Theme: Honey, your folks are here - Phrases with Ma and Pa at the head of the line.
18A. *File folder material : MANILA PAPER
24A. *Halloween bash with costumes : MASQUERADE PARTY
39A. The Kettles, or a hint to the answers to starred clues : MA AND PA
52A. *Law firm bigwig : MANAGING PARTNER
61A. *Foam bedding item : MATTRESS PAD
Argyle here with a C.C. Monday gem. It helped if you remembered who the Kettles were but the starred clues didn't really need the central reveal. It does tie the theme tighter. Two grid spanners and two strong climbers tie it up tight. Should be a speed run for regular solvers but still a pleasant result.
Bill G, you listening?
Across:
1. Beach lotion letters : SPF
4. Piece of information : DATUM
9. Like a visit from Francis : PAPAL
14. Lao Tzu principle : TAO
15. Really angry : IRATE
16. Musical in which Madonna set a Guinness World Record for "Most costume changes in a film" : "EVITA"
17. That, to Teresa : ESO. (Spanish)
20. Book of maps : ATLAS
22. Police force member : COP
23. Eye drop : TEAR
28. Only brother not in any Marx Brothers films : GUMMO. If you missed CED's link to Harpo, go back to yesterday's comments at 8:25 PM.
29. Belgian river : YSER
30. "Stop, horse!" : "WHOA!"
32. The Spartans of the Big Ten: Abbr. : MSU. (Michigan State University)
34. Old Russian leaders : TSARs
38. "You've got mail" company : AOL
42. Lav of London : LOO. Lav is short for lavatory.
43. Cowboy contest : RODEO
45. Onassis nickname : ARI. (Aristotle Socrates Onassis)
46. Barristers' degs. : LLBs. (Bachelor of Laws)(Legum Baccalaureus Latin)
47. Norse prankster : LOKI
50. First of four Holy Roman emperors : OTTO I
58. Bird sacred to Tut : IBIS
59. T, to Socrates : TAU. Not the hemlock tea that did him in.
60. Pong producer : ATARI
65. Fishing pole : ROD
66. Trap during a winter storm, maybe : ICE IN
67. Chopin work : ETUDE
68. "__ to Joy" : ODE. I know you like a good flash mob.
69. About, date-wise : CIRCA
70. Managed somehow : COPED
71. Filmmaker Craven : WES. Well-known horror director.
Down:
1. Cook, as asparagus : STEAM
2. Carb-loader's entrée : PASTA
3. Forty-niner's disillusionment : FOOL'S GOLD. (Pyrite)
4. Bite-sized Chinese dish : DIM SUM
5. Parseghian of football : ARA
6. Light brown : TAN
7. Mohawk River city : UTICA. Shout out to the Mohawk Valley.
8. Something to hum : MELODY. Like "Ode to Joy" for the rest of the day.
9. Energy : PEP
10. Blog posters' self-images : AVATARs
11. Peter, the pickled-pepper picker : PIPER. A lot of alliteration.
12. Dined in : ATE AT. A misfire.
13. Comedic Cable Guy : LARRY
19. Jungle swingers : APEs
21. Color of water : AQUA
25. Actress Thompson : EMMA
26. Civil rights pioneer Parks : ROSA
27. Animal rights org. : PETA. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Pronounced the same? 41D. Pocket bread : PITA
30. Civil __ : WAR
31. "Yoo-__!" : HOO
33. One, to Juanita : UNA. More Spanish.
35. Aligned perfectly : ALL IN A ROW
36. Hold up : ROB
37. Sailor's distress signal : S-O-S
39. Synthesizer pioneer Robert : MOOG
40. Fall : DROP
44. Stretchy, as a waistband : ELASTIC
46. Former Senate majority leader Trent : LOTT. Senator from Mississippi.
48. Flying toy : KITE
49. "Be right there!" : "IN A SEC!"
51. Dealt players : TRADED
52. Act like : MIMIC
53. Calculators often made with bamboo frames : ABACI
54. Compound in fireworks : NITER
55. Exuberance : GUSTO
56. Gradually wear away : ERODE
57. Fair attractions : RIDES
62. Genetic letters : RNA
63. Newborn dog : PUP. Nap time.
64. Fruity drink : ADE
Argyle
