Monday, December 12, 2016 Michael Dewey

Theme: TWEET! - Those aren't birds tweeting.

20A. Locomotive operators: TRAIN ENGINEERS

25A. Singer for the cops?: POLICE INFORMANT

47A. Gridiron adjudicator: FOOTBALL REFEREE

52A. What 20-, 25- and 47-Across all are, in one way or another: WHISTLE BLOWERS

Argyle here. Unusual; the first three are needed to reveal the fourth, the unifier of the theme. I do like Michael's puzzles. I like the whole answer being theme, not just a part of it.

Across:

1. On the __: broken: FRITZ. Now there's a word to start the week on.

6. Dressed (in): CLAD

10. Quail or turkey, e.g.: FOWL. Ok, there are birds tweeting, sort of.

14. Prefix with economics: MACRO

15. Impulse: URGE

16. "Yeah, sure": "I BET"

17. Do over 60 in Hawaii, say: SPEED. Vermont, too. Any others?

18. Upsurge: BOOM

19. Null and __: VOID

23. Lao Tzu's "way": TAO

24. Republican org.: GOP

34. Flower painted by van Gogh: IRIS

35. Burns with hot liquid: SCALDS

36. Mai __: TAI

37. One who shuns company: LONER. Prefers solitude.

39. Many a Monopoly prop.: AVEnue

40. Kick out: EJECT

42. "Brokeback Mountain" director Lee: ANG. Ang Lee

43. Snoozing: ASLEEP

46. Rank between viscount and marquis: EARL

50. Motor City labor gp.: UAW. (United Automobile Workers)

51. Preacher's msg.: SERmon

60. Billiards triangle: RACK

61. "Garfield" pooch: ODIE

62. Paradises: EDENS

64. Lotion additive: ALOE

65. __ monster: lizard: GILA

66. "Rabbit food" course: SALAD

67. Remain undecided: PEND

68. Staircase part: STEP

69. Sporty sunroofs: T-TOPS

Down:

1. Radio choices: FMs. (frequency modulation)

2. Completely engrossed: RAPT

3. Bakery employee: ICER

4. Dissertation: TREATISE

5. It has a dozen signs: ZODIAC

6. Ice tray unit: CUBE

7. Scientologist Hubbard: L. RON

8. Intensely eager: AGOG

9. Divine-human hybrid: DEMIGOD. List of demigods, if you care to see if your name is there.

10. Quitting hr. for many: FIVE PM

11. Double-reed instrument: OBOE

12. Flow-altering dam: WEIR

13. Former Ford models: LTDs

21. Thumbs-down votes: NOes

22. Like Eric or Leif: NORSE

25. Rice dish: PILAF

26. Home of the University of Maine: ORONO

27. Jargon: LINGO

28. Poker wager-matching response: "I CALL"

29. Bellybutton: NAVEL

30. Baseball card rival of Topps: FLEER

31. On __: rampaging: A TEAR

32. Mother-of-pearl: NACRE

33. Owner's document: TITLE

38. Morocco's capital: RABAT

41. Made heckling remarks to: JEERED AT

44. Snooze loudly: SAW LOGS

45. Mexicali money: PESO

48. Like warthogs and walruses: TUSKED

49. Smallest number: FEWEST

52. Rolled-up sandwich: WRAP

53. In good health: HALE

54. Venerated image: ICON. A religious work of art.

55. Proofreader's change: EDIT

56. Irascibility: BILE

57. Jump: LEAP

58. Move, in Realtor-speak: RELO. (relocation)

59. Go off the deep end: SNAP

63. Vietnam War protest gp.: SDS. (Students for a Democratic Society)

Argyle

Monday, December 5, 2016 Brock Wilson

Theme: Catbird Seat? - I can see Tuesday from here.

17A. What the star gets on a marquee: TOP BILLING

23A. Dejected: CRESTFALLEN

37A. Level of optimal accomplishment: PEAK PERFORMANCE

47A. Meeting of world leaders: SUMMIT TALKS

58A. Honorable ... and like the starts of 17-, 23-, 37- and 47-Across: HIGH MINDED

Argyle here. Not much to say. A couple of clunkers but on the whole, a pleasant Monday.

