Pirate's Den, previously known as The Forum Bar, was on the northwest corner of 12th & Vine Streets in Milwaukee. Contributors remember it as a crowded bar that was lots of fun, definitely a "gay bar". Out-of-towners found it by going north on 12th from Jesu Church. Locals often called it "12th and Vine" so outsiders wouldn’t know what they were talking about.

The bar was first listed in various national Gay Guides in 1963-1965 as The Forum, but beginning in 1966 most listings show it variously as "Pirate's Den, formerly The Forum". It is unclear whether this was simply a change of name, or also a change of ownership. (Norman J. Komassa was listed as owner of the Forum in a mid-1960's City Directory.)

With the publication of Milwaukee's and Wisconsin's first LGBT peridodical in 1971 (the 'GPU News'), the bar was occasionally advertised as "Marie's Get Involved Lounge" and later as "Marie's (Get Involved) Lounge". Again, we don't know whether this was simply a change of name, or also a change of ownership.

National Gay Guides continued to list the bar as "Pirate's Den, formerly The Forum" as late as 1973, even though "GPU News" was posting advertisements as "Marie's Get Involved Lounge" from December 1971 through April 1972. (All ads included the words "Hot Tamales" and "Black-White Bar".) After April 1972, it is no longer referred to in any local publications.

Thus this building/ location was host for at least three LGBT bar names that we know of:

• Forum (early 1960s-1965)
  
• Pirate's Den (1965-1971)
  
• Marie's Get Involved Lounge (1971-1972)

Listings in early "Gay Guides": (For more information on the Guides, click here.)

1963, Lavendar Baedeker   History of the Baedeker Guides   Index Notes: Listed as "Forum"	1964, "Directory 43"   Title Page   Introduction Notes: Listed as "Forum"	1964 Guild Guide   Title pg   Editors note   Note concl Notes: Listed as "Forum"
1964 Lavender Baedeker Guide   History of Baedeker Guides Notes: Listed as "Forum"	1965 International Guild Guide   Title pg   Editor's note   Codes Notes: Listed as "Forum"	1966 Bob Damron's Address Book     Publisher note Notes: Now listed as "Pirate's Den"
1966 International Guild Guide     Title pg   Editors note Notes: Listed as "Forum"	1966 Lavender Baedeker Guide     Back page Notes: Listed as "Forum"	1966 Male World Guide     Index, excerpt Notes: Listed as "Forum"
1967 International Guild Guide     Title pg Notes: Listed as "Pirate's Den, formerly Forum"	1968 Bob Damron's Address Book     Title pg   Editors note   Codes Notes: Listed as "Pirate's Den"	1969 International Guild Guide     Title pg   Editors note   Codes Notes: Listed as "Pirate's Den, formerly Forum"
1970 International Guild Guide     Title pg   Editors note   Codes Notes: Listed as Pirate's Den, formerly The Forum; "Rough Neighborhood"		1973 Guild Guide     Title pg   Editors note   Codes Notes: Listed as Pirate's Den, formerly The Forum; "Rough Neighborhood"