with a $2-million annual budget--has postponed its three-show spring season indefinitely, citing a debt that approaches $1 million. The action follows a decision by the city of San Bernardino not to buy back the company’s home, the California Theatre--a purchase that might have provided enough cash to avert a shutdown. Some 5,800 subscribers are being asked to donate their subscriptions back to the company. Among the causes of the crisis, said company officials, were the recession’s effect on ticket sales and the loss of at least $300,000 on the company’s co-production of “Annie Warbucks” in 1992.

* Protest Lines: More than 100 members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, joined by representatives from several other unions, mounted a picket line Thursday outside the newly restored Alex Theatre in Glendale, where the first preview of the venue’s inaugural production, “Sayonara,” was being held. Union stagehands, wardrobe and box office workers were protesting the use of non-union personnel by Theatre Corp. of America, which manages the Alex for the city of Glendale. Theatre Corp. also operates the Pasadena Playhouse without IATSE contracts and tours productions that originate at both theaters. A spokesman said union leaflets will be passed out at subsequent Alex performances, and picket lines will be mounted at each opening.

MUSIC

Concert Guest: Violinist Pinchas Zukerman was walking down a Vancouver street dressed in his tuxedo and carrying his violin, when a homeless man approached him to ask what street corner he had chosen for his concert. The man was so taken with the notion that Zukerman was about to give an actual concert that the musician invited him along for his Brahms concerto with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Zukerman, who offered his guest a choice seat and a post-concert backstage tour, was said to have remarked, “If someone is dying to hear music, why not bring him in? When I was a kid, I used to sneak into Carnegie Hall because I had no money.”

POP

Solar Power: U2, R.E.M. and other artists have contributed exclusive live tracks to Greenpeace Records’ “Alternative NRG,” the world’s first album recorded entirely with the power of the sun. The album, set for official release Feb. 1, is the first from Greenpeace Records and even offers CD packaging in a special recycled cardboard folder printed with soy-based inks. “Four-fifths of the world’s energy is provided by coal, oil, gas and nuclear power,” said Michael Stipe of R.E.M., who contributed a reworking of the band’s 1993 hit ‘Drive.’ “We hope this album will help turn the tide in favor of non-polluting energy sources.”