Theme: SSSH !! - The circled letters (see Answer Grid, highlighted in red in my write-up) orderly spell out LAMBS, and they're silent in all the theme entries.
14A. Corner-to-corner lines : CROSSWALK Silent L. OK, hands up for everyone who wrote in "diagonals"???
18A. Brand with a cuckoo mascot : COCOA PUFFS Silent "A"
34A. Recall aids : MNEMONIC DEVICES Silent "M"
55A. Disapproval : THUMBS DOWN Silent "B"
60A. Nassau Coliseum NHL team : ISLANDERS Silent "S"
And the unifier:
39. Characteristic of this puzzle's circled letters, which suggest a 1991 Oscar-winning film : SILENCE.
"Silence of the Lambs". Creepy movie that I have never been able to watch. But, I did recently see an extremely interesting documentary about the making of this film, with commentary from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.
Did your puzzle have circles? Mine did not, but I didn't need them to suss this clever theme!
Marti here, and I hope that this is not a disappointing puzzle, after yesterday's blockbuster Don G and CC offering (aka DCC)!
Across:
1. Cabernets, e.g. : REDS. Yep, my favorite!
5. __ Ababa : ADDIS
10. It's in poetry? : TIS. Or, the sequel to Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes"
13. Ray's mom on "Everybody Loves Raymond" : MARIE
16. Blowing away : AWING. (On a wing and a prayer?)
17. Small smoke : CIGARILLO
20. Enunciate poorly : SLUR. The way I speak, after having too many 1As.
21. Spanish liqueur : ANIS. I know the spelling as "anise". Anyone else?
22. Literary schnauzer : ASTA. Oh, so now it's a literary dog??? When did he learn to read?
23. Invitation sender : HOST
24. Took care of : DID. I took care of DH last night...
25. Last pres. born in the 19th century : DDE. Dwight David Eisenhower, our 34th president.
26. Fish and chips fish : COD
29. Jazz guitarist Montgomery: WES
30. IM user, perhaps : AOLER. OK, I officially pronounce this clue/answer as dead! (...until I need it in a puzzle!)
32. News distributors : MEDIA
40. Adams's "Nixon in China," for one : OPERA. Interesting factoid here. Hands up for anyone who knew this opera?...anyone???
41. Rice follower, at the market : A-RONI. The San Francisco treat...
42. Colorful subway poster : MAP. Who wanted "graffiti artist"??
45. Reagan era acronym : SDI. "Strategic Defense Initiative"
46. Load : TON
48. CCCX x V : MDL. (What , not DCC???)
49. '40s film critic James : AGEE
51. Injury reminder : SCAR
53. Concert wind : OBOE
54. Herring prized for its eggs : SHAD
57. Not easily comprehended : HARD TO SEE
59. Like some pride : CIVIC
61. Coeur d'__ : ALENE. Idaho city
62. "The X-Files" extras : ETs. Extra Terrestrials.
63. Proposal rarely made on one knee : TOAST. HaHa. Funny clue / answer.
64. Arctic hazard : BERG. Just ask anyone on the Titanic...
Down:
1. Salad veggie : RAW ONION
2. "Spamalot" co-creator : ERIC IDLE.
3. Prehistoric critters, briefly : DINOS. Like this one.
4. Dreamcast maker : SEGA
5. Impeach : ACCUSE. How many U.S. presidents have been "impeached"?
6. Go with the tide : DRIFT
7. Having a mug like a pug : DOG-FACED. Awww, who couldn't love these faces?
8. "A miss __ good ..." : IS AS
9. Belarus, once: Abbr. : SSR. Soviet Socialist Republic.
10. Soapmaking material : TALLOW
11. Treat like dirt : ILL USE. (Hmmm... I think I'll use this one sometime.)
12. Hybrid apparel : SKORTS. Are guys disappointed to see what is underneath these...?
13. Crushed-stone surface : MACADAM
15. Words after a splash in a fountain, maybe : WISH
19. Artificially inflate : PAD
25. Dilating application : DROPS. I think of Abejo and his eye drops. How are you doing??
27. Poetic dedication : ODE. I'll let Clear Ayes choose...
28. Place to recline : DIVAN. Yes, I'll recline on my divan and watch some "Hoarders" on reality TV...
31. Genre of the band Jimmy Eat World : EMO. Hmmm, never heard of this group. You??
32. __ Nashville: record label : MCA. Label of George Strait and Scotty McCreery, among others...
33. Mattress filler : AIR. Hot?
35. "Waking __ Devine": 1998 film : NED. Great film. If you have never seen it, order here!!
36. Dún Laoghaire's waters : IRISH SEA
37. Trump has an elaborate one : COMB-OVER
38. Providing funds for : ENDOWING
42. Old golf club name : MASHIE
43. White as a sheet : AGHAST
44. Diver's quest : PEARLS. (Not muffs?)
46. Least likely to bite : TAMEST. OK, so the tamest pit-bull is least likely to bite? I don't want to be the one to test that theory!
47. Globe : ORB
50. Icelandic source of mythology : EDDA
52. Callers at round dances : CUERS. Yellowrocks, any comment??
53. Ballet's Black Swan : ODILE
55. Uproar : TO-DO
56. Unpopular worker : SCAB (Not to be confused with 51A)
58. Blast cause : TNT. Dy-no-mite!!
Th..Th..Th..Thats all, folks!
