The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 285

LOS ANGELES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1992 SATURDAY LETTERS Faces With Levin in the Torrent When It Comes to Scripts, jfRandy Travis Is Far From Lonesome or several years, Hollywood has been courting rH award-winning country singer Randy Travis. He's been Ej'-L reluctant, though, to take the plunge and star in a feature film. "Gosh," he says, "I don't know how many scripts we have gotten fcinto the office. Some of them wanted me to be the main character in a movie. I have never done anything like that.

I was afraid to do I would rather be in something small and successful than the r. main character in a complete flop." Travis uttered the words "Kill him" at the conclusion of "Young Guns," but his brief scene was cut. Last season, he played himself in an episode of the now-defunct NBC sitcom "Down Home." I understand and appreciate CaleiS dar's requirements for brevity such requirements should not coirje jt at the expense of an presentation of the essential Specifically, regarding the olitv i come of the Lofing suit: The jury found against Lofing's claims damages of $385,000 and against, his' allegations of fraud, mental dig- tress and breach of expressed war i ranty. Further, the jury found that Lofing must pay the balance due) plus interest on the Steinway piano he purchased from Sherman Clay in 1984. And, while it is true, as the article reported, that the jury found against Sherman Clay and Stein- way Sons for breach of implied merchantability, the trivial award 1 to Lofing of $525, which does not include his requirement to pay court costs, should translate to any reasonable court observer as a win for Sherman Clay and Steinway Sons.

LEO SPELLMAN, Director Advertising Public Relations I Steinway Sons Long Island City, N.Y. community has sustained. SUSAN B. WINSTON Blanki Bodi Productions Inc. North Hollywood Winston was executive producer of ABCs "Good Morning America" (1981-84) and executive producer of "CBS Morning News" (1986).

Catch the Olympics We wish to thank CBS for squeezing in a few minutes of Olympic coverage every so often between the commercials. CLARENCE W. SCHULER FAMILY West Hollywood Tuned to the Verdict The Feb. 12 Morning Report item "Out of Tune" grossly misrepresented the actual jury verdict in the Dan Lofing suit brought in Sacramento Superior Court. While I had a good time aomg that, probably more so than 'Young Guns' because it was bigger and in a comedy situation too.

That was a lot of fun." And next Friday, he guests on NBC's "Matlock," which stars Andy Griffith, as a hitchhiker whom Matlock gives a lift and a job. "He wants me to paint his house," Travis says. "As it turns out I am not much of a painter." But Matlock discovers he can sing and play the guitar and the two even perform a couple of Others Stand Howard Rosenberg's scolding of Harvey Levin Raging Torrent of Harvey Levin," Feb. 17) was justified, but in my opinion he didn't go far enough. Days before the storm's arrival, superlatives were used throughout the media such as "massive" and the sexist phrase "mother of all storms" to describe what was coming.

By Feb. 15, Los I MORE LETTERS: F3 Angeles was buttoned down, sandbagged and plastic-wrapped for this pre-sold disaster day. What we actually met was a rather average storm front. KCBS et al. would argue that they were still performing a service by motivating everyone to prepare in case the storm had been heavy and that weather is unpredictable.

Would it not have been more honest and responsible to emphasize this unpredictability and avoid the hype? If someone yells "Fire!" in a crowded theater, are they exonerated by simply stating that had there really been a fire they would have saved lives? Levin has succeeded in muddying himself, but certainly his colleagues in the media should not get off unsullied, as they created a level of hype that Levin was desperately trying to satisfy. BRIAN P. McENTEE Altadena 6 nr irttvu (.,.. JtirVEBSAL STUMPS HOtLYWOOO Horrendous Sights I would like to comment on Rick Du Brow's column "In the Eye of the Storm" (Feb. 14): While I applaud the technical efforts and delivery of the local news stations in their coverage of the Los Angeles weather disaster, I find the content of the televised broadcasts reprehensible.

