The battle of Webster Hall
AFTER the owners of Webster Hall, the Ballinger family, struck a $35 million deal to sell the famed concert hall, an ex of co-owner Steve Ballinger is now suing for a slice of the profits.
Ivanna Marshall, the “penniless” former longtime partner of Ballinger, went to court in Manhattan on Friday to sue him for alimony. She argues they were in a relationship for more than 30 years, and split in 1996. They have two adult sons.
She told Page Six, “He has left me penniless, and only pays me around $500 a month. I brought up his two sons and he has abandoned me. I have no job, I have been sick for a long time, and have no health insurance.”
She said her home is in foreclosure, and that she can’t afford food and must go to a food bank to eat. While she had full custody of their sons when they were minors, the two are now adults and are in New York working with their father.
While Marshall and Ballinger were never formally married, she hopes the New York courts will recognize their union as a common-law marriage.
Ballinger and his family took over the 2,500person-capacity Webster Hall in 1989, though it’s been an East Village institution since 1886. Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra have recorded there, and more recently Metallica and Wiz Khalifa have performed there.
In April, it was announced that the Ballinger family had struck a $35 million deal to sell the 131- year-old music venue to Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment — the team behind Barclays Center — which is teaming up with AEG-backed Bowery Presents to take over operations.
In Friday’s court hearing, Marshall asked for $25,000 upfront, but the judge denied the money. Ballinger — who did not return calls for comment — claimed he is merely an employee of Webster Hall and isn’t getting the millions from the sale. They will appear in court again on July 26.
Marshall’s attorney, Steven Gildin, said, “My client is disappointed that the judge didn’t give her any money upfront to get her back on her feet, but we are confident that in the end she will prevail.”