Marvin Zindler
Encyclopedia
Marvin Harold Zindler was a news reporter for television
station KTRK-TV
in Houston, Texas
, United States. His investigative journalism
, through which he mostly represented the city's elderly and working class, made him one of the city's most influential and well-known media personalities.
and Lamar High School
in Houston before graduating from a different high school. He went on to John Tarleton Agricultural College
in Stephenville
, Texas
. In 1941, when the United States entered World War II
, Zindler joined the United States Marine Corps
and later received an honorable discharge.
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. 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. When Abe died in 1963, Marvin's inheritance was instead allocated to a trust for Zindler's children.
disc jockey and spot news reporter at now defunct Houston radio station KATL-AM while working for his family's clothing store. 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. In 1950 Zindler became a reporter and cameraman for Southwest Film Production Company which produced the 6 P. M. news for KPRC-TV
, but in 1954, he was fired by an executive who said he was "too ugly" to work in TV. Two years later, Zindler joined the Scripps Howard Houston Press
to work part-time as a crime reporter and photographer. 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 Department
. 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.
Two years before joining KTRK-TV, Zindler was assigned by the Sheriff
and District Attorney to establish a Consumer Fraud Division with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. This division is still in operation today. It was during this time of his career that he got his first taste of working on behalf of people. 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 odometer
s.
recommended Zindler to the station's assistant news director. On January 1, 1973, Marvin Zindler joined KTRK, a station with a news program languishing in third place.
in Fayette County, Texas
, near La Grange
, after he made a news report on it in 1973. The Chicken Ranch story was featured in two 1974 issues of Playboy
magazine
, was the basis for the Broadway and film
musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
, and served as the basis of the song La Grange
by ZZ Top
. The closing did not go well with the sheriff of Fayette County, T.J. Flournoy, who later attacked Zindler in a fight that left Zindler with two fractured ribs, along with a snatched toupee; reportedly, Flournoy waved the hairpiece in the air as if it were a prized enemy scalp.
Zindler did his expose after two college students—Peggy Meek (Venable) and Bill Boe—wrote an article on the Chicken Ranch which landed them an Intercollegiate Press Award. Governor Dolph Briscoe
closed the operation, only to have it open again after a few months. Then Zindler stepped in to shed more light on the operation, which led to its being closed for good.
/ABC
, Inc. and KTRK-TV
in September 1988, which he honored. The last story filed was to help an American citizen obtain a Social Security card. Zindler had been a primary factor in KTRK's rise from a perennial third in the ratings to its usual number one position.
City of Houston Food Inspection Program restaurant
reports on the air. These reports conclude with restaurants that were reported to have slime in their ice machines, which is referred to on the air by Zindler as "Sliiiime in the Ice Machine!". Hundreds, if not thousands, of restaurants in Greater Houston
have made at least one appearance on his reports. KTRK-TV's own commissary was cited on one occasion.
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.
Two spin-off segments resulted from these reports:
On Friday nights, Zindler also gave viewers additional good wishes just before his traditional sign-off: "Have a good weekend - good golf, good tennis, or whatever makes you happy."
Marvin Zindler's trademark signoff at the end of each report was, nearly shouting: "Marrrrrvin Zindler..... Eyeeeeeewitness NEWS!" To which the anchor, usually longtime KTRK newscaster Dave Ward
, calmly replied "Thank ya, Marvin."
.
, where Zindler had lived continuously for forty-eight years. They were the owners of a dog, Magic, a bichon frisé
. Additionally, Zindler owned a cat, Sugar, who died in 2006. At the time of his death, Zindler had five children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
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. However, Gertrude was hesitant to leave Houston, and the plans were dropped. Also, Zindler described himself as a social liberal
who supported universal health care. He had initially been a Democrat
and a Lyndon B. Johnson
supporter. Zindler's father was a four-term mayor of suburban Bellaire
and was also a liberal; he was a card-carrying member of the NAACP and opponent of the Ku Klux Klan
and his clothing store was among a handful of Houston businesses that advertised in African-American newspapers.