How horrendous for America to view, again and again, the desperation of a teen-age boy being swept away in the Los Angeles River to his death! How unfeeling of any reporter, as was the case on KCBS, to get "exclusive" live coverage of a man returning to his trailer home, for the first time since the rains, to open his door finding the utter destruction of one's life's belongings! As a former network news executive, I have walked that fine line between hard reporting and plain sensationalism. It is one thing to seize a story and quite another to exploit it. Reporters' time would perhaps best be spent helping us prepare and protect ourselves rather than waving the horrors wrought by Mother Nature. And, yes, we salute the helicopter jockeys and other heroes that have emerged, but allow us to grieve a bit more privately for the needless loss our "AN EROTIC. FUNNY ROMANCE!" -Peter Iraven, ROUWG STONE Mquinc OENZEL WASHINGTON ROSHAN SETH SARITACHOUDHURV MISSISSIPPI AASALA A FILM BY MIRA NAIR The Director of "Salaam Bombay!" BALDWIN HILLS Baldwin Complex 213290-1991 Dally 5:10 7:40 Randy Travis: "I would rather be in something small and successful." numbers together.

"RICH AND ENVELOPING, REMEMBER WITH PLEASURE FOR A LONG, IM THE? "'FRIED GREEN TOMATOES' WORKS!" "Something that's funny about doing this show and listening to Andy is he says things and if you close your eyes, you could be on the set of the old 'Andy Griff ith Show. Travis, who's latest album, "High Lonesome," is "doing real well," will perform 100 concerts this year. "Those are strictly one-nighters," says Travis, who lives in Nashville. But he says his performance schedule isn't as grueling as it sounds. "Unlike a lot of tours on the road, we don't go out for a month at a time," he says.

"The only way we go out for a month is if we are on the West Coast. Usually, we are out for four days and then we're back home." -SUSAN KING 'Nightmare Cafe's' Lindsay Frost Has Peak Friday Experiences It's one of the real mysteries of "Twin Given her all-American, big-boned blond beauty and those impeccable family connections, why didn't Lindsay Frost get the Laura Palmer part? After all, her brother Mark was the canceled cult series' co-executive producer; her other brother, Scott, wrote a number of the episodes, and their actor-teacher father, Warren Frost, was a "Twin Peaks" regular, playing the town's doctor. But she didn't even go up for it. Frost says she was too old and too busy. "They were casting high school kids, and I couldn't play high school," the 29-year-old actress says, "plus the year that they made that pilot, I did another pilot." IWKTHtSi VATUV TDCCTr'A MADVT StfTTCD Madv Ctttatvt WttJD I BATES TANDY EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS NOW SHOWING fried Green Tomatoes WEST LOS ANGELES Goldwyn Pavilion 310475-0202 Dally 11:25 AM WEST HOLLYWOOD Clneplex Beverly Center 310652.776O Dally 1:45 4:20 7:00 8i 9:35 PM Frt-Sof tale Show 12.05 AM hlunttl I DOllW STEREO Free ParWno.

Use Overland Sal-Sun 12.00 2:40 Entrance. 5:10 7:40 UnilV. NO PASSES ACCEPTED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT "tear WESTWOOO TSCVmVHILUIEK GCC Bevert Connection (310)6596911 700,9 50 Soma dOYOtfrance sis. Frw2-l2houS Mnm Pwwyl OlOi 7B9MANN (213i757-4GM DAILY -3 15,500, DAILY -1 45, A 30, 7 15. 10 00 3 Mr) KfirJoled port S2 00 KGotaiy Goooe Enter on Sycamore 7 45, 1030 AGOUBA HIUS Mom8 1HX (81B) 707 9966 ALHAH6BA EOwotds Atkmte fWoce ARCADIA GCCSanlaArtto (618) 4456200 BURBANK AMCBurtXXik 14 (818) 9539800 BTCEmnOS UnterjArtrslsIrvvi (310) 924 6514 CHINO AMCChno Town Square 10 COR0KA HERMOSA BEACH ErJwjrcfc AMC HeffTrOJO 6 Corona 11 (3I0)2S94AMC tiV'nwJ CULVER CTTY Pacta 's Gal ewoy Mnm DJvef Plmn f714i 57J1611 (310)289-MANN OtMtTHSIDGE (Zi3)eiJrt8 eLOHO BEACH PASADENA FUILERION AMC Morra Ftonca Umlea AMCFuletlonio (310) 269-4 AMC Market (714)D92O00 MARINA DEL REY LUENOALE IBS Odeon PUEHTE GCCGWndole Motno Markslptoce Central Cnema Cnemos (31DJ8273588 mUMCHO OLENOORA MORENO VALLEY Worn 6 Edwards TownGale Edwards (818)314 dOU (14)ti5IUUU NEWPORT NORTH Frolic's From the very beginning of her career, though, Frost has been hot.