Across:

1. Poets: BARDS

6. Ocean breaker: WAVE

10. Former Iranian ruler: SHAH

14. From another planet: ALIEN

15. Golfer's club selection: IRON

16. Golfer's target: HOLE

19. Express checkout lane unit: ITEM

20. "__ Haw": HEE

21. Contemptuous manner, in slang: 'TUDE. (attitude)

22. "Pet" annoyance: PEEVE

26. Wrap tightly, as in bandages: SWATHE

30. Poker holding: HAND

31. Charged atoms: IONS

32. Madame of physics: CURIE. Marie Curie, (1867 – 1934)

34. Guy's partner: GAL

41. Bygone jet, briefly: SST. (SuperSonic Transport)

42. Act with passion: EMOTE

43. Caution: WARN

44. Song at the Met: ARIA

45. Like most peanuts: SALTED

52. Name on rented trailers: U-HAUL

53. Lane with a nose for news: LOIS. Reporter for the Daily Planet.

54. Pasta suffix: -INI

57. Dirt road grooves: RUTS

61. Emancipated: FREE

62. Pigmented eye layer: UVEA

63. Watchdog warning: GROWL

64. Part of NIMBY: YARD. "Not In My Back Yard"

65. Swiss capital: BERN. Bern or Berne.

66. Foul, weather-wise: NASTY

Down:

1. It's drawn in a tub: BATH

2. Natural skin soother: ALOE

3. Unlike green tomatoes: RIPE

4. Star of the ball: DEB.(debutante)

5. Tattletale: SNITCH. BLABBY CAT.

6. Witty Oscar: WILDE

7. Astrological Ram: ARIES

8. Maria __ Trapp: VON Sound Of Music. (Today's French lesson.)

9. Subj. with grammar: ENGlish

10. Handheld riot gear: SHIELD

11. Marriott facility: HOTEL

12. Advil competitor: ALEVE

13. Macho guys: HE-MEN

18. Tempt: LURE

22. "The Hunger Games" nation: PANEM

24. Severe pang: THROE

25. Carnival: FAIR

26. Drinks that make a drink last: SIPS. Verb that makes a noun last.

27. Troubles: WOES

28. Vet sch. course: ANATomy

29. Disdainful click: "TSK!"

32. Zagreb native: CROAT

33. N.Y.-based educators' union: UFT. United Federation of Teachers, a New York City affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. A bit of stretch.

34. Insect in a dusk swarm: GNAT. Males assemble in large mating swarms known as ghosts, commonly at dusk.

35. Realtor's lot unit: ACRE

36. Allow to borrow: LEND

38. Danger: PERIL

39. Give out: EMIT

40. Tapered tool: AWL

44. Tickled: AMUSED

45. Less than 1%?: SKIM. Milk!

46. Give, as homework: ASSIGN

47. Like the beach during a storm: SURFY. Ugh!

48. "Star Trek" lieutenant: UHURA."Oh my!"

49. Alma __: MATER

50. Rags-to-riches author Horatio: ALGER. “Go West, young man” may well have been a paraphrase of advice given by Greeley in the New Yorker.  “If any young man is about to commence the world, we say to him, publicly and privately, Go to the West”

51. Lindsay who played Liz in "Liz & Dick": LOHAN

54. Wedding promises: I DO's

55. Mature eft: NEWT

56. Relaxed way to sit by: IDLY

58. O'Hare, for United Airlines: HUB. Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD)

59. "__ been thinking ... ": I'VE. but not much.

60. Org. promoting hunter safety: NRA. (National Rifle Association)

Argyle

Monday, November 28, 2016 Jake Braun

Theme: Wide left on four - West coast footballers.

17. *Power source that plugs into a computer port: USB CHARGER. San Diego Chargers

23. *"Airplane!" flight number, to the control tower: TWO-ZERO-NINER. San Francisco Forty Niners

36. *Carl Icahn or Michael Milken: CORPORATE RAIDER. Oakland Raiders

46. *Castle gate-busting weapon: BATTERING RAM. Los Angeles Rams

57. Home of the player at the ends of the answers to starred clues: CALIFORNIA

Argyle here. Jake's back for another Monday. Yes, it is sports related but not obscure. Except for one notable word, a pretty easy Monday.

Across:

1. "Get lost!': "SCRAM!"...and stay off my lawn.

