Theme: Where's the Wizard? - The first words of the theme entries will lead you to the Wizard of Oz and if you aren't sure of which are the theme entries, the unifier at the end will tell you.
17A. "Come this way!" : "FOLLOW ME!"
25A. Annual black-tie broadcast, familiarly : THE OSCARS
40A. Beatles film with Blue Meanies : "YELLOW SUBMARINE"
52A. Hot spot for pizza : BRICK OVEN
66A. MERGE or SIGNAL AHEAD, e.g. : ROAD SIGN
73A. One of five who heeded the directions in the first words of 17-, 25-, 40-, 52- and 66-Across : TOTO. Along with Dorothy Gale, Tinman, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion.
Argyle here and no B-movie but a fine Monday puzzle. It is too bad the Cruciverb site is down but there isn't much to explain anyway. Quite a few three-letter entries but that is a small price to pay to get six theme entries, one a grid spanner, into a Monday puzzle. Ms. Weintraub had her debut puzzle in the NY Times on Monday, March 28, 2011 so I assume this is her LAT debut, also. Good job, Robyn. More info on our constructor here.
Across:
1. Indiana city of song : GARY. Gary Indiana(2:00) from The Music Man.
5. TV channels 2-13 : VHF
8. Draw unwelcome graffiti on : DEFACE
14. Concept : IDEA
15. Rowboat need : OAR
16. Ran to Vegas to get married, perhaps : ELOPED
19. "Dirty" hair color : BLONDE
20. Breadcrumbs, in a children's story : TRAIL
21. Army NCO : SSGT
23. College official : DEAN
24. Blush-inducing H.S. class : SEX ED
27. Needle hole : EYE
29. Palm smartphone : TREO. Image.
30. Turn over a new __ : LEAF
34. Bungle the job : ERR
36. Tall hat wearer at Buckingham Palace : GUARD
44. Like Keebler magic : ELFIN
45. Prefix with political : GEO
46. Airport transport : TRAM
47. Writing tools : PENS. In case you don't watch TV, this funny Geico ad.
50. Doc's org. : AMA
56. Inclined to opine : VOCAL
61. Like rain forests : LUSH
62. "I Got You Babe," e.g. : DUET
63. Asinine : INANE
64. Half a Beatles nonsense title : OB-LA-DI
68. Church official : CLERIC
69. _ Jima : IWO
70. Lead-in for while : ERST
71. Living room piece : SETTEE
72. 8x 10 or 11 x 14: Abbr. : ENL. Photo enlargements.
Down:
1. Bridal shower pile : GIFTS
2. Really like : ADORE
3. Take a long bath, say : RELAX
4. Connecticut Ivy Leaguer : YALIE. Usually, we get Eli's.
5. Promise : VOW
6. Pets on wheels : HAMSTERS
7. Not stale : FRESH
8. Credit card user : DEBTOR
9. Right-angle shape : ELL
10. Mall eatery site : FOOD COURT
11. Sleep clinic concern : APNEA
12. Storage closet wood : CEDAR
13. Perfect places : EDENS
18. Renaissance Faire sign word : OLDE
22. TV's "_ Smart" : GET
26. "Sonic the Hedgehog" developer : SEGA. SEGA is a multinational video game software and hardware development company.
28. Hedge bush : YEW
30. Soap ingredient : LYE
31. Electric swimmer : EEL
32. E.T. of '80s TV : ALF
33. Sales meeting visual aid : FLIP CHART
35. Snug bug's spot : RUG
37. Bubble wrap filler : AIR
38. Genetic letters : RNA
39. Like JFK and FDR : DEM. Both were Democrats.
41. Fun run length, for short : ONE K
42. Boston nickname : BEANTOWN
43. Boo-boo kisser : MOM
48. "Not happening!" : "NO DICE!"
49. "Law & Order: __" : SVU. Special Victims Unit.
51. Enthusiastic : AVID
52. Voting alliances : BLOCS
53. Russian coin : RUBLE
54. Archipelago unit : ISLET
55. Goosebump-inducing : EERIE
57. First stage : ONSET
58. Largest city in Africa : CAIRO. Egypt.
59. Common teenage emotion : ANGST
60. Slow, to Solti : LENTO
65. Conk out, as an engine : DIE
67. Gmail alternative : AOL
Argyle
