Theme: "Say What?" - Say can precede the first word(s) in each theme entry.
23A. Area for religious zeal : AMEN CORNER. Golfers are all familiar with Augusta's Amen Corner. Say "Amen".
25A. Actress turned princess : GRACE KELLY. She epitomized elegance. Say grace.
42A. Jackie Coogan's "Addams Family" role : UNCLE FESTER. Say uncle.
47A. A Bible, to many : THE WORD OF GOD. Say the word. I just can't focus on my Bible.
68A. 1961 Marvelettes #1 hit : PLEASE MR. POSTMAN. Say "Please".
93A. O'Neill play : AH, WILDERNESS! Not familiar with the play. Say "Ah".
96A. "I'm full!" : NO MORE FOR ME. "Say no more".
116A. Start of an opinion : I DO BELIEVE. Say "I do".
119A. Everly Brothers classic : BYE BYE LOVE. Say "Bye Bye".
Simple, elegant & original. Love it. I like that two of the theme entries are familiar songs.
9 theme entries with 101 squares are not easy to deal with, luckily the entry length are grid-friendly for Gareth. Constructors love 10's on Sunday, since you can place them side by side. The 11's and 12's have a malleable 2-letter overlap.
Across:
1. Old West gunslinger Jack : SLADE. Wiki said he was "a stagecoach and Pony Express superintendent, instrumental in the opening of the American West and the archetype of the Western gunslinger."
6. Converse : CHAT
10. Sound off : OPINE
15. Wall St. hedgers : ARBs. Arbitragers.
19. "Enough of that!" : CAN IT. 29A. "Told you!" : SEE
20. Like gossamer : AIRY
21. Nobelist Curie : MARIE
22. Joint malady : GOUT. Strict diet for gout sufferers. They can't eat sardines.
27. Contemptible : BASE
28. __ voce: softly : SOTTO
30. "Who'd've thought?!" : I'LL BE. Needs "Well" in front.
31. Political handout : TRACT
33. Suffix with Zola : ESQUE. So, what kind of style is Zola-esque?
36. Rapper __ Dogg : NATE. Also the name of Jazzbumpa's grandson, who aspires to be a Tiger someday.
38. Shade of gray : ASH
40. Dragon slayer's destination : LAIR. Every Chinese wants his/her son grow up to be a "dragon", meaning "highly successful".
51. Rummage event : YARD SALE. Neighborhood yard sales are always fun.
52. Big dos : BASHES. Not AFRO (37D. High style).
53. Personal account, briefly : BIO
54. Roughly : OR SO
55. Big weight : TON
56. Et __ : ALII
57. Quaint graphic, for short : LITHO. Lithograph.
59. Ferdinand II, por ejemplo : REY. "King" in Spanish. "Rei" in Portuguese.
60. Dropped off : SLEPT
62. Chef's measure : TEASPOON. I cook by feel.
65. "The Raven" opener : ONCE. "Once upon a midnight dreary..."
67. Hobbits' home, with "The" : SHIRE. We had this before.
72. "... all snug in __ beds" : THEIR
74. Organ parts : KEYS. Are you thinking of EYES/EARS?
75. Volcanic depressions : CALDERAS. New word to me. And 104. Like volcanoes : CONIC
79. Longest river in France : LOIRE
80. Club date : GIG. So simple.
82. Eventually become : END UP
84. Human plant? : MOLE. Tricky clue.
85. Bruins legend : ORR (Bobby)
86. Superior at work : BOSS
87. Pussycat's partner : OWL. "The Owl and the Pussycat".
88. Deceive : LEAD ON
90. Queen who bankrolled Columbus : ISABELLA. Long gimme.
98. Round-of-four game : SEMI. I only know Final Four.
99. Sugar suffix : OSE
100. Starts to doze : NODS
101. Derby setting : EPSOM
106. King of Judea : HEROD
109. Realm from 800-1806: Abbr. : HRE
111. 2001-'08 White House Deputy Chief of Staff whose middle name is Whitehouse : HAGIN (Joe). Wow, I have no memory of this guy at all. He reported to Andrew Card. That's a prescient middle name.
