Theme: Things Are Looking Up - Four types of skies sit atop the four tallest column entries with the unifier in the center.
4D. Bogeyman deterrent, so it's said : NIGHT LIGHT
8D. Organization leader, in slang : BIG ENCHILADA
21D. Unobstructed progress : CLEAR SAILING
32D. Chatterbox's output : BLUE STREAK
26D. Airport handlers, and in a way, what the first words of 4-, 8-, 21- and 32-Down are : SKYCAPS
Argyle here. I am a bit confused by the unifier. In what way are NIGHT, BIG, CLEAR, AND BLUE considered to be SKYCAPS? Because they are in capital letters? I was feeling this was meh at the start, until I saw 8-Down and then things perked up. I should have noticed from the grid that the themes were in the vertical. Although 42-Across(plural HE) sets my teeth on edge, Jeff has given us decent Tuesday fare.
Across:
1. Prayer ender : AMEN
5. Plant used as flavoring : HERB
9. Galaxy downloads : APPs. Ares Galaxy is a popular P2P file sharing application. Now if somebody can explain what that is, we're all set. Alternate explanation: Galaxy refers to the popular Samsung smartphone. (Thank you, John.)
13. Underworld figure : DEVIL
15. Jai __ : ALAI
16. Hilarious thing : RIOT
17. All the world, to Shakespeare : STAGE. And we are but players.
18. Building extension : WING
19. Wild about : INTO
20. Farm peeper : CHICK. I know a few of us can remember getting those little peepers through the mail. My goodness, you still can! Site.
22. Unintended radio broadcast silence : DEAD AIR
24. Merciless : BRUTAL
26. Squeal like a stoolie : SING
27. Little piggy : TOE. And squealed, "Wee, wee wee, all the way home". Not considered singing.
28. Authentic : REAL
29. "A mouse!" : "EEK!". Another squeal.
31. Castro's smokes : CUBANS. He gets them at the source.
33. Against : ANTI
34. Etiquette guru Vanderbilt : AMY
35. "2001" computer : HAL. (Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer) 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, was produced in 1968.
36. B.S., e.g. : DEGree
37. Christina of "The Addams Family" : RICCI. Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams.
39. Salt Lake City collegian : UTE
42. Guys : HEs
44. 2011 Huffington Post acquirer : AOL
45. "It follows that ?" : ERGO. Why the question mark?
47. Prayer incantation : MANTRA
50. Swingers' gp.? : PGA. Pro golfers.
51. Sound of relief : "SIGH". Not to be confused with the huffy sigh or the sigh of resignation.
52. Commotion : ADO
53. Fail to hit : MISS
55. High-tech business : DOT-COM
57. Kook : ODDBALL
59. Get hitched : MARRY
60. "Aha!" : "I SEE!"
61. Tiny bit : IOTA
63. Insurance spokeslizard : GECKO. If the Geico gecko fought the Aflac duck, who would win?
66. Jazz great Getz : STAN. Stan Getz & John Coltrane live in Dusseldorf, Germany(1960) A longer clip than I usually link but hey man .... (9:01)
67. Polish target : NAIL
68. Greek or Caesar follower : SALAD
69. Ratted (on) : TOLD
70. Tiny biter : GNAT
71. Data entry aids : KEYS
Down:
1. Commercials : ADs and 41D. Fought-over food in old 1-Down : EGGO
2. Congregated : MET
3. Remove from, as a storm-threatened area : EVACUATE
5. Warmonger : HAWK
6. Inventor Whitney : ELI
7. "Amazing" magician : RANDI
9. Lacking water : ARID
10. Whacked gift holder : PINATA. And the provider of many clips on America's Funniest Home Videos.
11. "Love" concoction : POTION. It took some time but I found the Clovers version with the alternate ending(#10). Clip(1:52)
12. Puts away for later : STORES
14. "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee" speaker : LEIA. Star Wars.
23. Liquid in un lago : AGUA. Over in Lago di Como, Italia.
24. "Push-up" garment : BRA. Gotta think of Dennis! Image.
25. Rip apart : REND
30. U.K. record label : EMI. A list of their artists. There is a lot of them, too.
38. Gear part : COG
40. Tot's wheels : TRICYCLE
43. Author Bombeck : ERMA. "The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank" and she's right you know.
46. Resistance measurement : OHM
47. Follower of a Chinese "Chairman" : MAOIST
48. Builds a deck for, say : ADDS TO. Clue/answer seem a little off.
49. Negotiator's turndown : NO DEAL
54. Longtime Utah Jazz coach Jerry : SLOAN
56. FDA and NFL, e.g. : ORGs
58. Give a little : BEND
59. Beer base : MALT
62. Carrere of "Wayne's World" : TIA. Bra? What bra? Image.
64. Mary __ cosmetics : KAY
65. Pigs out (on), briefly : OD's
Argyle
From C.C.:
Belated Happy Birthday to Andrea & Steve (???). I've added you to our blog birthday list. Won't miss it next year.
And Happy Birthday to our dashing pilot Dudley. Here are a few beautiful photos from our blog photo archive.