Zindler was known for wearing makeup continually, loved cigar
s, and was a frequent golfer. He had his own producer and cameraman as well as his own editing suite at KTRK. Zindler was also noted for his seventeen cosmetic surgeries
, the first of which took place in 1954 after the KPRC-TV firing. KTRK's longtime investigative reporter, Wayne Dolcefino
, has described Zindler's egregious behavior in the office, including loud phone conversations (which Dolcefino attributed to his poor hearing) and trademark zealous pursuit of reports.
, but he overcame the illness. In 1996, Zindler underwent heart bypass surgery.
On July 5, 2007, it was announced on KTRK's 6:00 p.m. newscast that Zindler was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer
that had also spread to his liver
. In a news conference, Zindler said he would continue to work. Zindler stated that he planned to stay on the air as his illness was treated, even doing restaurant reports and greetings from his bedside. Zindler died from the cancer at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
in the Texas Medical Center
section of Houston on July 29, 2007, two nights after what would turn out to be his final newscast.
Zindler's funeral took place on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston. 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. He was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Houston, Texas.
, in the 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
, is based on Zindler.
In November 2007, Bellaire Park in Bellaire, Texas
was renamed to Bellaire Zindler Park.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station KTRK-TV
KTRK-TV
KTRK-TV, channel 13, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Houston, Texas...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, United States. His investigative journalism
Investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend months or years researching and preparing a report. Investigative journalism...
, through which he mostly represented the city's elderly and working class, made him one of the city's most influential and well-known media personalities.
Early life
Zindler attended Pershing Middle SchoolPershing Middle School (Houston)
John J. Pershing Middle School is a secondary school located at 3838 Bluebonnet in Houston, Texas with a zip code of 77025.Pershing, located in the Braeswood Place neighborhood, serves grades 6 through 8 and is a part of the Houston Independent School District.Pershing has a neighborhood program, a...
and Lamar High School
Lamar High School (Houston)
Mirabeau B. Lamar Senior High School is a secondary school located at 3325 Westheimer Road in Houston, Texas, United States, with a zip code of 77098...
in Houston before graduating from a different high school. He went on to John Tarleton Agricultural College
Tarleton State University
Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas. It is the largest non-land-grant university primarily devoted to agriculture in the United States....
in Stephenville
Stephenville, Texas
Stephenville is a city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,921 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1856, it is home to Tarleton State University. Stephenville is among several communities that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 1941, when the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Zindler joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and later received an honorable discharge.
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. 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. When Abe died in 1963, Marvin's inheritance was instead allocated to a trust for Zindler's children.
Early career
Zindler began his broadcasting career in 1943 as a part-time night radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
disc jockey and spot news reporter at now defunct Houston radio station KATL-AM while working for his family's clothing store. 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. In 1950 Zindler became a reporter and cameraman for Southwest Film Production Company which produced the 6 P. M. news for KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV
KPRC-TV is the NBC affiliated television station based in Houston, Texas, and serving the Greater Houston television market. It has studios located in the Sharpstown district on the Southwest portion of the city, and has a transmitter site in unincorporated Fort Bend County near Missouri City...
, but in 1954, he was fired by an executive who said he was "too ugly" to work in TV. Two years later, Zindler joined the Scripps Howard Houston Press
Houston Press (Scripps Howard)
The Houston Press was a Scripps Howard afternoon newspaper, founded in 1911, in Houston, Texas. Under the leadership of founding editor Paul C. Edwards , Marcellus E. Foster, known as "Mefo" , and George Carmack , the newspaper developed a reputation for flashy stories about violence and sex and...
to work part-time as a crime reporter and photographer. 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 Department
Harris County Sheriff's Office
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency serving the over three million citizens of Harris County, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in the 1200 Jail in Downtown Houston.As of the 2000 U.S...
