About
"A good host is a person who loves people. If you’re a people person, you’re naturally going to be attracted to contestants and it's easy for you to be able to interact with those people."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Wink Martindale (1933-2025) talks about his early years and being a DJ in Memphis, TN, where he was the first DJ to play a record by Elvis Presley. He describes hosting several local Memphis television shows like Mars Patrol and Top Ten, as well as making the move to Los Angeles and hosting P.O.P. Dance Party on KTLA. He details his first national game shows including Dream Girl of ’67, How’s Your Mother-in-Law?, and Las Vegas Gambit. Martindale describes in detail hosting the hit game show Tic Tac Dough, and discusses the popularity of the show and the show’s record breaking, long-running contestant Thom McKee. He recalls hosting various other game shows including High Rollers, Trivial Pursuit, and Debt. He concludes by summing up his long career, and offering advice to aspiring game show hosts. John Dalton conducted the interview on April 11, 2017 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Wink Martindale on becoming the host of Tic Tac Dough, and on the early broadcast history of the show
Wink Martindale on how he got the name "Wink"
Wink Martindale on meeting Elvis Presley, and his friendship with Elvis
Wink Martindale on hosting Las Vegas Gambit, and on appearing on The Hollywood Squares
Wink Martindale on retiring from hosting, and on acting on The Bold and the Beautiful
Wink Martindale on record breaking Tic Tac Dough contestant Thom McKee
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On how he got the name "Wink"; on his early life and influences; on getting into radio at a station owned by Gene Autry
On hosting the radio show "Clockwatchers" on WHBQ out of Memphis, Tennessee; on meeting Elvis Presley, and his friendship with Elvis; on the first time he saw television, and early shows he watched
On hosting a children's show, Mars Patrol, on a local Memphis television station; on hosting his local dance show Top Ten out of Memphis, and on doing Elvis Presley's first filmed interview; on Dick Clark
On singing in the movie "Let's Rock"; on his hit song "Deck of Cards," and on performing it on The Ed Sullivan Show; on hosting P.O.P. Dance Party on KTLA
On appearing on both television and radio on a daily basis in the 1950s; on what makes a good game show host, and on game show hosts he admires like Bill Cullen; on announcing for Everybody's Talking, and on hosting Dream Girl of '67, and How's Your Mother-in-Law?
Chapter 2
On hosting Can You Top This produced by Morey Amsterdam; on hosting Las Vegas Gambit, and on appearing on The Hollywood Squares; on becoming a game show host
On becoming the host of Tic Tac Dough, and on the early broadcast history of the show; on various aspects of hosting Tic Tack Dough, and on long running contestant Thom McKee
On creating and hosting Headline Chasers; on hosting High Rollers; on executive producing game shows, and on his production company
On hosting Trivial Pursuit; on the advent of Game Show Network; on hosting Debt
On hosting Second Honeymoon and Bumper Stumpers; on retiring from hosting, and on acting on The Bold and the Beautiful
Chapter 3
On being a contestant on Tattletales, and on his later friendship with Elvis Presley; on being a celebrity contestant on Password and The Hollywood Squares; on the craft of game show hosting
On Tic Tac Dough being his favorite show, and on his enjoyment of hosting Gambit; on how game shows have changed since he started, and on the future of game shows; on mentors in his career
On his wife, Sandy Martindale, and on his longevity; on career regrets and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Bold and the Beautiful, The
Wink Martindale on retiring from hosting, and on acting on The Bold and the Beautiful
Bumper Stumpers
Wink Martindale on hosting Second Honeymoon and Bumper Stumpers
Can You Top This
Wink Martindale on hosting Can You Top This produced by Morey Amsterdam
Debt
Wink Martindale on hosting Debt
Dream Girl of '67
Wink Martindale on hosting the Chuck Barris produced Dream Girl of '67
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Wink Martindale on his hit song "Deck of Cards," and on performing it on The Ed Sullivan Show
Everybody's Talking
Wink Martindale on announcing for Everybody's Talking, produced by Jack Barry
Headline Chasers
Wink Martindale on leaving Tac Tac Dough for Headline Chasers
Wink Martindale on creating and hosting Headline Chasers
Wink Martindale on working with Merv Griffin on Headline Chasers
High Rollers
Wink Martindale on hosting High Rollers
Hollywood Squares, The
Wink Martindale on appearing on The Hollywood Squares
Wink Martindale on appearing on The Hollywood Squares "Game Show Host Week"
How's Your Mother In Law?