6. Google __: geographical app: MAPS

10. Ruth with bats: BABE. How much for an autographed Babe Ruth bat, C.C.? (From C.C. : If it's authenticated and the autograph is in great condition, 10K-50K I think. I recall one sold for over 100K a few years ago.)

14. Egypt's capital: CAIRO

15. They may clash on a movie set: EGOs

16. Environmental sci.: ECOL. (Ecology)

19. Physics particle: ATOM

20. Andes, e.g.: Abbr.: MTs. (mountains)

21. Against: ANTI

22. Make amends (for): ATONE

26. Boats with double-bladed paddles: KAYAKS

29. Forget to include: OMIT

30. Mosque leader: IMAM

31. Address for Bovary: MADAM. Let the nits begin. When the novel, "Madame Bovary" (1856), was first serialized in La Revue de Paris between 1 October 1856 and 15 December 1856, public prosecutors attacked the novel for obscenity.

33. Having one flat, musically: IN F

40. Billy the __: KID

41. Father or son New York governor: CUOMO. Mario and Andrew.

42. Head, to Henri: TÊTE

43. Suffix with joke or pun: STER

44. Gratify: PLEASE

51. Going on, to Sherlock: AFOOT. "Come, Watson, come! The game is afoot."

52. Lily pad squatter: FROG

53. Sock hop site: GYM

56. "The Mod Squad" cop: LINC. 1968 to 1973 TV show, Clarence Williams III as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes...1999 film starred Omar Epps as Linc.

60. Actor Estrada: ERIK

61. Be complicit in, as a caper: ABET

62. Giraffe kin: OKAPI

63. Exec's asst.: SEC'Y. (secretary)

64. TiVo predecessors: VCRs. (videocassette recorder)

65. Jotted down: NOTED

Down:

1. Film on stagnant water: SCUM

2. Film credits list: CAST

3. Barbecue fare: RIBS

4. Smile shape: ARC

5. Iroquoian people, or a hair style named for them: MOHAWK

6. Fred or Ethel of old TV: MERTZ, from "I Love Lucy".

7. Texas A&M athlete: AGGIE

8. 19th-century master of the macabre: POE. Edgar Allan Poe

9. Old Rus. state: SSR. (Soviet Socialist Republic)

10. "Get lost!": "BEAT IT!"...and stay off my lawn. I don't want to have to tell you AGAIN!

11. Follow, as a tip: ACTON

12. Trailblazing Daniel: BOONE

13. Roundheaded Fudd: ELMER. "Daniel may hunt bears but I'm hunting wabbits!"

18. Yucatán years: ANOs. From years ago: the Yucatan Asteroid Crater.

22. Jungian inner self: ANIMA. Not a Monday friendly word.

23. Pack (down): TAMP

24. Calf-roping event: RODEO

25. Poet Khayyám: OMAR

26. Punt or field goal: KICK

27. Mine, to Marcel: Á MOI

28. One of 100 between end zones: YARD

31. Native New Zealander: MAORI. Bed and Breakfast?

32. Source of quick cash, briefly: ATM. (automated teller machine)

33. Brainstorm: IDEA

34. Butterfly catchers: NETS. Could have stayed with the sports theme with the Brooklyn Nets, pro basketball team.

35. For nothing: FREE

37. Eight-musician group: OCTET

38. Regretful sort: RUER

39. Bulleted list entry: ITEM

43. Heavyset: STOCKY

44. Plum's title in Clue, briefly: PROF. The professor? Now Victor Plum, a billionaire video game designer.

45. Blue or black water of filmdom: LAGOON. The Blue Lagoon (1980 film)/Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954 film)

46. Hay bundles: BALES

47. Burning: AFIRE

48. Mixer with gin: TONIC

49. Player referenced in 57-Across' clue, briefly: NFLer

50. Southern side dish: GRITS

53. Tiny biting insect: GNAT

54. "Eek!": "YIPE!"

55. Hotel room cleaner: MAID

57. Cleveland cager, for short: CAV. The Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

58. "Easy as" letters: ABC

59. Old studio letters: RKO

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

For those who can't find Sunday puzzles in their LA Times, it's moved to the Comics section.

Monday, November 21, 2016 Agnes Davidson & C.C. Burnikel

Theme: Musical Monday - A bit of lyric is the unifier of three diverse words.

