Upon news of Zindler's departure from the Harris County Sheriff's Department, KTRK anchor Dave Ward recommended Zindler to the station's assistant news director. The manager just laughed at me. He had his own producer and cameraman as well as his own editing suite at KTRK. A lot of Zindlers charges have been tossed out by justices of the peace, who say that the matters are civil in nature or that no one was hurt by the transaction. Married: November 21, 1969 - July 14, 1975, Source(s): A theft by false pretext charge against a TV repairman who allegedly did not install all the new parts he billed a customer for. 16 men were critically burned when a "fog" of flammable gas escaped and exploded during testing of a unit at the refinery. Zindler's Rat and Roach Reports were traditionally broadcast on Friday nights live during KTRK's 6 p.m. newscast and rebroadcast later during the station's 10 p.m. newscast. It just felt like science fiction that was coming to life.". Marvin Harold Zindler (August 10, 1921 July 29, 2007) was a news reporter for television station KTRK-TV in Houston, Texas, United States. The case was the basis for the musical and movie Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.. It was a whole page of Marvin Zindlers.. BY ANCESTRY.COM. Welcome to AncientFaces, a com "Thank you for helping me find my family & friends again so many years after I lost them. Then, with lights glaring and microphones in front of him, Zindler and the stores lawyer, looking slightly embarrassed and confused, made their announcements. Wed go on a date in high school and hed drop me off at 9:30 or 10. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Mike Robinson / Houston Chronicle HOUCHRON CAPTION (07/24/1977): The breakdown of bus air conditioners is one of the major complaints by city bus passengers. Then he went into law enforcement, joining the Harris County Sheriffs Department in 1962, hunting fugitives and establishing the Consumer Fraud Division. February 15, 1977: Housing along Heights Boulevard is seen through the gazebo at the neighborhood park. He died on July 29, 2007 in Houston. Estimates placed the membership as high as 8000 persons who had invested more than $10 million. He is known for Eyewitness News (1968) and Late Night with David Letterman (1982).. In 1945, in the year that Marvin H. Zindler Jr was born, on April 12th, President Roosevelt died of natural causes and Harry S. Truman, his Vice-President, became the 33rd President of the United States. December 1, 1977: Bissonnet and Academy, looking toward downtown Houston. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media). A district court jury, in what Duvall termed the first major court victory in consumer fraud cases in Houston, convicted Enright last November and gave him a five-year probated sentence. Some problems are resolved over the telephone. "Houston deserves a good TV series and a couple of more movies," he said during a recent visit to here promote his latest film, "Last Flag Flying" starring Steve Carell and Bryan Cranston, opening Nov. 17 locally. The elder Zindler was to make more than $1 million in a clothing store and land dealings and become mayor of the city of Bellaire. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. In the Tussey probe, he says, he had a gut instinct that the firm was illegal, though he didnt know what laws it was violating. The ladys husband came home, found the sales slip for the refrigerator and, after hearing his wifes story, complained to Zindler about the fortune teller. Had it not been for his persistence, we would not have gotten them, Vela says. April 29, 1977: Houston Rockets Moses Malone (21) dunks in game five of first round playoffs against the Washington Bullets at The Summit in Houston. It stays at home in a drawer while he carries a smaller, 9 mm gun. He seems to have an ego that, when he gets an assignment, no matter how large or small, he stays with it.. We share yesterday, to build meaningful connections today, and preserve for tomorrow. The phone jingles and Zindler springs into action. He admits to using the media whenever possible to his own advantage. Ill get em. he said. Among his causes was a medical charity, the Agris-Zindler Childrens Foundation, started with his plastic surgeon, Dr. Joe Agris, and supported in part by profits from a biography that Dr. Agris wrote about his patient, White Knight in Blue Shades.. Marvin Zindler. Marvin and Niki Zindler chat with Jan Carson at the Crohns & Colitis Foundation Winter Ball at the Hilton Americas Hotel on Jan. 21, 2005. Deputy sheriff, TV star, he was everything to everyone. Wherever theres money and people involved, youre going to have problems.. See What AncientFaces Does to discover more about the community. