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Solution to today’s crossword in the New York Times
Solution to today’s SYNDICATED New York Times crossword in all other publications
CROSSWORD SETTER: Frederick J. Healy
THEME: None
COMPLETION TIME: 52m 27s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Frame part : JAMB
A door jamb is the vertical portion of a door frame. The term “jamb” comes from the French word “jambe” meaning “leg”.
There might be a few karate chops at the dojo.
The Japanese word dojo literally means “place of the way”. Originally the term applied to training halls that were found in or beside temples. The teaching in a dojo was not limited to the martial arts, but in the Western world we use the dojo as the name for a training facility for judo, karate and the like.
9. Post holder : BLOG
I write a post for this blog every day!
“Blog” is a melding of the words “Web” and “log”. This blog is a “log” of all the New York Times Crosswords published, and I post them on the “Web”.
13. One for whose benefit a legal suit is brought : USEE
I guess a usee is one who is used …
14. Hazzard County deputy : ENOS
Enos Strate (played by Sonny Shroyer) was the small-town deputy in the original series of “The Dukes of Hazzard”, and the success of his character merited a follow-on show. The spinoff “Enos” only ran for 18 episodes though.
28. Weapon lengthener? : -EER
A weaponeer is someone associated with the maintenance of weapons, especially nuclear weapons.
“Heat” is slang for a firearm.
A rood is a crucifix that specifically symbolizes the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
37. Private practice? : DRILL
Privates in the army are drilled all the time.
39. Sheep genus : OVIS
The Latin word for “sheep” is “ovis”.
45. Titus, e.g.: Abbr. : EMP
Titus Flavius Verspasianus was a successful military commander, and Roman Emperor from 79 to 81 AD. It was Titus who laid siege to and destroyed the city and temple of Jerusalem, for which he was honored with the erection of the Arch of Titus that stands in Rome to this day. The Arch of Titus is the inspiration for many other famous arches around the world, including the l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Zane Grey sure did hit on the right niche. He wrote romanticized western novels and stories that really lent themselves to the big screen in the days when westerns were very popular movies. Incredibly, 110 films were made based on his work.
50. Inn’s end : DANUBE
The Inn is a river that flows through Switzerland, Austria and Germany, emptying into the Danube. The two rivers meet at the city of Passau in Bavaria.
Lewis Carroll’s handwritten manuscript that eventually became “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” was titled “Alice’s Adventures Under Ground”. Carroll published a facsimile copy of the original “Under Ground” manuscript in 1886, just over twenty years after “Wonderland” hit the presses.
60. “Oh, No! It’s ___” (1982 rock album) : DEVO
Devo is a band from Akron, Ohio formed back in 1973. The band’s biggest hit is “Whip It” released in 1980.
61. Second in cmd. : LIEUT
The word “lieutenant” come from French, with “lieu” meaning “in place” and “tenant” meaning “holding”. “Lieutenant” then means somebody holding a position in the absence of his or her superior. In America of course “lieutenant” is pronounced loo-tenant, whereas back in the British Isles we say “lef-tenant”.
Robert Iler’s most famous role was that of A.J., son of the main character in HBO’s “The Sopranos”, mob leader Tony Soprano. Apparently Iler’s screen persona has spilled over to his personal life, as he was arrested for armed robbery of two tourists in 2001 (and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge).
Thomas Nast was an American caricaturist and cartoonist. He was the creator of the Republican Party elephant, the Democratic Party’s donkey, Uncle Sam and the image of the plump and jocular Santa Claus that we use today.
66. Mr. Peggotty’s “little” niece : EM’LY
Mr. Peggotty and Little Em’ly are characters in “David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens.
Down
3. Soap ingredient? : MELODRAMA
As almost everyone knows, the original “soap operas” were radio dramas back in the fifties. Given the structure of society back then, the daytime broadcasts were aimed at housewives working in the home. For some reason, the sponsors of those radio shows, and the television shows that followed, were soap manufacturers, like Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive and Lever Brothers. And that’s how the soap opera got its nickname.
Beluga caviar comes from the beluga sturgeon, found primarily in the Caspian Sea. It is the most expensive type of caviar in the world. The US-farmed beluga caviar
5. Creation from plastic? : DEBT
Using that credit card (“plastic”) automatically creates a “debt”.
6. “The ___ have almost forgot”: Shak. : ONE I
“The one I have almost forgot” is a line from Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”.
8. Toward der Orient : OST
“Ost” is the German for “east”.
The American English word “buckaroo”, an alternative for “cowboy”, comes from the Spanish for cowboy, “vaquero”.
“Kukla, Fran and Ollie” was an early television show that aired from 1947-1957. Kukla and Ollie (Oliver J. Dragon) were puppets and Fran was Fran Allison, usually the only human on the show.
The character Bree is played by Marcia Cross on “Desperate Housewives” (I haven’t seen one episode!). During pre-production, the show was called “Wisteria Lane” and then “The Secret Lives of Housewives”.
20. Summer of Love prelude : BE-IN
Just before 1967’s Summer of Love in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, a Human Be-In was held in the city’s Golden Gate Park. The Be-In is described as a “happening”, a gathering triggered by a new state law banning the use of LSD. The name “Human Be-In” comes from “humanist sit-in”.
