Why did it have to be Snakes? There is a triple "S" hissing sound in each of the theme answers. Note that the first word of each phrase ends in a double S, and the first word begins with an S to give us the HISS.
17-Across. Contents of a landscaper's spreader: GRASS SEED.
25-Across. Hollywood or Vine, vis-à-vis the other: CROSS STREET.
38-Across. Formal attire: DRESS SUIT.
53-Across. Social hierarchy: CLASS SYSTEM.
64-Across. Leaky tire noise found in five puzzle answers including this one: HISS SOUND.
Across:
1. Scottish Celt: GAEL.
5. Brake component: DISC.
9. Confronts with cockiness: FACES
14. Road runner: AUTO.
15. Marc with a clothing brand: ECKŌ. // And 62-Down: Novelist Umberto: ECO. The surnames sound alike. Marc Eckō (né Marc Louis Milecofsky; b. Aug. 29, 1972) is an American fashion designer and founder of Eckō Limited. It's not a company I am familiar with, but it apparently is known for its graffiti-style tee shirts and hoodies.
Umberto Eco (Jan. 5, 1932 ~ Feb. 19, 2016) was an Italian novelist, best known for his 1980 historical novel, Name of the Rose.
16. Higher in rank than: ABOVE. See 53-Across.
19. Jeans material: DENIM. You, too, can have this pair of Muddy DENIM Jeans for only $425.
20. Bring up, as kids: RAISE.
21. Very small: WEE.
23. MDX ÷ X: CLI. Roman Math. 1510 ÷ 10 = 151.
24. Building wing: ELL.
30. Voted in: ELECTED. Voters in our last election got this beautiful sticker after leaving the voting booth.
32. T-shirt coloring method: TIE-DYE.
33. Harp constellation: LYRA. Obvious, right?
34. Mexican girl: NIÑA. Today's Spanish lesson.
37. Tots may be bounced on them: KNEES.
41. Bud in a cantina: AMIGO. More of today's Spanish lesson.
44. Diplomat's forte: TACT.
45. Part of UAE: ARAB. As in the United Arab Emirates.
49. Most inexperienced, as a recruit: RAWEST.
51. Allowing cars in a single direction at a time, as a bridge: ONE LANE.
56. School support gp.: PTA. As in the Parent Teacher Association. This is a crossword staple.
57. Grain bristle: AWN.
58. Acorn producer: OAK. What did the little Acorn say when he grew up? Geometry!
59. Unmitigated: UTTER.
61. Not exactly new: DATED.
67. "Fear of Flying" author Jong: ERICA. Erica Jong (née Erica Mann; b. Mar. 26, 1942) is probably best known for her 1973 novel, Fear of Flying, which isn't about flying at all, but rather sexual fantasies.
68. Leave out: OMIT.
69. "Rule, Britannia" composer Thomas: ARNE. I learned about Thomas Arne (né Thomas Augustine Arne; Mar. 12, 1710 ~ Mar. 5, 1778) from doing the crossword puzzles. He makes occasional guest appearances.
70. Determined to do: SET ON. As in the sentence: He's SET ON finishing this puzzle before the end of the day.
71. Nashville venue: OPRY.
72. "The Walking __": zombie show: DEAD.
Down:
1. DVD blooper collection: GAG REEL.
2. By ear: AURALLY.
3. Online merchant: E-TAILER.
4. Red ink: LOSS.
5. __ Moines: DES. A city in Iowa.
6. Rink surface: ICE.
7. Depicts unfairly, as data: SKEWS.
8. Secret languages: CODES. The Rosetta Stone helped to de-code ancient languages.
9. Short-lived obsession: FAD. Anyone remember this short-lived FAD? I read recently that it's coming back.
10. Civil War prez: ABE.
11. Admit defeat: CONCEDE.
12. Hex-dispensing stare: EVIL EYE. This Hamsa will protect you from the Evil Eye.
13. Some Middle East natives: SEMITES. Webster's defines Semite as "(1) a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs; and (2) descendants of these peoples." The word "Semite" comes from "Shem", which literally means "name" in Hebrew, and was also the name of the Noah's oldest son. Thus, in ancient mythology, the Semites were all descendants of Shem.
18. Splinter group: SECT. 22. Ballpark fig.: EST. As in Estimate. I initially tried ERA, thinking we were looking for Earned Run Average. But we weren't actually in the baseball park here.
26. Artist Magritte: RENÉ. As in René Margritte (né René François Ghislain Magritte; Nov. 21, 1898 Aug. 15, 1967), a Belgium surrealist artist.
27. Writer of exalted verse: ODIST. As in one who composes Odes. John Keats (Oct. 31, 1795 ~ Feb. 23, 1821) is probably the best known Odist, having written Ode on a Grecian Urn.