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media), Marvin Zindler was an avid doodler, oftentimes drawing on his printed copies of his broadcast scripts. The flight had left Heathrow Airport in London less than an hour before, on its way to New York. Zindler wears suspenders as well as a belt, not because of an excess of caution, but to help support the extra weight of the pistol and handcuffs he carries around his waist. January 18, 1977: Commuters board HouTran's air-conditioned bus downtown on route 15 - Alabama via Richmond. Now Shes Auctioning Off Her Archive. What was the city of Pasadena and Gilley's like before Hollywood came calling by the end of the decade? Also surviving is his second wife, the former Niki Devine. While working for the newspaper and his father's store, Zindler became dissatisfied with the retail business and in 1962 took a career detour to join the Harris County Sheriff's Office. February 15, 1977: Heights Christian Church, 1703 Heights Blvd., was built in 1927. That was the first story. They looked like the lady might be wearing a wrap, Zindler says. Reportedly, Flournoy waved the hairpiece in the air as if it were a prized enemy scalp and threw it in the street. CB theft is now averaging 200 of the radios a month, Fincher says. we begin to Show & Tell who they were during particular moments in their lives. In 1972, on September 5th, the Palestinian terrorist group Black September, with the assistance of German neo-nazis, kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games in Munich. March 4, 1977: Donny and Marie Osmond in Houston for the 1977 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We dont consider going to court a success, he says. Link to family and friends whose lives he impacted. University of Houston archivist Vince Lee stands amid shelves of boxes containing Marvin Zindler's documents, tapes, and other belongings. What was it like in the '70s as the feud only got worse and worse? He first hit the papers when he won a national twirling contest in high school. He is from USA. The drivers had been on strike since Nov. 24. Marvin Zindler passes away after battle with cancer. Visitors at the Rothko Chapel, seen here in 1977. One man says he had to pay almost twice the agreed figure to get his car back from a repair shop. His favorite eyewear now is a pair of purple tinted glasses, adopted after short, unsuccessful tries at a monocle and a pince nez. Agris, Joseph (2002). Even though she and Marvin Jr. have their own apartment, they visit at Zindlers almost every day., The family is sitting in the den, watching an old Roman gladiator movie on the color TV. Theyre going to be in business tomorrow. Linda was preceded in death by her parents Johnathan and Dorothy McFadden; her husbands parents, Gertrude and Marvin Zindler, Sr.; and her two brothers, David and Charles McFadden. A short sampling of Zindler cases includes: A charge of using the American flag to advertise, filed against the advertising manager of Foleys after the store ran an ad featuring a drawing of Old Glory. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In November 2007, Bellaire Park in Bellaire, Texas was renamed to Bellaire Zindler Park.[26]. Mario Williams. And he knows that its not a story unless someone is there to report it. Can you hold, please? Jerry-built walls provide cubicles for Zindler, the secretaries and Deputy E. L. Adams and Assistant District Attorney Neal Duval, who interview the great majority of complaints. The Zindler family arrived in the U.S. from Austria in the late 1880s. They have moved all their furniture to the second floor of the house and plan to stay after high tides caused by Hurricane Anita were responsible for flooding in the sinking subdivision. . After Jack Heard was elected Sheriff of Harris County in 1972, Zindler was unceremoniously let go, a move that Zindler blamed on agitated car dealers who were alleged to have been rolling back odometers.[5]. [3], At one point in the 1970s, Zindler considered running for Congress as a Republican, and the local GOP commissioned surveys that predicted he would win. The story, along with his trademark reporting style, was instrumental in Zindler signing an unprecedented lifetime contract with Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. and KTRK-TV in September 1988, which he honored. It called for stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and the goal of nuclear disarmament. The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media), Broadcast tapes from Marvin Zindler's stories over the years at KTRK-TV 13. The whole performance was repeated a few minutes later when a third TV crew arrived. Get out of here, goddamn it. Marvin Zindler is shown at KTRK Channel 13 studios on Feb. 9, 2006, in Houston. He doesnt plan to let her recoup, either. Linda Coffee Argued Roe v. Wade. Fincher displays recovered