MOVIESA Show of Support: A national coalition...

MOVIES

A Show of Support: A national coalition of museums, filmmakers and civil libertarians is standing behind the Pink Pyramid bookstore in Cincinnati in its fight against obscenity charges for renting out a film that depicts sexual torture of teen-agers to an undercover police officer. The coalition filed a brief prepared by the American Civil Liberties Union last week defending the right of the bookstore to rent Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Salo: 120 Days of Sodom.” Lawyer Louis Sirkin--who in 1990 successfully defended the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center and its director in an obscenity trial for displaying Robert Mapplethorpe photographs that showed sexual acts--is helping to defend the bookstore, its owner Gary Allgeier and two employees on misdemeanor charges. Among those supporting the bookstore: New York’s Film Society of Lincoln Center and Museum of Modern Art, director Martin Scorsese, actor Alec Baldwin and the Sundance Institute.

Film Fest News: Break out some bubbly for Harvey Keitel, who will receive the fourth annual Piper Heidsieck Champagne award recognizing outstanding achievement in film at the 10th annual Boston Film Festival on Friday. Keitel’s latest film, “Imaginary Crimes,” will be shown at the festival. Previous winners of the award include Jodie Foster, Al Pacino and Tommy Lee Jones. . . . Pacino and controversial British director Ken Loach (known for “Hidden Agenda,” his film about Northern Ireland) were awarded special honors at the Venice Film Festival in Italy for career achievements.

ART

The Three Museums?: A statement issued by J. Paul Getty Museum director John Walsh expresses the museum’s outrage over reports that the sculpture “The Three Graces” will be shared by three museums--two in Britain and one in Spain. The statement suggests that the sharing is a condition of Swiss art collector Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza’s $1.24-million contribution to the effort to prevent the export of the 19th-Century marble sculpture by Antonio Canova from Britain to the Getty Museum in Malibu. “It now seems to us that anything that will frustrate ‘The Three Graces’ being put on permanent display at the Getty Museum is acceptable to Britain, even it if means endangering the statue itself,” the statement said. It goes on to say that, according to experts, the statue “should not be moved any more than is absolutely necessary.” Initial reports of the baron’s pledge did not mention that the work would be shared.

TELEVISION

A Jolly Good World: The group of twentysomethings featured on the fourth season of MTV’s “The Real World” could very well have their roomie gripe sessions at tea time. The edition of the reality-based soap opera that premieres in June, 1995, will be set in London. Casting of the latest gang is currently taking place in the United States and Europe. Production is set to begin in January.

STAGE

The Doolittle’s ‘Cafe’: “Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Songs of Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller” is the new title of the musical revue headed for the Doolittle Theatre, and Broadway powerhouse director Jerry Zaks--best known for his revival of “Guys and Dolls”--has replaced Otis Sallid at the show’s helm. The show was previously announced here as “A Celebration of the Songs of Leiber & Stoller” and was called “Baby, That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” earlier this summer in a Chicago tryout. It will now open Nov. 17, a week later than the previously announced dates, but it will still close Jan. 22, 1995.

POP/ROCK

Stones Roll Into Vegas: The Rolling Stones will perform at the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Oct. 14-15. The two shows mark the first Vegas appearance for the Stones, who are promoting their album “Voodoo Lounge.” Tickets go on sale Thursday and will cost $100 and $200. . . . In other Stones-related news, Suzanne Wyman, 34, wife of former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, 57, gave birth Sunday to their first child, Katharine Noelle, in London.

Mana Melee: Several fights erupted after a concert at the Universal Amphitheater Saturday night and eight people were arrested for investigation of battery as officers in riot gear quelled the rowdy crowd. The disturbance followed a concert by the popular Mexican rock ‘n’ roll group Mana. The cause of the fights wasn’t immediately determined.

QUICK TAKES

The Laugh Factory in West Hollywood is once again opening its doors to comedians, actors and others in the entertainment industry who need a place to attend the Jewish High Holiday services. Rosh Hashanah services will be held on Tuesday at noon; reservations are required. . . . “The Earthquake Kids,” the U.S. Little League champs from Northridge who were recently defeated in the World Championships, will take some pitches from Jay Leno tonight when they appear on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.”