Three weeks after leaving Minneapolis, where she grew up, for the bright lights of New York, she began a four-year run continuing role on the CBS daytime soap "As the World Turns." That led to feature films and guest shots on TV, including episodes of "L.A. Law" and "Father Dowling," as well i'-, as to a part on Broadway, where she played in the original production of the I Tony Award-winning Alttsts Ptoce (610)795-1386 HILLS AMCPkuolO (818)964-2240 CUCAJMNOA IE0E terra Vista 6 1 SPtCLU. tWGAQmCMTS WO PKSSIS Lindsay Frost: "I wanted to do something that was going to break new ground." Now, after a season as a regular on the Friday night series "Mancuso: FBI" on NBC, she'll be back same night, same time, same network on "Nightmare Cafe," which is executive produced by horror-film director Wes Craven and co-stars Robert -Englund (Freddy in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films). "It's my old spot. I'll never get off Friday nights," Frost says 2 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS BEST ACTOR Robert DeNiro BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Juliette Lewis WINNER-BEST PICTURE Image Award WRITERS' GUILD NOMINEE Besl Screenplay Written Krectly for tie Screen OVER 70 TEN BEST USTS -Critics Nation-wide "A POWERHOUSE MOVIE David Ansen, NBW8WEEK "TWO THUMBS UP-WAY UP.

ri a throaty laugh. "Part of the attraction for me in doing frVCafe" was that, having my whole family involved with 'Twin I felt if I were to do another television series wanted to do something that was going to break Veame old-same old, and I found that "FUNNY, TOUCHING AND EXQUISITELY WELL-PLAYED." -De via fitm-haa, KNBCTV "POWERFULLY TOLD WITH BEAUTIFUL, ACTING." -JoH HlrrL GOOD MOHMNfi AMERICA PARKER MASTERSON CEHTumrcrrr AMCCanturyM (3ILTI2694AMC FBI-SUN-10 00, 100.400. 7.15, 1015 MON-tHUR-1 60. 4 60. 7 40.

10 4 hours free wWoled porting wimtmipunJita- IMTVERSALCrTY QnapiexOdeon Unnwsdatv Cnemas (BIB) 50MIS88 DAILY- 2 15. 4:45.7 16.945 LATE SHOW 15 BEACH Eaworrjjljdo (714)6738350 UPLAND Edwards Upland Ctnemo 8 (714)986-3336 VENTURA Century 8 (805)6445666 WESTCOVIHA SoCorsEasnond (6)8)339-7333 WHITTIER Knkonan WrlrwoodOnemo3 (310) 9475H0W IBS WOODLAND HILLS GCCratxix 7 BK (816)347-6091 BBIPflEltlflTO Kt PWESEKTEOH HOtLYWOOO (310)5424361 ROUtWHIlU AMCRolngHs (310) 2894AMC -SANTA ANA Cnrury7IBX ffllfiitouwid AMC Marelotto (714)972-6500 SANTA MONICA Ctnepiex Odeon froodwovCiriemos (310)458-1506 SHERMAN OAKS URZAHA OB WSCOUHI COUWO ACCtFmTl NORWALX SANTA FE SPRINGS Norwow Super Saver Onerno (3KI)86fr9694 ORANGE Century Ory Center (714)6349505 ORANGE United Artisls dry Dnemo (7(4)634 3911 PASADENA Acoaerny (818) 585-2278 IndtanHmMci Super Sever Cinemas (714) 6201033 PUEHTE HILLS AMCPkBO 10 (618)964-2240 SAN BERNARDINO AMCCorouseH FtCihC's 3 (310)946849 TORRANCE Monn OkJTawne (310)371-1221 VICTOR VILtE The (H4; 301-4461 (619) 2460233 SANTA BARBARA (805)9639503 PUEHTE HU1 tEAlUACH AMC rtoismoor Puni Uol 10 ScpwSovw (616)6106668 Cnema RAMCMO CAUfOetflA idwiraBoncno TOMANCI CcMorrwTownCertter UMdArMW (714)694-4130 OeiAmo OiyCnt (714)634 9505 ORANGt UnrrtdArtnU CrrYOnerM) (714) 6343911 MLUDALE (606)2740204 PASADENA AcorMrTM (BU) 665-2278 (714)6630777 auentMnfcro (606)6686644 VKTOJTV1UI HorirJCrana (714)683531 SANTA FltPHNBI OrongeUal SuperSa 6370340 (714)83 iii POMONA Qantasy- anthology seijes premieres Friday. LOUIS CHUNOVIC At QA Huh Taulnr ClnHe Ulmcclf in Mellencamp's State of Grace want to tell you something about the business," says Dub A Taylor. "Acting is the most embarrassing business in the Ji' World. You never know when you're going to eat." mi.

