• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Marvin Zindler and KTRK

S

Smittian

I just noticed that Marvin celebrated his 84th birthday last week. (happy belated!, even though I'll never forgive you for helping to close down the Chicken Ranch) In browsing the KTRK website, the longevity of their talent is amazing. Dave Ward has been at the station since 1966, and has been an anchor since 1968. Ed Brandon has done the weather on ABC-13 since 1972 and Bob Allen has done Sports since 1974. Zindler has been on KTRK since 1973. Even Weekend Sports guy Tim Melton (Nancy Lopez' ex-husband) has been in his position since 1981.

Any other stations in TX with that kind of longevity from their personalities?
 
> I just noticed that Marvin celebrated his 84th birthday last
> week. (happy belated!, even though I'll never forgive you
> for helping to close down the Chicken Ranch) In browsing the
> KTRK website, the longevity of their talent is amazing. Dave
> Ward has been at the station since 1966, and has been an
> anchor since 1968. Ed Brandon has done the weather on ABC-13
> since 1972 and Bob Allen has done Sports since 1974. Zindler
> has been on KTRK since 1973. Even Weekend Sports guy Tim
> Melton (Nancy Lopez' ex-husband) has been in his position
> since 1981.
>
> Any other stations in TX with that kind of longevity from
> their personalities?
>
First, I have friends in South Texas who will echo what you
said about Marvin Zindler's helping to close down the Chicken
Ranch. Second, I can think of a few people who were on TX
television when I lived there in the '70s and are still working:
Troy Dungan, WFAA's weather guy (although his retirement is
close, if it hasn't already happened); David Finfrock, KXAS's
weather guy, was on WBAP radio in those days; and, AFAIK, Chris
Marrou and Fred Lozano are still on KENS/5 San Antonio. Somebody
else will have to tell you if any complete news teams are still
together.
 
> > Any other stations in TX with that kind of longevity from
> > their personalities?

Nothing going back to the 60s, but WFAA comes closest in DFW:

WFAA:
Byron Harris 1975
Troy Dungan 1976
George Riba 1977
Brad Watson 1979
Karin Kelly 1979
John Pronk 1981
Dale Hansen 1982
John McCaa 1984
Gloria Campos 1985

KDFW:
Clarice Tinsley 1980
Ron Jackson 1982

KXAS:
Bobbie Wygant (1950s, though rarely on air anymore)
Mike Snyder 1980
Jane McGarry 1982
Ramona Logan 1985
 
Re: DFW anchor longevity

Far as Dallas goes, nothing even close:

Ch 4: Eagar, 1995. Tinsley, 1978. Ron Jackson, 1982. Doocy, 1994.
Ch 5: Snyder, 1980. McGarry, 1982. Finfrock, 1976. No long-term sports, since Scott Murray (1982-2002) left.
Ch 8: McCaa, 1984. Campos, 1984. Dungan, 1976. Hansen, 1983 (but in the market since 1979.)
Ch 11: Rowlett, 2000 (but in the market since 1974.) Borta, 1995. Iola, 2000 (but in and out of the market since 1973.) Burger, 2002(?) (but in and out of the market since 1991). Laufenberg, 1995.

These don't necessarily mean years they've been lead anchors, but when they started at their respective stations.

Local long-termers like Howard McNeil (1957-80?), Jack Brown (1958-98,) Walter Evans (1957-93), Chip Moody (1971-99, less 3 years in Houston), Harold Taft (1949-91), Frank Mills (1948-77), Warren Culbertson (1949-198?), etc etc etc are hard to find these days. Bobbie Wygant, who was more of a reporter than an anchor, has been with Ch 5 since 1948; retired in 1999 but still freelances for the station.

> Second, I can think of a few people who were on TX
> television when I lived there in the '70s and are still
> working:
> Troy Dungan, WFAA's weather guy (although his retirement is
> close, if it hasn't already happened); David Finfrock,
> KXAS's
> weather guy, was on WBAP radio in those days; and, AFAIK,
> Chris
> Marrou and Fred Lozano are still on KENS/5 San Antonio.
> Somebody
> else will have to tell you if any complete news teams are
> still
> together.
>
 
Marvin Zindler....EEEYYYEEEWITNESSS NEWS! I was born in '72 and grew up in Houston. I had no idea those folks had alll been at Ch. 13 so long...I guess they keep the slime outta the ice machine to keep them all around!
 
