ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

FILM

‘Mambo Cafe’ Skips L.A.: Los Angeles audiences will have to wait to see the popular Mexican soap opera star Thalia in her first movie, “Mambo Cafe.” The movie’s distributor, Unapix Entertainment, has decided to test the market for the low-budget romantic comedy only in New York, starting Aug. 18. If it performs well there, Unapix might expand the film into markets such as Los Angeles or San Antonio. The movie’s director, Reuben Gonzalez, is frustrated that Latinos in Los Angeles, the U.S. city with the largest Mexican population, won’t be able to see it on opening day. “They want to see how it does in New York before they invest more money,” Gonzalez said. “They are not even releasing it in Miami, where [Thalia] lives.” Richard Abramowitz, president of Unapix, said he wanted to be “more hands on” with the film in the company’s hometown. “We are starting out in New York in 10 theaters. We have good contacts in those theaters that play to the Latino audience,” said Abramowitz. “I’d like to see the movie play [larger] in Los Angeles than just one theater. [Thalia] has an audience of substantial size in Los Angeles.” The movie was released in Mexico, Greece, Russia and the Netherlands seven months ago by Kushner Locke Entertainment. Meanwhile, Gonzalez has just signed a deal to direct a Latino version of “Saturday Night Fever” for USA Films. Scott Rosenfelt, Larry Estes and Whitney Huston’s Brownhouse Productions are attached to produce and executive produce the movie.

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In at ‘Out’: Thomas Bezucha’s debut feature, “Big Eden,” earned the grand jury award for outstanding actor in a feature film and the audience award for outstanding narrative feature in the Outfest 2000 Film Competition, sponsored by Universal Pictures. The “Outie” awards were handed out Sunday at the 18th annual Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Also among the total of six jury prizes and five audience awards were “Urbania,” directed by Jon Shear (outstanding American narrative feature); “Our House: A Very Real Documentary About Kids of Gay and Lesbian Parents,” directed by Meerna Spadola (outstanding documentary feature); “Criminal Lovers,” directed by Francois Ozon (outstanding foreign narrative feature); and “Nuyorican Dream,” directed by Laurie Collyer (outstanding documentary).

POP/ROCK

Papa’s Got a Brand New Complaint: A utility worker in Beech Island, S.C., has accused James Brown, the 67-year-old Godfather of Soul, of swinging a knife at him and holding him against his will. According to police, the worker went to Brown’s home to respond to a complaint that the power was out. After entering an unlocked security gate, he met Brown, who told him to wait. When Brown returned, he was carrying a suit and said, “That means I’m a government agent, and I can lock you up for trespassing and sneaking around on my property.” Brown then allegedly approached the worker with a steak knife. The utility company said there was nothing wrong with Brown’s electricity and it didn’t know who called in the complaint. Brown served a sentence for assault and weapons convictions from 1988 to 1991. Brown’s attorney said he had not heard about the latest allegations and refused comment.

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Warner Music Signs Guillot: Just as legendary Cuban singer Omara Portundo is climbing the Latin charts with her debut album, another veteran woman singer from Cuba, Olga Guillot, has signed a new recording contract with Warner Music Mexico, for distribution in the U.S. by WEA Latina. Guillot, known as “the mother of bolero,” is one of the top figures in Cuban music in the past century, with 58 albums, 20 gold records and 16 movies under her belt. She begins recording her new album in Miami and Los Angeles in August.

THE ARTS

Egyptian Theater Honored: The American Cinematheque’s restoration of the Egyptian Theater, Hollywood Boulevard’s first (1922) movie palace, continues to win awards. Signs of the Times, the leading trade publication of the signage industry, in its 2000 electric sign design contest, recently awarded the first-place prize in the exposed neon category to the theater’s elaborate vertical sign. It was designed by John Gaby for the theater’s restoration architect, Peyton Hall, of the Historic Resources Group. Hall, Gaby and the Egyptian restoration also won a 2000 design award from the California Preservation Foundation, an honor award from the American Institute of Architects’ California Council, and a preservation award from the Los Angeles Conservancy.

QUICK TAKES

Spanish opera star Monserrat Caballe stunned a Romanian audience Friday when she tore up the conductor’s score after the Romanian National Radio Orchestra twice fell out of step, the daily Curierul National reported Monday. Caballe followed up by kissing Spanish conductor Jose Collado on the cheek to show she had no hard feelings. . . . Los Angeles ranchera vocal sensation Nydia Rojas has been chosen as the opening act for the U.S. fall tour of superstar singers Ana Gabriel and Juan Gabriel. . . . Imprisoned rap mogul Suge Knight tells HITS magazine he thinks Eminem is “hilarious,” and states that Puff Daddy “shoulda used lawyers instead of bodyguards.” . . . A second show has been added to the “Friends of Fred Walecki--A Gathering of the Clan” benefit concert on Aug. 8 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, David Crosby and Graham Nash all will return for a second performance on Aug. 9. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets.