MOVIESToying with the Box Office: Disney’s computer-animated...

MOVIES

Toying with the Box Office: Disney’s computer-animated movie “Toy Story” seems to be headed to infinity and beyond, as Buzz Lightyear, one of the toys featured in the film, would put it. The movie was No. 1 at the box office for the second consecutive weekend with an impressive $19 million, according to early industry estimates. There was a sharp drop to second place; MGM/UA’s James Bond movie, “GoldenEye,” took in $9 million. Universal’s “Casino” was third with $6.3 million, and Columbia’s “Money Train” came in fourth with $6.1 million. Warner Bros.’ “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” took fifth place with $5.7 million, followed closely by Columbia’s “The American President,” $5.6 million. Two new releases had disappointing openings: Savoy’s “White Man’s Burden,” starring John Travolta, took in $1.8 million for eighth place. MGM/UA’s Western “Wild Bill” earned $1 million and didn’t even make the top 10.

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Spying on the Tabloids: Phoenix Pictures, the independent film company recently formed by veteran movie executives Mike Medavoy and Arnold Messer, has made its first purchase. The new company has acquired the rights to a Spy magazine article by investigative reporter Stuart Goldman, who went undercover in the world of tabloid journalism and uncovered more than he expected; he reported that several tabloid organizations used bribery, blackmail, wiretapping and fraud to get their stories. Robert De Niro and Tom Cruise had expressed interest in the article, which appears in the current issue of Spy, but after a heated bidding war, the rights to the story went to Phoenix for somewhere “in the low six figures,” according to Writers & Artists agent Larry Kennar, who put the deal together. Oliver Stone is attached to the project as director.

PEOPLE WATCH

Auction, His Way: More than 200 items from one of Frank Sinatra’s former homes brought in about $2 million Friday at Christie’s auction house in New York City. The collection ranged from a gem-studded shoehorn to kitsch art to Sinatra’s custom golf cart, which sold for $20,700, and his grand piano, which brought $51,750. His metal mailbox went for $14,000 and his 1976 Jaguar XJS for $79,500. The possessions came from Sinatra’s Rancho Mirage home, which was sold in May for nearly $5 million.

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Foster Threatened: The manager of an entertainment “chat-room” on the Internet shut it down after an unknown person logged on with threatening messages directed at actress Jodie Foster, KABC-TV reported. Someone left the detailed messages about attacking and murdering Foster on the Hollywood Network web site on Friday. The founder and operator of the web site immediately shut it down and notified the FBI, according to the TV station. The computer service is devoted to the entertainment industry, and anyone can leave and receive messages.

LEGAL FILE

Fishburne Fan Arrested: An apparently obsessed fan has been arrested for allegedly pursuing actor Laurence Fishburne. Regina Scott began harassing Fishburne on Halloween, when he was onstage in “Riff Raff” at the Circle Repertory Theater in New York City, police said. Scott wore a Playboy Bunny costume when she allegedly threw candy onto the stage and yelled, “Trick or treat, Mr. Fishburne!” On Nov. 5, Scott, 33, interrupted a lecture Fishburne was giving to acting students at New York University, police said. On Nov. 9, Scott allegedly marched outside the Circle Repertory Theater wearing only a sandwich sign that read, “Larry is a Spoiled Homophobic Child.” She was arrested Friday on harassment charges after Fishburne’s representative filed a complaint.

QUICK TAKES

Actress Jane Seymour, 44, of CBS’ “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman” gave birth to twin boys--John Stacy Keach and Kristopher Steven Keach--on Thursday. They’re the first children in Seymour’s marriage to actor-director James Keach. Seymour has a son, a daughter and a stepdaughter from a previous marriage. . . . KROQ’s (106.7 FM) morning duo Kevin & Bean will sign copies of their new holiday audiocassette, “How the ---- Stole Christmas,” at the Wherehouse music store in the Beverly Connection tonight at midnight. All proceeds from the cassette ($1.67 each at Wherehouse stores) will go to the Starlight Foundation, which helps seriously ill children. . . . Merv Griffin will officially light decorated Christmas trees donated by Sharon Stone, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts, Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, Frances Fisher and other stars at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The public can bid on the trees through Friday in a silent auction benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.