POP/ROCK - Oct. 19, 1987

Sir John Gielgud, yes. Madonna, no. That’s the verdict from editors at World Book Encyclopedia. The editors say Gielgud, Chicago Bulls basketball star Michael Jordan, Holocaust writer Elie Wiesel and others are sufficiently historically significant to command entries in the 70th edition of the World Book. Alas, Madonna may have to wait until the 71st edition--or longer. Says World Book Executive Editor A. Harmet: “You can’t be of temporary interest like rock stars such as Madonna, who may be here today, gone tomorrow.” Per Harmet, a person warranting an entry must have historical significance, must have made a major contribution to his or her field or must be a topic of great interest to a large number of people--not counting, apparently, album sales and National Enquirer covers.