History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - People - Bios

 
Angelo Aiello aka 'Angel'

Born:
Died:

unknown
1978
Primary Involvements:

 
Business (bar) Owner

 

 

 

       
 

Angelo Aiello (widely known as 'Angel') and his wife Bettie are primarily known as owners and operators of the Mint Bar in downtown Milwaukee for over 25 years. Angelo is first listed in City Directory as a bartender there in 1958, and first listed as owner in 1960. He continued to own and manage the bar until his death in 1978.

Even before that, according to contributor 'Bunny' as documented by researcher Michail Takach, Angelo Angelo learned how to bartend at the Legion Bar (open throughout the 1940's until it closed by 1949), and there apparently picked up the business model of quietly catering to gay customers. (Unlike other bartenders at The Legion Bar however, he apparently did not allow gay men to give each other hand jobs and blow jobs "behind the jukebox" there-- which Bunny stated was the appeal of the Legion Bar.) Although first listed as a bartender at Mint in 1958, he is said to have taken his knowledge of catering to gay men over to the Mint Bar in 1949, when the Legion Bar closed, and when the Mint Bar was opened by Christ T. Mares.

Any additional information about this person is welcome.

 


Wife Bettie, In Memoriam, April 1992 InStep

Credits: bar history by Don Schwamb.
Additional information contributed by Michail Takach.
Last updated: July-2021.

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