Shticking It Out for Uncle Miltie : Friends and fans honor Berle at an Arthritis Foundation benefit in Newport Beach that kicks off his third annual Senior Pro-Am golf tourney.

They called it a “Night of Legends” and, sure enough, Buddy Rogers, Rosemary Clooney and Steve Garvey were among the 290 guests who showed up to honor Milton Berle at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach on Sunday night.

The event, a benefit for the Arthritis Foundation, marked the kickoff of Berle’s third annual Senior Pro-Am golf tourney at Pelican Hill Golf Club south of Corona del Mar. It also saluted his 85th birthday and his 80th year in show biz.

“I’m here because Milton is an old, dear friend,” said Rogers, 89, the actor who was once married to Mary Pickford. “And I’ll tell you a secret: Milton appeared in one of Mary’s pictures when he was 3 years old. Can’t remember the name of it, though.”

Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss, also a pal of Berle’s, confided that Rogers co-starred in “Wings,” the first film to win an Academy Award. (“Yes, I’m that old,” Rogers quipped.)

Buss’ birthday wish for Berle: “That he has another birthday.”

Garvey, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, attended the bash for three reasons. “I like to play golf--in fact, I won the tournament Berle had in Palm Springs earlier this year. I’ve been a fan of Berle’s for years. And I have arthritis.”

His arthritis was baseball-related, Garvey said. “I’ve had it for about six years, and I’m doing well. I exercise, watch my diet and take medication every day.”

During the silent auction, Garvey bid on a bat and baseball cap donated by “Mr. Baseball” star, Tom Selleck. (Selleck’s father, Robert Selleck, attended the party.)

Gala activities began with a silent auction, continued with dinner and a live auction, then concluded with a performance by Clooney, who sang “Hey There,” “Come On a My House,” “More Than You Know” and “Our Love Is Here to Stay.”

“Rosemary Clooney can only be with us a short time tonight,” Berle explained in his introduction. “She’s on her way to New York to perform in a tribute to Bing Crosby at Carnegie Hall.”

During his shtick, Berle told several jokes that can’t be repeated in a family newspaper. But maybe this one will make it: “I wanted to bid on an auction item tonight, but a prostate operation never showed up” on the auction block, he deadpanned.

John Crean was the gala’s chairman.

*

A rose is a rose: La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, once the Western White House of President Richard Nixon, was the site of a tea and lecture on Monday when author Barbara Milo Ohrbach spoke about her new book, “Simply Flowers.”

Guests hopped a bus at Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach for a ride to the oceanfront home. About 60 party-goers dined on English tea sandwiches and savories served up in baskets--each topped with a huge rose from the Casa’s gardens.

Welcoming party-goers to her seaside spread was hostess Ninetta Herbert, wife of Roger’s Gardens owner Gavin Herbert.

During the festivities, Ohrbach gave a lesson in floral arranging. She took a bouquet of pink hydrangeas, placed them in a vase, added clusters of tulips held together with a rubber band, added roses the same way, then filled in the blanks with delicate Queen Anne’s lace. Voila! A masterpiece.

Another Ohrbach tip: Place a jam jar inside a square of your favorite fabric, scoop it up, tie it with ribbon, fill it with a cluster of flowers. A perfect accent for a place setting.

Event proceeds of about $6,000 benefited the Orange County chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

*

Fraternity gourmet dinner: Members of the Performing Arts Fraternity dined gourmet-style at Antoine restaurant in Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach on Monday night.

Fare included cream of artichoke soup with fresh scallops, filet of sea bass with mashed potatoes and champagne caviar sauce, beef tenderloin with garlic crust and a “purse” of carmelized apples with plum wine sauce.

Dining on high-style food in black-tie is nothing new for the fraternity. They’ve done their gourmet benefit for the Orange County Performing Arts Center for eight years. But they threw something new into the kettle at this event--women.

Seen on the arms of their husbands: Barbara Bassi with Peter; Joan Samuelson with Mitch; Julia Sunde with Marty; Terry Goldfarb Lee with Terry; Mary Lu Hamill with Rich, and Hope Carroll with Bill.

*

Memories of the Rendezvous Ballroom: Beloved singer Harry Babbitt (“Slow Boat to China,” “Three Little Fishes”) and his combo will appear at a benefit for the Newport Beach Historical Society on Thursday at the Balboa Pavilion.

Billed as “Memories of the Big Band Days at the Rendezvous Ballroom,” the event includes a buffet dinner and a no-host cocktail party. The event is $18 per person. Festivities begin at 6 p.m.