20 A. Way to move funds: WIRE TRANSFER. An electronic TRANSFER of funds between entities via a network maintained by hundreds of banks around the world.
28 A. Good manners: PROPER ETIQUETTE. Conducting one's self according to the most appropriate social norms. Check here is you're uncertain.
47 A. Artist ErtÈ's real name: ROMAIN DE TIRTOFF. He [1882-1990] was a Russian-born French artist and designer of the Art DEco period, known by the pseudonym Erté, from the French pronunciation of his initials, R T.
55. Regular vehicle maintenance suggested by this puzzle's circles: TIRE ROTATION. Moving the wheels and tires from one position on the vehicle to another, in order to achieve even wear and extend the useful life of the TIREs.
Hi gang, JazzBumpa here to make sure this puzzle does not wear you down. The elegant aspect of this theme is the presentation of the hidden word in a strict rotation of the first letter presented, with the remaining letters following in the order of the proper spelling of the word. Let's see what other fun letters we can find. We may have to tread lightly.
1. Beats Electronics co-founder, familiarly: DRE. This is a division of Apple, Inc. that produces audio products. It was founded by rapper Dr. DRE [Andre Romelle Young, b. 1965] and Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine.
4. Birdbrain, or an extinct bird: DODO. Read all about it.
8. Scrap: TAG END. The last remaining part of something. Scrap? Not so sure about that.
14. The guy for ewe: RAM. They are a wooly couple, sometimes feeling sheepish.
15. "Right you are!": AMEN. Emphatic agreement.
16. Vanderbilt of fashion: GLORIA. Ms GLORIA Laura Vanderbilt [b 1924 and still going] is an American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress, and socialite. In 1925 her father died, leaving her with a large trust fund. A legal battle ensued between her mother, GLORIA Morgan Vanderbilt and her paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt, over custody of the child and control of the trust fund. The aunt won. I would have clued this as JzB's L.W.
17. PD alert: APB. All Points Bulletin, a radio message sent to every officer in a police force giving details of a suspected criminal or stolen vehicle.
18. In fun: FACETIOUSLY. Don't take this seriously.
22. Slangy turnarounds: UEYS. U-turns. A sharp turn of a vehicle along a U-shaped path in order to proceed in the opposite direction. Figuratively, a reversal of some plan or policy.
23. "Silly me!": D'OH.
24. Mardi Gras wear: MASK.
33. "Dear Yoko" dedicatee: ONO. Yoko ONO [b 1933] a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, song writer and peace activist, also known for performance art and film making. She married her third husband, Beatle John Lennon, on March 20, 1969.
34. Volcanic event: ERUPTION. A sudden, violent outpouring - in this case of steam and lava [hot, molten or semifluid rock.]
35. Org. with lanes: PBA. Professional Bowling Association. Members are advised to stay out of the gutters.
38. Sch. with a Shreveport campus: LSU. Louisiana State University.
40. Activate, as a mobile app: TAP. Lightly touch the app's icon on the device screen to launch it.
41. Wee hour: TWO. In the morning. ONE also fits. The hours after midnight until some uncertain later time before sun rise, indicated on the clock by small numbers.
42. Medium for van Gogh: OIL PAINT. He is best known for these, but also produced over 150 watercolor paintings.
45. Understand: SEE. I get it.
52. Winter Palace resident: TSAR. Russian autocrat, prior to 1917.
53. Mexican gold: ORO. Spanish, of course.
54. Limo bar: AXLE. The rod or spindle of any vehicle upon which the TIRES ROTATE, but not in the same sense as indicated by the theme.
60. Spring cleaning may lead to them: GARAGE SALES. An event held to raise cash by disposing of unwanted household items, usually in a GARAGE or driveway.
63. Firecracker that doesn't crack: DUD. Fizzler.
64. Brought to mind: EVOKED. Reminded, awakened, aroused.
65. Small change: CENT. A penny.
66. Afore: ERE. Earlier than.
67. They're fed at curbside: METERS. Parking Meters are "fed" coins larger than pennies to pay for the privilege of leaving one's vehicle there.
