Theme: Emergency Belts - Four ways to hold your pants up.
21A. Close to defeat : ON THE ROPES
32A. "Cool duds!" : "NICE THREADS!"
41A. Use one's influence : PULL STRINGS
53A. Membranes that vibrate : VOCAL CORDS
Argyle here. I'll post today's song at the bottom; don't miss it. No unifier needed.
Across:
1. Not at all flexible : STIFF. RIGID fits the bill, too.
6. Long and lean : LANK
10. Declare openly : AVOW
14. Easily tipped boat : CANOE
15. "__ further reflection ..." : UPON
16. Building toy with theme parks : LEGO
17. Western crooner Gene : AUTRY
18. Sanctuary recess : APSE
19. Overly compliant : MEEK
20. Compressed video file format : MPEG. (Moving Picture Experts Group)
23. The brown one is Louisiana's state bird : PELICAN
25. Mae West's "I used to be Snow White, but I drifted" is one : PUN
26. Sonoma Valley vessel : VAT. Wine.
27. Start of an envelope address : MR. AND MRS.
36. Covert org. in "Argo" : CIA. (covert rescue operation)
37. Dashing style : ELAN
38. Granola grain : OAT
39. Citrus drink used by NASA : TANG. In powder form till you mix it.
40. Obstinate critter : ASS
45. Where soldiers go? : LATRINES. So true.
47. Swat : HIT. Don't swat the little things ... well, maybe in the latrine.
48. Manning of the Giants : ELI
49. "Storage Wars" sales event : AUCTION. on A&E.
58. Napoleon's exile isle : ELBA
59. Biz bigwig : EXEC
60. Mishmash : OLIO
61. French-__ potatoes : FRIED
62. No-frills shelter : TENT. unless you're a wizard.
63. Speak abrasively : RASP
64. Apartment rental agreement : LEASE
65. Former trans-Atl. fliers : SSTs. (trans-Atlantic)
66. Kremlin rejection : "NYET!"
67. Milk dispenser : UDDER. It doesn't get any fresher.
Down:
1. Mischief-maker : SCAMP
2. Brownish gray : TAUPE. Natural mole fur hue. Last month we decided they must be French moles.
3. Info from a spy drone : INTEL
4. Pardoned : FORGIVEN
5. "Saturday Night Live" alumna Tina : FEY
6. Blonde comic strip teenager : LUANN
7. Date bk. entry : APPT. (Appointment)
8. Quick bite : NOSH
9. Skateboarder's protective gear : KNEE PAD
10. Energy bar nut : ALMOND
11. Show for which Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won four consecutive acting Emmys : VEEP. I don't have HBO.
12. S-shaped molding : OGEE
13. Bowl-shaped pans : WOKS
21. Sworn statement : OATH
22. Makes tracks : RUNS
24. Jazz aficionado : CAT. Can you dig it?
27. Breakfast and dinner : MEALS
28. "Darn it!" : "RATS!"
29. Shoe brand Thom __ : McAN
30. Line around a tub : RING
31. Droops : SAGS
32. "Hud" Oscar winner Patricia : NEAL 33. "Casablanca" heroine : ILSA A couple of classy dames.
34. Play list : CAST
35. Play part : ROLE
39. Giggled nervously : TITTERED. 1610-20; perhaps Scandinavian; compare Old Norse tittra to quiver, Swedish (dial.) tittra to giggle (Huh, nothing to do about where milk comes from.)
41. Medicinal dose : PILL
42. Mythical horse with a horn : UNICORN
43. In the manner indicated : THUS
44. Rocker Ocasek : RIC. The lead singer of The Cars.
46. Punches back, say : REACTS
49. Bring home from the shelter : ADOPT
50. Homeric epic : ILIAD
51. Like Santa Claus : OBESE. Say WHAT?!
52. "Unsafe at Any Speed" author Ralph : NADER
53. November parade participants : VETS. Honor them on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
54. Clumsy oafs : OXes
55. Lincoln's coin : CENT. I like his bill better.
56. Big name in skin care : OLAY
57. Get to one's feet : RISE
61. Winter illness : FLU
Argyle
