The customer came back, complaining that she was still having problems. May 18, 1977: Protesters march outside the Harris County Courthouse to protest the alleged murder of Joe Campos Torres. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media), A custom version of the poster for the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, featuring an image of Marvin Zindler. Their operation is based on tomorrow. The station has stated that over 100,000 requests for help from Zindler were received yearly. The manager just laughed at me. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media), Marvin Zindler was an avid doodler, oftentimes drawing on his printed copies of his broadcast scripts. Had it not been for his persistence, we would not have gotten them, Vela says. November 5, 1977: University of Texas Longhorns running back Earl Campbell (20) crashes into Houston TV photographer, Buzz Webb, center, and Bevo, the Texas Longhorn mascot. Weve been pretty successful talking to these people on the phone, he says. What you need to know, UH favored by wide margin to win NCAA tournament, per ESPN's BPI. He filed the theft charge. He was previously married to Niki Gale Devine and Gertrude Stella Kugler. Such polarities are inspired by a man as colorful and unpredictable as a pinball machine, a man driven to equal heights of pique and rage by a roofer defrauding a widow of her life savings or a drug store not stocking candy bars it advertised. The archive isn't displayed, but is available to the public by scheduling an appointment with the UH Libraries Special Collections department. "Artists have the last word when end is near", Many turn out to say goodbye to Marvin Zindler, "The Roving Mike" radio show (Houston Chronicle), "Marvin Zindler, 85, Crusader in Whorehouse in Texas Case, Is Dead" (NY Times), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marvin_Zindler&oldid=1135998442, United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II, American radio reporters and correspondents, Lamar High School (Houston, Texas) alumni, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from November 2008, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Articles needing additional references from September 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2011, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Jay R. Jordan 8/10/2021. Abe wanted his sons to inherit the store, a career course that Marvin was reluctant to take because of his father's sometimes angry behavior. 2 death records. Aug. 2, 2007 HOUSTON, July 30 Marvin Zindler, an antic and a populist television crusader here who became known nationally when he had "the best little whorehouse in Texas" closed on. 18 of 32 19 of 32 Houston television reporter and personality Marvin Zindler is shown in his office May 30, 2003, . He exposed a widely tolerated bawdyhouse known as the Chicken Ranch in La Grange. He later dismissed the case when the gypsy made full restitution. His concern with appearance is not limited to attire. Linda was born to Johnathan and Dorothy McFadden on September 28, 1948 in Port Arthur, Texas. And he knows that its not a story unless someone is there to report it. But he had an ally in the state attorney general, John Hill, who slipped Mr. Zindler investigative reports. Defendants, however, have learned they cannot rest easy after a justice of the peace dismissed the charges. Other lawmen, attorneys and reporters who had grown accustomed to seeing Zindlers lawsuits dismissed or who had branded him as an incorrigible publicity hound were forced to revise their estimates. February 15, 1977: Heights Christian Church, 1703 Heights Blvd., was built in 1927. Anyone can read what you share. brother. In 1962 he decided to get out of reporting law enforcement and become part of it. Dean Arnold Corll was linked Add Marvin's birthday or the date he died to see a list of historic events [3], Zindler began his broadcasting career in 1943 as a part-time night radio disc jockey and spot news reporter at Houston radio station KATL (the current-day KMIC (1590)) while working for his family's clothing store. We're in the process of transitioning services for our Today in Houston newsletter. A stylish, self-proclaimed public protector battles deception in business and poor taste in fashion. Zindler, not to be outdone, generated the fourth story when, on the complaints of two customers, he filed two more charges of deceptive advertising against the store manager. It's filled with consumer complaints about area businesses that viewers wanted him to investigate on their behalf. A Right-wing Cabal Took Over Odessas Municipal Government. The firm had clubs in 11 Texas cities. Where was Marvin born and where did he live? 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. One lawyer described it as a Dale Carnegie operation with the added lure of a quick and handsome profit. The club, operating on a chain-letter principle, sold memberships for $150 to $500. He reported on his own heart surgery, gallbladder removal, prostate cancer and quintuple bypass and, of course, his many facelifts. Linda Sue McFadden Zindler, 66, passed away August 7, 2015 after her second courageous battle with cancer. He is from USA. The attackers crept into the Olympic Village and abducted the athletes while they were sleeping. The grand jury indicted several Tussey officials on charges of operating a lottery and, after subsequent actions in civil courts, Tussey closed its operations in Texas. Marvin and Niki Zindler chat with Jan Carson at the Crohns & Colitis Foundation Winter Ball at the Hilton Americas Hotel on Jan. 21, 2005. He handled Civil Process for two years and then joined the Fugitive Squad where his work took him all over the world to extradite fugitives. [3] Two years later, Zindler joined the Scripps Howard Houston Press to work part-time as a crime reporter and photographer. Zindler stories have an almost mystical ability to mushroom and generate other Zindler stories. Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. (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." He doesnt plan to let her recoup, either. July 2, 1977: Marvin Zindler, Channel 13. Katy Vine has been a staff writer since 2002. Wherever theres money and people involved, youre going to have problems.. Zindler was known for wearing makeup continually, loved cigars, and was a frequent golfer. The University of Houston is sharing a never-before-seen look at Marvin Zindler's legendary career with the new archive collection! Well, the visitor asks, why cant she buy some clothes? [25] ABC-13 staff members and Houston-area religious figures, such as Joel Osteen, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, Reverend Bill Lawson (anchor Melanie Lawson's father), and Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell were among those presenting tributes to Zindler at the funeral. They were the owners of a dog, Magic, a bichon fris. He was soon joined by Pino Farinola Jr., the owner. Mickey Gilley, left, and Sherwood Cryer opened the Gilley's club in 1971. As much as Zindler relishes his reputation as a dandy, it is likely he enjoys his duties as the consumers friend and protector even more. Spring 1977: Houston Astros mascot Chester Charge cheered the Astros from 1977 until 1979. Zindler sheds such feelings with ease. The fortune teller replied that now she needed a refrigerator to bury the spirits in. It also served as the basis of the song "La Grange" by ZZ Top. The case was the basis for the musical and movie Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.. 16 men were critically burned when a "fog" of flammable gas escaped and exploded during testing of a unit at the refinery. It called for stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and the goal of nuclear disarmament. Exposing the La Grange brothel quickly caught his interest, he later recounted, because the local authorities allowed it to operate and Texas officials deferred to them. (Last year when the attorney for an organization Zindler was trying to shut down threatened to have Zindlers scalp, the deputy carefully boxed one of the hairpieces and delivered it to the lawyer.) RELATED: People were confusing Zindler with the Men's Warehouse guy. They celebrated with family at a dinner at Spago restaurant. Born: 10-Aug-1921 Birthplace: Houston, TX Died: 29-Jul-2007 Location of death: Houston, TX . [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. Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces The store and the manager retaliated by slapping Zindler with a $35,000 lawsuit in federal court, accusing him of hurting the stores trade and slandering its integrity. I, the People: How Marvin Zindler Busted the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Only one criminal charge, a perjury indictment against an odometer repairman, resulted from the probe, but Harris County auto dealers resolved to ask the new legislature for criminal penalties for turning back mileage indicators. If they violate the law, Ill file on em again.. "We came to the conclusion that this would be a perfect fit.". He doesnt carry a grudge and either agrees with criticisms or turns them to his advantage. Zindler had taken the witness stand, and, when asked what his job was, had turned toward the jury and proudly said, I am Harris Countys consumer protector. The lawyer, in his closing argument, charged, When you pull back the curtain there is an individual who is not a consumer protector but is an assistant deputy sheriff who is apparently an egomaniac., Hell, Zindler said later, I would have stipulated to that.. Get out of here, goddamn it. Zindler got the first toupee in 1954, and, he proudly says, no ones ever seen me without it. How does he manage that? 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. That should give you an idea how I got started being a cop. Then, because everyone else was in the Army, a radio station whose owner knew Zindler through his father, invited him to be a disc jockey and newsman. His tools are existing state laws, most on the books for years but seldom used in consumer cases, and an uncanny flair for publicity. May 16, 1977: The Summit became the place to be when the Rockets made the Eastern Conference finals in 1977. Zindler persuaded a grand jury to probe the club, even though Vance at first said the firm was not violating state law and Short concurred with the district attorneys position. November 15, 1977: While traffic and pedestrians pass by, city of Houston employee Domingo E. Martinez stays focused on finishing his street demolition duties at Fannin and McKinney in downtown Houston. He gave an uncharacteristically modest statement, saying only, It was a victory for the people. Usually it is Zindler who is looking for reporters, and when he calls, they come running. Additionally, Zindler owned a cat, Sugar, who died in 2006. 43 years ago: Marvin Zindler helped shut down Chicken Ranch brothel. They waitas many as 80 a dayin a narrow, dark, noisy corridor. Such capers have earned Zindler criticism from some unlikely sources, including the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston and other lawmen. White Knight in Blue Shades. At that time Zindler said he didnt care what kind of complaint a consumer had; he just intended to enforce the law. We get very, very few complaints on grocery stores., Zindler says he does get a lot of complaints about merchants not backing up their warranties and guarantees. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. When he returned, Zindler was gone, but he discovered that Zindler, like almost anyone else, doodles while using the phone. Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city. A jury awarded $16.5M to Doug Britton and SSC Opportunity Partners in a lawsuit against Charter Title, Marvin Zindler Jr, Bandier Realty, Trey Halberdier, Rob Banzhaf, Rocky Del Papa III, and . Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Running Into Fire: The Legacy of Jeff Blackburn, The Apache, the Irish Catholic Priest, and a 40-Year-Old Miscarriage of Justice, An Unforgettable Texas Tale of Envy, Embezzlement, and Fruitcake, How the Texas Rangers Became One of the Most Powerful Forces in the State, How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. That was the third story. When Abe died in 1963, Marvin's inheritance was instead allocated to a trust for Zindler's children. Early life [ edit] And the longtime consumer affairs reporter for KTRK-TV 13 left a lasting mark on our city's collective memory. He professes not to worry about the pokes and jabs from his critics, saying he just wants to do his job and he wants that job to be in law enforcement. They sit on an old wooden bench, perhaps discarded from a courtroom or church sanctuary, grumbling, sharing stories of what they consider to be wrongdoing at the hands of the commercial sector. Zindler himself complains that his staff and office space arent big enough. The man did, and posted a personal recognizance bond, but Zindler didnt know about it. Lindas kindness and devotion influenced countless children, parents and coworkers throughout her teaching years. Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. He died on July 29, 2007 in Houston. A German policeman was also killed. 1921 Marvin Zindler Net Worth. The cause was pancreatic cancer, according to his station, KTRK-TV, an ABC affiliate. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Such rebounding and multiplying stories, plus his continual concern with getting his story to the people, have led local reporters to regard Zindler with some suspicion and a little antagonism. KTRK-TV's own commissary was cited on one occasion. June 15, 1977: A.J. 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. HALT executive director Bob Horton adjusts the "Do Not Litter" sign. "Houston was so on the cutting edge," Linklater recalled of his childhood. At Pino's, the kitchen floors are not only scrubbed, but . These reports soon became famous for Zindler's enthusiastic reports of "sliiiiime in the ice machine! 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. The role of Melvin P. Thorpe, as played by Clinton Allmon in the original Broadway production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Dom DeLuise in the 1982 film version, is based on Zindler. RELATED: Check out what Zindler was wearing when he was a sheriff. Zindler's funeral took place on Wednesday, August 1, 2007[24] at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston. Theres no reason for a big store to advertise something for sale and then not have it. Zindler feels, though, that the big boys of business are pretty clean in their dealings with customers. [5] When Gertrude died, Zindler vowed he would never marry again, yet he fell in love with Niki Devine and married her in 2006. Houston TV legends live on long after their death, which is why we're celebrating Marvin Zindler's 100th birthday today. The whole performance was repeated a few minutes later when a third TV crew arrived. 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. The Biography piece is collaborative, where we work together to present the facts. It wasnt so embarrassing for them., Even then he was known as The Dapper Deputy because of his always smart, always in-style clothes. What schools or universities did Marvin attend? He thinks he may have more than 100 altogether, counting those in the closets, some in the cleaners and some downtown at the store. His clothes have forced his wife out of their bedroom closets. July 1977: HouTran bus passenger opens the window to cool off from the heat from the broken bus air conditioner. The senator is touring health care centers around the country to see how they may better serve people. I had to get on Marvin once or twice because it didnt look good for the prosecution of a case to have the TV cameras on the spot for the arrest. The Better Business Bureau, in a newsletter published shortly after Zindler moved into the consumer fraud area, accused him of generalized, irresponsible public statements. Loyd Frazier, until recently the chief deputy of the Harris County sheriffs office, says he sometimes had complaints about Zindler from other deputies because Zindler seemed to like publicity too much. 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