. 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.
Two years before joining KTRK-TV, Zindler was assigned by the Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
and District Attorney to establish a Consumer Fraud Division with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. This division is still in operation today. It was during this time of his career that he got his first taste of working on behalf of people. 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 odometer
Odometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
s.
At KTRK-TV
Upon news of Zindler's departure from the Harris County Sheriff's Department, KTRK anchor Dave WardDave Ward (reporter)
Davíd Henry Ward is most known for his career of over 40 years as anchor of the weekday 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm newscasts on KTRK-TV's Eyewitness News in Houston, Texas...
recommended Zindler to the station's assistant news director. On January 1, 1973, Marvin Zindler joined KTRK, a station with a news program languishing in third place.
The "Chicken Ranch" story
Zindler made local and national headlines when he and reporter Larry Conners closed the Chicken RanchChicken Ranch (Texas)
The Chicken Ranch was as an illegal but tolerated brothel in the U.S. state of Texas that operated from 1905 until 1973. It was located in Fayette County about 2.5 miles east of downtown La Grange...
in Fayette County, Texas
Fayette County, Texas
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 21,804. Its county seat is La Grange. Fayette is named for the Marquis de la Fayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero...
, near La Grange
La Grange, Texas
La Grange is a city in Fayette County, Texas, near the Colorado River. The population was 4,478 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimated population was 4,645. But a 2010 census estimated that the city had a population of 4,923...
, after he made a news report on it in 1973. The Chicken Ranch story was featured in two 1974 issues of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
, was the basis for the Broadway and film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall...
, and served as the basis of the song La Grange
La Grange (song)
"La Grange" is a song by the rock group ZZ Top from their album Tres Hombres, released in 1973. One of their most successful songs, it was released in 1973 and received extensive radio play, rising to #41 in the Billboard Pop Singles list in 1974. The song refers to a bordello on the outskirts of...
by ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
. The closing did not go well with the sheriff of Fayette County, T.J. Flournoy, who later attacked Zindler in a fight that left Zindler with two fractured ribs, along with a snatched toupee; reportedly, Flournoy waved the hairpiece in the air as if it were a prized enemy scalp.
Zindler did his expose after two college students—Peggy Meek (Venable) and Bill Boe—wrote an article on the Chicken Ranch which landed them an Intercollegiate Press Award. Governor Dolph Briscoe
Dolph Briscoe
Dolph Briscoe, Jr. was a Uvalde, Texas rancher and businessman who was the 41st Governor of Texas between 1973 and 1979....
closed the operation, only to have it open again after a few months. Then Zindler stepped in to shed more light on the operation, which led to its being closed for good.
Lifetime contract
The story, along with his trademark reporting style, was instrumental in Zindler signing an unprecedented lifetime contract with Capital CitiesCapital Cities Communications
Capital Cities redirects here. For the article about the seat of a government, see Capital .Capital Cities Communications was an American media company best known for its surprise purchase of the much larger American Broadcasting Company in 1985...
/ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, Inc. and KTRK-TV
KTRK-TV
KTRK-TV, channel 13, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Houston, Texas...
in September 1988, which he honored. The last story filed was to help an American citizen obtain a Social Security card. Zindler had been a primary factor in KTRK's rise from a perennial third in the ratings to its usual number one position.
"Rat and Roach Report"
Zindler was also famed in Houston for his self-described Rat and Roach Report, where he read details from his controversialControversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
City of Houston Food Inspection Program restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
reports on the air. These reports conclude with restaurants that were reported to have slime in their ice machines, which is referred to on the air by Zindler as "Sliiiime in the Ice Machine!". Hundreds, if not thousands, of restaurants in Greater Houston
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
have made at least one appearance on his reports. KTRK-TV's own commissary was cited on one occasion.
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.