28. __ bar: Polynesian-themed spot: TIKI.
29. U-Haul truck, e.g.: RENTAL. When I moved to Boston, I rented a U-Haul to transport all my stuff. When I went out to return the truck the next day, it was gone. It had been stolen during the night. I reported it, and U-Haul never flinched an eye about the loss.
31. Mooches: CADGES. An interesting new word for me. It apparently means to ask for or obtain something to which one is not really entitled to.
35. Govt. code-breaking org.: NSA. As in the National Security Agency.
36. Fancy tie: ASCOT. Fun to have this answer as the Royal Ascot just ended last Saturday ~ the event where everyone must dress up and women wear outrageous hats.
39. Flag maker Betsy: ROSS. Betsy Ross (née Elizabeth Griscom; Jan. 1, 1752 ~ Jan. 30, 1836) is credited with having made the first American flag. Fact or Fiction?
40. __ Reader: eclectic digest: UTNE. This magazine appears fairly often in the crossword puzzles. I once got a copy in the mail, totally unsolicited. I don't remember whether or not I read the issue, but I did not subscribe to the journal.
41. Gaming centers: ARCADES.
42. Invasive computer software: MALWARE.
43. "Give me that!": I WANT IT! Didn't your mother teach you manners? Maybe you will CADGE off someone to get what you want.
46. Ecstasy: RAPTURE.
47. Insect's feeler: ANTENNA.
48. Like Abe Lincoln and Santa Claus, facially: BEARDED.
50. Chinese menu general: TSO. According to an article in the Smithsonian, General Tso Chicken, was invented by a chef from Hunan province in the 1950s in Taiwan. It is a sweet deep-fried chicken dish.
52. Outback birds: EMUs.
54. Gleeful shout: YAHOO!
55. Pinch pennies: SKIMP.
60. "The Wind in the Willows" amphibious Mr.: TOAD. The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame (Mar. 8, 1859 ~ July 6, 1932) was first published in 1908. Although classified as a children's book, it is really about the leisured class of British gentlemen. The characters are all animals ~ rats, moles, toads, and badgers, who sit around and drink and smoke.
63. "Forrest Gump" lieutenant: DAN. I didn't remember this character in the movie. He was played Gary Sinise (b. Mar. 17, 1955) in the movie.
65. Dame's counterpart: SIR.
66. Messy place: STY.
17-Across. Contents of a landscaper's spreader: GRASS SEED.
25-Across. Hollywood or Vine, vis-à-vis the other: CROSS STREET.
38-Across. Formal attire: DRESS SUIT.
53-Across. Social hierarchy: CLASS SYSTEM.
1. Scottish Celt: GAEL.
5. Brake component: DISC.
Anatomy of a Break
9. Confronts with cockiness: FACES
14. Road runner: AUTO.
15. Marc with a clothing brand: ECKŌ. // And 62-Down: Novelist Umberto: ECO. The surnames sound alike. Marc Eckō (né Marc Louis Milecofsky; b. Aug. 29, 1972) is an American fashion designer and founder of Eckō Limited. It's not a company I am familiar with, but it apparently is known for its graffiti-style tee shirts and hoodies.
16. Higher in rank than: ABOVE. See 53-Across.
19. Jeans material: DENIM. You, too, can have this pair of Muddy DENIM Jeans for only $425.
20. Bring up, as kids: RAISE.
21. Very small: WEE.
23. MDX ÷ X: CLI. Roman Math. 1510 ÷ 10 = 151.
24. Building wing: ELL.
30. Voted in: ELECTED. Voters in our last election got this beautiful sticker after leaving the voting booth.
32. T-shirt coloring method: TIE-DYE.
33. Harp constellation: LYRA. Obvious, right?
34. Mexican girl: NIÑA. Today's Spanish lesson.
37. Tots may be bounced on them: KNEES.
44. Diplomat's forte: TACT.
45. Part of UAE: ARAB. As in the United Arab Emirates.
49. Most inexperienced, as a recruit: RAWEST.
51. Allowing cars in a single direction at a time, as a bridge: ONE LANE.
56. School support gp.: PTA. As in the Parent Teacher Association. This is a crossword staple.
57. Grain bristle: AWN.
58. Acorn producer: OAK. What did the little Acorn say when he grew up? Geometry!
Oh, wait. That's an Otter.
61. Not exactly new: DATED.
67. "Fear of Flying" author Jong: ERICA. Erica Jong (née Erica Mann; b. Mar. 26, 1942) is probably best known for her 1973 novel, Fear of Flying, which isn't about flying at all, but rather sexual fantasies.
68. Leave out: OMIT.
69. "Rule, Britannia" composer Thomas: ARNE. I learned about Thomas Arne (né Thomas Augustine Arne; Mar. 12, 1710 ~ Mar. 5, 1778) from doing the crossword puzzles. He makes occasional guest appearances.
70. Determined to do: SET ON. As in the sentence: He's SET ON finishing this puzzle before the end of the day.
71. Nashville venue: OPRY.
72. "The Walking __": zombie show: DEAD.
1. DVD blooper collection: GAG REEL.
2. By ear: AURALLY.
3. Online merchant: E-TAILER.
4. Red ink: LOSS.
5. __ Moines: DES. A city in Iowa.
6. Rink surface: ICE.
7. Depicts unfairly, as data: SKEWS.
8. Secret languages: CODES. The Rosetta Stone helped to de-code ancient languages.
9. Short-lived obsession: FAD. Anyone remember this short-lived FAD? I read recently that it's coming back.
10. Civil War prez: ABE.
11. Admit defeat: CONCEDE.
12. Hex-dispensing stare: EVIL EYE. This Hamsa will protect you from the Evil Eye.
13. Some Middle East natives: SEMITES. Webster's defines Semite as "(1) a member of any of a number of peoples of ancient southwestern Asia including the Akkadians, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs; and (2) descendants of these peoples." The word "Semite" comes from "Shem", which literally means "name" in Hebrew, and was also the name of the Noah's oldest son. Thus, in ancient mythology, the Semites were all descendants of Shem.
18. Splinter group: SECT. 22. Ballpark fig.: EST. As in Estimate. I initially tried ERA, thinking we were looking for Earned Run Average. But we weren't actually in the baseball park here.
26. Artist Magritte: RENÉ. As in René Margritte (né René François Ghislain Magritte; Nov. 21, 1898 Aug. 15, 1967), a Belgium surrealist artist.
27. Writer of exalted verse: ODIST. As in one who composes Odes. John Keats (Oct. 31, 1795 ~ Feb. 23, 1821) is probably the best known Odist, having written Ode on a Grecian Urn.
28. __ bar: Polynesian-themed spot: TIKI.
You, too, can get your own Tiki Bar from Amazon.
29. U-Haul truck, e.g.: RENTAL. When I moved to Boston, I rented a U-Haul to transport all my stuff. When I went out to return the truck the next day, it was gone. It had been stolen during the night. I reported it, and U-Haul never flinched an eye about the loss.
31. Mooches: CADGES. An interesting new word for me. It apparently means to ask for or obtain something to which one is not really entitled to.
35. Govt. code-breaking org.: NSA. As in the National Security Agency.
36. Fancy tie: ASCOT. Fun to have this answer as the Royal Ascot just ended last Saturday ~ the event where everyone must dress up and women wear outrageous hats.
39. Flag maker Betsy: ROSS. Betsy Ross (née Elizabeth Griscom; Jan. 1, 1752 ~ Jan. 30, 1836) is credited with having made the first American flag. Fact or Fiction?
40. __ Reader: eclectic digest: UTNE. This magazine appears fairly often in the crossword puzzles. I once got a copy in the mail, totally unsolicited. I don't remember whether or not I read the issue, but I did not subscribe to the journal.
41. Gaming centers: ARCADES.
42. Invasive computer software: MALWARE.
43. "Give me that!": I WANT IT! Didn't your mother teach you manners? Maybe you will CADGE off someone to get what you want.
46. Ecstasy: RAPTURE.
47. Insect's feeler: ANTENNA.
48. Like Abe Lincoln and Santa Claus, facially: BEARDED.
50. Chinese menu general: TSO. According to an article in the Smithsonian, General Tso Chicken, was invented by a chef from Hunan province in the 1950s in Taiwan. It is a sweet deep-fried chicken dish.
52. Outback birds: EMUs.
54. Gleeful shout: YAHOO!
55. Pinch pennies: SKIMP.
60. "The Wind in the Willows" amphibious Mr.: TOAD. The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame (Mar. 8, 1859 ~ July 6, 1932) was first published in 1908. Although classified as a children's book, it is really about the leisured class of British gentlemen. The characters are all animals ~ rats, moles, toads, and badgers, who sit around and drink and smoke.
63. "Forrest Gump" lieutenant: DAN. I didn't remember this character in the movie. He was played Gary Sinise (b. Mar. 17, 1955) in the movie.
65. Dame's counterpart: SIR.
66. Messy place: STY.
Here's the Grid:
I'll leave you with a QOD: I think being nice is more important than being clever. ~ Ricky Gervais (b. June 25, 1961)