> Marvin Zindler....EEEYYYEEEWITNESSS NEWS! I was born in '72
> and grew up in Houston. I had no idea those folks had alll
> been at Ch. 13 so long...I guess they keep the slime outta
> the ice machine to keep them all around!
>

Before she "retired," Shara Fryar had been at channel 13 since 1980. She was the last of the (previous) main anchor team of Ward, Brandon and Allen to join the newsteam. I wouldn't be terribly suprised to see Ed Brandon retire in teh next couple of years.

Incidently, I believe Marvin Zindler and Dave Ward both have lifetime contracts with the station (Marvin, I know of for sure...and I'm sure I read the same about Dave Ward).
 
KTRK really takes care of their people and it shows in their ratings and their product. It is really a dream TV job to work there. I know a lot of people that would love to work there... me included.

I remember Dan Cook was with KENS for 47 years before he said goodbye a couple of years ago. He, Chris Marrou, and Albert Flores were together on KENS for quite a few years before Dan retired and Albert had an incident that got him fired from there. I'm happy to say that I worked there for a little while and all three gentlemen were terrific, both on and off air.

How long have Joan Hallmark and Clint Yeatts been at KLTV in Tyler? My guess is over 20 years. Incidentally, Marvin Zindler's son Mark, works in sales at KLTV.

Congrats to Marvin. Here's to many more years of "Slime In The Ice Machine!"<P ID="signature">______________
Put Down The Cell Phone, and Use Your Turn Signal!</P>
 
>
> First, I have friends in South Texas who will echo what you
> said about Marvin Zindler's helping to close down the
> Chicken
> Ranch. Second, I can think of a few people who were on TX
> television when I lived there in the '70s and are still
> working:
> Troy Dungan, WFAA's weather guy (although his retirement is
> close. Troy since 1977 at WFAA



if it hasn't already happened); David Finfrock,
> KXAS's
> weather guy, was on WBAP radio in those days;
David Finfrock since 1976 and substituted for Harold at WBAP on Bill Macks show.


,
> Chris
> Marrou and Fred Lozano are still on KENS/5 San Antonio.

Chris Marrou since 1971 at KENS. In the late 60's he was a weekend weatherman on the first session of WOAI TV. Fred Lozano was on KONO radio from 1967-1974, and joined KENS in 1976.




> Somebody
> else will have to tell you if any complete news teams are
> still
> together.
>
 
> KTRK really takes care of their people and it shows in their
> ratings and their product. It is really a dream TV job to
> work there. I know a lot of people that would love to work
> there... me included.
>
> I remember Dan Cook was with KENS for 47 years before he
> said goodbye a couple of years ago. He, Chris Marrou, and
> Albert Flores were together on KENS for quite a few years
> before Dan retired and Albert had an incident that got him
> fired from there. I'm happy to say that I worked there for
> a little while and all three gentlemen were terrific, both
> on and off air.
>
> How long have Joan Hallmark and Clint Yeatts been at KLTV in
> Tyler? My guess is over 20 years. Incidentally, Marvin
> Zindler's son Mark, works in sales at KLTV.
>
> Congrats to Marvin. Here's to many more years of "Slime In
> The Ice Machine!"
>
I believe Marvins keys to longevity in the houston market are

A) Working out daily
B) Wearing his special "Blue Blocker" sunglasses
C) Making a pact with the devil ;)

All kidding aside, marvin is one of those rareities in this business. He's a still relavant reporter who does his homework and presents his pieces with integrity,honesty and a sense of humor. Congrats on your (belated)birthday and I wish you many more
 
> > Chris
> > Marrou and Fred Lozano are still on KENS/5 San Antonio.
>
> Chris Marrou since 1971 at KENS. In the late 60's he was a
> weekend weatherman on the first session of WOAI TV. Fred
> Lozano was on KONO radio from 1967-1974, and joined KENS in
> 1976.
>
>
>

Chris did go to Boston for a year or two (I want to say it was in the early 80's), but then quickly returned to KENS. And, didn't Fred Lozano go to KMOL (now WOAI) or KSAT for a short period of time, before realizing he made a mistake, too?

