Monday, Aug. 16, 1999

People

By Michele Orecklin

TAKE A BOW

Hollywood is littered with actor-directors and actor-activists, but the ranks of actor-Olympians are woefully humble. The field did swell after GEENA DAVIS finished 29th among the 300 women at the National Archery championships in July. As one of the top 32 finishers, the professionally oddball Oscar winner qualified to compete at the Olympic-trials semifinals to be held later this month. If she makes the top eight, she'll move on to the finals. Davis took up the sport only about two years ago, after watching the 1996 Games on TV, but she proved a quick study with the quiver. Now she's practicing six days a week, five hours a day. Her chances of making the team are slim, but if she does, we know she can be counted on to deliver an emotional acceptance speech and wear something fabulous.

THE KING'S RANSOM GOES ON THE BLOCK

How better to honor the onset of ELVIS Week (Aug. 8-16) than to weigh how much you're willing to spend on Presley memorabilia? Guernsey's auction house and Elvis Presley Enterprises are putting 1,000 lots taken from the Graceland vaults up for grabs in October at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas to raise money for Presley Place, a transitional-housing development in Memphis, Tenn. Among the items: a portrait by the only artist for whom Elvis ever sat (1); a Texaco credit card (2); a 1971 jumpsuit (3); sheet music for All Shook Up (with original title I'm All Shook Up) (4); and the aptly named "Peacock Belt" (5). While you should start saving money, there's no need to diet; items from the fat and the skinny years are available.

YOU'VE GOT A (FAMOUS) FRIEND

Both the televised and the titled took time to commit selfless acts of bravery last week. A rundown on the heroics:

JOSHUA JACKSON

RESPONSE TO DISTRESS: Dawson's Creek star dived into the North Carolina surf after spotting two girls in danger of drowning

RISK TO SELF: Significant. Once he reached the girls, waves swept them all over a jetty, and the Coast Guard had to be called in

RISK TO WARDROBE: Shrinking cottons; bleeding colors

P.R. BOOST: Likely to gain wall space in teenage girls' bedrooms

PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY

RESPONSE TO DISTRESS: The brothers stopped their car on a London street after spotting a driver whose battery had failed

RISK TO SELF: Moderate. Could have hurt their backs pushing the stalled BMW, but had bodyguards in an accompanying car

RISK TO WARDROBE: Oil stains; unsightly wrinkling

P.R. BOOST: Prove Windsors are good royals and good Samaritans

THINGS WE DON'T NEED TO SEE

CARNIE WILSON (Brian's daughter) fighting obesity by having gastric-bypass surgery live on the Internet in August

ARABELLA CHURCHILL (Winston's granddaughter) fighting age by getting a full face-lift live on the Internet in November