Theme: Arthur Wynne Tribute 2
Well after the earlier puzzle this week, I read up on the first puzzle and it really paid off. For those of you who need to read more like I did, here is the LINK. Back when Mr. Kahn was introduced to us in 2010, C.C. advised that he was master at tribute puzzles 2010. This is only his second LAT since the Tribune Media switched, though he has 155 published NYT puzzles. I love how he included clues and fill from Mr. Wynne's classic effort. The inclusion of original grid spanners made this very interesting and solvable. I found it very easy, in places, and hard in others. Obviously some of what people knew 100 years ago was tricky but let's get on with the show.
The nine repeats:
1A. *A bar of wood or iron (one of nine starred clues/answers that appear here exactly as they did in the first crossword puzzle) : RAIL. (4). Not an easy start for me.
35A. *A talon : SERE. (4). Maybe this was common knowledge in 1913, but I never knew of this meaning for SERE.
62A. *To govern : RULE. (4) An easy one.
27D. *An aromatic plant : NARD.(4). Another old timey word I think; back when we began the current era, wiki says this plant was used as the base for an expensive perfume
35D. *Part of a ship : SPAR. (4). I will let our experts comment.
36D. *A bird : DOVE. (4). This appeared twice in the 1st puzzle, and in this one 53D. *A pigeon : DOVE. (4).
39D. *The fibre of the gomuti palm : DOH. Certainly more interesting than Homer Simpson, but I did not know this fact. When the clue reappeared the reviewer said it was 'stupidly HARD.'
55D. *Opposed to less : MORE. Do you think we will get more Tributes tomorrow, the actual anniversary? Any thoughts?
The theme originals:
17A. Feature of the first crossword puzzle, seen in 56-Across on 12/21/1913 : SYMMETRICAL GRID. (15).
36A. Like the first crossword puzzle : DIAMOND SHAPED.(13).
56A. See 17-Across : THE NEW YORK WORLD. (15) Like many newspapers, long gone.
Across:
5. Assuming that : IF SO.
9. Disastrous : FATAL.
14. Dashiell Hammett dog : ASTA. A variation on the Nick and Nora Charles clues.
15. It may follow eleven : NOON. Once a day, actually.
16. Dumb : INANE. Ok, that comment was...
20. Red Cross supply : PLASMA. I wondered why they make TVs from blood stuff? Anyway, this is the 4th form of matter with liquid, solid and gas.
21. Fix, as a knot : RE TIE. Why are shoelaces always too long.
22. Opinion : SAY. This actually was not immediately apparent to me. I do not like 3 letter fill that takes time.
23. Letter string : BCD. Oops, two in a row.
25. Agent's clients : TALENT. They hope.
29. D.C.'s __ Mall : NATIONAL.
32. What some pros shoot : PAR. Do they have any indoor golf facilities in Nebraska like they do in Buffalo, HG?
33. Spice Girl __ B : MEL.
34. Pianist Templeton : ALEC. No clue but I like his bio as a pianist/satirist like this TUNE. (2:24).
39. Short warning : DON'T.
40. Quart, e.g. : UNIT. Of measure, here.
41. Speaker systs. : PAS. Public Address.
42. Ab __: initially : OVO. Literally from the egg. Less common then ab initio.
43. Reinforcing construction piece : STEEL BAR. Or a very tough place to get a drink.
45. Like some tea : HERBAL.
47. Not fast : EAT. Did this slow you down?
48. Site of the George W. Bush presidential library : SMU. Southern Methodist University. One of the few universities to ever receive the NCAA 'death penalty.' They are back playing, I think June Jones is their coach now.
51. Chan player : OLAND. We have spoken often about this Swedish actor, Warner.
54A. "The door's open" : COME IN. (6) A modern partial clue.
60. __ pants (baggy women's trousers) : HAREM. I will avoid the simple I Dream of Jeannie and use this LINK.
61. Youngest Wilcox child in "Howards End" : EVIE. A wonderful movie and CAST. (2:02).
63. New Eng. campus : UMASS. UCONN's onetime rival and where Bill Cosby got his PhD, in Amherst.
64. Go fast : TEAR. Are tearing through this solve?
65. Arabic for "commander" : EMIR. I did not know this.
Down:
1. Woodworking tools : RASPS. Woodworking is very relaxing.
2. Refuges : ASYLA. Oh oh, technically correct I guess. A Latin Plural.
3. "Possibly" : IT MAY. Or it may not.
4. Takes off : LAMS.
5. Whole : INTACT.
6. With 8-Down, as a welcome change : FOR. 8D. See 6-Down : ONCE.
7. "Bon __" : SOIR. Good night! I had so many others in mind.
9. Of a son or daughter : FILIAL.
10. Broadway supporter : ANGEL. Does anyone see this and not think of the wonderful play/move The Producers? The clecho: 44D. Broadway supporter : BACKER.
11. Paving substance : TAR.
12. "Wheel of Fortune" buy : AN I.
13. Took by the hand : LED.
18. Preserve, in a way : EMBALM. The concept of preserving dead tissue is kind of odd, don't you think?
19. Stick on : ATTACH.
24. Two-time Oscar winner Wiest : DIANNE. I linked her in Hannah and Her Sisters a few weeks ago.
26. Sporting weapons : EPEES.
28. Crowd at Lake Como? : TRE. Italian for three.
29. In order : NEAT. Just like Tin's scotch.
30. Number from the past : OLDIE. Not ETHER, a musical one.
31. Baby Ruth maker : NESTLE. N E S T L E S spells CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCLATE!!
33. Unimportant : MINOR.
37. Not allow : OUTLAW.
38. "This Is 40" director Judd : APATOW. The modern king of sophomoric comedy.
43. "__ Lot": King novel : SALEM'S.
46. 2002 Alice Sebold best-seller "The Lovely __" : BONES. made into a MOVIE.(2:43)/ Also a good cast.
48. Flu fighter : SERUM.
49. Pop's __ Vanilli : MILLI. The disgraced duo.
50. Hypnotized : UNDER.
52. Putin put-down? : NYET. A rare Russian word.
56. Calendar abbr. : THU.
57. One acting badly : HAM. A pork repeat from yesterday.
58. Time worth remembering : ERA.
59. Small inlet : RIA.
Well I hope you all enjoyed this look back in time, and let me know how you would do a tribute puzzle for this anniversary. Nice to see you again Mr. Kahn, stop by anytime. For the rest, Lemonade, off to to Denver and have happy holidays all.
