Wink Martindale, a radio and television entertainer known to audiences as host of classic game shows including “Tic-Tac-Dough” and “Gambit,” has died.
Something about his charm
Wink Martindale was more than just a familiar face on TV — he was a voice of comfort, excitement, and joy for so many Americans growing up.
People still remember the thrill of watching Tic-Tac-Dough, the fun of Headline Chasers, and the fast-paced energy of High Rollers. But Gambit… that one hit differently. That was the show that truly stuck with people. There was just something about Wink’s charm and the way he brought the game to life that made it feel personal — like he was inviting you into something special.
Winston Conrad Martindale was born on December 4, 1933, in Jackson, Tennessee. He got his start in broadcasting early, working as a disc jockey at just 17 years old at WPLI in his hometown, pulling in $25 a week.
Reflecting on how he got his famous nickname, he shared with ABC News in 2014, “When I was a kid in Jackson, Tenn., one of my playmates, Jimmy McCord, couldn’t say ‘Winston,’ which is my given name, and he had a speech impediment, and it came out sounding like ‘Winky.’ So Winston turned into Winky, and then I got into the business and Wink!”
Martindale’s early career wasn’t just about spinning records. He made his TV debut hosting Mars Patrol, a sci-fi-themed children’s show on WHBQ-TV. But it was clear from the beginning — Wink was made for showbiz, whether behind the mic or in front of the camera.
His first big break came in 1972 when he became the host of a brand-new game show on CBS called Gambit. The show turned out to be a hit, and Martindale stayed on as emcee for four years.
Inside his friendship with Elvis Presley
Before Wink became a game show legend, he found himself in the middle of rock ’n’ roll history — and it all started with his good friend, Elvis Presley.
It was the evening of July 10, 1954, and Martindale was giving some friends a tour of the WHBQ radio studio in Memphis. That’s when he noticed something unusual: phone lines lighting up like crazy during his colleague Dewey Phillips’ 9 p.m. show. The reason? A brand new track was making waves — Elvis Presley’s very first record, “That’s All Right.”
The song had been recorded just five days earlier at Sun Studio by producer Sam Phillips (no relation to Dewey). Sam had delivered the record to WHBQ on July 6, and by July 10, it was making a major splash with listeners. Dewey wanted to interview Elvis on-air right away, but there was just one problem — no one could find him.
So Wink picked up the phone and called the Presley household. Elvis’ mom, Gladys, answered and explained that her son was so nervous about how the song would be received, he’d gone to a movie to calm down. Wink urged her to bring him down to the studio — and she did.
Elvis showed up with his parents, and Dewey sat him down for an interview. The best part? Elvis didn’t even know he was live on the air. Wink would later recall that Elvis admitted he probably couldn’t have spoken if he had known — that’s how shy he was back then.
This wasn’t just a footnote in music history — it was the moment that helped launch Elvis Presley into stardom. And Wink Martindale was right there to witness it.
