Pulsations started out in the 1970's as a restaurant on US Route 1 in Glen Mills,Pa called the Longhorn Ranch. This western-themed eatery had multiple seating rooms each having a unique name (Brandywine, Chadds Ford,Concord). If you were fortunate to have a birthday party there as a child, the cowgirl waitresses would sing happy birthday and then all shoot off their cap guns. In the front lobby stood a LARGE bull made out of plastic and wood. The children would have to climb a staircase attached to the side to get their photos taken on top of the bull. Once inside, there was a sprawling arcade with old claw-type prize and pinball games. There was even a souvineer shop next to the arcade. The Longhorn resembled restaurants like Stuckey's and Cracker Barrel found on I-95 in the Southeast U.S.
Pulsations debuted in 1983 in the same location after the Longhorn was torn down. The club shared the same space with the Encore Dinner Theater which opened first. The dinner theater hosted Broadway and Las Vegas style shows. The first show was "Razzle Dazzle" followed by "Spellbound", "Lords of Illusion", "Al Anthony's Superstars", and a 66 week run of the Chippendales Male Revue show. The original concept of a dinner theater/nightclub was faulty and the dinner theater was discontinued due to low profits.
The concept for success at Pulsations was the large, real-time cinematic experience. This hit you just by looking into the HUGE mirrored glass entrance, you realized you are in for something extraordinary. Once inside, patrons enjoyed moving bars, 11 levels, a gift shop, snack bar, VIP room, Alternative Music Room (The "A" Room) and choreographed dance shows. Add to that one of the most spectacular lighting and sound systems in the world and you've barely scratched the surface of Pulsations. One of the main attractions, was a robot named "Pulsar" who would descend from his 22-foot spaceship (Genesis 1)at midnight and would flirt with the female patrons. Pulsar was designed by International Robotics of New York. The sound system was designed by Richard Long & Associates (now Gary Stewart Audio) the same designers for The Paradise Garage and Studio 54 in NYC.
Sunday nights usually lured 2,500 kids from the tri-state area for "teen night" The usual line to get in stretched around the building and into the rear parking lots. Pulsar would also make an appearance, interacting with the kids.
Some of the music acts to apperar at Pulsations were: Expose, Dead or Alive, Tiffany, Cover Girls, Adam Ant, Snap, Debbie Gibson, Freeze, T'Pau, and Anthrax to name a few. Portions of the major motion picture, Mannequin II - On the Move, was also shot right in the club. The actors used the spaceship and the fly-in track.
Financial troubles hit and notoriety followed in 1994 when the new owners of the club tried to introduce female exotic dancers. The community revolted, and the g-strings only lasted a few months. In the 90's, the owners twice filed for bankrupcy to avert a sheriff's sale sparked by non payment of taxes. The courts finally closed Pulsations in 1994. The following year, a tornado ripped off the back wall of the dormant building.
On Monday October 27, 1997, Pulsations was demolished. A new building was erected on the site to house a retirement community named "New Seasons".
Thanks for visiting! This site is under construction.If you have additional info/corrections, please send to: PulsationsNightclub@yahoo.com
Links
Acoustilog Inc.
International Robotics