17A. It's "down at the end of Lonely Street," in an Elvis hit: HEARTBREAK HOTEL. Hotel Chain

28A. Oil well output, in slang: BLACK GOLD. Gold Chain

47A. Miracle-Gro, e.g.: PLANT FOOD. Food Chain

62A. Part of an Aretha Franklin refrain about fools ... and a hint to the ends of 17-, 28- and 47-Across: CHAIN, CHAIN, CHAIN. chain of fools.

Argyle here with a couple of classy ladies. Enjoy!

Across:

1. Correct: RIGHT

6. Dr.'s visit: APPT.

10. "No __": "Piece of cake": PROB. (no problem)

14. Farewell that's bid: ADIEU. Not yet.

15. Societal woes: ILLs

16. Weapon in Clue: ROPE. Current weapons.

20. Horse hair: MANE

21. Online marketplace: eBAY

22. City in upstate New York: UTICA

23. Business baron: TITAN

25. Liver secretion: BILE

27. Practice boxing: SPAR

33. Hindu teacher: SWAMI

34. Fútbol fan's cry: ¡OLÉ!

35. Fencing weapon: EPEE

36. Malleable metal: TIN

37. Historic events at Gettysburg and Vicksburg: BATTLEs

41. Sister of Zsa Zsa: EVA

42. Ye __ Shoppe: OLDE

44. Spoil: ROT

45. Word with circle or tube: INNER

50. Flower usually sold by the dozen: ROSE

51. Ivory source: TUSK

52. Upper crust: ELITE

54. NFL Hall of Famer Bart: STARR

57. Dreaded high school spots?: ACNE

59. Baker's amts.: TSPs. (teaspoon)

65. Swiss river: AARE

66. Congressional confidante: AIDE

67. Florida city on the Gulf Coast: TAMPA. Meanwhile, down at the dog beach ....

68. Waitstaff rewards: TIPS

69. Post-combat affliction, briefly: PTSD. (PostTraumatic Stress Disorder)

70. Sharply inclined: STEEP

Down:

1. Chicago mayor Emanuel: RAHM

2. Thought: IDEA

3. Big bamboo muncher: GIANT PANDA

4. "Peekaboo!": "HERE I AM!"

5. Boy king: TUT

6. Online service for booking rooms with local hosts: AIRBNB. (AirBed & Breakfast) Does it mean you get to sleep on an air bed?

7. Guilty, for one: PLEA

8. Ump's cry before the first pitch: "PLAY BALL!"

9. "For shame!": "TSK!"

10. Mentored person: PROTÉGÉ

11. Roast, in Dijon: ROTI

12. Oil cartel acronym: OPEC

13. Actor Lugosi: BELA

18. Arthur of "Maude": BEA

19. "Incredible" superhero: HULK

24. Chicago daily, familiarly: TRIB

26. Frozen drink brand: ICEE

27. Sty supper: SWILL

29. Keno kin: LOTTO

30. Ali Baba's magic words: OPEN SESAME

31. "Drove my Chevy to the __": "American Pie" lyric: LEVEE

32. Luv: DEAR

33. "Knock it off!": STOP

38. Kennel cacophony: ARFS

39. Suffered financially: TOOK A HIT

40. iPhone's voice-activated app: SIRI

43. Postings in ledgers: ENTRIES

46. "Please, anything else!": NOT THAT

48. Right or left, while driving: TURN

49. Didn't admit: DENIED

53. Sportscaster Berman: LEN

54. Ella's expertise: SCAT

55. Spicy Asian cuisine: THAI

56. Boomers' lobbying group: AARP

58. Scoundrels: CADS

60. Water carrier: PIPE

61. "Just like that!" fingers sound: SNAP

63. Put a limit on: CAP

64. Dol.'s 100: CTs. Dollars and Cents

Argyle

Note from C.C.:

Erik Agard, constructor for last Saturday's LAT, just released a set of 12 puzzles of various shapes and themes. Erik is known for his innovative themes with extra layers and brilliant clue writing ([Mitt with ten figures] for ROMNEY, e.g.).

You can get the puzzles here. Pay what you wish. If you don't use Stripe, you can pay agarderik@gmail.com via PayPal. Or just email Erik if you prefer paying via other methods. You'll get puzzles in both PDF and Puz formats.

