Torres-Gil added that during the AIDS epidemic, the club became a “hub for community support and fundraising,” and Charot and his friend Bob Tomasino, who later ran Oil Can Harry’s, raised money for AIDS relief. … It famously utilized a spy hole in the entry door and an internal siren system to alert patrons to police presence, allowing them to halt same-sex dancing or activity.”
“Despite initially being met with protests by its Studio City neighbors, Oil Can Harry’s quickly became a safe haven for the gay community.
