NEW CLUB OPENS FOR LAUGHS : COMEDY NIGHT GETS STARTED AT SPORTS BAR.

Byline: Laurence Darmiento Daily News Staff Writer

There were almost as many comics as audience members last month at the debut of the Laughing Hyena comedy club, but that's not the kind of thing that's going to discourage a guy like Frankie Pecoraro.

After all, the young comic and promoter has been through worse. Just ask him about going to Venice High School, his fourth and last secondary school after a rather underwhelming academic career.

``We had to dodge bullets. It wasn't a matter of walking home but finding escape routes,'' Pecoraro said. ``I'm not kidding. It was dangerous.''

At 22, those difficult teen-age years are not so far behind him, and neither is a dysfunctional childhood. It was a childhood that has so far served him well as comedic fodder - if not in school, where he got regularly expelled for being the clown.

One relative, he said, had an unfulfilled desire to serve in Vietnam, decorating the living room with war memorabilia, while another found and lost love on the Prodigy on-line service.

He even claims to have been stabbed in the chest with a fork after a fight over the remote control.

An aspiring comic, Canyon Country resident Pecoraro these days has been spending time promoting his weekly comedy club. It debuted July 31 at PrimeTyme Sports Cafe with a lineup of about 15 comics - and 20 audience members.

Pecoraro has high hopes for the club, once word gets out. He said the club was drawing standing-room-only crowds earlier this year at Bergies restaurant before he decided to move it to PrimeTyme on Sierra Highway.

With the abundance of comedic talent in the Los Angeles area, the Santa Clarita Valley stands to be an attractive venue for bright young comics.

``This valley is virtually untouched. They need it out here. It will be successful,'' Pecoraro said.

Rinaldo Saucier, a comic who has appeared at the Laugh Factory and the Improv, performed on opening night. He acknowledged the crowd was thin, but said it was enthusiastic.

``I'll tell you, I have seen worse audiences that were larger. It was small, but they were attentive. It will catch on, but it takes time.''

Saucier, 27, is a good example of why a promoter can even put on a weekly comedy show in Canyon Country.

After working for several years in construction and other jobs, Saucier decided two years ago to try comedy. A place like the Laughing Hyena lets new performers sharpen their skills.

``It's all a matter of stage time. You have to have stage time to get good, just like the more you swim the better you get,' said Saucier, who lives in Van Nuys. ``Paying your dues is hard in comedy.''

Pecoraro is betting he has a winning formula for the club.

Admission is $5, though plans are to raise it to $7 if the club takes off. That is still far below the $20 admission charged at Hollywood clubs. There also is no drink minimum.

The show starts at 8 p.m. Wednesdays at PrimeTyme, located at 27125 Sierra Highway. For more information, call [phone].

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Comedian Joe Adams works himself intocontortions, much to the delight of the Wednesday night crowd at Primetyme Sports Cafe.

(2--Color) The opening night audience was small but enthusiastic at the Laughing Hyena comedy club.

Tina Gerson/Daily News