Travolta turns author

New York — John Travolta is taking a stab at posterity.

His autobiography, not yet titled, will be published in fall 2006, Hyperion announced last week. In it, the actor will share stories from his life and career.

“I’ve hit a milestone this year in my life, turning 50, and if I waited any longer I’d have to write two books,” Travolta, an Oscar nominee for “Saturday Night Fever” and “Pulp Fiction,” said in a statement. “I’ve had such a full life that I really want to share it.”

Hyperion Editor in Chief Will Schwalbe said the book would contain “remarkable stories … about himself and his career; about his friendships with people ranging from Marlon Brando to Princess Diana; about the creative process and his passions.”

MGM stars take a bow

Beverly Hills, Calif. — MGM’s musical stars of a half-century ago, including Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Esther Williams and Cyd Charise, took the stage at the Motion Picture Academy to once again bask in photographers’ flashes and wild applause.

The occasion was a 30th anniversary screening of the 1974 paean to MGM’s golden age of the movie musical, “That’s Entertainment,” presented in a newly restored digital version.

The Friday night event, planned weeks ago, happened to fall at the end of a week when MGM tentatively agreed to be acquired by a group led by Sony, meaning MGM may soon disappear as an independent studio.

“This is a night that will live in irony,” said Roger Mayer, a longtime MGM executive and emcee for the evening.

He wasn’t always the Fonz

Madison, Wis. — A class of fifth-graders heard an unlikely confession from Henry “The Fonz” Winkler: He wasn’t always the king of cool.

Winkler, 58, of “Happy Days” fame, called the Waunakee Intermediate School Friday to talk about his series of popular books for young adults and discussed his own hard times in school.

“I was just called lazy,” he said. “Some people said I was stupid.”

Winkler’s series of popular books feature a character named Hank Zipzer, a lovable underachiever whose good intentions go awry.

All 481 students at the school are reading the first book in the series. Fifth-grade teacher Margaret Martin said she wrote to Winkler and was shocked when he called back. The call was broadcast over the public address system.