Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

PEOPLE WATCH

Stars Over Tibet: Harrison Ford urged a Senate subcommittee Thursday to remember the “courageous people of Tibet” as the United States proceeds to repair its strained relationship with Communist China. “As an American who cares deeply about justice, freedom and democracy, I can tell you that this is a cause that touches at the core of our own values,” the popular star told the East Asian and Pacific Affairs subcommittee. Ford urged Congress and the Clinton Administration to, among other things, appoint a special envoy to Tibet and meet with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, when he visits Washington next week. . . . Richard Gere placed a collection of his photographs on display Friday in Houston to help exiled Tibetans raise money in their fight for independence. The converted Buddhist is offering for sale limited-edition prints of the 22 black-and-white photographs in two portfolios at $12,500 each. Gere says the photographs, taken in Tibet and in the area of India where many Tibetans are exiled, embody a sense of “dislocation and ghostliness.” Gere’s exhibition runs through Oct. 8 at the Menil Collection.

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Demi’s Diss-clothes-ure: Demi Moore has been included for the third time on People magazine’s annual listing of the 10 worst-dressed celebrities. The list appears in the Sept. 11 issue. Joining Moore are Drew Barrymore, Crystal Bernard, Fran Drescher, Lori Petty, Tori Spelling, Pamela Anderson, Melissa Etheridge, Tony Curtis and Nicolas Cage. The best-dressed honors go to Marcia Clark, Cindy Crawford, Elizabeth Hurley, George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell, Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Jodie Foster, Nicole Kidman and viscountess Serena Linley of the British royal family.

DANCE

Their Kind of Town: The Joffrey Ballet’s artistic director Gerald Arpino announced Thursday that the company would settle permanently in Chicago. The Joffrey-affiliated school, though, will continue to operate in Manhattan. The company has been without a home since May when it closed its New York offices; in July, merger talks broke down between the 39-year-old Joffrey and Ballet Chicago. According to spokesperson Rima Corben, the company’s budget for the 1995-96 season will be $5 million, with more than $2 million coming from donations. The upcoming season includes scheduled engagements at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion; the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C.; Omaha, Neb.; Minneapolis and Vienna, Va.

POP/ROCK

Beverly Hills Block Party: Elton John, Chuck Berry and Bruce Willis and his band the Accelerators are set to perform at the Sept. 17 opening of Planet Hollywood Beverly Hills, located at Wilshire Boulevard and Camden Drive. The restaurant chain’s principal shareholders, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, will host the event, which will be taped as an ABC special. Those wishing to view the festivities on Rodeo Drive, which will be closed to everyone without special passes, will have the opportunity to win tickets through promotions taking place in conjunction with L.A. TV and radio stations and AMC theaters.

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All You Need Is Cash: A Japanese Airlines kimono worn by the late Beatle John Lennon was auctioned Thursday for $27,900, auctioneers Christie’s said. A Japanese collector, who bid by phone, paid three times more than expected for one of eight kimonos that the airline made specially for the Beatles when the group went to Japan in 1966. A British fan paid $8,370 for a pot that Lennon used to stash his marijuana.

TELEVISION

Character Study: Many of the world’s most beloved children’s characters, including Barney, got together Thursday for the first time to announce an unprecedented collaboration to create “Kids for Character,” a video designed to help young people appreciate and develop good character. Scheduled for release in April, the video will be produced by the Character Counts! Coalition in conjunction with Universal Studios, Florida, and will contain original songs.

QUICK TAKES

KNX Newsradio celebrates its 75th anniversary Sunday. Fred Christian, an ex-shipboard wireless operator, put together a five-watt transmitter in his Hollywood home and began broadcasting recorded music Sept. 10, 1920. . . . The 1962-66 ABC service comedy “McHale’s Navy” is the latest TV show to get the big-screen treatment. Rod Daniel (“K9”) is set to direct the feature comedy, which will be released next year by Universal Pictures. Two previous film versions of the TV show were released in the ‘60s.