Theme: Dyno-MITE! - For those of you that don't get my reference, that was the catch phrase of the TV character, "J. J." Evans. All these creators became famous using just their initials instead of their first names. To further narrow the theme, only ones with "J" initially are used.
17A. Creator of Holden Caulfield : J.D. SALINGER. "The Catcher in the Rye"
24A. Creator of Neverland : J.M. BARRIE. "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up"
37A. Creator of Hogwarts : J.K. ROWLING. "Harry Potter and ..."
53A. Creator of TV's island that "wasn't just an island" : J.J. ABRAMS. "Lost"
61A. Creator of Bilbo Baggins : J.R.R. TOLKIEN. "The Lord of the Rings"
Argyle here. By the nature of the theme, there aren't any long entries but nice 7 letter blocks in two corners. This is a solo debut from this constructor who also only uses her initials.
Across:
1. Depilatory target : HAIR. A depilatory is capable of removing hair chemically.
5. London rentals : FLATS
10. Planetarium roof : DOME
14. Kick off a poker hand : ANTE leading to 3D. Wagering words : "IT'S A BET" and maybe leading to 59A. Quite a tidy sum : PILE.
15. Bacall's love, informally : BOGIE
16. World's leading saffron-producing nation : IRAN
19. Unlikely party animal : NERD
20. 5-Down employee : AGT. and 5D. Justice Dept. agency : FBI. When a clue is cross-referenced to a clue already indicating an abbreviation, it isn't indicated again.
21. Belt size, essentially : GIRTH
23. Miracle-__ : GRO
27. Live-in nanny : AU PAIR
29. Be that as it may : EVEN SO
30. Lion features : MANEs
31. Mental quickness : WIT
32. Floor space measure : AREA
36. Battery terminal : ANODE
40. Book after Daniel : HOSEA
43. Golfer's pegs : TEEs
44. Fitness class : GYM
47. PC's "Do it" key : ENTER
48. Maze-solving rodent : LAB RAT
51. Vaulted : LEAPED
55. Little devil : IMP
56. Credit card lure : NO FEE
58. Era upon era : EON
65. Out of the wind : ALEE
66. Like Cognac casks : OAKEN
67. Yours, in Cognac : A TOI. French Wine regions map.
68. Schoolroom furniture : DESK
69. Prefix with foam : STYRO
70. Toward the setting sun : WEST
Down:
1. Muslim pilgrimage : HAJ. Just one of several spellings.
2. "Furthermore ..." : "AND ...". Hajj, Hadj.
4. Only U.S. president with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame : REAGAN
6. iPad feature? : LONG "I"
7. Texas A & M athlete : AGGIE. But don't call Irish Miss that.
8. Ballpark level : TIER
9. Sealy rival : SERTA
10. Kipling's "Gunga __" : DIN
11. Pizza flavoring : OREGANO
12. Like most honeymooners : MARRIED. Which is better; the initial honeymoon or the empty nest honeymoon?
13. Sign on the back : ENDORSE
18. Env. inserts : LTR's
22. Like one who errs? : HUMAN
24. Rosh Hashanah observer : JEW. As a noun, Jew is non-offensive but as an adjective or a verb, it is offensive.
25. Twice DIII : MVI. 503 x 2 = 1006
26. Have a good laugh : ROAR
28. Twinge of pain : PANG. Ever laugh so hard that it hurt? Not the same as "It only hurts when I laugh".
33. Balderdash : ROT
34. Female sheep : EWE. How are things down on the farm, Windhover?
35. Brewpub brew : ALE
37. Wrangler maker : JEEP
38. Singer Carpenter : KAREN. Canta.(3:20)
39. Cuba, to Cubans : ISLA
40. Chopper's landing spot : HELIPAD
41. Marker-to-marker highway measurement : ONE MILE
42. "that was easy." company : STAPLES
44. Monument stone : GRANITE. Rock of Ages site, VT.
45. Candied veggie : YAM
46. Atlas high pts. : MT's
49. Cain's next younger brother : ABEL
50. Tom of NBC News : BROKAW
52. Martial arts centers : DOJOs
53. Herky-__: erratic : JERKY
54. Yankee captain since 2003 : JETER. Hm? Trying to say something about Derek with 53D?
57. Campus house : FRAT
60. "It's a mouse!" : "EEK!"
62. Wish Tree artist Yoko : ONO
63. Dawn goddess : EOS
64. Petty peeve : NIT
Argyle
1) Note from C.C.:
You wouldn't believe it, but I originally sent to Rich this grid with two unchecked squares (highlighted in fuchsia). Luckily he liked the theme and patiently guided me to the second grid you solved today.
2) Here are two lovely photos of JD's grandsons. Brady is a big boy now. Here is what they looked like in July 2010 when Cameron was only 2 weeks old.
You wouldn't believe it, but I originally sent to Rich this grid with two unchecked squares (highlighted in fuchsia). Luckily he liked the theme and patiently guided me to the second grid you solved today.
2) Here are two lovely photos of JD's grandsons. Brady is a big boy now. Here is what they looked like in July 2010 when Cameron was only 2 weeks old.
