NORTHUMBERLAND -- These days, it's rare to see the terms "good, clean family fun" and "professional wrestling" in the same sentence.

But according to Bob Long, that's just what you'll get at the first-ever "Rumble at the Rice" on Saturday.

The event, put on by the East Coast Professional Wrestling, will feature a number of pro wrestlers -- both young and old -- including Doink the Clown, Mr. U.S.A. Tony Atlas, Andrew Anderson and Red Hot Russ, among others. It will be held in the gymnasium at C.W. Rice Middle School, on 4th and Hanover streets.

Proceeds from the show benefit the Second Street Community Center.

Mr. Long, who is involved with the borough's recreation committee, said he was trying to think of an event "that would be good for the borough and be good for families and raise money at the same time."

After doing some research on the Internet, he found East Coast Professional Wrestling and brought the idea to his wife, Noelle, a member of the Second Street committee.

"I thought, Well, there's no way this is going to go with (the committee),'"‰" she said. "I thought they'd just shoot me down. But they said, That's a great idea.' And we just went with it."

Mr. Long, a former pro wrestling fan himself, said the event will be somewhat nostalgic for him. "I remember being a kid, watching Tony Atlas with my mom," he said, and Saturday's show will be a throwback to those days.

"It's a family-friendly event," he said. "You're not going to see anyone getting hit in the head with a chair. No one's going through a table. This is wrestling your grandmother or grandfather probably watched."

They sold tickets during the Halloween Walk and the Fall Festival and the initial reaction has been very positive, he said. "People are thrilled about it."

General admission is $10 and ringside seats are $15. Tickets can be purchased on-line at the Northumberland Borough Web site, www.northumberlandborough.com, or at the borough office.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the matches begin at 7 p.m.

Mrs. Long said construction at the former Second Street School started last Monday. The first phase of the project includes the addition of utilities, window replacement and other "big-ticket items," she said.

Donations toward the Second Street project can be sent to the borough office.

n E-mail comments to rscott@dailyitem.com.