I hope you can support Erik, who's been publishing a free puzzle at Glutton for Fun since 2012. Week after week, he's there, quietly delivering a quality puzzle.

Monday, November 14, 2016 Craig Stowe

Theme: No Reveal Monday - Theme entries start with related items.

17. Celebration with personnel: STAFF PARTY

29. Hangman man, e.g.: STICK FIGURE

44. React in the slightest way: BAT AN EYELID

60. Hoarse-voiced "Maggie May" singer: ROD STEWART

Argyle here and Craig (back so soon) Stowe. After last week, we needed a nice easy puzzle to start the week. Starting in the NW corner though gave me some doubts but it worked out alright.

Across:

1. Joined, as a team of oxen: YOKED

6. Per person: A POP

10. Pockmark, e.g.: SCAR

14. Bacteria in rare meat, maybe: E COLI. Big maybe. Unless the meat is ground, e coli can only be on the surface of your cut of meat.

15. Hockey score: GOAL

16. Get through tough times: COPE

19. Like certain inappropriate remarks: UN-PC

20. __ Destiny: 19th-century U.S. doctrine: MANIFEST. 8th grade US history, remember? No quiz ... this time.

21. Television host: EMCEE

22. Cloister members: NUNS

23. Title for Elton John: SIR

25. Young fellow: LAD

26. Sound from a flock: [BAA!]. Sound from a Scrooge: [BAH!]

32. More than enough: AMPLE + 46-Down. More than enough: LOTS OF

34. Alludes (to): REFERS

35. Exaggerated publicity: HYPE

36. Garish: SHOWY

38. Hospital helper: AIDE

41. Enter sneakily: EDGE IN

43. Not exactly: ABOUT

48. Born, on society pages: NÉE

49. Israeli weapon: UZI. Both machine guns. 58-Down. WWII weapon: STEN

50. Thurman of "Gattaca": UMA

51. Bygone automaker: OLDS

53. Knocks down completely: RAZES

55. Says over: ITERATES

59. Ticks off: IREs. Ha, it IRKed me.

62. Puts on TV: AIRS. Soon they will be airing Christmas airs. (I know that's un-pc.)

63. Norway's capital: OSLO

64. Sudden power increase: SURGE

65. Cut with a beam: LASE

66. Complaint: BEEF

67. Soup-eating utensil: SPOON

Down:

1. Polite rural reply: "YES'M"

2. Hexa- plus two: OCTA

3. Zen paradox: KOAN. A problem or riddle that admits no logical solution. Trekies know about this.

4. Spritelike: ELFIN

5. Scatter widely: DIFFUSE

6. Court great Andre: AGASSI

7. Word with "of entry" or "of call": PORT

8. Muesli morsel: OAT. Cool alliteration.

9. Two-__ tissue: PLY

10. Problem in a neglected pool: SCUM

11. Ending: CONCLUSION

12. Perform (in): APPEAR

13. Draw back, as one's hairline: RECEDE

18. Repressed, with "up": PENT, 52-Down. Escorted to the penthouse, say: SAW UP

21. Buffalo's lake: ERIE

23. Distort, as data: SKEW

24. Questionable: IFFY

26. "Phooey!": "BAH!" "Humbug!"

27. Comic/writer Schumer: AMY

28. Starters on a menu: APPETIZERS

30. Witch: CRONE

31. Snatch: GRAB

33. Woman seduced by Zeus in the form of a swan: LEDA

36. Look to be: SEEM

37. Casual greeting: "HI, YA"

39. Expected at the station: DUE

40. Nice summer?: ÉTÉ

42. Bearded beasts: GNUs

43. 221B Baker Street, e.g.: ADDRESS. The address of Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

44. Part of a time capsule ceremony: BURIAL

45. Hank who voices some "Simpsons" characters: AZARIA. Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Carl Carlson and numerous others.

47. "__ it get to me": I LET

54. Latin being: ESSE. (to be)

55. Eric of "Monty Python": IDLE

56. Hawaiian root: TARO

57. "And thus ... ": "ERGO ... "

60. Steal from: ROB

61. Suffix with rib- or lact-: OSE. Ribose is a pentose sugar. Lactose is sugar from milk.

Argyle

Monday, November 7, 2016 Brock Wilson

Theme: Uncle! - Words from a lop-sided contest.

