Theme: TCOB - "Taking Care of Buisness"
17A. *Crimes of violence, e.g.: SERIOUS OFFENSES. Serious business.
23A. *Jungle gym: MONKEY BARS. Monkey business.
37A. *Not-so-humorous humerus spot: FUNNY BONE. Funny business.
54A. *Young boy's role model: BIG BROTHER. Big business.
61A. Fledgling enterprise ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally do: START-UP BUSINESS
Former businessman Argyle here. Great puzzle from Bruce and Gail. Two spanners and triple seven letter columns in all the corners. A few nuggets to crunch on.
Across:
1. Groups of orcas: PODs
5. Quaint "Holy moly!": "EGAD!"
9. Teases: JIVES. 1928, "to deceive playfully", like gibe but not as mean.
14. Scott Turow memoir: ONE L. Crossword staple, "The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School"
15. Stubborn critter: MULE
16. Calendario page: ENERO. Spanish for this month, the one named after Janus.
20. School sport, or its setting: TRACK
21. Inheritance recipient: HEIR
22. "Singin' in the Rain" dance style: TAP. What a production number! I found this tidbit: "The title number, filmed on a street set two blocks long on the MGM backlot, took seven days to film, with six hours of fake rain each day. The water was mixed with milk to make it show better on camera, but the mixture made Kelly’s wool suit shrink. The perpetually drenched Kelly had a bad cold and fever the whole time. Dancers Gwen Verdon, Jeanne Coyne, and Carol Haney dubbed Kelly’s tap sounds and splashing noises in post-production." >Huffington Post<
26. Operatic princess: "AIDA". Verdi opera.
27. Mo. with no holidays: AUG. (August) But there are some observances. Link
28. Patriotic org. since 1890: DAR. (Daughters of the American Revolution)
29. Lightly colored: TINGED
31. Fraction of a min.: NSEC. (nanosecond) A very small fraction of a minute, I'd say.
33. Go quickly: RUSH
36. Golden __: seniors: AGERS
40. Formal will?: SHALL. A small misdirection, following 'seniors'.
43. Trampled (on): TROD
44. Doesn't keep up: LAGS
48. Lightweight straw hat: PANAMA
50. Swiffer product: MOP. Any personal reviews?
52. Divide before the deal: CUT
53. Departure notice?: OBIT
58. Game with matchsticks: NIM. Link
59. "Catch a Falling Star" singer Perry: COMO
60. Verdi opera "__ Miller": LUISA. Not seen here nearly as much,if at all, as "Aida". Wiki link.
65. __ limits: extremes: OUTER
66. The life of Riley: EASE
67. Folk singer Burl: IVES. Too late for one of his many Christmas songs.
68. Snorkeling spots: REEFs
69. Inventor's spark: IDEA
70. Formally surrender: CEDE
Down:
1. One who "rings twice," in an old film: POSTMAN. The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 film) A short clip.
2. Burdensome: ONEROUS
3. Drive up the wall: DERANGE
4. Smooth-talking: SLICK
5. Avian Aussie: EMU
6. Astronaut Grissom: GUS
7. "Welcome to Oahu!": "ALOHA!"
8. Schedule for later: DEFER
9. Boo and hiss: JEER
10. Stopover with a "keeper": INN
11. Slight trace: VESTIGE
12. Barnes & Noble Nook, for one: E-READER
13. Steel wool scrubbers: S.O.S PADS
18. Gave one's blessing to: OKed
19. It may be pumped in victory: FIST
24. Knitting need: YARN
25. Full force: BRUNT
26. Well-behaved tot: ANGEL
30. English golfer Poulter: IAN. Leaving no doubt he's English.
32. Key equivalent to B: C FLAT
34. Damascus is its cap.: SYR. (Syria)
35. Weapon in a 1952 test: H-BOMB
38. Einstein's birth city: ULM
39. Baking-soda-in-the-fridge target: ODOR
40. One buying time, perhaps: SPONSOR
41. Regular patron: HABITUÉ
42. Bring to life, as cartoons: ANIMATE
45. Accomplish: ACHIEVE
46. Acted desperately on "Jeopardy!," perhaps: GUESSED
47. German street: STRASSE
49. "__ Ben Adhem": ABOU
51. __ sci: POLI
55. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame architect: I.M. PEI
56. Spoil: GO BAD
57. Roman garment of yore: TUNIC
59. NBA big men: Abbr.: CTRs. (centers)
62. Whistler between baskets: REF
63. Take advantage of: USE
64. Beach house view: SEA
Argyle
