For nearly two weeks, Americans have consumed a steady diet of war coverage. And despite the depressing nature of war, Americans have not been seeking refuge in entertainment, industry executives said.

"Business generally is pretty well as normal," said Larry Collins, vice president of film buying for Cinema World Inc.

The new Sally Field film, Not Without My Daughter, featuring a Middle Eastern setting, provides some social relevance in this time of war. However, the film has not done well at the box office, a further indication that nothing in the entertainment industry has turned out as expected.

Russ Gula, manager of Mike's Video I, 228 W. College Ave., noticed a marked decline in movie rentals the night that the war broke out. "(President Bush) couldn't have picked a better day than Wednesday or Thursday, because it's usually slow anyway," he said.

By the weekend, however, rentals had returned to normal rate. "People just burned out (on war coverage)," he said.

Historically, all forms of entertainment have enjoyed a boom during wars. "One of the ways to relieve stress, because there is a lot more stress in times of war, is to concentrate in various kinds of recreational activities," said professor of psychology Juris Draguns.

The Persian Gulf war does not seem to have spurred a similar reaction, but the troops are not forgotten.

Although the idea of being engaged in war has become less of a shock, concern still hangs in the air. While local bands have not changed their performances, they still find ways to pay tribute to troops.

"A lot of them do a 'raise your glass' to the guys in the Middle East," said Herve Glorioso, manager at Stoney's Post House Tavern, 146 N. Atherton St.

Local radio stations WMAJ-AM and WBHV-FM play the national anthem at certain points throughout the day, and a special "Action Fone" line has been set up to give updates on the situation in the gulf, said John Fredrickson, general manager of the stations. In the first few days of the war, the line received between 500 and 900 calls a day, he said.

"It was extremely significant in the first 72 to 96 hours," Fredrickson said.

Andy Warhol's most famous comment on the fickleness of Americans --who, he said, seem to have an attention span of 15 minutes -- seems to hold true for the war. While the conflict is still of great concern, Americans seem to have picked up and gone on with their lives, work and recreation.