On New Year's Eve 2014, D'Arcy Drollinger opened Oasis, a queer nightclub in San Francisco. Despite challenges, including securing loans and renovations, the venue opened its doors to a sold-out crowd. The opening night featured a performance by Drollinger and co-founder Heklina, captivating the audience with a glamorous rendition of a disco classic. This event marked the beginning of Oasis's journey to becoming a premier destination for drag performers and cabaret arts, earning a reputation over the following decade as a celebrated venue within the LGBTQ+ community.
"There was smoke in the air that looked so dramatic," Drollinger, San Francisco's first drag laureate and the owner of Oasis, told SFGATE over the phone, laughing. "It was dust from the garbage."
"It felt like we were against a lot of odds, and we didn't think we would make it," Drollinger said. "And it was electric because there really hadn't been a place the drag performers had made for themselves ever before, especially of that magnitude. It was so exciting and thrilling."
Moments before showtime, they got the green light - just in time for Drollinger and Heklina to kick the night off with their opening number. It was a rendition of Hot Gossip's 1978 disco jam 'I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper.'
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