Tuesday, September 22, 2020 George Jasper

Give me Space!  The circles spell out a word that can follow the word Space to give us a new concept

20-Across. Top line of a lawyer's solicitation ad: NEED LEGAL HELP.  Space Needle.  The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington was built for the 1962 World's Fair.

31-Across. Gamer's coin: ARCADE TOKEN.  Space Cadet

39-Across. Pesky V-formation fliers: CANADA GEESE.  Space Age.  They make a pit-stop in Louisiana during their migration.  I see them often in the park near my house.

51-Across. Iconic video game since 1978, and a hint to the circled letters: SPACE INVADERS.

62-Across. Developer of 51-Across: ATARI.

Across:
1. Web site?: ATTIC.  Cute clue!

6. Guitarist Atkins: CHET.  Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 ~ June 30, 2001) was a country music musician and was known as Mr. Guitar.

10. Director Preminger: OTTO.  Otto Preminger (né Otto Ludwig Preminger; Dec. 5, 1905 ~ Apr. 23, 1986) directed over 35 movies, including Exodus.

14. Composer called "The March King": SOUSA.  John Philip Sousa (Nov. 6, 1854 ~ Mar. 6, 1932) is known for composing numerous military marches.  He is appropriately named, as USA appears in his surname.  He is probably best known for Stars and Stripes Forever.  I'd include a video of the march, but it kept appearing in random locations, so you'll just have to image the piece.

15. Per person: EACH.

16. Brunch, for one: MEAL.

17. Madison Ave. pro: AD REP.

18. "Night" author Wiesel: ELIE.  Elie Wiesel (né Elizer Wiesel; Sept. 30, 1928 ~ July 2, 2016) is a frequent guest in our puzzles.  He made an appearance last Tuesday.

19. Saharan: ARID.

23. Seafood platter accessory: BIB.

25. AFL partner: CIO.  The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is the largest federations of unions in the United States.

26. Advertising come-on: TEASER.

27. Make beloved: ENAMOR.

29. Olds luxury car: TORONADO.

1967 Model

33. Bit of ice hockey deception: DEKE.  DEKE:  A deceptive movement or feint that induces an opponent to move out of position.

34. SUV's "U," briefly: UTE.

35. Leveling device: SHIM.  SHIM:  A thin strip of metal, wood, or other material used to align parts, make them fit, or reduce wear.

43. Thumbs-up: APPROVAL.

47. Gold and silver: METALS.

48. Rhythmic Ravel classic: BOLERO.  Also, the type of a short jacket.

49. Its symbol is Sn: TIN.  Hi, Tin!

50. "Breaking Bad" org.: DEA.  As in the Drug Enforement Administration.  I never watched Breaking Bad.

55. "Garfield" dog: ODIE.

56. Executes: DOES.

57. Hot under the collar: RILED.

60. "Ant-Man" star Paul: RUDD.  Paul Stephen Rudd (b. Apr. 6, 1969) was the superhero Ant-Man in the 2015 film of the same name.  Three years later, he made a movie with the Wasp.

61. Let off, as steam: EMIT.

63. Big name in speakers: BOSE.  We had these speakers in Sunday's puzzle.

64. Reject as false: DENY.

65. Highest world capital city: LA PAZ.  Here's a good geography question.  Hand up if you immediately knew that La Paz, which is the capital of Bolivia, is the world's highest capital city.  It is almost 12,000 feet above sea level.  Bolivia is one of 2 land-locked countries in South America.

Down:

1. "__ matter of fact ... ": AS A.

2. "The Fox and the Hound" fox: TOD.  A reference to a Disney movie.  Who knew?

3. Retrace one's steps: TURN BACK.

4. "Aha!": I SEE!

5. Provincetown's peninsula: CAPE COD.  It is a part of Massachusetts.

6. R&B singer Green: CEE LO.  His given name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (b. May 30, 1975).  His most well-know song is not suitable for this blog.

7. In good shape: HALE.

8. Vaper's smoke, for short: E-CIG.  As in a E-Cigarette.

9. Shakespeare's Globe, e.g.: THEATRE.  Notice the British spelling of the theater.  It's an open-air theater in the round.  We saw a play in this theatre years ago.

10. Certain Nebraskan: OMAHAN.

11. Mother in Calcutta: TERESA.

12. Followed, as a suspect: TAILED.

13. Grizzled veteran: OLD PRO.

21. Desperate, as straits: DIRE.  The Sultans of Swing!

22. Storied "Fountain of Youth" seeker Ponce de ___: LEON.

23. Rosary sphere: BEAD.

24. With respect to, in a memo: IN RE.

28. Fannie __: mortgage nickname: MAE.

29. Wreck completely: TOTAL.

30. Signed off on: OK'ED.

32. Casserole fish: TUNA.  Sometimes nothing beats the comfort food of a nice tuna casserole.

35. Ready-go link: SET.  Ready, Set, Go!

36. "D'oh!" gesture: HEAD SLAP.

37. __ of Man: ISLE.  A small island found between England and Ireland.  Everything you wanted to know about the Isle of Man, but didn't know to ask.

38. Arizona city or landform: MESA.  Hi, Lucina!

39. Apple center: CORE.

40. Steered clear of: AVOIDED.

41. In the center of: AMID.

42. Colonel's aspiration, perhaps: GENERAL.

43. Soak up: ABSORB.

44. Sonny & Cher, e.g.: POP DUO.  Tragically, Sonny Bono (né Salvatore Philip Bono; Feb. 16, 1935 ~ Jan. 5, 1998) was killed in a skiing accident at age 62.  Cher (née Cherilyn Sarkisian; b. May 20, 1946) still makes occasional musical appearances.

45. Grunge fashion staples: PLAIDS.

Kurt Colbain (Feb. 20, 1967 ~ Apr. 5, 1994), the ultimate Grunge musician

46. Ebb: RECEDE.

49. Evoking a "Yum!": TASTY.

52. Alaskan gold rush town: NOME.  

53. Blood conduit: VEIN.

54. British singer __ Ora: RITA.  I think Rita Sahatçiu Ora (b. Nov. 26, 1990) has appeared in our puzzles before.

58. __ of Good Feelings: ERA.  I never learned of the Era of Good Feelings in school.  Apparently it was a 10-year period following the War of 1812 when there was a sense of unity among the American people.

59. Jazz trumpeter Gillespie, familiarly: DIZ.  John Birks Gillespie (Oct. 21, 1917 ~ Jan. 6, 1993) is more commonly known as Dizzy.  He got his Nickname for his amusing antics on stage.

Here's the Grid: