PEOPLE WATCHDavid’s Donations: Billionaire entertainment mogul David...

PEOPLE WATCH

David’s Donations: Billionaire entertainment mogul David Geffen is giving $4 million to two New York-based AIDS service agencies. Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the nation’s oldest AIDS organization, will get $2.5 million to develop a novel program combining HIV testing with follow-up education and counseling for those who do--and do not--have the AIDS virus. And God’s Love We Deliver, which provides hot meals to homebound people with AIDS, will receive $1.5 million. “They’re superb organizations that do a tremendous amount of good,” said Geffen, who is a longtime financial supporter of AIDS groups. In 1992, he gave $1 million each to GMHC and AIDS Project Los Angeles, to which he continues to donate more than $250,000 annually. “I hope my [latest] contribution will encourage more people to come forward and give generously,” Geffen said.

*

Stallone, Bank Owner: Sylvester Stallone can now add the job “banker” to his resume. According to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the actor has acquired a 7.1% stake in Yardville National Bancorp, a small banking company based in Mercerville, N.J. Operating through White Eagle Enterprises, a New Jersey-based investment firm that lists Stallone as its sole director, officer and shareholder, the action-film star has paid $308,987.50 since June 14 to acquire 23,100 shares of Yardville. A search of the SEC’s computer database showed White Eagle had repaid a $5.4 million-debt to Carolco Pictures Inc., according to the filmmaker’s annual report filed in April.

POP/ROCK

Rappers and Parrotheads: “E. 1999 Eternal” by Cleveland rappers Bone Thugs-N-Harmony remained the nation’s best-selling album, passing the half-million mark in its second week of release, with sales last week of 220,000, according to SoundScan figures released Wednesday. Hootie & the Blowfish and Selena also kept their No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx . . . ,” the solo debut from rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, was the highest new entry on the pop chart at No. 4, with 130,000 copies sold. But Jimmy Buffett may have turned the most heads at record stores last week-- parrot heads, at least--when his “Barometer Soup” album sold 119,000 copies in its first week of release to take No. 6. Michael Jackson’s “HIStory” continued to slide, dropping two spots to No. 14.

TELEVISION

Then There Were Six: NBC’s late-night franchise “Saturday Night Live” brought to six its number of confirmed cast members for this fall with Wednesday’s announcement of new players Nancy Walls and David Koechner, who both hail from Chicago’s Second City Northwest comedy troupe. “SNL” alumni including John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers and Chris Farley also got their starts at Second City. Walls and Koechner join recently announced cast members Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell, as well as returning “SNL” stars Norm MacDonald and Mark McKinney.

ART

New LACE Director: Brian Karl, director of Harvestworks Media Arts in New York, has been appointed director of Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions in Hollywood. A native of Los Angeles and a 1984 graduate of UCLA, Karl is a specialist in presenting and supporting efforts by artists who use new media, including video, sound and computer-based technology. For the past four years he has headed Harvestworks, an international artist resource center that features an artist-in-residence program and a multimedia production facility. He will assume his new position Oct. 1, succeeding Gwen Darien, who ended her 3 1/2-year tenure in January.

OPERA

Edinburgh Fest Disruption?: The Scottish Opera’s chorus went on strike Wednesday over what they called poor pay, threatening the first week of the annual Edinburgh International Festival. The Glasgow-based opera company is to open Monday with Antonin Dvorak’s “The Jacobin.” Edinburgh Festival officials said they hoped that the dispute would be settled by then, and a final rehearsal in Glasgow went ahead Wednesday without the chorus. The rarely performed “Jacobin” is intended to launch a major review of the Czech composer’s music during the prestigious three-week arts festival.

QUICK TAKES

Eighteen-year-old actress Alicia Silverstone, riding a wave of popularity stemming from her film “Clueless,” has signed a three-year, $10 million-deal to become a producer with Columbia Pictures. Silverstone will also star in at least two films, including “Excess Baggage,” which begins production in November. Silverstone’s agent, Carolyn Kessler, will be her producing partner and manager. Their company is called First Kiss Productions. . . . The murder trial of Yolanda Saldivar, the fan accused of gunning down singer Selena on March 31, will be moved from Corpus Christi, the hometown of the beloved tejano star. Defense attorneys requested the move, saying that Saldivar could not get a fair trial there. A new location has not been announced.