I will say this, I've been a lot of places, and Chris Marrou is by far the best local TV anchor I've seen. No one can ad-lib like him and he is just such a pro. Not to mention, he and Albert and Dan had GREAT chemistry.<P ID="signature">______________
Put Down The Cell Phone, and Use Your Turn Signal!</P>
 
Other long-timers--South Texas

Rio Grande Valley:
KRGV (ABC)
News: Rick Diaz 1967, retired in 1998, came out of retirement in 2000
Weather: Tim Smith 1981
Sports: Dave Brown 1975

KGBT: (CBS)
Larry James, weather 1964

Corpus Christi:
KIII (ABC)
Joe Gazin, news 1977
Alan Harwell, sports 1979(began doing weekend sports as an 18 year-old HS Senior on Channel 3)

KRIS (NBC)
Dale Nelson, weather 1981

KZTV (CBS)
Walter Furley did the news on Channel 10 from the station's sign-on in 1956 until his retirement in 2002
 
>
> Chris Marrou since 1971 at KENS. In the late 60's he was a
> weekend weatherman on the first session of WOAI TV. Fred
> Lozano was on KONO radio from 1967-1974, and joined KENS in
> 1976.


How long has Greg Simmons been on KSAT? I know he's been there at least since 1982
 
> > > Chris
> > > Marrou and Fred Lozano are still on KENS/5 San Antonio.
> >
> > Chris Marrou since 1971 at KENS. In the late 60's he was a
>
> > weekend weatherman on the first session of WOAI TV. Fred
> > Lozano was on KONO radio from 1967-1974, and joined KENS
> in
> > 1976.
> >
> >
> >
>
> Chris did go to Boston for a year or two (I want to say it
> was in the early 80's), but then quickly returned to KENS.
> And, didn't Fred Lozano go to KMOL (now WOAI) or KSAT for a
> short period of time, before realizing he made a mistake,
> too?
> Chris and his wife were held up at gunpoint and robbed in Boston. He was the anchor at WRKO. The Bostonians hated him, his ratings are like WB 33's news.
> I will say this, I've been a lot of places, and Chris Marrou

> is by far the best local TV anchor I've seen. No one can
> ad-lib like him and he is just such a pro. Not to mention,
> he and Albert and Dan had GREAT chemistry.
>
Chris, Jud Ashmore and Dan Cook were the supreme team. The were the first to topple KONO-KSAT TV who for over 18 years had the number 1 newscast.

Jud was independent and didn't like being told to shut up and do weather. He was on KBUC with Ricci Ware doing mornings. He walked once for a month, KENS told him he could do some commentary, and he came back. Then he wanted more ,told Kens he was the star of "eyewitness news". Management was tired of his chili so they fired him. They forced a no compete when KSAT signed him, and for 6 months he was doing prtomos for shows just to show his face. His buddy Ricci Ware did the weather until Jud's no compete ran out. Dan Cook is and remains the Dean of Sportswriters in Texas. KENS hired him in 1960 when they were also owned by the San Antonio Express-News, Cook's paper. Dan had a very successful sports bar in the 1970's before sports bars became the trend. It was located on The Austin Hiway in S.A. The Parking lot was painted green ans strpied like a football field. It was named after one his famous sayings " Time out"( Dan Cook's Time out) Dan would always say before going to a commercial break, "We will have more after this brief "Time Out"
 
> > > > Chris
> > > > Marrou and Fred Lozano are still on KENS/5 San
> Antonio.
> > >
> > > Chris Marrou since 1971 at KENS. In the late 60's he was
> a
> >
> > > weekend weatherman on the first session of WOAI TV. Fred
>
> > > Lozano was on KONO radio from 1967-1974, and joined KENS
>
> > in
> > > 1976.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Chris did go to Boston for a year or two (I want to say it
>
> > was in the early 80's), but then quickly returned to KENS.
>
> > And, didn't Fred Lozano go to KMOL (now WOAI) or KSAT for
> a
> > short period of time, before realizing he made a mistake,
> > too?
> > Chris and his wife were held up at gunpoint and robbed in
> Boston. He was the anchor at WRKO. The Bostonians hated him,
> his ratings are like WB 33's news.
> > I will say this, I've been a lot of places, and Chris
> Marrou
>
> > is by far the best local TV anchor I've seen. No one can
> > ad-lib like him and he is just such a pro. Not to
> mention,
> > he and Albert and Dan had GREAT chemistry.
> >
> Chris, Jud Ashmore and Dan Cook were the supreme team. The
> were the first to topple KONO-KSAT TV who for over 18 years
> had the number 1 newscast.
>
> Jud was independent and didn't like being told to shut up
> and do weather. He was on KBUC with Ricci Ware doing
> mornings. He walked once for a month, KENS told him he could
> do some commentary, and he came back. Then he wanted more
> ,told Kens he was the star of "eyewitness news". Management
> was tired of his chili so they fired him. They forced a no
> compete when KSAT signed him, and for 6 months he was doing
> prtomos for shows just to show his face. His buddy Ricci
> Ware did the weather until Jud's no compete ran out. Dan
> Cook is and remains the Dean of Sportswriters in Texas. KENS
> hired him in 1960 when they were also owned by the San
> Antonio Express-News, Cook's paper. Dan had a very
> successful sports bar in the 1970's before sports bars
> became the trend. It was located on The Austin Hiway in S.A.
> The Parking lot was painted green ans strpied like a
> football field. It was named after one his famous sayings "
> Time out"( Dan Cook's Time out) Dan would always say before
> going to a commercial break, "We will have more after this
> brief "Time Out"
>
I liked Chris, Dan, and Maclovio Perez. Mac went to Los Angeles,
then came back to Texas, IIRC. Did he go to Corpus Christi?
 
