Wink Martindale: A Celebrated Legacy in Entertainment

Wink Martindale, the legendary radio and television personality adored by fans as the vibrant host of classic game shows such as “Tic-Tac-Dough” and “Gambit,” has passed away at the age of 91.

The sad news of Martindale’s passing was announced by his representative and family friend, Brian Mayes, in a recent news release. He died on Tuesday in Rancho Mirage, California.

Born as Winston Conrad Martindale in 1933 in Jackson, Tennessee, Wink was captivated early on by the allure of the family radio. His magnetic voice and charm led him to flourish in the entertainment arena.

Starting his career as a disc jockey at just 17 in Jackson, Martindale quickly rose through the ranks, finding greater opportunities at WHBQ in Memphis. It was here in July 1954 that Elvis Presley’s debut record “That’s All Right” first hit the airwaves, tirelessly replayed by another DJ due to its phenomenal demand. Meanwhile, Martindale engaged with Elvis’s mother, arranging for the young star to visit the station for his first interview.

Following this promising start, Martindale carved out a remarkable 74-year career, also achieving personal success as a recording artist. His spoken-word track “Deck of Cards” soared to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the UK Singles Chart, selling over a million copies in 1959. That year, he began a stint as the morning DJ at Los Angeles’ KHJ, moving on to KRLA a year later, and finally KFWB in 1962. His career also included tenures at several other stations, notably at Gene Autry’s KMPC from 1971-1979 and 1983-1987. Martindale was credited with helping to introduce major hits and artists of the 60s and 70s, often spinning tracks for the first time on his shows.

Martindale’s radio credits extended to “Hit Parade Radio,” syndicated shows like “Music of Your Life,” “100 Greatest Christmas Hits of All Time,” “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” and recurring roles on “The Howard Stern Show.”

Not only a radio luminary, Martindale shone brightly on television. His TV career took off at WHBQ-TV in Memphis with the children’s sci-fi series “Mars Patrol,” before moving on to “Teenage Dance Party,” where Elvis appeared in June 1956. His ventures into game shows began in the mid-1960s with NBC’s “What’s This Song?” followed by “Words and Music,” CBS’s “Gambit,” and his crowning success, “Tic-Tac-Dough.”

Beyond these hits, he hosted numerous other popular shows including “Headline Chasers,” “High Rollers,” “The Last Word,” “The Great Getaway Game,” “Trivial Pursuit,” “Debt,” “Instant Recall,” and others. In recent years, he graced shows such as “Most Outrageous Game Show Moments,” “The Chase,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Martindale expanded into production in 1985, co-creating the TV game show “Headline Chasers” with Merv Griffin and King World, a leader in syndication.

A passionate philanthropist, Martindale lent his support to countless causes, producing and hosting telethons for Cerebral Palsy and St. Jude Children’s Hospital among others.

In 2006, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2024, he received a Beale Street Note on Memphis, Tennessee’s Beale Street Walk of Fame. His alma mater, the University of Memphis, presented him with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015. Martindale was also among the inaugural inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.

At the time of his passing, Martindale was lovingly surrounded by family, including his wife of 49 years, Sandra Martindale.

Martindale leaves behind his wife Sandra, sister Geraldine, daughters Lisa, Lyn, and Laura, a large extended family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his honorary son Eric, and his beloved Chihuahua, Dude.