i ine iormer vauoevuie periurmer nasu i nuu iu wurry auuui nis meal since making his film debut 54 years ago in the late "Frank Capra's Oscar-winning classic "You Can't Take It With You." 'm 'T haifa iitet haan Inolru 3nH I lilro nannlo avnlnina Tavlrtr wlin fthas appeared in countless films, including "Bonnie Clyde" and Wild Bunch." "I had one of the greatest directors start me off in the business ivand you know what? He was) one of the nicest persons I ever met 1 in mv lifA T-T luac hint new ground too, and not just the with this script." The gentleman. I knew his whole family. I just loved him and I can't say nothing but the greatest things." Taylor also has nothing but praise for rocker John Mellencamp, who directed and stars in Taylor's latest film, "Falling From Grace." Taylor plays Mellencamp's foxy, skirt-chasing, 80-year-old grandfather. The actor wasn't familiar with Mellencamp when the two met. "He said, 'Dub, I want you for this part.

Nobody else can play it but I really liked him. He if -SISKELJrBBERT mm wiiilBiiiiiiBllsltiiM uinuTtuunn IlffWII ANAHEIM Brookhurste (714) 7786910 'AiUSA Eawards foofrun Cenler (8)8)969-9632 CARSON SoumbayC Drrve-tn (310)5326811 CCRRITOS AMCAIondro (3)0) 924 5531 CORONA Edwards WestendB (714)2730101 ELTORO words SoddKback (714)661-5880 HAWTHORNE AMC Hawthorne fVua (310)844 9761 HOLLYWOOD LANCASTER Movies West (805)943 2628 LOSFEUI Vista (213)6606639 MONTCLAIR United Arttsls Movies (714)6216027 MORENO VALLEY IBS Edwards Festival (714)482000 HORTHRIOGE Hcppenri (816) 99 (213)484-1149 (856)9930211 UNMBALCtTY BtvMty Center iepm (310) 652-7 780 OAKY -7 40. 9 bO lATESHOW Ffflla-1200 UirvrLCirierno LAHCAITER (Oitij auowooo Taylor: "Acting is the most Embarrassing business in the world." illAniSI12IIIIID' niim mi IMCH If KOLMO UCOatMaTYK WMIfT OB MUU CUMOW was a pretty down-to-earth guy, you know. He was always kidding with me. He let me do what I wanted to do.

He didn't try to stop me or anything most directors are that way." Taylor, 84, has no plans to retire from acting: "I can't retire, honey. I got too many damn bills." A widower son Buck played Newly on "Gunsmoke" Taylor says he will never remarry. "I don't know if you know what a Canadian honker is, but it's a wild goose. I'm just like a Canadian honker. They mate one time and that's it.

I enjoyed so much being with my wife. She was a great, great gal. We had a marriage of 56 years. I got pictures of her all over the house, so I guess I must been in love." tr -SUSAN KING TIMUovm 12 M0N1DLAN (714)631-6077 MORBH VALLEY Edward! TownGate (714)661-1000 ANAHEW Broetinuriie AtUtAEoworoi (Bia)B69632 BAKEtlnElD NH (BOB) 327-4448 CHINO UovMfl Cnema (714) CORONA FoSwds WnMnaa (714) EAST AMCfitW14 (8(a)86JtWOO CAtSOH SoAtN8Frvln CMWMALCrrY urmtlO (610) 7702B70 HOLLYWOOD UNITED ARTISTS EGYPTIAN 21 3467-61 B7 TODAY AT 3:00 5:00 7:00 0 0:00 PM 464-1100 I73O101 LOSANGEUS HetvBouWvord (JI31 263904) CERMMUitM WrMolCirirTiQ (3Hn4-T72fl rail AMC1.