Wink Martindale — greatest referred to as the host of a number of well-known recreation reveals within the Nineteen Fifties and ’70s — has died at age 91, his household confirmed to Deadline on Tuesday, April 15.
Although the household didn’t present a reason behind loss of life, they famous that the beloved recreation present host was “surrounded by household and his beloved spouse of 49 years, Sandra Martindale.”
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Earlier than Alex Trebek, earlier than Pat Sajack, there was Wink (actual identify: Winston) who was contemporaries with different recreation present greats, like Household Feud‘s Richard Dawson, The Newlywed Sport‘s Bob Eubanks, and Password‘s Allen Ludden (who went on to marry Betty White, earlier than his loss of life in 1981).
It was Wink who helmed the Nineteen Fifties recreation present Tic-Tac-Dough earlier than happening to ’70s recreation present staples like Excessive Rollers and Gambit.
Previous to discovering fame as a recreation present host, Wink was a well-liked radio persona — one whose early assist for Elvis Presley led to a radio station go to from the King of Rock n’ Roll himself.
As his household tells the story, Wink was a DJ in Memphis within the early ’50s when his fellow disc jokey debuted Presley’s first single, “That’s All Proper.” It was Wink, his household stated, who referred to as up Elvis’ mom, Gladys Presley, to ask if her son can be prepared to return all the way down to the station for an interview — the pop star’s first one ever.
“Elvis quickly arrived at WHBQ for his first interview, and music was modified endlessly,” the Martindale household advised Deadline.
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