Marvin Zindler
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Marvin Harold Zindler (born August 10, 1921) is a news reporter for KTRK ABC-13 in Houston, Texas, USA. His hard-hitting investigative journalism, where he has mostly represented the city's elderly and working class, has made him one of the city's most influential and well-known media personalities. Marvin is also famed in Houston for his self-described "Rat and Roach Report," where he reads details from his controversial City of Houston Food Inspection Program restaurant reports on the air. These reports conclude with what Marvin calls The big-big-big-big-S ("Sliiiime in the Ice Machine!").
Zindler joined KTRK on January 1, 1973, and in September 1988 signed a lifetime contract with ABC/Capital Cities to work at KTRK.
Zindler is also known for wearing makeup continually, plastic surgery, and his love of cigars. Wayne Dolcefino has described his egregious behavior in the office, including loud phone conversations (attributed by Dolcefino to his poor hearing) and trademark zealous pursuit of reports. His trademark signoff at the end of each report was, nearly shouting, "MARVIN ZINDLER -- EYEWITNESS NEWS!"
Zindler is a Freemason.
Zindler attended middle school at John Pershing Middle School and high school at Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston. He showed up at the parade that celebrated Pershing Middle School's 75th anniversary.
Zindler was the catalyst for the closing of the Chicken Ranch in Fayette County, Texas, near La Grange, after he made a news report on it in 1973. This was the basis for the Broadway and film musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, as well as the song La Grange by ZZ Top.