Zindler didn’t go to the Ponderosa to serve this subpoena
Just when I think I’ve seen all the photos of Marvin Zindler here at the paper, along comes this gem from February 1968.
Here, Zindler, a Harris County sheriff ’s deputy, is serving a subpoena at the Rice Hotel to a seemingly nonetoo-thrilled Michael Landon.
Back then Landon was a huge star as Joseph “Little Joe” Cartwright on the toprated NBC show “Bonanza.” As such, the Post was going to have a little fun with the story.
“’Little Joe’ is caught in his pajamas in bunkhouse,” the paper’s headline read.
Landon was a witness in a lawsuit filed against the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Erma Thompson sued the rodeo after a horse, Cinderella, bit her finger in 1964. Seems Landon had warned rodeo officials the horse was dangerous. He was supposed to provide a statement about Cinderella while in town for his latest rodeo visit.
Post photographer Roger Powers, presumably tipped off beforehand, was there when Zindler found Landon, sans shirt, at the Rice.
“I don’t know why they want me,” Landon said, as reported by the Post’s Frank Krystyniak. “I won’t be here for the trial.”
You know the rest of the story. In a few years Zindler would leave law enforcement and head over to KTRK (Channel 13). Landon hit ratings gold again as Charles Ingalls in “Little House on the Prairie.”
Sadly, both men would die of pancreatic cancer. Landon in 1991 and Zindler in 2007.