History of Wink Martindale in Timeline

Winston Conrad "Wink" Martindale (1933-2025) was a prominent American disc jockey, radio personality, game show host, and television producer. A pop culture figure known for his booming voice and jovial personality, Martindale hosted several popular game shows, including Gambit (1972-1976), Tic-Tac-Dough (1978-1985), High Rollers (1987-1988), and Debt (1996-1998). He also maintained a YouTube channel, Wink's Vault, from 2014 until his death, showcasing content related to his career and interests.

1954: Marriage to Madelyn Leech

In 1954, Wink Martindale married Madelyn Leech; they later had four children.

1971: Divorce from Madelyn Leech

In 1971, Wink Martindale and Madelyn Leech divorced.

1975: Marriage to Sandy Ferra

In 1975, Wink Martindale married his second wife, Sandy (née Ferra).

1978: Gary Theroux produced The History of Rock 'n' Roll

In 1978, Gary Theroux wrote and produced the 52-hour marathon version of "The History of Rock 'n' Roll" for Drake-Chenault.

January 28, 2021: Deal or No Deal Pilot Announcement

On January 28, 2021, Wink Martindale announced on his Facebook page that he possessed a pilot episode of the ABC version of "Deal or No Deal" and would release it on his YouTube channel once it reached 18,000 subscribers.

Loading Video...

June 6, 2021: Hosting The History of Rock 'n' Roll

On June 6, 2021, Wink Martindale began hosting "The History of Rock 'n' Roll", a nationally and internationally syndicated two-hour weekend show focusing on music from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, in collaboration with Peter Jay Gould and Gary Theroux.

July 19, 2021: YouTube Channel Goal Achieved and Pilot Upload

On July 19, 2021, Wink Martindale's YouTube channel reached 18,000 subscribers, leading to the upload of the ABC's "Deal or No Deal" pilot episode as promised.

Loading Video...