> I liked Chris, Dan, and Maclovio Perez. Mac went to Los
> Angeles,
> then came back to Texas, IIRC. Did he go to Corpus Christi?
>
"Mac is back in S.A." on WOAI. Age has not served him well.
 
> KTRK really takes care of their people and it shows in their
> ratings and their product. It is really a dream TV job to
> work there. I know a lot of people that would love to work
> there... me included.
>
> I remember Dan Cook was with KENS for 47 years before he
> said goodbye a couple of years ago. He, Chris Marrou, and
> Albert Flores were together on KENS for quite a few years
> before Dan retired and Albert had an incident that got him
> fired from there. I'm happy to say that I worked there for
> a little while and all three gentlemen were terrific, both
> on and off air.
>
> How long have Joan Hallmark and Clint Yeatts been at KLTV in
> Tyler? My guess is over 20 years. Incidentally, Marvin
> Zindler's son Mark, works in sales at KLTV.
>
> Congrats to Marvin. Here's to many more years of "Slime In
> The Ice Machine!"
>
Clint started in Tyler in either 84 or 85. I worked at KLTV from '83-'88, and Joan was already there, as host of "The 5 PM Show." It was great, classic "local" TV.
 
> I just noticed that Marvin celebrated his 84th birthday last
> week. (happy belated!, even though I'll never forgive you
> for helping to close down the Chicken Ranch) In browsing the
> KTRK website, the longevity of their talent is amazing. Dave
> Ward has been at the station since 1966, and has been an
> anchor since 1968. Ed Brandon has done the weather on ABC-13
> since 1972 and Bob Allen has done Sports since 1974. Zindler
> has been on KTRK since 1973. Even Weekend Sports guy Tim
> Melton (Nancy Lopez' ex-husband) has been in his position
> since 1981.
>
> Any other stations in TX with that kind of longevity from
> their personalities?
>
Some of my Favorite ZindlerMoments are with Dave Ward. When Zindler would go off on a particular out-of-bounds rant ("SLIIIME IN THE IIICE MACHINNNNNNE") and end his commentary, 13's producers would sometimes cut a little too quick back to Dave. Dave would have his head cocked back to the left and have his right eyebrow raised and say his customary "Thaaank you, Maaarvin"..... as if he wanted to say ....."What was that????" He didn't do it every time , but when he did, it was classic.
 
I remember Joan Hallmark doing those "Proud of East Texas" bits a looooong time ago. Scirto left for awhile, but came back and has stuck around too. Didn't Yeatts leave for a lil while and return too?? Or did he just go off the air for a lil bit as news dir??
 
Yeatts, Scirto, Hallmark/KLTV

> I remember Joan Hallmark doing those "Proud of East Texas"
> bits a looooong time ago. Scirto left for awhile, but came
> back and has stuck around too. Didn't Yeatts leave for a lil
> while and return too?? Or did he just go off the air for a
> lil bit as news dir??
>

Clint Yeatts has never left. He used to do the 5, 6, & 10 after Chuck McDonald went to KETK, but he is now just doing the 6 and he is Managing Editor. Scirto went to Lake Charles for a couple of years, but when John Adams went to KETK, KLTV quickly wooed him back. Joan is still there, and still doing PROUD OF EAST TEXAS. Working at KLTV has been my favorite job to this point. They just didn't pay that well. But it was a great TV station, from a quality standpoint. It is a dominant number one and we were all like one big family. I really miss working there. <P ID="signature">______________
Put Down The Cell Phone, and Use Your Turn Signal!</P>
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom