By TOM CHESEK • CORRESPONDENT • November 14, 2009

There are legends, and there are Legends — so when a bona fide show business Legend consents to an interview by phone, well, that's a phone call you dress up for.

The people at Algonquin Arts certainly know the value of a Legend - which is why, when it came time to plan their first in a projected series of Celebrity Benefits events, they turned to one of the most iconic stars in the business — an evergreen by the name of Madame — to help raise funds for the restoration of the venerable Algonquin Theatre in Manasquan. For those who need refreshing, Madame — and really, was a second name ever even necessary? — is that grande dame of stage and screen who became a household word in the 1970s and 80s, through her partnership with the late comic ventriloquist Wayland Flowers.

A funnier, friendlier Norma Desmond for the age — with a Mae West-sized playbook of double-entendre jokes and a legacy of alleged liaisons with multiple generations of Hollywood leading men — Madame staked out an appeal that embraced the largely gay audience of the cabaret circuit, as well as the mainstream millions who tuned in weekly to the era-defining music program "Solid Gold," a stint about which she quips, "There's no such thing as solid gold — only old, dyed platinum blonde."

The polished performer with the brash, acerbic, tell-it-like-it-is persona was all over the tube in those days, from talk and variety shows to countless episodes of "The Hollywood Squares" and even her own syndicated sitcom, "Madame's Place." It was a grueling schedule for both Wayland and Madame, who recalls her TV heyday with, "one thing they don't tell you when you do a sitcom, is that sit-com doesn't include sit-down!"

"I did 75 episodes in one season," says Madame. "Poor Wayland was never off his back. That made two of us!"With Wayland's passing in 1988, Madame went into a self-imposed seclusion that only recently ended with her first tour of live shows in years.

"When I lost Wayland I lost more than a handler — he was my friend," recalls Madame in a rare serious moment. "Sometimes I feel like he's still up there inside of me."

These days, Madame has a new man on her arm — handler Rick Skye, who's been known to do an acclaimed Liza Minnelli tribute (and who apparently put aside much of his solo stardom aspirations for a chance to work with Madame). The duo brings their touring show "It's Madame—with an E!" to the Algonquin stage on Saturday, for an evening of songs, stories and smart talk that's said to include "something new, something borrowed, and something oh-so-very blue. So leave the little ones at home!"

While the Madame-Skye partnership has borne fruit for both performers, there's never any doubt as to who's the star of the show.

"Rick's gonna be in the dark — none of that upstaging for me when we're working together," declares Madame, who adds, "to even things out I let him write and direct!"

The ageless star, who claims to stay abreast of the latest trends in social networking ("I get so many Tweets it feels like I have vibrating panty hose") has found a renewed sense of purpose in her live appearances, with a mission to cheer up a nation that needs to "get together, get out there and have a good time."

"We're all too isolated these days — believe me, I know what it's like to live your life inside a box," she says. "There's no substitute for having a good time and laughing together. That's what's been missing."

"It's Madame — with an E" plays at 8 p.m. Saturday, with a VIP champagne and dessert reception to follow onstage after the performance. Tickets ($30 for general admission, $50 for preferred seating and reception) and additional information can be obtained by calling 732-528-9211 or visiting www.algonquinarts.com.