Two spin-off segments resulted from these reports:
- In the first spin-off, Marvin Zindler also rewarded restaurants for operating clean kitchens continuously with his "Blue Ribbon Awards," which was done in his final years with local beauty pageant contestants giving the envelopes of the winning restaurants to Zindler.
- The other spin-off showcased places where Zindler preferred to dine, called "Where Marvin Likes to Eat...". Most of these restaurants were locally-based restaurants, while a handful of them were national chains, including McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
and Ruth's Chris Steak HouseRuth's Chris Steak HouseRuth's Chris Steak House is a chain of more than 121 steakhouses across the United States and in several international locations. The restaurant is regarded as an upscale fine dining establishment, marking a gradual elevation in its status since its founding in the 1960s...
. But Zindler's favorite place to eat, which was seen in the last segment of this spin-off feature, was his home.
On Friday nights, Zindler also gave viewers additional good wishes just before his traditional sign-off: "Have a good weekend - good golf, good tennis, or whatever makes you happy."
Other stories
Zindler's reports on KTRK also included international stories, many involving trips to various third-world countries; segments in which local business owners (known as Marvin's Angels) provided services to a less fortunate person in dire financial or physical health; and stories focused on the elderly, including nursing home abuse reports that are similar to his trademark restaurant reports. On his Friday reports, Zindler had also reported birthday and wedding anniversary greetings on air, usually involving those celebrating their 100th birthday or at least a 50th wedding anniversary. The station has stated that over 100,000 requests for help from Zindler were received yearly. In choosing stories, Zindler focused on two factors - neediness and chance of success. While low income was a key factor, being selected for a story had more to do with an injustice than with income.Marvin Zindler's trademark signoff at the end of each report was, nearly shouting: "Marrrrrvin Zindler..... Eyeeeeeewitness NEWS!" To which the anchor, usually longtime KTRK newscaster Dave Ward
Dave Ward (reporter)
Davíd Henry Ward is most known for his career of over 40 years as anchor of the weekday 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm newscasts on KTRK-TV's Eyewitness News in Houston, Texas...
, calmly replied "Thank ya, Marvin."
Honors
Zindler was the recipient of hundreds of awards from news organizations, charity groups, and medical professionals. The Plastic Surgeons of America honored Zindler for his openness and honesty in talking about his cosmetic surgeries and for the help he obtained for charity patients who desperately needed reconstructive surgery. He was a Freemason, and was particularly proud of the 33rd Degree that was conferred upon him by the Scottish RiteScottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
.
Personal life
In 1941, he married his first wife, the former Gertrude S. Kugler (May 30, 1921 - November 28, 1997). They had five children together; Marvin Jr., Donny, Danny, Mark and Helen. When Gertrude died, Zindler vowed he would never marry again, yet he fell in love with Niki Devine and married her in 2006. Before his death, Marvin and Niki Zindler lived in the Houston neighborhood of MaplewoodMaplewood
Maplewood may refer to:Cities, towns, etc.* Maplewood, Indiana* Maplewood, Minnesota* Maplewood, Missouri* Maplewood, New Jersey* Maplewood, Ohio* Maplewood, Portland, Oregon, a neighborhood* Maplewood, Houston, Texas, a neighborhood...
, where Zindler had lived continuously for forty-eight years. They were the owners of a dog, Magic, a bichon frisé
Bichon Frisé
A Bichon Frise , is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese.-Etymology and History:...
. Additionally, Zindler owned a cat, Sugar, who died in 2006. At the time of his death, Zindler had five children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
At one point in the 1970s, Zindler considered running for Congress as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, and the local GOP
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
commissioned surveys that predicted he would win. However, Gertrude was hesitant to leave Houston, and the plans were dropped. Also, Zindler described himself as a social liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
who supported universal health care. He had initially been a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and a Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
supporter. Zindler's father was a four-term mayor of suburban Bellaire
Bellaire, Texas
Bellaire is a city in southwest Harris County, Texas, United States, within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 15,642 and is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston and West University Place....
and was also a liberal; he was a card-carrying member of the NAACP and opponent of the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
and his clothing store was among a handful of Houston businesses that advertised in African-American newspapers.