68. Icelandic literary work: EDDA. Old Norse poetic and literary works.
69. "Danny and the Dinosaur" author Hoff: SYD. [1912-2004] American cartoonist and children's book author, along with his most famous work.
Down:
1. Prepare, as plans: DRAW UP. Put together the initial version.
2. Thin sword: RAPIER. A weapon better suited for thrusting than for slashing or cutting.
3. Early stage of life: EMBRYO. An unborn or unhatched offspring in an earlier stage of development than the fetus.
4. Birdbrained: DAFT. Lacking intelligence - DODO-like, perhaps.
5. Actor Sharif: OMAR. Michel Dimitri Chalhoub [
6. The aughts, for one: DECADE. Ten year periods starting with years ending in zeros.
7. Musically monotonous: ONE NOTE. You decide.
9. Natural emollient: ALOE. Specifically ALOE VERA, since the genus ALOE contains over 500 species of succulent plants. Extracts of the plant have various medicinal uses.
10. Foodie: GOURMET. Culinary connoisseur.
11. Hosp. areas: ERS. Emergency Rooms, where situations needing immediate care are treated.
12. Zero: NIL. Nothing here.
13. __ trader: DAY. One who buys and sells financial instruments within the span of the same day.
19. Summer top: T-SHIRT. A pull-over shirt, generally with a crew neck and short sleeves, and so named because the bod and sleeves approximate a T shape.
21. Bruins star Phil, to fans: ESPO. He played 18 seasons in the NHL, the first 3 with the Chicago Blackhawks, 8 with the Boston Bruins, and 7 with the N. Y. Rangers.
25. Working hard: AT IT. Or arguing.
26. Put in the overhead bin: STOW. Pack an object into a particular place.
27. Vegas game: KENO. A lottery-like game of chance. Players chose numbers, then winning numbers are selected in some random manner.
29. Baritone Chou in the opera "Nixon in China": ENLAI. [1898-1976] the first Premier of the people's Republic of China, serving from 1949 until his death.
30. Violinist's supply: ROSIN. It increases friction so that the bow can grip the strings more firmly to get a clear, strong vibration.
31. Kinda-sorta: QUASI-. Partly, almost, seemingly - but not really.
32. Bunk with a ladder: UPPER. So you don't have to make a high jump.
35. Left on board?: PORT. Right is starboard on a ship.
36. "About the author" pieces: BIOS. Biographies.
37. Michigan city or college: ALMA. The city is located in the central lower peninsula, 50 miles west of Saginaw and 18 miles south of Mount Pleasant, home of Central Michigan University, where I will have two granddaughters as honors students in just a few days. Alma College is a private liberal arts college associated with the Presbyterian Church.
39. Annuls: UNDOES. Negates.
43. Share (in): PARTAKE. engage in an activity.
44. Upscale apartment feature: TERRACE. A level paved area adjacent to a building.
46. Coup d'__: ETAT. A violent seizure of power from a government.
48. Rode (around): TOOLED. Drive a vehicle with no particular destination.
49. Rust and lime: OXIDES. of iron and calcium, respectively.
50. Like a baker's hands: FLOURY. Covered with flour.
51. Shifted (for oneself): FENDED. To take care of one's self without assistance.
56. Disney head Robert: IGER. [b. 1951] Named COO in 2000, and succeeded Michael Eisner as CEO in 2005.
57. Wine list heading: REDS. Opposite the Whites. Can be dry or sweet.
58. Take care of: TEND. Bar tenders take care of taverns, chicken tenders have a fowl purpose.
59. Hammett dog: ASTA. Pet of Nick and Nora Charles from Dashiell Hammet's 1932 novel The Thin Man, a seminal text in the hard-boiled mystery genre, but also as much a comedy of manners as a mystery. A highly successful series of movies followed from 1934 to '47. Later adaptations ensued on radio, television, as a Broadway musical and a stage play.
60. Real peach: GEM. An exemplar of some sort.
61. Monopoly deed abbr.: AVEnue.
62. Go bad: ROT. Spoil.
Hope you found some traction and made it through without too many skids.
Cool regards!
Jazie Bee [The Other Erté]
