Marvin Zindler is shown promoting his rat and roach report in a February 1986 Houston Post photo. Marvin and Niki Zindler chat with Jan Carson at the Crohns & Colitis Foundation Winter Ball at the Hilton Americas Hotel on Jan. 21, 2005. We dont consider going to court a success, he says. This special from 2007 honors his life, ABC13 career, and one-of-a-kind spirit. Thanks to personalities like Coach Bum Phillips and quarterback Dan Pastorini, Houstonians still have warm memories of the time period. He had his own producer and cameraman as well as his own editing suite at KTRK. 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. 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. Tags houston zoo live mascots Shasta university of houston. He still has some tapes from spot newscasts. He scored what he considers to be one of his major consumer victories against Tussey & Associates Success Clubs, Inc., after Harris County District Attorney Carol Vance and Houston Police Chief Herman Short said they could find nothing illegal in the clubs operation. Zindler beat the camera crew to the store, and, instead of going ahead with his arrest, wandered around the magazine stand killing time until the newsmen arrived. What was it like to be on a hockey team in a city dominated by football and baseball? What was it like for those immigrants coming to a foreign, outsized city like Houston from Asia? He spent a year at Tarleton State College then came home when World War II got underway, went to work buying mens clothes in his fathers store, and in 1942 married Gertrude, his high school sweetheart, in the Plaza Hotel. Brother of Abe Zindler Jr., Sterling Zindler, Warren Zindler (killed during World War II), and Kenneth Zindler. 1 in the AP mens college basketball poll, University of Houstons new mascot cubs make first public appearance at Houston Zoo, Santa Fe High School shooter remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, further dragging on 5-year-old case, Santa Fe shooting survivor Trey Louis tugs at judges heartstrings on American Idol, Houston remains one of the most affordable big cities in the U.S., even if it no longer feels like it, Bun B announces part of RodeoHouston Southern Takeover lineup, DPS sent at least 3,000 drivers licenses to organized crime group targeting Asian Texans, Public defender costs and caseloads (Feb. 27, 2023), Another Houston Starbucks unionizes: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week. So, how much is Marvin Zindler worth at the age of 86 years old? March 4, 1977: There's nothing like having a story read. White Knight in Blue Shades. I checked and he did have a son named Marvin Jr, whose age would have been right for him to have been in the 1960 Bellaire High school yearbook. Marvin Harold Zindler (August 10, 1921 - July 29, 2007), the famously colorful Houston TV personality, was both admired and criticized for his grandiose style. He only carries the weapon and cuffs because sheriffs department policy dictates it, he says. If you'd like to sign up now, fill out the form below and we will add you as soon as we finish the transition. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media). The fifth, and, at this writing, last story to come out of Zindler vs. the appliance store, occurred when Zindler and the stores general counsel called a press conference to announce that the manager had paid a fine on one of the three charges, Zindler had recommended dismissal of the other two, and the store had dropped its suit against him. October 25, 1977: Prince Charles is greeted by Vicki Morgan who drove from Galveston to meet the Prince at Saks. Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city. Zindler is out of his office as much as he is inmaking speeches, arresting persons charged by his division, visiting the press room in the courthouse, filing charges in a justice of the peace office. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. Discover how our Uncovering Our Shared Memories: An Introduction to the Community Standards at AncientFaces Spring 1977: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo calf roping event at the Houston Astrodome. All three have their archives stored and maintained at the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections. 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. At Pino's, the kitchen floors are not only scrubbed, but . Some rumors have the 57-year-old director and screenwriter currently working on a film project about the Apollo space program's impact on Houston. In 1973, at the age of 51, Mr. Zindler began his career at KTRK. Adams, a remarkably calm and good-humored man, grouses occasionally about Zindlers absenteeism, complaining that if the boss talked to more people, the lines wouldnt be so long. Unlock the mysteries of your family history and explore the rich tapestry of your past with AncientFaces. 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. What was Cryer up to? She was also a member of the Kingwood United Methodist Church, where she loved serving in the Nursery. Marvin Zindler and his wife, Niki Gale Devine, are shown in July 2003 after their wedding at a Las Vegas synagogue. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. 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. Marvin Zindler Executive Vice President at Charter Title Company Houston, Texas, United States 217 followers 217 connections Join to view profile Charter Title Company University of Houston. Linda then attended Lamar Tech University, where she received her teaching degree. Let others know about your loved one's death. It's worth nothing that his longtime station, KTRK-TV 13, is owned by the Disney Corporation. 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. TV personality Marvin Zindler was the fine-feathered bird's escort. December 4, 1977: Houston Oilers head coach O.A. 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[17], On July 5, 2007, it was announced on KTRK's 6:00p.m. newscast that Zindler was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer that had also spread to his liver. (Photo Credit: Michael Hagerty / Houston Public Media), Marvin Zindler's twirling baton, one of many items in the archives of the late Houston TV personality, which are now housed at the University of Houston. His concern with appearance is not limited to attire. A classic Marvin Zindler 'rat and roach' report from 1982. It's filled with consumer complaints about area businesses that viewers wanted him to investigate on their behalf. When you share, or just show that you care, the heart There were catch. Filing a criminal charge does not guarantee any specific results. Zindler's funeral took place on Wednesday, August 1, 2007[24] at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston. His pictures were nearly always of traffic accidents or crime scenes and often filled more than half a Press front page. [1] He went on to John Tarleton Agricultural College (now Tarleton State University) in Stephenville, Texas. The consumer problems probably havent changed much here since we started up. The rise of Marvin Zindler, NASA in transition, oil men making their bones, and sports heroes in their prime'70's-era Houston is ripe for the cinematic world. Houston was more prejudiced then. 