It's easy to look at the closing of the Chicken Ranch as the product of one man's moral crusade. This is not the case at all.
First, if you have explored any of the entries or links concerning Marvin Zindler, you already know that he was more inspired by the breaking of the law than the the law's moral content.
Second, it was the state government that wanted the 'bawdy house' closed even more than Zindler or the 'Jesus Bunch' did.
1972 - It all starts here when Texas State intelligence officers with the Department of Public Safety begin investigations about organized crime in Texas.
As a matter of course they investigate the Chicken Ranch, as well as another brothel ('The Wagon Wheel') in a neighboring county.
The filed report says that over the course of Nov 17 and 18, 1972, there were 484 persons entering the Ranch's premises. The estimated revenue of the brothel was 1.5 million dollars a year. Locals deny these figures.
Flornoy reportedly threatens the officers with a shotgun for investigating the Chicken Ranch
Because of the report linking the Chicken Ranch to an organized prostitution ring, the Texas Rangers ask Sheriff Flournoy to close the brothel.
Flournoy speaks to Colonel Spiers about this order. Spiers instructs Flournoy to close it for a short while due to the upcoming election.
The Chicken Ranch seemingly closes for a few weeks, but still accepts regular customers at the back door.
1973 - the Chicken Ranch issue resumes when the Texas Attorney General John Hill hears of the investigative report and continued operation of the Chicken Ranch.
Hill tells Fayette county District Attorney Oliver Kitzman to close the Chicken Ranch, showing him the report and figures.
Kitzman refuses, saying that its operation does not bother his constituients and therefore it does not bother him.
After the converstion with Kitzman ends, Hill resolves to have the media contacted about the Chicken Ranch and its abuses of the law.
A phone call is made to Marvin Zindler about this issue and he begins interviews and research.
Correspondent Larry Conners and photographer Frank Ambrose stake out the Chicken Ranch, getting footage of costomers, the girls, and general activity.
They see about 3 dozen customers enter in the space of about an hour.
They return to the Chicken Ranch the next day and Edna Milton comes out and asks them to leave, saying she runs a boarding house.
Zindler speaks to Kitzman, who says that he knew of its existance but had not closed it down due to a problem with law enforcement.
Zindler talks with Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe and gives him the investigative reports.
Briscoe says he will discuss this with the Attornoy General and get further information from the Dept. of Public Safety.
July 1973 - Zindler airs his report on ABC13 Eyewitness News, containing all the information he had gleaned.
August 1, 1973 - the Chicken Ranch has closed its doors for the last time, a week after the airing of the news program.
Governor Briscoe announces, "Colonel Spiers, I'm sure, has advised you that Sheriff Flournoy today advused the Department of Public Safety that in response to a call on Monday that the Chicken Ranch at La Grange is permanently closed."
August 2, 1973 - the Gov was to meet with Flournoy about the Chicken Ranch situation, but dismissed the meeting after hearing that the Ranch was already closed and the girls gone.
This is depressing for the people of La Grange, who have circulated a petition in support of the Chicken Ranch since the airing of the report.
Most of the town's 3,000 population had signed the petition, including mothers and wives.
