Theme: The Gap - Five ways to create a gap appear at the end of the five longest entries. No reveal or unifier needed.
17A. 14th/15th-century period of papal uncertainty : GREAT SCHISM
38A. Fruity ice cream dessert : BANANA SPLIT
59A. When collegians descend on Cancún : SPRING BREAK
11D. Osteoporosis concern : HIP FRACTURE
25D. Tennis server's setback : DOUBLE FAULT
Argyle here. Definitely some traps were laid for you on this Tuesday trip. Michael's fourth LAT puzzle, this collection of things with a common link. I wonder if the idea came to him while enjoying a banana split? Nice long stacks in two corners. A number of three-letter entries but that allowed some sparkly fill and nothing onerous. Good deal, Michael.
Across:
1. Yoda trained several of them : JEDIs. Advice for all. (From C.C.: Isn't the plural form of JEDI still JEDI?)
6. Titled ladies : DAMES
11. "To each __ own" : HIS
14. "Gladiator" locale : ARENA. I wasted time trying to think of a country. Your traps may vary.
15. It can follow land and precede goat : SCAPE
16. Bankbook abbr. : INT. (interest) Do they still have those little bankbooks?
19. Nittany Lions' sch. : PSU. The Pennsylvania State University (commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU) is still in the news.
20. Ills in tales : WOE. A little trap; it's hard to read.
21. Tokyo, in days of yore : EDO. Classic.
22. Aqua Velva rival : AFTA. Again, classic.
23. Elaborate solo passage : CADENZA. Not the credenza, lol.
27. Largest penguin : EMPEROR
29. She married a musician in Gibraltar in 1969 : ONO. And then they went to bed.
30. Hound over a debt : DUN
32. Make into law : ENACT
33. Tourist shop offering : SOUVENIR. To place in the cadenza, I mean credenza.
37. Divers' destinations : WRECKS. Often nearby to reefs.
40. Big name in polling : GALLUP
42. Defeated incumbent : LAME DUCK. Not necessarily defeated but not running again.
45. Muslim prince : EMEER
46. Bilingual subj. : ESL. (English as a second language)
47. Long for another chance at : RUE
48. Melts, say : SOFTENS
50. Scamp's doings : KNAVERY. And scallywags.
54. Socials with cucumber sandwiches : TEAs. Sandwiches with no crusts for the upper crusts. Ironic.
55. Widespread PD alert : APB. The police department's All Points Bulletin.
57. Prez on a fiver : ABE
58. __ Dhabi : ABU
64. Buddy : PAL
65. Fictional Swiss miss : HEIDI
66. Plumed heron : EGRET
67. East, in Essen : OST. in Germany.
68. Politician Kefauver : ESTES. From many trips around the sun ago.
69. Trips around the sun : YEARS
Down:
1. Beemer cousin : JAG. Luxury Cars.
2. Throw wildly, say : ERR
3. Report card bummer : DEE
4. Slack-jawed : IN AWE
5. Quashed : SAT ON
6. Mil. bravery medal : DSC. (Distinguished Service Cross)
7. Jogging aftermath : ACHE. Doesn't seem right.
8. Lass : MAIDEN
9. English town worth its salt? : EPSOM. Cute clue. Epsom is also famous for the Epsom Downs Racecourse, of course.
10. Half a school yr. : SEM. (semester)
12. Available for purchase : IN STOCK
13. Scottish royal family : STUARTS. Look up Mary Stuart(Mary, Queen of Scots) if you want some intrigue.
18. "So I __ to myself ..." : SEZ. Yeah, I had "SAY" first.
22. Epic featuring the Trojan Horse : AENEID. Written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC.
23. Funny Bill's nickname : COS. Bill Cosby. He takes the cake.
24. It begins with enero : ANO. In Spanish speaking countries(January starts the year).
26. Tennis server's edge : AD/IN. A classic we haven't seen in awhile.
28. Socialite Mesta : PERLE. Yesterday's "Call Me Madam " was based on her. I would have mentioned it, if I had known it would be in today's puzzle. Sorry.
31. 1,550-mile continental range : URALS. The line marking the boundary between Europe and Asia.
34. Lot attendants : VALETS
35. Toughen by exposure : ENURE
36. Catch a few z's : NAP. Soon as I get this done. I have to be on the road early this morning.
37. Typist's efficiency no. : WPM. (words per minute)
39. Vaccine pioneer : SALK
40. Feared "Hogan's Heroes" group : GESTAPO
41. Tiny lab subjects : AMOEBAS
43. Scoundrel : CUR. Tried CAD first.
44. Teacher's answer sheet : KEY
46. Energetic wit : ESPRIT. Esprit de l'escalier, lit. "spirit of the staircase," defined in OED as, "a retort or remark that occurs to a person after the opportunity to make it has passed." Less than energetic wit; we've all had it.
49. Buns are seen above them : NAPES. A hair bun above the back of the neck.
51. Pester : NAG
52. Monastic headquarters : ABBEY
53. Cusp : VERGE
56. __ one's time: wait : BIDE
59. That woman : SHE. I thought, "HER".
60. Grafton's "__ for Noose" : N IS. Classic.
61. Clinton __ : ERA
62. Fizzy prefix : AER. To add air to but after they aerate the golf greens, they aren't 'fizzy".
63. Gold fineness meas. : KT's. (karat)
Argyle
