The Oscars and the Castro Theatre came together like two gay cowboys.

The second annual event on March 5 entitled, Castro Loves Oscar, was produced by the Theatre in association with ABC7. There were guest appearances by the likes of Willy Wonka, an Oompa Loompa and a barn full of tassel wearing cowboys. For $20, guests watched the 78th Annual Academy Awards show while feasting on hors d’oeuvres and champagne. Some of the proceeds went to ABC's initiative, End Hunger Now.

“I hope that it’s fun,” said Bill Longen, events coordinator/producer for the Castro Theatre. “It’s an inexpensive alternative to all the other stuffy parties.”

Guests were encouraged to dress up as their favorite Oscar contender and “to cheer on those handsome Cowboys to victory!” The movie, Brokeback Mountain, appeared to be the crowd favorite as most of the people were dressed up in cowboy hats and boots. But out of the 600 plus guests in attendance, Rachael Kalicun was among those given the most attention. Her Willy Wonka costume won her an award for best costume as did the Oompa Loompa attire worn by her husband, Vlod. The couple was awarded brand new watches.

“The only time I get to dress up is on Halloween,” said Kalicun, who adorned a purple top hat and red wig to complete the ensemble.

However, most of the guests did not go fully clad in costumes, choosing to go in casual attire instead. But those who did take the time to dress up, critics might say they were suited for the red carpet in Beverly Hills.

“We thought everyone was going to dress up,” Sosa said, as she looked down at her sparkling turquoise dress and then around at the crowd of people who were clothed in jeans and sweaters. “It’s kind of lame.”

“It’s the Oscars!” said Andy Wright and Erica Sosa in unison about why they had shown up in evening gowns.

As the awards show progressed, loud cheers and hollers followed Brokeback Mountain in every category it was nominated. The crowd went crazy and swung their cowboy hats in the air when the movie won for Best Screenplay Adaptation.

However, one award that few in the audience seemed to care about was for sound mixing, which went to King Kong. Two SF State alumni, Ethan Van Der Ryn and Christopher Boyes, received an Oscar for their work on the movie.

During the commercial breaks, the sound to the awards show was put to mute, and local ABC news anchor, Frances Dinglasan, and coordinator Bill Longen held trivia contests for prizes. SF State students gave some of the answers.

“They only let me answer two of them but I knew the answers to most of them,” said Richard Heredia-Aarriaga, 19, a cinema major, who attended the event with others from the Cinema Collective, a student organization at SF State.

Spensser Nottage, 20, also a cinema major said it was the best Oscar night ever. “Usually I’m at home in front of the TV,” he said.

When the category of Best Picture was announced, the crowd went wild when Brokeback Mountain was mentioned. The crowd fell silent as actor Jack Nicholson opened the envelope to reveal who had won the most anticipated award of the night.

When Nicholson declared the movie, Crash, as the winner, audience reaction at the Theatre was mixed. Some applauded while others put their hands over their mouths while their eyes widened in shock.

“No, no!” said a viewer, and then some of the crowd started to boo.

However, not everyone’s night was ruined. SF State theater major, Natalie Christov, 20, said she had a wonderful time and added one last thought.

“One day we’re all going to be there,” Christov said, as she turned to look at her fellow peers and then up at the screen where the Oscars had just been shown. “I will be getting an award for best actress.”