Zindler was known for wearing makeup continually, loved cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s, and was a frequent golfer. He had his own producer and cameraman as well as his own editing suite at KTRK. Zindler was also noted for his seventeen cosmetic surgeries
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
, the first of which took place in 1954 after the KPRC-TV firing. KTRK's longtime investigative reporter, Wayne Dolcefino
Wayne Dolcefino
Wayne Dolcefino is an Emmy Award-winning news reporter for KTRK-TV ABC-13 in Houston, Texas, USA. As the investigative reporter for "13 Undercover," he is responsible for a number of civic and consumer investigations....
, has described Zindler's egregious behavior in the office, including loud phone conversations (which Dolcefino attributed to his poor hearing) and trademark zealous pursuit of reports.
Illness and death
In 1994, Zindler was diagnosed with prostate cancerProstate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, but he overcame the illness. In 1996, Zindler underwent heart bypass surgery.
On July 5, 2007, it was announced on KTRK's 6:00 p.m. newscast that Zindler was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
that had also spread to his liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
. In a news conference, Zindler said he would continue to work. Zindler stated that he planned to stay on the air as his illness was treated, even doing restaurant reports and greetings from his bedside. Zindler died from the cancer at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of the nation's original three comprehensive cancer centers established by the National Cancer Act of 1971. It is both a degree-granting academic institution and a cancer treatment and research center located at the Texas Medical Center in...
in the Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
section of Houston on July 29, 2007, two nights after what would turn out to be his final newscast.
Zindler's funeral took place on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at Congregation Beth Israel of Houston. ABC-13 staff members and Houston-area religious figures, such as Joel Osteen
Joel Osteen
Joel Scott Osteen is an American author, televangelist, and the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. His ministry reaches over seven million broadcast media viewers weekly in over 100 nations around the world.-Biography:...
, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza
Joseph Fiorenza
Joseph Anthony Fiorenza is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the seventh Bishop and the first Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, serving from 1985 to 2006...
, Reverend Bill Lawson (anchor Melanie Lawson's father), and Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell
Kirbyjon Caldwell
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell is the pastor of the Windsor Village United Methodist Church, a 14,000-member megachurch in Houston, Texas, United States. He was one of President George W. Bush's most influential spiritual advisors.- Background :...
were among those presenting tributes to Zindler at the funeral. He was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Houston, Texas.
Legacy
The role of Melvin P. Thorpe, as played by Dom DeLuiseDom DeLuise
Dominick "Dom" DeLuise was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author. He was the husband of actress Carol Arthur from 1965 until his death and the father of: actor, director, pianist, and writer Peter DeLuise; actor David DeLuise; and actor Michael DeLuise...
, in the 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a 1982 film adaptation of the musical of the same name released by Universal Pictures, which was co-written and directed by Colin Higgins...
, is based on Zindler.
In November 2007, Bellaire Park in Bellaire, Texas
Bellaire, Texas
Bellaire is a city in southwest Harris County, Texas, United States, within the metropolitan area. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 15,642 and is completely surrounded by the cities of Houston and West University Place....
was renamed to Bellaire Zindler Park.
Further reading
External links
- Thankyoumarvin.com - KTRK's Marvin Zindler
- KTRK - Marvin Zindler
- KTRK - The Chicken Ranch Story
- KTRK's video clips of Zindler
- KTRK - Media Critique
- "SLIIME In the ICE MACHINE!" (YouTube)
- "MARVIN ZINDLER, EYEWITNESS NEWS!" (YouTube)
- "The Roving Mike" radio show (Houston Chronicle)
- "Marvin Zindler, 85, Crusader in ‘Whorehouse in Texas’ Case, Is Dead" (NY Times)