Historian Michail Takach, archivist of this web site, wrote the following history of Sally's and the later Gaytime Bar, in 2021:

June 29, 1944: Milwaukee Common Council overrides police, Army and Navy objections to offer Peter Antross "one more chance" at a tavern license. Antross owns the controversial Sally's Cocktail Bar (731 N. 4th St.)-- popular with gay men, hustlers, hookers and other "unsavories" -- and reformers want the bar gone!

The Armed Forces had listed Sally's as "strictly out of bounds" for servicemen -- even though it was directly across the street from the USO office -- because it was *the* leading source of venereal disease infection in Milwaukee.

"Certain individuals who loiter in Sally's Cocktail Bar have been traced as the source of infection," said the Milwaukee Journal. They do not mention women. Multiple "disorderly conduct" and "solicitation" arrests occurred at Sally's between 1941 and 1944. In each case, the culprit was subject to a court-ordered medical examination, a psychiatric exam, and a hefty fine. Some were even jailed -- with bail set as high as $1,000. "Sally's is a notorious hell hole," said a judge in 1942, when Antross lost his tavern license. "I can see no reason why it should be allowed to continue."

Antross had been in trouble with the law eight times since 1932, when he was arrested for serving liquor during Prohibition at the "Hi-Way 15 Cafe" (619 W. Kilbourn.) More recently, he was arrested four times in one summer for serving liquor outside serving hours. Local papers question why the Council is giving a man with almost a dozen arrests another liquor license. They point out that Antross has been illegally operating Sally's under "sheer subterfuge" -- after losing his license in 1942, he installed his brother as the licenseholder and remained in control of the business. The Common Council is unusually unconcerned. They warn Antross AND the propery owner: even one more violation and the tavern license will be permanently revoked, and no bar would be allowed to operate at 731 N. 4th Street ever again.

Walter Malotzke, licensing chairman, issues the license with one condition: Antross must change the name of the bar. "Sally's is too well known among the worst elements of town," he said. "The name Sally's attracts a certain type of customer."

Antross promises to change the name. He offers the Common Council his suggestion and they agree it's far more respectable. The license is granted. Shortly afterwards, the Gaytime Bar opens for business. (No joke!)