Winston Conrad “Wink” Martindale (born December 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee) is a distinguished American disc jockey, radio personality, game show host, and television producer. He gained prominence for hosting several popular game shows, including “Gambit” (1972–1976, 1980–1981), “Tic-Tac-Dough” (1978–1985), “High Rollers” (1987–1988), and “Debt” (1996–1998).
Career Highlights:
- Television Hosting: Martindale’s television career began with hosting “Mars Patrol” and “Teenage Dance Party” at WHBQ-TV in Memphis, where Elvis Presley made a notable appearance in 1956. He later hosted NBC’s “What’s This Song?” (1964–1965) and “Words and Music” (1970–1971). His tenure as the host of “Tic-Tac-Dough” is particularly celebrated.
- Production Ventures: Beyond hosting, Martindale founded Wink Martindale Enterprises, producing game shows like “Headline Chasers” (1985) and co-producing “Bumper Stumpers” (1987–1990) with Merv Griffin. He also developed interactive game shows such as “Trivial Pursuit” and “Boggle” in the 1990s.
- Radio Contributions: In radio, Martindale hosted “The 100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time,” a nationally syndicated show produced by Envision Radio Networks in 2012.
Personal Life:
Martindale married Madelyn Leech in 1954, with whom he had four children before their divorce in 1972. He remarried Sandy Ferra on August 2, 1975. Both Wink and Sandy have shared personal anecdotes about their friendship with Elvis Presley, including appearances on Elvis Radio.
Recent Developments:
In 2021, Martindale launched a YouTube channel featuring episodes of game shows, pilots, and rare clips. He also began hosting “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” a two-hour weekend radio program focusing on music from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Wink Martindale’s enduring influence in the entertainment industry, particularly in game show hosting and production, has left a lasting legacy.