113. Whipped cream amount : GLOB
121. "Farewell, Luigi!" : CIAO
122. Sea eagles : ERNES
123. English horn relative : OBOE
124. Crockett contemporary : BOWIE (James). Alamo.
125. Mfg. guidelines : STDs
126. India's first one took place in 1974 : N-TEST. New trivia to me. China's first was in 1964. My grandma reminded me often the great "Three Years of Natural Disasters" (1958-1961) when at least 15 millions died of hunger. Drought.
127. Cheer : YELL
128. They generate interest : BONDS. Another great clue.
Down:
1. Sign of healing : SCAB
2. Very high priest? : LAMA. High indeed.
3. It can knock you out : ANESTHESIA. Number.
4. Eatery with its own lingo : DINER
5. "Yadda yadda yadda": Abbr. : ETC
6. Major artery : CAROTID
7. Insinuate : HINT
8. Rugged ridge : ARETE. Classic crosswordese.
9. They're hardly old hands : TYROS
10. Texter's "Heavens to Betsy!" : OMG
11. Interstellar unit : PARSEC. About 3.26 light-years. Doesn't look like a word.
12. "Dies __": hymn : IRAE
13. Clairol hair-coloring brand : NICE 'N EASY. I dyed my hair red for a short period in college. I was out of my mind.
14. Width designation : EEE
15. Forever young, seemingly : AGELESS. Isn't she cool?
16. Kaiser __ : ROLL
17. Filament container : BULB
18. Eyelid problem : STYE
24. Annual black-tie affair, with "the" : OSCARS. Have you ever watched/listened to any Sacha Baron Cohen interview as himself? He's extremely intelligent.
26. Cashed, as a forged check : KITED
32. Skin irritation soother : ALOE
34. Status __ : QUO
35. Sturm __ Drang : UND. Hi there, Spitzboov!
38. Swinging time? : AT BAT
39. Rock often containing quartz : SHALE
41. Kilmer's nestful : ROBINS. "...A nest of robins in her hair..."
43. Ancient strings : LYRE
44. Certain tuber, slangily : TATER
45. Skip church, in a way? : ELOPE. We were married by a judge.
46. Musical with the song "Seasons of Love" : RENT
48. A secret may be told in one : WHISPER
49. Be the right size : FIT. This is perfect. Angelina who?
50. Call it a night : GO HOME
54. Nabisco trademark : OREO
57. Mauna __ : LOA
58. Ham __ : ON RYE
60. River herring : SHAD
61. Guy with wires : LINEMAN. Know nothing about football. What "wires"?
63. Ballet bend : PLIE
64. Anthem contraction : O'ER
66. "Strangers and Brothers" novelist : C P SNOW. Stumper.
67. Tee buyer's options, briefly : SML
69. ER readouts : EKGs
70. Racing craft with an anatomical-sounding name : SCULLS. Thanks for the helpful clue.
71. Exploit : TAP
72. Common statue : TORSO
73. Distiller Walker : HIRAM
76. Bull rider's protector : RODEO CLOWN
77. Posted __: didn't break even : A LOSS
78. Have a feeling : SENSE
79. Filet mignon cut : LOIN
80. Pro shop purchase : GOLF SHIRT. And 81. World Golf Hall of Famer Aoki : ISAO. Minor "Golf" & GOLF dupe.
83. "One for the road" offense, briefly : DWI
86. Wasn't colorfast : BLED
88. Snicket of children's books : LEMONY. What would be your pen name?
89. St. Patrick's land : ERIN
91. Rare great apes : BONOBOS. No wonder I've heard of them. Rare!
92. Lose ground? : ERODE
93. Roadie's load : AMP. 95. 93-Down measurement unit : DECIBEL
94. Cock and bull : HEs
97. '50s Superman player George : REEVES. The only Reeves I know is Keanu.
102. "This will be awesome!" : OH BOY
103. Equivocator's word : MAYBE
105. Block house : IGLOO. Sounds good. So hot here.
106. Sounds from a wino : HICs
107. Work on one's work : EDIT
108. "The __ Not Taken": Frost : ROAD
110. Artist Magritte : RENE. Surrealist. This is not a pipe.
112. Rock sci. : GEOL
114. Banished Roman poet : OVID
115. Waggle-dancing insects : BEES. Melissa is enjoying her annual Girls' Weekend at Shasta right now.
117. Deighton of thrillers : LEN
118. Superlative finish : EST
120. Go back : EBB
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Area for religious zeal : AMEN CORNER. Golfers are all familiar with Augusta's Amen Corner. Say "Amen".
25A. Actress turned princess : GRACE KELLY. She epitomized elegance. Say grace.
42A. Jackie Coogan's "Addams Family" role : UNCLE FESTER. Say uncle.
47A. A Bible, to many : THE WORD OF GOD. Say the word. I just can't focus on my Bible.
68A. 1961 Marvelettes #1 hit : PLEASE MR. POSTMAN. Say "Please".
93A. O'Neill play : AH, WILDERNESS! Not familiar with the play. Say "Ah".
96A. "I'm full!" : NO MORE FOR ME. "Say no more".
116A. Start of an opinion : I DO BELIEVE. Say "I do".
119A. Everly Brothers classic : BYE BYE LOVE. Say "Bye Bye".
Simple, elegant & original. Love it. I like that two of the theme entries are familiar songs.
9 theme entries with 101 squares are not easy to deal with, luckily the entry length are grid-friendly for Gareth. Constructors love 10's on Sunday, since you can place them side by side. The 11's and 12's have a malleable 2-letter overlap.
Across:
1. Old West gunslinger Jack : SLADE. Wiki said he was "a stagecoach and Pony Express superintendent, instrumental in the opening of the American West and the archetype of the Western gunslinger."
6. Converse : CHAT
10. Sound off : OPINE
15. Wall St. hedgers : ARBs. Arbitragers.
19. "Enough of that!" : CAN IT. 29A. "Told you!" : SEE
20. Like gossamer : AIRY
21. Nobelist Curie : MARIE
22. Joint malady : GOUT. Strict diet for gout sufferers. They can't eat sardines.
27. Contemptible : BASE
28. __ voce: softly : SOTTO
30. "Who'd've thought?!" : I'LL BE. Needs "Well" in front.
31. Political handout : TRACT
33. Suffix with Zola : ESQUE. So, what kind of style is Zola-esque?
36. Rapper __ Dogg : NATE. Also the name of Jazzbumpa's grandson, who aspires to be a Tiger someday.
38. Shade of gray : ASH
40. Dragon slayer's destination : LAIR. Every Chinese wants his/her son grow up to be a "dragon", meaning "highly successful".
51. Rummage event : YARD SALE. Neighborhood yard sales are always fun.
52. Big dos : BASHES. Not AFRO (37D. High style).
53. Personal account, briefly : BIO
54. Roughly : OR SO
55. Big weight : TON
56. Et __ : ALII
57. Quaint graphic, for short : LITHO. Lithograph.
59. Ferdinand II, por ejemplo : REY. "King" in Spanish. "Rei" in Portuguese.
60. Dropped off : SLEPT
62. Chef's measure : TEASPOON. I cook by feel.
65. "The Raven" opener : ONCE. "Once upon a midnight dreary..."
67. Hobbits' home, with "The" : SHIRE. We had this before.
72. "... all snug in __ beds" : THEIR
74. Organ parts : KEYS. Are you thinking of EYES/EARS?
75. Volcanic depressions : CALDERAS. New word to me. And 104. Like volcanoes : CONIC
79. Longest river in France : LOIRE
80. Club date : GIG. So simple.
82. Eventually become : END UP
84. Human plant? : MOLE. Tricky clue.
85. Bruins legend : ORR (Bobby)
86. Superior at work : BOSS
87. Pussycat's partner : OWL. "The Owl and the Pussycat".
88. Deceive : LEAD ON
90. Queen who bankrolled Columbus : ISABELLA. Long gimme.
98. Round-of-four game : SEMI. I only know Final Four.
99. Sugar suffix : OSE
100. Starts to doze : NODS
101. Derby setting : EPSOM
106. King of Judea : HEROD
109. Realm from 800-1806: Abbr. : HRE
111. 2001-'08 White House Deputy Chief of Staff whose middle name is Whitehouse : HAGIN (Joe). Wow, I have no memory of this guy at all. He reported to Andrew Card. That's a prescient middle name.
