Pulsations Behind the Scenes

The following will be an ongoing list of stories and memories of the Pulsations Nightclub and the Encore Dinner Theater. Stories can be emailed to PulsationsNightclub@Yahoo.com to be published on here.
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Interesting story from Alan Fierstein, owner of Acoustilog Inc, the designer of Pulsations' interior acoustics. Thanks Alan!

I designed the interior acoustics at Pulsations when it first was built from the ground up. Richard Long (RLA) was the sound system designer and installer. I worked with Richard after he brought me in on the project. I had already designed the RLA X2000 and X3000 crossovers which he was selling to all his club customers. The owner of the club was the Altemose Group, headed by Leon Altemose. Leon was a former rogue contractor who fought the union contractors and won, but not before getting beaten up a bit. Leon wanted the best club in the Philadelphia area and had his team of in-house architects and contractors build it. At that point Leon owned the Sheraton Valley Forge, and a number of other commercial properties. He took a trip to New York and visited Studio 54, another RLA installation, and decided to partially copy it for his club, complete with descending lightshow poles. On opening night, the press was there in force. I heard that a light fixture fell from the high ceiling and struck a female reporter, killing her. In the evening, the club was called Encore, a supper club with entertainment such as variety acts and animals. Later at night the large RLA speakers would come out of the floor on hydraulic lifts and the space would reopen as a dance club. The loud music would start and neighbors a few hundred feet away would complain about the “pulsations” leaking from the club. I had to make a number of late-night visits before I could make recommendations. Basically, there were a few weak spots at the doors and windows, and the entire wall was vibrating from the large subwoofer bass.

Richard got onto the (Urei) amps after having a lot of problem with Crowns and the Crown rep. When we were demonstrating his system one year at the AES show in NY with my TDS-1 (Time Delay System) which was the first electrtonic club time-alignment system to match the ultimas with the levan horn 8 foot path length, he went around to various exhibits and saw the Urei exhibit. Urei was making a "time-aligned" loudspeaker which , being passive, I didn't think was really time-aligned, but we went over to see their booth. Urei was thinking of getting into the club market and Richard agreed to use their amps and became a dealer for them. They also made a copy of the Bozak mixer called the Urei mixer. I remember Richard telling them to use rotary pots instead of sliders if they wanted him to push it; they did. This was also the convention at which Don "DB" Keele from JBL was in NY and we brought him to the Garage to see the system. He was quite impressed.

Alan Fierstein, Acoustilog Inc. 19 Mercer Street NY NY 10013 (212) 925 1365 (212) 966 4216 fax
www.acoustilog.com
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The Metal group Cinderella filmed their video for "Shake Me" at Pulsations.. Thanks to Greg Smith.
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Pulsations... The first reply to hearing that name conjures up memories of the biggest bad-ass nightclub this side of Studio 54. As I entered the glass entrance, there was a feel of something-awaits-you that you will NEVER forget. Let's start with the friendly door people. They would check my I.D. and whisk me away to the ticket booth (backing up to the Interlude-alternative room). From the looks of it, those party goers had their fill of New Order, Dead Milkmen, and The Cure. They seemed like a very happy bunch and i might join them as the night is young. But, as I entered the main room at Pulsations they were playing "The Bird" by "The Time" with a dance instructor on a platform. The whole f@#$%# place was going nuts.. you had my attention. I have never seen so many people dance and enjoy themselves. After that part was over, the DJ played a set of the best New Wave music I have ever heard! I found a seat at a bar and was really soaking in the place. The bartenders were great! Then came the robot with his spaceship landing at midnight.. HOLY CRAP!!! I could not believe what i was seeing!! His name was Pulsar and made a huge introduction to the dance floor! There is no club around here that could compete with this. peroid! This robot would talk to girls and try to pick them up. Quite a funny experience. The rest of the night consisted of great mixes from The Romantics, The Fixx, Section 25, and Erasure! Four years later the club closed down but I'm glad to share these memories! Long Live Pulsations! A BIG thank you goes to whoever made this website and the pictures! *Anonymous author* *Webmaster's note: Thanks for the kind words. Our group members have submitted most of the photos and they should be commended!*
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-Bartending-
I started bartending in '82. I was in college when I found I needed a part time job. I realized I could clear $300 a week working 3 shifts. I'd learn about paying taxes later. The downfall (?), I couldn't make it to 8:00a.m. classes after working until 4a.m. the night before. The result, I dropped out of college. I did manage to stick it out for another year after much creative class scheduling and rescheduling to obtain my Associates Degree in Business Administration. I was proud of myself for making it through the 2nd year. Awarded my degree, I had it framed and gave it to my Father. After all, he'd paid for it. He told me he knew just where to hang it. My degree would be proudly displayed on his bathroom wall so, just in case he ran out of toilet paper, he'd have something to wipe his a$% with. My Dad was very proud that I had chosen to piss away college to bartend. To a happier time...after a summer of bartending in Wildwood, NJ (I was 20 and it was the best summer of my life), I knew I had to prove myself and find the best job I could in my new chosen profession. As luck would have it, that job existed 45 short minutes from home. Let me tell you, it was the hottest club in 4 states with 14 bars and a capacity of 3000. I started bartending in this club in the middle of '84. To make a long story short, I'll jump to 1987. Now, I've been at the same club for 3 years. This was the summer that Corporate Management decided it would be a great idea to bring in the "New York Chippendales". They were right. We were able to open the club on Monday and Tuesday nights with a capacity crowd of a species that I am ashamed to belong to. A crowd we referred to as the "Chip&Ho's." A line of men wrapped around the building, waiting outside to partake of the drunken women who had spent the earlier part of the night being seriously over-poured while having thong-sported, w#@%rs swung at them. These women were ready for anything. The ordinary men couldn't compete with the Chips and the Chips were also ready for anything. The consequences? Big time sex. In the club, on the stairs, under the stairs, in the parking lot, women waiting in line to get into the hotel suites in the club. It was crazy. Naked people everywhere you turned, having sex! Well, the staff could be forgiven for taking advantage of a dancer, host, waiter or two or three. They were hot!
**Webmaster's note: Sounds like something from Studio 54**
*Anonymous author*
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When Barry sent the invitation for the '98 reunion, the club was being razed. I wanted to go there to see if I could find something, anything from the club to give to people at the reunion. So, I took the dog for a nice, long ride to Rt.1, Glen Mills, PA. I pulled into the parking lot next to where the building used to stand. All that was left was the paved lot and the loading dock. Among piles of dirt, was one, lone man on a backhoe. With 135lb. Rottweiller in toe, I approached the man. I wanted to tell him why I was there so he didn't think I was some freak. Funny thing. He was just sitting there in the backhoe, no engine running, right in the middle of the dirt piles, looking very confused. I think I scared him when I said, "Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I worked at Pulsations for 6 years. We're having a reunion and I want to look around for something from the club to take with me." He says, "You worked at this place for 6 years?" I'm like, "Yeah?" He says, "Girl, you must be an Angel sent to me from Heaven. I've been out here for three days trying to find the concrete encasements for the hydraulics systems that were in this joint! They have to come out. Do you know where they are?" He got down from the backhoe and followed me. And I'm like, "O.K.I have to walk up to where the front doors used to be, now we're going through the lobby, through the double doors, turn right, Moving Bar." First hydraulic system I know of. Christ, I had so much fun on that bar, but that's another story. So I'm standing there, pointing at the ground, he jumps in the backhoe, pulls up and drops the shovel. Hits it square on. He's going "There's two more, two more!!! Do you know where they are?" I'm thinking, Speaker Stacks, Cherry Pickers? O.K., Let's try to figure out where the left and right sides of the dance floor were. I could only give him a general area for them, but he was so very thankful. I was glad I could help, sniff, sniff. So, I rummaged around a little and found parts of the legs that wrapped the building. Couldn't miss them. Mauve on one side, Sea Foam Green on the other. I'd walked past them so many times and didn't really notice until I saw the pieces in the rubble. I knew exactly what I'd found. Grabbed as much as I could, and with dog on leash in one hand and pieces of the past in the other, got in the car and went to the Hilltop for a beer!
*Anonymous author*
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You know you worked at Encore/Pulsations when...
- your friends would do a "gotcha" by yelling "CAT IN THE HALL !!"
- you were absolutely sick of "Green Beans Almondine"
*Courtesy of Stage Crew*
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Concerts:
Joe Jackson - January 13, 1986
Southside Johnny & The Jukes - February 17, 1986
Kingfish w/ Bob Weir - March 3, 1986
Gregg Allman Band w/ Dickie Betts - March 18, 1986
Marshall Tucker Band - June 9, 1986
Waylon Jennings - June 30, 1986
Simply Red - August 18, 1986
Hot Tuna - August 25, 1986
Robin Trower - October 17, 1986
Charlie Watts Orchestra - December 1, 1986
The Human League - ?? 1986
Debbie Gibson - ?? 1986

"Lords of Illusion" ~ 120 runs
"Al Anthony's Superstars '85" ~ 160 runs

*Thanks to Stage Crew for the info!*
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Spellbound Show at Encore Q & A

Q: What were the 5 basic magic tricks?
1 - Appear
2 - Disappear
3 - Transpose
4 - Mutilate
5 - Levitate

Q: What famous actress is Charlotte PenDragon
a permanent stunt double for?

A: Morgan Brittainy of "Dallas" fame

Q: Who did Jonathan do the stunt work for in the
movie "The Blues Brothers"?

A: John Belushi

Q: How many cats does Carlton & Co. have?

A: 10

4 Spotted Leopards:
Siam
Samatra
D.C.
Genii

4 Tigers:
Toby
Sadat
Ronnie
Xanadu

2 Black Panthers:
Samson
Friday

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Pulsations Sound System Q & A

Q: How many speakers are in the sound system?

A: 54 (Studio 54 reference)

Q: How much power is the produced by the sound system?
A: 25,000 Watts
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Got something to add? Send it to us in an email: PulsationsNightclub@Yahoo.com

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