r1b2

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:59:20 -0500

It's horrible that money tears families apart, whether they're families like the Cleavers or freaks like the Kristals. Root of all evil.

blablanyc

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:46:44 -0500

TuraLura - You must know my peeps. Because they said the same thing about Hilly. Especially about the licensing and not protecting himself from the knock-offs. Hilly's coke problem didn't help either.

REALITY CHECK

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:05:05 -0500

If life was fair, Hilly's leftover money would be divided and spread evenly to every performer who ever graced the stage of CBGB. Because, in the end, it was the artists who made the club have value—not Hilly, not the wife, not the kids.

TuraLura

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:55:37 -0500

This isn't just "a bitter coda to the story of a beloved New York institution." This is the culmination of an intense feud that's raged since Karen Kristal won the CBGB's liquor license as part of her settlement in what must have been a very contentious divorce. This is the final act. Old folks like me (I worked for Hilly 1986-1987) will remember the Hilly-Lisa/Karen-Dana divide (Dana Kristal is Lisa's younger brother, who must be in his mid-late 40s by now), and how Karen controlled the Sunday hardcore matinees like a ruthless witch. It's no surprise that Hilly never let Karen know just how much his licensing deals were worth. It's also no surprise that Hilly and Lisa deliberately cut Karen and Dana out. When I worked there, you had to take sides, and you had to side with Hilly. At the same time, you had to be nice to Karen because she had the leverage of the liquor license and therefore the power to make it all go away at any time (she frequently threatened to close the club). She and her son were very close, very obnoxious and very unpopular. They really seemed to feel the old man owed them, and he obviously disagreed. Maybe they're doing this to try to keep the will in probate so they can force Lisa to make a settlement and squeeze out one last taste. Hilly as I recall was kind of eccentric and had a gruff manner but was also kindly and fun once you won him over. He loved to cook, he really enjoyed being around young people, he knew a lot of interesting characters from the neighborhood and from the rock world who would stop by and visit him at the club. It's the (messy) end of an era.

Snoopy

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:45:39 -0500

These people need a good Jewish lawyer to settle this matter.

Gothamist: Fight for Hilly Kristal's Money Continues

r1b2

blablanyc

REALITY CHECK

TuraLura

Snoopy