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Wink Martindale

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Wink Martindale

Winston Conrad "Wink" Martindale (December 4, 1933 – April 15, 2025) was an American disc jockey, radio personality, game show host and television producer. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he was known for his outgoing and jovial demeanor and his booming voice, who was also well-known for hosting the game shows: Gambit from 1972 to 1976 (and again from 1980 to 1981), Tic-Tac-Dough from 1978 to 1985, High Rollers from 1987 to 1988, and Debt from 1996 to 1998. He also presented Wink's Vault, on his YouTube Channel, from 2014 until his death in 2025.

Infobox

Born
Winston Conrad Martindale(1933-12-04)December 4, 1933Jackson, Tennessee, U.S.
Died
April 15, 2025(2025-04-15) (aged 91)Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Occupations
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Years active
1951–2025
Spouses
mw- Madelyn Leech (m. 1954; div. 1971) Sandy Ferra (m. 1975)
Children
4

Tables

· External links
Preceded byJack Barry
Preceded byJack Barry
Media offices
Preceded byJack Barry
Media offices
Host of Tic-Tac-Dough 1978–1985
Media offices
Succeeded byJim Caldwell
Preceded byAlex Trebek
Preceded byAlex Trebek
Media offices
Preceded byAlex Trebek
Media offices
Host of High Rollers 1987–1988
Media offices
Succeeded bySeries ended
Preceded bySeries created
Preceded bySeries created
Media offices
Preceded bySeries created
Media offices
Host of Trivial Pursuit 1993–1994
Media offices
Succeeded byChristopher Knight (2008–2009)
Media offices
Preceded byJack Barry
Host of Tic-Tac-Dough 1978–1985
Succeeded byJim Caldwell
Preceded byAlex Trebek
Host of High Rollers 1987–1988
Succeeded bySeries ended
Preceded bySeries created
Host of Trivial Pursuit 1993–1994
Succeeded byChristopher Knight (2008–2009)

References

  1. Los Angeles Times
    http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/wink-martindale/
  2. The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music
  3. "Wink Martindale, king of the television game show, dies at 91"
    https://www.unionleader.com/news/national/wink-martindale-king-of-the-television-game-show-dies-at-91/article_ece4d84c-0f95-49c9-81bd-82babe31f75c.html
  4. "Remembering Wink Martindale"
    https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/remembering-wink-martindale/
  5. "Game show host Wink Martindale's exciting B&B role"
    https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/comings-and-goings/1525/game-show-host-wink-martindales-exciting-bb-role/
  6. "Wink Martindale Explains How He Got His Name"
    https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wink-martindale-explains/story?id=27034447
  7. Hollywood Walk of Fame
    https://walkoffame.com/wink-martindale/
  8. "Wink Martindale on meeting Elvis Presley – TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQ9E8_Jojc
  9. Elvis.com.au
    https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/dewey-phillips-and-elvis-presley.shtml
  10. The Book of Golden Discs
    https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/115
  11. "CHUM Hit Parade - November 2, 1959"
    http://chumtribute.com/59-11-02-chart.jpg
  12. British Hit Singles & Albums
  13. "Year 1999 A D"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAELQX7EvPo
  14. Commercial Appeal
    https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/2025/04/15/wink-martindale-obit-elvis-presley-memphis/83108533007/
  15. "Elvis' appearance on Wink Martindale's 'Teenage Dance Party' on June 16, 1956 – the other guest during the first part of the interview is Dewey Philips. At the end of the interview they plug Elvis' upcoming show in Memphis (Russwood Park, July 4th)"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIbeiBnvcmA
  16. "Wink Martindale"
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553272/
  17. "Wink Martindale, game show host dies at 91"
    https://www.columbian.com/news/2025/apr/16/wink-martindale-game-show-host-dies-at-91/
  18. TV Insider
    https://www.tvinsider.com/1186059/tic-tac-dough-gsn-revival-brooke-burns-changes/
  19. Deadline
    https://deadline.com/2025/04/wink-martindale-dead-1236369288/
  20. Broadcasting
    https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-12-08-OCR-Page-0107.pdf
  21. Broadcasting
    https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/88-OCR/BC-1988-05-16-OCR-Page-0054.pdf
  22. Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars
  23. "In a wink, he'll be on a new game show"
    https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/03/10/in-a-wink-he-ll-be-on-new-game-show/
  24. "'Debt' - a game show for the credit card"
    https://www.deseret.com/1997/6/20/19318932/debt-a-game-show-for-the-credit-card
  25. 973thedawg.com
    http://973thedawg.com/the-weekend-guys-picks-six-game-shows-that-should-be-revived
  26. "Foundation Interviews: Wink Martindale"
    https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/emmy-magazine/articles/foundation-interviews-wink-martindale
  27. Deserert News
    https://www.deseret.com/2006/6/4/19956843/host-martindale-beams-over-his-walk-of-fame-star
  28. goldcarolina.com
    https://goldcarolina.com/on-air/wink-martindale
  29. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-11-wk-quick11.s5-story.html
  30. Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars
  31. Hit Parade Radio
    http://www.hitparaderadio.com/press/PR_060209.pdf
  32. Hit Parade Radio
    http://www.hitparaderadio.com/press/PR_020110.pdf
  33. "Wink Martindale to Host 'Instant Recall' on GSN Starting March 4"
    http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/02/04/wink-martindale-to-host-instant-recall-on-gsn-starting-march-4/
  34. Instant Recall
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100207110315/http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/wink-martindale-hosts-gsns-instant-recall-starting-march-4th/
  35. Wink Martindale's channel on YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/user/WinkMartindaleGames
  36. YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPdIBPYBN7s
  37. Legendary game show host Wink Martindale on The Chase! | The Chase
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW_frfzjuQg
  38. tvinsider.com
    https://www.tvinsider.com/101035/game-show-great-wink-martindale-guest-stars-on-the-bold-and-the-beautiful/
  39. KFC | Announcement | Zinger
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YY4RfeX2Z4
  40. History Of Rock 'n' Roll
    https://news.radio-online.com/articles/n40587/All-New-Weekly-History-Of-Rock-n-Roll-to-Debut
  41. All Access
    https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/207827/wink-martindale-revives-history-of-rock-n-roll-ser
  42. Radio Ink
    https://radioink.com/2021/05/25/how-you-can-get-the-history-of-rock-n-roll/
  43. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/15/arts/television/wink-martindale-dead.html
  44. The Daily Beast
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/10/31/why-game-show-hosts-vote-republican
  45. "Elvis Presley's vision of Jesus in the desert | God Reports"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180617044109/http://blog.godreports.com/2013/11/elvis-presleys-vision-of-jesus-in-the-desert/
  46. Elvis.com.au
    https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview-with-wink-and-sandy-martindale.shtml
  47. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2025/04/wink-martindale-dead-1236369288/
  48. npr.org
    https://www.npr.org/2025/04/16/nx-s1-5366375/wink-martindale-dead-gambit-tic-tac-dough
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