Rock ‘n’ Bowl : Trend: The combination of bowling and music videos, games, prizes and live entertainment is scoring big with people of all ages at many Orange County venues.

Listening to the music of Aerosmith and other pop heroes while balls are rumbling and pins are tumbling pretty much defines one of the Southland’s newest crazes--Rock ‘n’ Bowl.

While it may not fit everybody’s image of life at the bowling alley, Rock ‘n’ Bowl is making strikes by combining bowling with music videos, games, prizes and live entertainment.

Rock ‘n’ Bowl began after it became apparent that many young bowlers were hitting the alleys with their own musical entertainment in the forms of personal cassette players and radios.

Regal Lanes in Orange, one of many Orange County bowling facilities featuring Rock ‘n’ Bowl, has offered this diversion for about six years, according to its operations manager, Jeanie Tharp.

Enthusiasm for the combination of entertainments is growing fast. When Rock ‘n’ Bowl first started at Regal Lanes, Tharp said, “there were about 15 people that came on a regular basis.” She said the turnout at the 72-lane alley on any given Saturday night now is up to about 80, though attendance drops somewhat during the summer.

The idea of incorporating Rock ‘n’ Bowl at Regal Lanes, Tharp said, “came from our kids. They all wanted to see the videos while they bowled.”

The music videos are played above each lane on monitor screens that are usually reserved for displaying bowling scores.

Rock ‘n’ Bowl is more than its name implies, though.

Imagine people of all ages lying flat on their stomach to roll the ball down the alley. Or hiking the ball, football style, to their partners, who then take aim at the pins.

Sue Rawlinson, who has served the last four years as Regal Lanes’ coordinator for Rock ‘n’ Bowl night, is responsible for getting people together for these “fun throws” and other activities. One of which she likes to call “a strike session.”

“If they get a strike, they get a free game,” said Rawlinson, adding that winners must not only make the strike but must also “jump around, scream and make a lot of noise about it” before they receive their prize.

“Rock ‘n’ Bowl draws in people from all walks of life,” said Tharp, who added that the age range is from 10 to adults in their 40s and 50s.

Rawlinson added that the special nights are great for generating new business. “A lot of kids will come in here that haven’t ever bowled before, and they have a really great time,” she said.

Kari Martin, 12, from Orange, recently visited Regal Lanes for her second Rock ‘n’ Bowl outing, and said she will definitely return. The atmosphere created by the music videos and the games helps to make bowling a social event for young people.

“We come both to bowl and to meet people,” Martin said.

El Toro’s Dan Peterson, who is past his teen-age years, said he comes to Rock ‘n’ Bowl nights because “the facilities here are so good, and the music really makes it much more entertaining. We want to get into a league.”

Rawlinson is already one step ahead: “We’ve formed an entire league just for Rock ‘n’ Bowl.”

Rock ‘n’ Bowl at Regal Lanes costs $9 for all the bowling you can do between the hours of 9 and 11 p.m. Saturday night. Other county bowling alleys offering late-night entertainment include:

Brunswick Rossmoor Bowl--Once every two or three months in Seal Beach, a midnight-to-8 a.m. bowling party is presented, featuring video games, pizza, breakfast and an assortment of activities. Cost is $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and the next all-nighter is planned for Oct. 26. There are 40 lanes and attendance averages between 30 and 60.

Forest Lanes Bowling Center--Rock ‘n’ Bowl is presented in El Toro on Friday nights between midnight and 2 a.m. for $8.50. A disc jockey plays prerecorded music. There are 40 lanes and attendance averages between 20 and 30.

Fountain Bowl--Rock ‘n’ Bowl is presented in Fountain Valley on Friday nights between midnight and 3 a.m. for $8, though special prices are available. A disc jockey plays prerecorded music and there are prize drawings and bowling contests. There are 60 lanes and attendance averages 190.

Garden Grove Bowling Center--Rock ‘n’ Bowl is presented from midnight to 4 a.m. for $8 on Friday and $9 on Saturday, though special prices are available. The last Saturday of each month is KNAC Night, when a disc jockey from the station appears at the center with two or three live bands. Admission to KNAC Night is $12 for those who want to bowl and $8 for those who just want to listen to the bands. There are 32 lanes and attendance averages between 200 and 300 on KNAC Night, otherwise between 50 and 100. Management has recently begun a Junior Rock ‘n’ Bowl, which runs from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. each Wednesday with a $5 admission.

Irvine Lanes--Rock ‘n’ Bowl is presented from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday nights for $7. In addition to prerecorded music, there are prize drawings and bowling contests. There are 40 lanes and attendance averages about 80.

Westminster Lanes-- Rock ‘n’ Bowl is presented Friday and Saturday from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. for $7.50. A disc jockey plays recorded music and there are prize drawings. There are 40 lanes and attendance averages 200.

Sue Rawlinson, who is in charge of special events at Regal Lanes, announces the winner of a free bowling pass on Rock ‘N’ Bowl night.