25. Brit’s “guv” : DAD
“Guv” is an informal word replacing “governor”, used in the UK. It is usually a friendly address to a man, sort of like our “Mac” or “Dad”.
26. Patrick Stewart and Alan Cumming, e.g. : SIRS
27. 1990s Disney chief : OVITZ
Michael Ovitz was President of the Walt Disney Company from 1995-1997. He didn’t get on well with the company Chairman, Michael Eisner, so he was fired after just over a year. He was sent packing with a nice severance package though: $38m in cash and well over $100m in stock.
The “Essays of Elia” began appearing in “London Magazine” in 1820, and were immediate hits with the public. The author was Charles Lamb, and “Elia” was actually a clerk with whom Lamb worked. The most famous of the essays in the collection are probably “Dream-Children” and “Old China”.
Len Barry is a retired singer, originally the front man for a group called the Dovells, formed by friends in high school. After recording a number of hits with the Dovells, Barry had a successful solo career.
44. Completists’ goals : SETS
A completist is a person who loves collecting memorabilia.
50. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author and family : DAHLS
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a children’s novel by Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl’s name is Norwegian. Dahl’s parents were from Norway, although Dahl himself was Welsh. Dahl became one of the most successful authors of the twentieth century, and a couple of his most famous titles are “James and the Giant Peach” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
Alain Ducasse is a chef, whose most famous restaurant is called Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, located in the celebrated hotel in London. Ducasse was born and lived in France, but a few years ago relinquished his French citizenship to become a citizen of Monaco, taking advantage of the principality’s lower income tax rate.
Nivea is a brand name of skin-care products from Germany. The Latin word “nivea” means “snow-white”.
Oil of Olay was developed in South Africa in 1949. When it was introduced internationally, it was given slightly different brand names designed to appeal in the different geographies. In Ireland we know it as Oil of Ulay, for example, and in France it is Oil of Olaz.
59. Checkers, e.g. : MEN
Checkers, yet another word that I had to learn moving across the Atlantic. In Ireland the game is called draughts.
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Frame part : JAMB
5. Chopping center? : DOJO
9. Post holder : BLOG
13. One for whose benefit a legal suit is brought : USEE
14. Hazzard County deputy : ENOS
15. Bit of avian anatomy : QUILL
16. Bit of avian anatomy : BILL
17. A cowboy may have a big one : BELT BUCKLE
19. “Unlikely” : I DOUBT IT
21. Collect copiously : RAKE IN
22. Cliff dweller’s setting : LEDGE
23. Gets by : EVADES
24. “True, alas” : AFRAID SO
28. Weapon lengthener? : -EER
29. Heat-seeking grp.? : NRA
30. Wide-eyed : NAIVE
32. Cross : ROOD
35. Some cats : TOMS
37. Private practice? : DRILL
39. Sheep genus : OVIS
41. Ones given latitude? : MAPS
43. Total messes : STIES
45. Titus, e.g.: Abbr. : EMP
46. Knock over : ROB
48. Western master : ZANE GREY
50. Inn’s end : DANUBE
53. Dots on 41-Across : TOWNS
54. “___ Adventures Under Ground” : ALICE’S
55. Poor : NOT SO HOT
58. Be completely set : HAVE IT MADE
60. “Oh, No! It’s ___” (1982 rock album) : DEVO
61. Second in cmd. : LIEUT
62. Partner of 56-Down : ENDS
63. Player of one of TV’s Sopranos : ILER
64. Betray irritability : SNAP
65. Noted elephant designer : NAST
66. Mr. Peggotty’s “little” niece : EM’LY
Down
1. Celebratory : JUBILANT
2. Save : ASIDE FROM
3. Soap ingredient? : MELODRAMA
4. Prized caviar : BELUGA
5. Creation from plastic? : DEBT
6. “The ___ have almost forgot”: Shak. : ONE I
7. Kick : JOLT
8. Toward der Orient : OST
9. Wrangler : BUCKAROO
10. See 47-Down : LIKED
11. Dragon puppet : OLLIE
12. Gorges : GLENS
15. Warble : QUAVER
18. “Desperate Housewives” role : BREE
20. Summer of Love prelude : BE-IN
25. Brit’s “guv” : DAD
26. Patrick Stewart and Alan Cumming, e.g. : SIRS
27. 1990s Disney chief : OVITZ
31. “Grace Before Meat” pen name : ELIA
33. Steamroller : OVERWHELM
34. Bit of pulp : DIME NOVEL
36. Smarten : SPRUCE UP
38. Singer Barry : LEN
40. Read with intelligence : SPY STORY
42. “That’s life” : SO BE IT
44. Completists’ goals : SETS
47. With 10-Down, favored the most : BEST
49. Perk : GOODIE
50. “Fantastic Mr. Fox” author and family : DAHLS
51. Chef Ducasse : ALAIN
52. Olay alternative : NIVEA
55. Family nickname : NANA
56. Partner of 62-Across : ODDS
57. Try : TEST
59. Checkers, e.g. : MEN
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