theme:
let's break it down.
1a. Hop atop : MOUNT
6a. Shake a leg : RUSH
10a. Second helping, e.g. : MORE
42a. With 48-Across, locale of this puzzle's top line, where you'll find the starts of 17-, 30-, 43- and 57-Across : SOUTH
48a. See 42-Across : DAKOTA
love how mount rush more runs across the top of the puzzle - had to be tricky to create the fill underneath. the remaining theme answers contain the first names of the presidents depicted in the national memorial:
17a. Furry carnival prizes : TEDDY BEARS. theodore roosevelt, 26th president of the united states. roosevelt became president after william mckinley was assassinated (and won his second term in a landslide). the wilderness warrior by david brinkley is a great read.
30a. Firearm also called a "Chicago typewriter" : TOMMY GUN. thomas jefferson, third president of the united states. one of the founding fathers, and the principal author of the declaration of independence.
43a. "Hair" song containing Gettysburg Address phrases : ABIE BABY. song from the musical hair, which references 'massa lincoln, emancipator of the slaves.' abraham lincoln, 16th president, assassinated in april 1865.
57a. 1966 Lynn Redgrave title role : GEORGY GIRL. george washington, one of the founding fathers and the first president of the united states.
(left to right in the actual memorial are washington, jefferson, roosevelt and lincoln.)
melissa here. wow, what a clever, and theme-rich puzzle! having some intermittent trouble with my hot-spot again … forgive the brevity of the post, i'll do my best.
across:
14. Indy 500 family name : UNSER
15. Waters by Buffalo : ERIE
16. PayPal parent company : E-BAY
19. Calamitous : DIRE
20. Old Russian noble : TSAR
21. Hand-y communication syst.? : ASL. cute.
22. Like most pretzels : SALTED
24. Grimm villain : OGRE
26. Barely sufficient : MERE
27. Polynesian New Zealanders : MAORIS. needed perps.
34. Clio nominees : AD MEN. the clios are awards honoring creative advertising in package design, print, radio and television.
35. Sharp-toothed eel : MORAY
36. Bi- minus one : UNI. bi (for two) as in bicycle, un (for one) as in unicycle.
37. __ rock: Gary Glitter's genre : GLAM. glam rock singer/musician, has led a troubled life.
38. Made a meal of : FED ON
39. Self-righteous type : PRIG. funny word, don't hear it much.
40. Diarist Anaïs : NIN. french-cuban author.
41. Poe's middle name : ALLAN. edgar allan poe.
45. English county known for sheep : DORSET
46. Actress Lollobrigida : GINA
47. In __: stuck : A RUT
51. Capote nickname : TRU. truman capote. the book mockingbird: a portrait of harper lee is another good read, and sheds some light on the relationship between lee and capote. it is said that capote was the inspiration for the character of dill, in lee's to kill a mockingbird.
52. Beehive, e.g. : UPDO. anyone who's helped a daughter get ready for prom knows how important (and expensive) the updo is.
56. Jai __ : ALAI
60. Storage containers : BINS
61. The Charles's pet : ASTA. nick and nora from the thin man movies.
62. Palliated : EASED
63. Fruit protrusion : STEM
64. Good finish? : NESS. goodness.
65. Cabbage concoctions : SLAWS
down:
1. Common canine : MUTT
2. Till stack : ONES. till, meaning drawer or compartment for money.
3. Butcher shop letters : USDA. united states department of agriculture.
4. "Air Music" composer : NED ROREM. american composer and author.
5. Severely test, as one's patience : TRY
6. Ebbets Field star : REESE. i smell c.c. here. ebbets field was a baseball park in brooklyn. harold peter "pee wee" reese was a major league all star, shortstop for brooklyn and los angeles dodgers.
7. Eurasian border river : URAL
8. Courteous address : SIR
9. Howard of "Head of the Class" : HESSEMAN. johnny fever.
10. Glee club grouping : MEDLEY
11. Departure notice? : OBIT
12. Not at all well-done : RARE
13. Ogled : EYED
18. Candy purchases : BARS
23. Ground force : ARMY
25. Card game cry : GIN. i love gin.
26. Numskull : MORON. i always thought it was numbskull.
27. Latin word on some diplomas : MAGNA. as in magna cum laude.
28. Surprise during filming : AD LIB
29. Arabian peninsula native : OMANI. oman is an arab state in southwest asia.
30. Now : TODAY
31. Yoga masters : GURUS
32. Join together : UNITE
33. Dark time : NIGHT
35. __ toast : MELBA
38. Father at Boys Town : FLANAGAN. father edward j. flanagan.
39. Vasco da Gama's homeland : PORTUGAL. portuguese explorer.
41. To some degree, but not much : A BIT
42. Trivial amount : SOU. "one of several coins formerly used in france, worth a small amount."
44. Prima donna quality : EGOISM
45. Medical remedy : DRUG
47. Rich tapestry : ARRAS. new to me. a town in france famous for tapestry.
48. Touch-up strokes : DABS
49. Finished parasailing : ALIT. got down, dismounted.
50. Citizen of film : KANE. citizen kane.
51. "Blue's Clues" watchers : TOTS. childrens show on nickelodeon.
53. Tuscany city : PISA
54. Sketched : DREW
55. Ford contemporary : OLDS. clever.
58. Nationality suffix : ESE