39A. Not a close game, a headline for which may include the end of 17-, 30-, 46- or 63-Across: ONE-SIDED VICTORY

17A. High school infatuation: TEEN CRUSH

30A. A few hours for doing whatever: TIME TO KILL

46A. Rich coffee lightener: HEAVY CREAM

63A. One of two Senate "enforcers": PARTY WHIP

Argyle here. Figuratively, this puzzle creamed us but literally, it was a cream puff. Both bottom corners did give me pause though. Fourth Monday for Mr. Wilson.

Across:

1. Encircled by: AMID

5. Note from the boss: MEMO

9. Strolls through the shallows: WADES

14. Calf-length skirt: MIDI. So demure.

15. Words while anteing: "I'M IN". Poker.

16. Make a speech: ORATE

19. Wash lightly: RINSE

20. Slowpoke in a shell: SNAIL

21. Worker's allowance for illness: SICK DAYS

23. Tide table term: NEAP

26. U.K. flying squad: RAF. (Royal Air Force)

27. Detriment to air quality: SMOG

36. Prune, as a branch: LOP. Prune nothing in the fall! Story

37. Colombian metropolis: CALI

38. Capital of Morocco: RABAT

43. Runway gait: STRUT

44. Taunting remark: GIBE

45. Bobby of hockey: ORR

49. "The __ the limit!": SKY'S

50. One hovering around the flowers: BEE. 60. 50-Across home: HIVE

51. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT. (Law School Admission Test)

53. Ground beef dish: MEATLOAF

58. Coffeehouse flavor: MOCHA

62. Quarterback's "Snap the ball at the second 'hut'": "ON TWO"

66. Tall story?: ATTIC. Har Har.

67. Ohio border lake: ERIE

68. Roof overhang: EAVE

69. Place for road trip luggage: TRUNK

70. Amount owed: DEBT

71. Scott who sued for his freedom: DRED. He lost. Story If you read it, be sure to read the end.

Down:

1. Lbs. and oz., e.g.: AMTs. Amounts.

2. Personal bearing: MIEN

3. Bit of brainwork: IDEA

4. "Fine" eating experience: DINING. Meatloaf?

5. Former Russian space station: MIR. (Russian: peace)

6. Grounded Aussie bird: EMU

7. "Swing and a __, strike one": MISS

8. Available for the job: ON HIRE. Idiom: Also, for hire.

9. Company employees, as a group: WORKFORCE

10. Like the Mojave: ARID

11. "The X-Files" agent Scully: DANA. Dana Scully is played by Gillian Anderson.

12. Crafts website: ETSY. https://www.etsy.com/

13. Experiences with one's eyes: SEES

18. MLB's Indians, on scoreboards: CLE. Timely. (Cleveland)

22. Litter box user: CAT

24. Slightly: A TAD

25. Paperwork accumulation: PILE

27. Walk through puddles: SLOSH

28. __ Carlo: MONTE

29. Met performance: OPERA. The Metropolitan Opera House is located on Broadway at Lincoln Square in the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Part of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, you get there by practice, practice, practice.

31. Gnatlike insect: MIDGE

32. Kit__: candy bar: KAT

33. Former Apple laptop: iBOOK

34. Comedy's Cable Guy: LARRY. He does the Prilosec OTC commercials.

35. Galactic distances: Abbr.: LT-YRs. (light-year)

37. Urban distance unit: CITY BLOCK

40. Toyota RAV4, e.g.: SUV. (sport utility vehicle)

41. Lab vessel: VIAL

42. PCs, originally: IBMs. Back in the day.

47. Top corp. officer: CEO. (chief executive officer)

48. Gathered from the field: REAPED

49. Stuck in a hold: STOWED. As in, placed in the hold of a ship.

52. Acker of "Person of Interest": AMY. The show started off in one direction but ended in another. I'm not sure the writers had a firm game plan.

53. Castle protector: MOAT

54. __'acte: ENTR. An interval between acts.

55. Westernmost Aleutian island: ATTU

56. Jacob or Esau: TWIN

57. Taxi meter figure: FARE

59. Scorch: CHAR

61. Made fun of: APED

64. Make fun of: RIB

65. Vietnamese New Year: TET. Tết Nguyên Đán, which is Sino-Vietnamese for "Feast of the First Morning of the First Day".

