AVALON SPEAKS IN COURT; SINGER'S TESTIMONY FOR VALLI CONTRADICTS MOORPARK RESTAURATEUR'S.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

Crooner Frankie Avalon testified Friday that the wife of 1960s teen idol Frankie Valli pushed a Moorpark restaurateur in self-defense against her ``nutty'' behavior but never intentionally slapped the woman.

Testifying on behalf of friend Randy Valli in her misdemeanor battery trial, Avalon offered a drastically different version from what jurors had heard previously about the Oct. 7 fracas at the Secret Garden restaurant. Avalon said co-owner Sandra ``Alex'' Sofsky instigated the melee after he offered ``some friendly advice'' that meals at the swank eatery were too pricey.

``She said, `I understand my prices are too high. Apparently you can't afford it,' '' Avalon quoted Sofsky as saying. ``I was bewildered. I said, I think you're missing the point.''

Avalon said Sofsky then launched into an obscenity-laced tirade, which he, his wife, Kay, and Randy and Frankie Valli tried to ignore.

``She started to get a little nuttier,'' said Avalon, 58, who was testifying for the defense. ``Alex used a lot of vulgarities, (behaving) almost to the point of being a maniac. We said nothing to her at all. There was no need for her to talk to us like that.''

Sofsky then walked over to Randy Valli, pulled her chair away from the table and ordered the foursome to leave the restaurant, he said.

``Randy pushed her away. She was trying to protect herself,'' said Avalon, who appeared to charm jurors in his dark blue suit and tie, white shirt and shiny black boots.

Asked by Randy Valli's lawyer if her hand may have come in contact with Sofsky's face, Avalon replied, ``Could be. All I saw was a lot of arms flailing.''

Contradicting Sofsky's testimony earlier in the week, Avalon also denied calling the restaurateur ``white trash'' or describing Moorpark as a ``hick town'' during the fracas at the elegant restaurant.

`` `White trash' is not in my vocabulary,'' said Avalon, known for singing ``Venus'' and starring in the 1965 movie ``Beach Blanket Bingo.''

``I have never used those words - ever - in my life. I'm a kid from the streets of south Philadelphia. My parents taught me to respect people. It's not in my makeup to ever put anybody down,'' he said.

Avalon said the two couples left the restaurant without paying the $178 bill, which included their rack of lamb dinners and two bottles of wine.

As they drove to the Vallis' home in Calabasas, Avalon testified, Randy Valli commented that her bra was torn and she had lost an earring in the fracas.

The next day, Avalon said, he sent Sofsky and her husband a note and a check for $200 to cover the tab. The note said: ``Sorry about the incident last night. Enclosed is a check.''

While the Sofskys claim that note was an apology for the group's behavior, Avalon testified he was simply saying he was sorry the incident had occurred.

``This is not a letter of apology,'' he said.

Asked by Valli's lawyer Chuck Samonsky if he had ever been thrown out of a restaurant, Avalon amused the jurors by saying, ``I have never been asked to leave a restaurant - not even with (my) eight children.''

The trial is scheduled to continue Monday, with Randy Valli facing a six-month jail term and $1,000 fine if convicted. Her husband, Frankie Valli, 61, is expected to be called as a witness Tuesday or Wednesday.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO (Color) Frankie Avalon arrives in court Friday to testify on behalf of Randy Valli.

Evan Yee/Daily News