Theme: Window Dressing
21A: Hollywood auditions: SCREEN TESTS
56A: Reappearance on stage: CURTAIN CALL
3D: Fix-up: BLIND DATE
36D: Elm or maple, e.g.: SHADE TREE
This theme is so similar to Doug Peterson's June 25 puzzle.
No pun or any wordplay in this puzzle. Very straightforward clues. Rather bland though. Take LEAP (31A: __ of faith) for example, I remember once we had "Act of faith?" clue. I also like "Quantum movement?".
I guess it's too risky to play with ERECT (68A: Upright). I can't remember which constructor tried to clue ERECT as "Like member of congress?" for the NY Sun. I had no idea that when not capitalized, congress can have a sexual meaning (#5). Is that a familiar definition to you?
Across:
1A: Westminster, e.g.: ABBEY. Beatles' fans probably want the clue to be "ABBEY Road". The song "Come Together" is on this album.
17A: Tissue layers: PLIES. I guess our editor was not in the mood for "Knee-bending movements" any more.
19A: Writer Shelley: MARY. She wrote "Frankenstein". Wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley. I was not aware that she was writer.
26A: Actor Borgnine: ERNEST. I guessed. Have never heard of this guy before. What did he say is his secret for long life?
29A: "Star Wars" warrior: JEDI
39A: Petruchio's wife: KATE. From "The Taming of the Shrew". Another guess. Knew Kate, did not remember her husband's name.
40A: Songwriter Newman: RANDY. Unknown to me. Wow, this guy scored so many films.
64A: __ incognita: TERRA. Or TERRA Cotta, TERRA firma.
70A: __ souci (carefree): SANS. What is the opposite of SANS souci? Avec souci?
Down:
2D: Manila machete: BOLO. I obtained the answer from across fills. Not familiar with BOLO knife. Coconuts are very hard to crack.
7D: Knowing: WISE. This is a new definition of "Knowing" to me. Can you say "He is a knowing guy"?
8D: Aunt Bee's nephew: OPIE. I am more familiar with the "Mayberry kid" clue.
10D: Hucksters: ADMEN. I just learned the meaning of HUCKSTER a week ago when it's clued as "Hawker". Had no idea that it could also be an adman.
28D: Jacob's first wife: LEAH. Rachel's sister. I vaguely remember this Bible story.
29D: Singer Jackson: JANET. I was actually watching TV when the "Wardrobe malfunction" happened. I did not think it's too much though.
41D: "__Never Walk Alone": YOU'LL. Does it refer to Elvis' song?
44D: Post-storm help grp.: FEMA. I can't imagine the lives of those FEMA employees. Too much pressure.
51D: Head covering: SCALP. I wanted SCARF.
53D: Sign of spring: ARIES. Wow, they need more than one marriage to find happiness?
57D: Ephron or Lofts: NORA. Did not know the British author NORA Lofts. I liked NORA Ephron's "Sleepless in Seattle". She has such a wonderful sense of humor. I still could not believe that Carl Bernstein did not tell Ephron who "Deep Throat" was when they were married.
C.C.
21A: Hollywood auditions: SCREEN TESTS
56A: Reappearance on stage: CURTAIN CALL
3D: Fix-up: BLIND DATE
36D: Elm or maple, e.g.: SHADE TREE
This theme is so similar to Doug Peterson's June 25 puzzle.
No pun or any wordplay in this puzzle. Very straightforward clues. Rather bland though. Take LEAP (31A: __ of faith) for example, I remember once we had "Act of faith?" clue. I also like "Quantum movement?".
I guess it's too risky to play with ERECT (68A: Upright). I can't remember which constructor tried to clue ERECT as "Like member of congress?" for the NY Sun. I had no idea that when not capitalized, congress can have a sexual meaning (#5). Is that a familiar definition to you?
Across:
1A: Westminster, e.g.: ABBEY. Beatles' fans probably want the clue to be "ABBEY Road". The song "Come Together" is on this album.
17A: Tissue layers: PLIES. I guess our editor was not in the mood for "Knee-bending movements" any more.
19A: Writer Shelley: MARY. She wrote "Frankenstein". Wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley. I was not aware that she was writer.
26A: Actor Borgnine: ERNEST. I guessed. Have never heard of this guy before. What did he say is his secret for long life?
29A: "Star Wars" warrior: JEDI
39A: Petruchio's wife: KATE. From "The Taming of the Shrew". Another guess. Knew Kate, did not remember her husband's name.
40A: Songwriter Newman: RANDY. Unknown to me. Wow, this guy scored so many films.
64A: __ incognita: TERRA. Or TERRA Cotta, TERRA firma.
70A: __ souci (carefree): SANS. What is the opposite of SANS souci? Avec souci?
Down:
2D: Manila machete: BOLO. I obtained the answer from across fills. Not familiar with BOLO knife. Coconuts are very hard to crack.
7D: Knowing: WISE. This is a new definition of "Knowing" to me. Can you say "He is a knowing guy"?
8D: Aunt Bee's nephew: OPIE. I am more familiar with the "Mayberry kid" clue.
10D: Hucksters: ADMEN. I just learned the meaning of HUCKSTER a week ago when it's clued as "Hawker". Had no idea that it could also be an adman.
28D: Jacob's first wife: LEAH. Rachel's sister. I vaguely remember this Bible story.
29D: Singer Jackson: JANET. I was actually watching TV when the "Wardrobe malfunction" happened. I did not think it's too much though.
41D: "__Never Walk Alone": YOU'LL. Does it refer to Elvis' song?
44D: Post-storm help grp.: FEMA. I can't imagine the lives of those FEMA employees. Too much pressure.
51D: Head covering: SCALP. I wanted SCARF.
53D: Sign of spring: ARIES. Wow, they need more than one marriage to find happiness?
57D: Ephron or Lofts: NORA. Did not know the British author NORA Lofts. I liked NORA Ephron's "Sleepless in Seattle". She has such a wonderful sense of humor. I still could not believe that Carl Bernstein did not tell Ephron who "Deep Throat" was when they were married.
C.C.
