Person

George Bemis

Milwaukee

Biography

George Bemis was a former Milwaukee police sergeant who became a gay bar operator, taking over the Fox bar in 1964. He also owned the nearby New Yorker Lounge until the mid-1970s.

Facts

Associated City: Milwaukee
Roles: Business owner
Associated Businesses: The Fox (Fox Bar), New Yorker Lounge

Sources

Research adapted from the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. Archive page links below point to archive.wislgbthistory.com; for current news and community events, visit wislgbthistory.com.

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project — George Bemis (retrieved 2026-06-01)

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