113. Whipped cream amount : GLOB121. "Farewell, Luigi!" : CIAO
122. Sea eagles : ERNES
123. English horn relative : OBOE
124. Crockett contemporary : BOWIE (James). Alamo.
125. Mfg. guidelines : STDs
126. India's first one took place in 1974 : N-TEST. New trivia to me. China's first was in 1964. My grandma reminded me often the great "Three Years of Natural Disasters" (1958-1961) when at least 15 millions died of hunger. Drought.
127. Cheer : YELL
128. They generate interest : BONDS. Another great clue.
Down:
1. Sign of healing : SCAB
2. Very high priest? : LAMA. High indeed.
3. It can knock you out : ANESTHESIA. Number.
4. Eatery with its own lingo : DINER
5. "Yadda yadda yadda": Abbr. : ETC
6. Major artery : CAROTID
7. Insinuate : HINT
8. Rugged ridge : ARETE. Classic crosswordese.
9. They're hardly old hands : TYROS
10. Texter's "Heavens to Betsy!" : OMG
11. Interstellar unit : PARSEC. About 3.26 light-years. Doesn't look like a word.
12. "Dies __": hymn : IRAE
13. Clairol hair-coloring brand : NICE 'N EASY. I dyed my hair red for a short period in college. I was out of my mind.
14. Width designation : EEE
15. Forever young, seemingly : AGELESS. Isn't she cool?
16. Kaiser __ : ROLL
17. Filament container : BULB
18. Eyelid problem : STYE
24. Annual black-tie affair, with "the" : OSCARS. Have you ever watched/listened to any Sacha Baron Cohen interview as himself? He's extremely intelligent.
26. Cashed, as a forged check : KITED
32. Skin irritation soother : ALOE
34. Status __ : QUO
35. Sturm __ Drang : UND. Hi there, Spitzboov!
38. Swinging time? : AT BAT
39. Rock often containing quartz : SHALE
41. Kilmer's nestful : ROBINS. "...A nest of robins in her hair..."
43. Ancient strings : LYRE
44. Certain tuber, slangily : TATER
45. Skip church, in a way? : ELOPE. We were married by a judge.
46. Musical with the song "Seasons of Love" : RENT
48. A secret may be told in one : WHISPER
49. Be the right size : FIT. This is perfect. Angelina who?
50. Call it a night : GO HOME54. Nabisco trademark : OREO
57. Mauna __ : LOA
58. Ham __ : ON RYE
60. River herring : SHAD
61. Guy with wires : LINEMAN. Know nothing about football. What "wires"?
63. Ballet bend : PLIE
64. Anthem contraction : O'ER
66. "Strangers and Brothers" novelist : C P SNOW. Stumper.
67. Tee buyer's options, briefly : SML
69. ER readouts : EKGs
70. Racing craft with an anatomical-sounding name : SCULLS. Thanks for the helpful clue.
71. Exploit : TAP
72. Common statue : TORSO
73. Distiller Walker : HIRAM
76. Bull rider's protector : RODEO CLOWN
77. Posted __: didn't break even : A LOSS
78. Have a feeling : SENSE
79. Filet mignon cut : LOIN
80. Pro shop purchase : GOLF SHIRT. And 81. World Golf Hall of Famer Aoki : ISAO. Minor "Golf" & GOLF dupe.
83. "One for the road" offense, briefly : DWI
86. Wasn't colorfast : BLED
88. Snicket of children's books : LEMONY. What would be your pen name?
89. St. Patrick's land : ERIN
91. Rare great apes : BONOBOS. No wonder I've heard of them. Rare!
92. Lose ground? : ERODE
93. Roadie's load : AMP. 95. 93-Down measurement unit : DECIBEL
94. Cock and bull : HEs
97. '50s Superman player George : REEVES. The only Reeves I know is Keanu.
102. "This will be awesome!" : OH BOY
103. Equivocator's word : MAYBE
105. Block house : IGLOO. Sounds good. So hot here.
106. Sounds from a wino : HICs
107. Work on one's work : EDIT
108. "The __ Not Taken": Frost : ROAD
110. Artist Magritte : RENE. Surrealist. This is not a pipe.
112. Rock sci. : GEOL
114. Banished Roman poet : OVID
115. Waggle-dancing insects : BEES. Melissa is enjoying her annual Girls' Weekend at Shasta right now.
117. Deighton of thrillers : LEN
118. Superlative finish : EST
120. Go back : EBB
Answer grid.
C.C.