Wink Martindale on hosting How's Your Mother-in-Law?
Las Vegas Gambit
Wink Martindale on hosting Las Vegas Gambit, and on appearing on The Hollywood Squares
Wink Martindale on Tic Tac Dough being his favorite show, and on his enjoyment of hosting Las Vegas Gambit
Password
Wink Martindale on being a celebrity contestant on Password
Second Honeymoon
Wink Martindale on hosting Second Honeymoon and Bumper Stumpers
Tattletales
Wink Martindale on being a contestant on Tattletales, and on his later friendship with Elvis Presley
Tic Tac Dough
Wink Martindale on becoming the host of Tic Tac Dough, and on the early broadcast history of the show
Wink Martindale on Tac Tac Dough producer Dan Enright
Wink Martindale on record breaking Tic Tac Dough contestant Thom McKee
Wink Martindale on how Tic Tac Dough was played, and on the popularity of the show
Wink Martindale on how record breaking Tic Tac Dough contestant Thom McKee impacted the show
Wink Martindale on Tac Tac Dough's over-80s tournament
Wink Martindale on leaving Tac Tac Dough for Headline Chasers
Wink Martindale on Tic Tac Dough being his favorite show, and on his enjoyment of hosting Las Vegas Gambit
Trivial Pursuit
Wink Martindale on hosting Trivial Pursuit
Zoom
Wink Martindale on his first game show Zoom, and on hosting What's This Song?
Topics
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Wink Martindale on mentors in his career
Industry Crossroads
Wink Martindale on producers Jack Barry and Dan Enright and the Quiz Show Scandals
Network Creation
Wink Martindale on the advent of Game Show Network
Pivotal Career Moments
Wink Martindale on mentors in his career
Quiz Show Scandals
Wink Martindale on producers Jack Barry and Dan Enright and the Quiz Show Scandals
Television Industry
Wink Martindale on producers Jack Barry and Dan Enright and the Quiz Show Scandals
Wink Martindale on the advent of Game Show Network
Wink Martindale on how game shows have changed since he started, and on the then-future of game shows
Professions
Game Show Host
Wink Martindale on what makes a good game show host, and on game show hosts he admires like Bill Cullen
Wink Martindale on executive producing game shows, and on his production company
Wink Martindale on the craft of game show hosting
Wink Martindale on his advice to an aspiring game show host
Hosts
Wink Martindale on what makes a good game show host, and on game show hosts he admires like Bill Cullen
Wink Martindale on executive producing game shows, and on his production company
Wink Martindale on the craft of game show hosting
Wink Martindale on his advice to an aspiring game show host
Genres
Daytime/Primetime Serials
Wink Martindale on retiring from hosting, and on acting on The Bold and the Beautiful
Game Shows
Wink Martindale on what makes a good game show host, and on game show hosts he admires like Bill Cullen
Wink Martindale on hosting Dream Girl of '67 and How's Your Mother-in-Law?
Wink Martindale on becoming a game show host
Wink Martindale on hosting Can You Top This produced by Morey Amsterdam
Wink Martindale on hosting Las Vegas Gambit, and on appearing on The Hollywood Squares
Wink Martindale on hosting Tic Tac Dough
Wink Martindale on creating and hosting Headline Chasers
Wink Martindale on hosting High Rollers
Wink Martindale on hosting Trivial Pursuit
Wink Martindale on hosting Second Honeymoon and Bumper Stumpers
Wink Martindale on being a contestant on Tattletales, and on his later friendship with Elvis Presley
Wink Martindale on being a celebrity contestant on Password
Wink Martindale on Tic Tac Dough being his favorite show, and on his enjoyment of hosting Las Vegas Gambit
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Wink Martindale on his hit song "Deck of Cards," and on performing it on The Ed Sullivan Show
People
Morey Amsterdam
Wink Martindale on hosting Can You Top This? produced by Morey Amsterdam
Jack Barry
Wink Martindale on producers Jack Barry and Dan Enright and the Quiz Show Scandals
Dick Clark
Wink Martindale on Dick Clark
Bill Cullen
Wink Martindale on what makes a good game show host, and on game show hosts he admires like Bill Cullen
Dan Enright
Wink Martindale on producers Jack Barry and Dan Enright and the Quiz Show Scandals
Merv Griffin
Wink Martindale on working with Merv Griffin on Headline Chasers
Elvis Presley
Wink Martindale on meeting Elvis Presley, and his friendship with Elvis
Wink Martindale on being a contestant on Tattletales, and on his later friendship with Elvis Presley