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. Beloved ABC13 personality and dear friend Marvin Zindler would have turned 100 years old on Tuesday. The University of Houston is sharing a never-before-seen look at Marvin Zindler's legendary career with the new archive collection! The other family members listen patiently and attentively, contributing details that he leaves out. While low income was a key factor, being selected for a story had more to do with an injustice than with income. Bryant was in Houston to perform at the State Bar of Texas dinner at the Hyatt Regency. Not all complaints, of course, result in criminal charges. Recently he alerted the TV stations that he was going to a Walgreens drug store to arrest the manager for deceptive advertising. RELATED: Check out what Zindler was wearing when he was a sheriff. He exposed a widely tolerated bawdyhouse known as the Chicken Ranch in La Grange. A native Houstonian,. He subscribes to the theory that no story about him can be a bad story, that any mention of his name, even critically, is good. After serving in United States Marine Corp, Marvin joined the family's retail clothing business . The drivers had been on strike since Nov. 24. July 2, 1977: Marvin Zindler, Channel 13. Well, the visitor asks, why cant she buy some clothes? Who were the people in Marvin's life? Top 3 Results for Marvin Schindler. The rally, sponsored by several gay and womens rights groups, began about 8 pm in the parking lot of The Depository, a bar at 401 McGowen and Bagby. Zindler's collection came to the University of Houston beginning in 2019. I like to work on one problem or a series of related cases until we get the thing cleared up, then move on to something else. Most of the time he does not initiate any investigation or file any charge without first having a complaint from a citizen. A German policeman was also killed. Zindler family member is 74. Who is Marvin Zindler to you? Gov. 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. Such capers have earned Zindler criticism from some unlikely sources, including the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston and other lawmen. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Lindas memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center or Kingwood United Methodist Church. He is not particularly interested in obtaining a glossy string of convictions. KTRK's longtime investigative reporter, Wayne Dolcefino, has described Zindler's eccentric behavior in the office, including loud phone conversations (which Dolcefino attributed to his poor hearing) and trademark zealous pursuit of reports. The boss of the Harris County sheriffs consumer fraud division is a walking example of deceptive advertising. A group of preschoolers snuggles up on the carpet at the Houston Public Library's Hillendahl Branch. Their operation is based on tomorrow. His 12-year-old house belies any connection with great wealth. Mario Williams. [2], Zindler's father, Abe Zindler, who founded and owned a successful clothing store in Houston, was disappointed in Marvin, whom Abe considered frivolous and irresponsible. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Did Marvin serve in the military or did a war or conflict interfere with his life? The results of all this fire and smoke so far are hard to measure. He expanded the Radiology Service to include state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment. The phone complaints are if anything more numerous than the ones made in person. 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. And they flock to him with continual tales of outrage, despair and woe: complainants in business suits from downtown office buildings, housewives in curlers and slippers, blacks and chicanos in worn garb. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. 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. Deputy sheriff, TV star, he was everything to everyone. The collections includes scripts, calendars, photographs, video archives, memorabilia, and more. He was fired, he later said, after he drew the ire of businessmen who elected a rival sheriff. His efforts as head of the consumer fraud division have spanned almost every conceivable area and include the trivial and zany as well as the serious. Jay R. Jordan 8/10/2021. The impression is more that of a man reacting to a series of phone calls and visits from the grieved customer. Consumer chiefs in other cities and states have told me that a lot of their complaints stem from grocery storesoverpricing, bad advertisements and the like. 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It is roomy and tastefully furnished in Middle-American, but it is a tract house, much like one an advertising manager or car repair company owner or roofing contractor might buy. Marvin Zindler, Consumer Lawman A stylish, self-proclaimed public protector battles deception in business and poor taste in fashion. This record is no small accomplishment for a man crammed into a small suite of offices off a stairwell on the seventh floor of the Houston Criminal Courts Building and operating with a staff that includes one other deputy, two secretaries and an assistant district attorney assigned to screen the criminal charges. that occurred during Marvin's lifetime. The second best result is Marvin Duane Schindler age 80+ in Goddard, KS in the Goddard neighborhood. 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. Zindler made local and national headlines when he and fellow journalist Larry Conners reported on a long-lived brothel known as the Chicken Ranch in Fayette County, Texas, near La Grange, which led to its closure in 1973. July 1, 1977: Dan Rather is handed a copy of his new book, "The Camera Never Blinks," at a book-signing event at Foley's in Houston. MARVIN HAROLD ZINDLER, SR., a well-known and tenured broadcast journalist, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, the 29th of July 2007. Zindler freely admits he is no lawyer, but he says he tries to look up the law before he files a case. 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. Zindler hasnt parted with the extensive wardrobe. Eventually, Mr. Zindler earned $1 million a year as the KTRK celebrity newshound. In 1962 he decided to get out of reporting law enforcement and become part of it. Then Zindler stepped in to shed more light on the operation, which led to its being closed for good.[7]. [3] Beginning in 1951, when he worked for KATL, he hosted The Roving Mike, a 30-minute radio program airing on Sundays that documented crime and the people involved in Houston. Visitors at the Rothko Chapel, seen here in 1977. 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. 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. What schools or universities did Marvin attend?