CB radios stolen in the Houston area. Marvin Harold Zindler (August 10, 1921 - July 29, 2007), the famously colorful Houston TV personality, was both admired and criticized for his grandiose style. Marvin Zindler and his wife, Niki Zindler, leave the memorial service for former Enron chairman Ken Lay on July 12, 2006, at First United Methodist Church. This is a carousel. Let others know about your loved one's death. Zindler stories have an almost mystical ability to mushroom and generate other Zindler stories. He now owns a chain of car dealerships in Maryland. Jay R. Jordan 8/10/2021. "The Medical Center, that domed stadium, AstroTurf. Hes like a man with a million slides of the Colorado River.. A theft charge against a roofer who allegedly did not finish a job he contracted for. . 18 of 32 19 of 32 Houston television reporter and personality Marvin Zindler is shown in his office May 30, 2003, . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Marvin Zindler was a larger-than-life character in Houston. ABC 13 reporter Marvin Zindler poses for a portrait with his dog Magic on May 11, 2006, at his home in Houston. A native Houstonian, Marvin was born on the 10th of August 1921 to the late Abe and Udith Mayer Zindler. "No doubt, this has to be the happiest day of my life," said Foyt who won an unprecedented fourth Indianapolis 500 race. It wasnt so embarrassing for them., Even then he was known as The Dapper Deputy because of his always smart, always in-style clothes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Here's one of Marvin Zindler's famous 'rat and roach' reports, from March of 1982.https://abc13.com/ He brings almost unlimited energy and enthusiasm to his job. Deputy Sheriff Marvin Harold Zindler is a hard man to pin down, not only because his considerable energy keeps him moving all over the county, as well as to Austin and Washington and other power centers where consumers have managed to draw the attention of politicians, but also because his complex personality defies neat classification. B. and Udith Zindler in Houston in 1921. All Rights Reserved. The theft case against Texas Motor Exchanges Enright. Zindler freely admits he is no lawyer, but he says he tries to look up the law before he files a case. Gov. As two TV cameramen scurried to set up their lights, and two newspaper reporters lounged against the walls, Zindler moved a bemused complainant to another chair so the man wouldnt be in the picture. Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. These reports soon became famous for Zindler's enthusiastic reports of "sliiiiime in the ice machine! After April 1975 and the fall of Saigon, Houston became a destination for Vietnamese people looking for a better life. He was married to Niki Gale Devine and Gertrude Stella Kugler. brother. Spring 1977: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo calf roping event at the Houston Astrodome. You can damn sure bet hes got the attention of car repairmen now, was a common reaction to the outcome of the case, which is on appeal. A stylish, self-proclaimed public protector battles deception in business and poor taste in fashion. Zindler was also famed in Houston for his self-described Rat and Roach Report, where he read details from his controversial City of Houston Food Inspection Program restaurant reports on the air. In the late '70s, the Houston Oilers became heroes to the city through thick and thin. I wouldnt have arrested them if they had buried the refrigerator, Zindler said. . Most of these restaurants were locally based restaurants, while a handful of them were national chains, including, This page was last edited on 28 January 2023, at 03:58. Some members of the district attorneys staff, men who must prosecute the cases Zindler files, despair at Zindlers zeal, which they feel is untempered with a good working knowledge of the law. Marvin's average age compared to other Zindler family members is unknown. "Bum" Phillips cheers the defense as they hold the line on Denver Broncos second possession of the game. March 4, 1977: There's nothing like having a story read. 2. Zindler died from the cancer at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Texas Medical Center in Houston on July 29, 2007, two nights after what would turn out to be his final newscast.[21][22][23]. Who were the people in Marvin's life? The cause was pancreatic cancer, according to his station, KTRK-TV, an ABC affiliate. Mike Hall writes about criminals, musicians, the law, and barbecue. What was it like for those immigrants coming to a foreign, outsized city like Houston from Asia? After he filed the charge, Zindler called the manager and asked him to come to the courthouse. MARVIN ZINDLER OBITUARY MARVIN HAROLD ZINDLER, SR., a well-known and tenured broadcast journalist, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, the 29th of July 2007. He owns three or four toupees, valued at about $300 apiece. After an exhaustive (and long) investigation it came to be believed that two individuals from Libya had planted the bomb. Houston is in for dust and gray skies as Texas haboob arrives, Oops! Zindler tells the story this way: A gypsy fortune teller, visited by a woman, told the customer her family was infested with evil spirits and, for a price, the fortune teller would get rid of the spirits. 