United Artists

Robert Lawrence has been promoted to the new post of president of motion picture production at United Artists Corp., effective immediately. He formerly was executive vice president in charge of United Artists' worldwide production. Before to joining United Artists, Lawrence served as executive vice president of worldwide production for Columbia Pictures.

Mary Goldberg has been named vice president-talent of the Motion Picture and Television groups of United Artists, Beverly Hills.

Fandango, the Santa Monica-based online movie-ticket broker, said it will sell tickets for United Artists theaters beginning next week, when the chain drops AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Moviefone service. Terms were not disclosed. Moviegoers who want to buy advance tickets for Regal Entertainment Group's almost 200 United Artists theaters can use Fandango's online and telephone services starting Monday, Fandango said.

United Artists Nearing a Deal With Showscan: The nation's largest theater chain is close to an agreement with Culver City-based Showscan Corp. on installing computer-controlled seats in 10 theater multiplexes over the next five years. Details of the deal with United Artists Theatre Circuit Inc., valued at about $20 million, should be worked out within days, a Showscan spokeswoman said.

A minority shareholder of MGM/UA Entertainment Corp. has filed suit in Los Angeles against principal stockholder Kirk Kerkorian, claiming he schemed to keep the lion's share of United Artists when he sold its parent company to Turner Broadcasting. Louis Brandt, who said he owned 180,000 shares of MGM stock in September, 1985, claims Kerkorian conspired to deprive minority shareholders of their equity in United Artists so that he could acquire it for himself at a bargain price.