Answer grid.
Hugs, from Marti
14A. Corner-to-corner lines : CROSSWALK Silent L. OK, hands up for everyone who wrote in "diagonals"???
18A. Brand with a cuckoo mascot : COCOA PUFFS Silent "A"
34A. Recall aids : MNEMONIC DEVICES Silent "M"
55A. Disapproval : THUMBS DOWN Silent "B"
60A. Nassau Coliseum NHL team : ISLANDERS Silent "S"
And the unifier:
39. Characteristic of this puzzle's circled letters, which suggest a 1991 Oscar-winning film : SILENCE.
"Silence of the Lambs". Creepy movie that I have never been able to watch. But, I did recently see an extremely interesting documentary about the making of this film, with commentary from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.
Did your puzzle have circles? Mine did not, but I didn't need them to suss this clever theme!
Marti here, and I hope that this is not a disappointing puzzle, after yesterday's blockbuster Don G and CC offering (aka DCC)!
Across:
1. Cabernets, e.g. : REDS. Yep, my favorite!
5. __ Ababa : ADDIS
10. It's in poetry? : TIS. Or, the sequel to Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes"
13. Ray's mom on "Everybody Loves Raymond" : MARIE
16. Blowing away : AWING. (On a wing and a prayer?)
17. Small smoke : CIGARILLO
20. Enunciate poorly : SLUR. The way I speak, after having too many 1As.
21. Spanish liqueur : ANIS. I know the spelling as "anise". Anyone else?
22. Literary schnauzer : ASTA. Oh, so now it's a literary dog??? When did he learn to read?
23. Invitation sender : HOST
24. Took care of : DID. I took care of DH last night...
25. Last pres. born in the 19th century : DDE. Dwight David Eisenhower, our 34th president.
26. Fish and chips fish : COD
29. Jazz guitarist Montgomery: WES
30. IM user, perhaps : AOLER. OK, I officially pronounce this clue/answer as dead! (...until I need it in a puzzle!)
32. News distributors : MEDIA
40. Adams's "Nixon in China," for one : OPERA. Interesting factoid here. Hands up for anyone who knew this opera?...anyone???
41. Rice follower, at the market : A-RONI. The San Francisco treat...
42. Colorful subway poster : MAP. Who wanted "graffiti artist"??
45. Reagan era acronym : SDI. "Strategic Defense Initiative"
46. Load : TON
48. CCCX x V : MDL. (What , not DCC???)
49. '40s film critic James : AGEE
51. Injury reminder : SCAR
53. Concert wind : OBOE
54. Herring prized for its eggs : SHAD
57. Not easily comprehended : HARD TO SEE
59. Like some pride : CIVIC
61. Coeur d'__ : ALENE. Idaho city
62. "The X-Files" extras : ETs. Extra Terrestrials.
63. Proposal rarely made on one knee : TOAST. HaHa. Funny clue / answer.
64. Arctic hazard : BERG. Just ask anyone on the Titanic...
Down:
1. Salad veggie : RAW ONION
2. "Spamalot" co-creator : ERIC IDLE.
3. Prehistoric critters, briefly : DINOS. Like this one.
4. Dreamcast maker : SEGA
5. Impeach : ACCUSE. How many U.S. presidents have been "impeached"?
6. Go with the tide : DRIFT
7. Having a mug like a pug : DOG-FACED. Awww, who couldn't love these faces?
8. "A miss __ good ..." : IS AS
9. Belarus, once: Abbr. : SSR. Soviet Socialist Republic.
10. Soapmaking material : TALLOW
11. Treat like dirt : ILL USE. (Hmmm... I think I'll use this one sometime.)
12. Hybrid apparel : SKORTS. Are guys disappointed to see what is underneath these...?
13. Crushed-stone surface : MACADAM
15. Words after a splash in a fountain, maybe : WISH
19. Artificially inflate : PAD
25. Dilating application : DROPS. I think of Abejo and his eye drops. How are you doing??
27. Poetic dedication : ODE. I'll let Clear Ayes choose...
28. Place to recline : DIVAN. Yes, I'll recline on my divan and watch some "Hoarders" on reality TV...
31. Genre of the band Jimmy Eat World : EMO. Hmmm, never heard of this group. You??
32. __ Nashville: record label : MCA. Label of George Strait and Scotty McCreery, among others...
33. Mattress filler : AIR. Hot?
35. "Waking __ Devine": 1998 film : NED. Great film. If you have never seen it, order here!!
36. Dún Laoghaire's waters : IRISH SEA
37. Trump has an elaborate one : COMB-OVER
38. Providing funds for : ENDOWING
42. Old golf club name : MASHIE
43. White as a sheet : AGHAST
44. Diver's quest : PEARLS. (Not muffs?)
46. Least likely to bite : TAMEST. OK, so the tamest pit-bull is least likely to bite? I don't want to be the one to test that theory!
47. Globe : ORB
50. Icelandic source of mythology : EDDA
52. Callers at round dances : CUERS. Yellowrocks, any comment??
53. Ballet's Black Swan : ODILE
55. Uproar : TO-DO
56. Unpopular worker : SCAB (Not to be confused with 51A)
58. Blast cause : TNT. Dy-no-mite!!
Th..Th..Th..Thats all, folks!
Answer grid.
Hugs, from Marti