Argyle

Monday, October 31, 2016 Jerome Gunderson

Theme: Western Williams - Threre Bills from the old West.

20A. Bovine skin once used as a painting surface by Native Americans: BUFFALO HIDE. Buffalo Bill Cody

33A. Untamed equines: WILD HORSES. Wild Bill Hickok.

40A. Rio Grande feeder: PECOS RIVER. Pecos Bill of Texas. (I apologize for the non-PC lyrics that are offensive by today's standards.)

52A. Stack for the bookkeeper to pay ... or, literally, what 20-, 33- and 40-Across' first words constitute: PILE OF BILLS

Argyle here. We haven't had a Jerome for almost year now and with all the CSO's to me, I'm not saying one bad word about it.

Across:

1. Words before "Tricked you!": "HA-HA!"

5. Whirled: SPUN

9. Exxon merger partner: MOBIL

14. Musk of Tesla Motors: ELON

15. Syllables from Santa: "HO, HO"

16. Get away from, as pursuers: EVADE

17. Tooth anchor: ROOT

18. Border on: ABUT

19. Female 33-Across: MARES. 33A. Untamed equines: WILD HORSES

23. Nocturnal flier: BAT

24. Partner: ALLY

25. Peruvian peaks: ANDES

27. Music room system: STEREO

30. Zsa Zsa, to Eva: SISTER. Magda, Zsa Zsa, and Eva. Zsa Zsa is in frail health as she nears 100 but is still with us at this point.

32. Toasty: WARM

37. Baba who outwitted thieves: ALI. And there was forty of them!

38. Actor Mineo: SAL. He lives on in crosswords.

39. Med. care option: HMO. (Health Maintenance Organization)

45. Italia's capital: ROMA

46. Halloween goodies: TREATS. I think I'll hand out Sky Bars if I can find them.

47. Equal to, with "with": ON A PAR

49. Like sheep sans wool: SHORN

50. Pained cry: MOAN

51. Guerrilla Guevara: CHE

58. Western writer Bret: HARTE. He created a character called Yuba Bill.

60. Many: A LOT

61. Tidy: NEAT

62. "Know what __?": I MEAN

63. Rural storage cylinder: SILO. Some are repurposed.

64. Scarlett O'Hara's home: TARA

65. IRS examination: AUDIT

66. Go berserk: SNAP

67. "Not great, not bad": "OKAY"

Down:

1. Basil or rosemary: HERB

2. Baseball family name: ALOU

3. Pig's foot part: HOOF

4. Insect nest with tunnels: ANT FARM. Tried hill first.

5. Perfect for wading: SHALLOW

6. N'awlins sandwich: PO'BOY. New Orleans, yum.

7. "Nope": "UH-UH"

8. "The Little Red Hen" denial: "NOT I". "Nope, UH-UH"

9. Souvenir: MEMENTO

10. Eggs in a lab: OVA

11. Clip joint?: BARBERSHOP. Are they holding their own against salons?

12. Imagination output: IDEAs

13. For fear that: LEST

21. Stein filler: ALE

22. Pinch from a chef: DASH

26. German article: DER. "der", "die" and "das".

27. Trade: SWAP

28. "Cautionary" account: TALE

29. Leif's father: ERIC, THE RED. Norwegian Viking explorers.

30. Poles and Serbs: SLAVs

31. Not doing much of anything: IDLE

34. "What time __?": IS IT

35. Poet Lazarus: EMMA. She penned, “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

36. Fly high: SOAR

41. Guatemala gold: ORO

42. Eden tempter: SERPENT

43. Rajah's mate: RANI

44. Santa's landing spot: ROOF TOP

45. Met by chance: RAN INTO

48. Catch, as a crook: NAB

49. SeaWorld orca: SHAMU

50. Dough in a wallet: MOOLA

51. "Pet" with Smiley and Winky versions: CHIA

53. Young lady: LASS

54. Model Nordegren once married to Tiger Woods: ELIN

55. Radiator problem: LEAK

56. Tomb Raider's __ Croft: LARA. Video game.

57. Stick around: STAY

59. Mai __: TAI

Argyle