43 years ago: Marvin Zindler helped shut down Chicken Ranch brothel. We want the customer to get taken care of after we get in the case. that occurred during Marvin's lifetime. He only carries the weapon and cuffs because sheriffs department policy dictates it, he says. When Abe died in 1963, Marvin's inheritance was instead allocated to a trust for Zindler's children. He carries at all times a list with the phone numbers of local television stations and newspapers. Its free. A classic Marvin Zindler 'rat and roach' report from 1982. He doesnt carry a grudge and either agrees with criticisms or turns them to his advantage. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media), Files for Marvin Zindler's infamous "rat and roach" reports on area restaurants, which often included one of his signature lines: "There was slime in the ice machine." Talking with a visitor at home, Zindler says his wife gets mad at the money he spends on clothes because she doesnt get to buy any herself. Marvin Zindler was a legend on and off camera. A larger-than-life figure who consistently reinvented himself through the years, Zindler has also been a prizefighter, a deputy sheriff, in his family's clothing business, in . Additionally, Zindler owned a cat, Sugar, who died in 2006. This section is to introduce Marvin Zindler with highlights of his life and how he is remembered. That was the third story. Join others and make your gift to Houston Public Media today. He also spent 12 years making "Boyhood" and getting specific pop-culture details on point along the way. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. She was also a member of the Kingwood United Methodist Church, where she loved serving in the Nursery. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. City Employees Are Heading for the Exits. Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, housed in the archives at the University of Houston, University of Houston approves program to save students up to 60% on textbooks, Houston back at No. His detractors, including some of the merchants whose pocketbooks and reputations have been crimped by Zindler, maintain he is a raving ogre, verging on paranoia, totally self-seeking and an egomaniac besides. Born in Houston in 1921, Marvin Zindler, an aspiring boxer and a musician, attended an agricultural college and joined the Marines in 1941. And as a general rule we find that a warranty is only as good as the company you buy from. He feels, though, that he or anyone else is powerless to substantially alter the number of bruised and dissatisfied consumers. Toward the end of the evening, as Zindler searches diligently for a picture from an earlier time, before his facial operations, Marvin Jr. says, Most people just walk out the front door on him when he starts going through the clippings and photographs. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. I cant let them bother me, he says. It is a close family, Zindler says. When we share what we know, together we discover more. But at least citizens of Houston and its environs are learning that in Zindler they have an ally. Deputy Sheriff Marvin Zindler in February 1970. That means the customer is not getting any restitution. He says he prefers to resolve a problem with a phone call. Linda is survived by her husband, Marvin Zindler, Jr.; daughter, Lauren Zindler; daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and Ian Hudson; her cherished grandson, Caleb Hudson; sister, Donna McFadden, of Washington State; and other close family and friends. Hed be out riding around with the Bellaire Police Department., His early years with the sheriffs office were in the civil division, where he served and collected judgments, and on the fugitive squad where he picked up criminals arrested in other jurisdictions all around the world. May 16, 1977: The Summit became the place to be when the Rockets made the Eastern Conference finals in 1977. Vela admires Zindlers determination, but contributes his own story about Zindlers preoccupation with Zindler. The radios a month, Fincher says in fashion to the courthouse Alabama Richmond. According to his advantage former Niki Devine 26 ] a third TV crew.. Look up the law before he files a case performance was repeated a few minutes when... 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