Constructed by: Jeff Stillman
Edited by: Rich Norris
Quicklink to a complete list of today’s clues and answers
Quicklink to comments
Theme: BBB
Each of today’s themed answers comprises THREE words beginning with the letter B:
- 59D. Consumer protection org., and a hint to the answers to starred clues : BBB
- 20A. *A little bit at a time, to a mason : BRICK BY BRICK
- 32A. *Next step up after a crib, for some toddlers : BIG-BOY BED
- 40A. *Hit by *NSYNC about the end of a relationship : BYE BYE BYE
- 50A. *Iconic refrain from the Trammps’ 1976 hit “Disco Inferno” : BURN BABY BURN
Bill’s time: 5m 20s
Bill’s errors: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Eydie who sang with Steve Lawrence : GORME
Eydie Gormé is best known for her work with her husband Steve Lawrence. The duo started performing traditional popular music together in the late fifties. One of the couple’s children is David Nessim Lawrence, a composer who wrote the score for the 2006 movie “High School Musical”.
6. Began a typical triathlon : SWAM
An Ironman Triathlon is a race involving a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon run of just over 26 miles. The idea for the race came out of a debate between some runners in the 1977 Oahu Perimeter Relay. They were questioning whether runners, swimmers or bikers were the most fit athletes. The debaters decided to combine three local events to determine the answer, inviting athletes from all three disciplines. The events that were mimicked to come up with the first triathlon were the Waikiki Roughwater swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). The idea was that whoever finished first would be called “the Iron Man”. The first triathlon was run in 1978, with fifteen starters and only twelve finishers. The race format is used all over the world now, but the Hawaiian Ironman is the event that everyone wants to win.
10. Went lickety-split : SPED
“Lickety-split” is the latest in a line of terms that come from the word “lick”, which was used in the sense of a “fast sprint in a race” back in the early 1800s. From “lick” there evolved “licketie”, “lickety-click”, “lickety-cut” and finally “lickety-split”, all just colorful ways to say “fast”.
15. Prefix with legal : PARA-
A paralegal (sometimes just “para”) is someone who is trained in legal matters sufficiently to assist a lawyer. A paralegal cannot engage in the practice of law and must be supervised by a qualified lawyer.
16. Epitaph starter : HERE …
Our word “epitaph” ultimately comes from the Greek “epitaphion”, meaning “funeral oration”.
19. Eye part : IRIS
The iris is the colored part of the eye. It has an aperture in the center that can open or close depending on the level of light hitting the eye.
23. Heavy favorites : SHOO-INS
A “shoo-in” is a surefire winner, especially in politics. Back in the 1920s, a shoo-in was a horse that was prearranged to win a race, a race that was fixed.
36. Grecian vessel of verse : URN
Here’s the first verse of the poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” by John Keats:
THOU still unravish’d bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fringed legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
37. What “is yet to come,” in a Sinatra classic : THE BEST
“The Best Is Yet to Come” is a 1959 song that was written and initially recorded by Tony Bennett. It was Frank Sinatra who made the song really famous, starting with his recording for a 1964 album. It was actually the last song that Sinatra performed in public, doing so in 1995, three years before he passed away.
39. Shogun stronghold : EDO
Edo is the former name of the Japanese city of Tokyo. Edo was the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate, a feudal regime that ruled from 1603 until 1868. The shogun lived in the magnificent Edo Castle. Some parts of the original castle remain and today’s Tokyo Imperial Palace, the residence of the Emperor of Japan, was built on its grounds.
The shoguns of Japan were military dictators who generally inherited their position and power. The term “shogun” can be translated as ‘general”. The position of shogun was effectively eliminated in 1867 with the demise of the Tokugawa shogunate. The modern equivalent of a shogun in Japan is a prime minister.
40. *Hit by *NSYNC about the end of a relationship : BYE BYE BYE
“Bye Bye Bye” is a 2000 hit song recorded by the boy band NSYNC. It was originally written another boy band, the English group 5ive, but they passed on it.
42. When repeated, a Samoan city : PAGO
Pago Pago is the capital of American Samoa in the South Pacific. The island was used by the US Navy during WWII and it managed to escape most of the conflict. The only military incident of consequence was the shelling of the city’s harbor by a Japanese submarine. A more devastating event was the tsunami that hit Pago Pago and surrounding areas in 2009, causing widespread damage and numerous deaths.
43. Sleep clinic study : APNEA
Sleep apnea (“apnoea” in British English) can be caused by an obstruction in the airways, possibly due to obesity or enlarged tonsils.
46. Chicago airport : O’HARE
O’Hare International is the fourth busiest airport in the world. The original airport was constructed on the site between 1942 and 1943, and was used by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the manufacture of planes during WWII. Before the factory and airport were built, there was a community in the area called Orchard Place, so the airport was called Orchard Place Airport/Douglas Field. This name is the derivation of the airport’s current location identifier: ORD (OR-chard D-ouglas). Orchard Place Airport was renamed to O’Hare International in 1949 in honor of Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare who grew up in Chicago. O’Hare was the US Navy’s first flying ace and a Medal of Honor recipient in WWII.
50. *Iconic refrain from the Trammps’ 1976 hit “Disco Inferno” : BURN BABY BURN
“Disco Inferno” is a 1976 song recorded by the Trammps that really only became popular after it was featured on the soundtrack of the 1977 film “Saturday Night Fever”. The lyrics of the song were inspired by a scene in the 1974 movie “The Towering Inferno” in which a discotheque is consumed in the fire.
60. Space Race destination : MOON
President John F. Kennedy’s “We choose to go to the moon” speech was delivered in September 1962 at Rice Stadium in Houston. The aim of the speech was to persuade the American people that the US could take the lead in the Space Race. The general perception was that the Soviet Union was setting the pace, having launched the first satellite (Sputnik) and putting the first man in space (Yuri Gagarin).
61. Theater level : LOGE
In most theaters and stadia today, “loge” is the name given to the front rows of a mezzanine level. Loge can also be used for box seating.
62. Cygnus’ brightest star : DENEB
Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation called Cygnus, the Swan. The name “Deneb” comes from the Arabic word “dhaneb” meaning “tail”, as it lies at the tail of the swan.
63. “Rule, Britannia” composer : ARNE
Thomas Arne was an English composer from London. Arne wrote some iconic compositions including “Rule, Britannia!” He also wrote a version of “God Save the King” that became the British national anthem.
“Rule, Britannia!” was a poem by James Thomson, for which Thomas Arne composed the famous music.
Down
1. Jazzman’s job : GIG
Musicians use “gig” to describe a job, a performance. The term originated in the early 1900s in the world of jazz. The term “gig economy” applies to a relatively recent phenomenon where workers find themselves jumping from temporary job to temporary job, from gig to gig.
2. Japanese sash : OBI
The sash worn as part of traditional Japanese dress is known as an obi. The obi can be tied at the back in what is called a butterfly knot. The term “obi” is also used for the thick cotton belts that are an essential part of the outfits worn by practitioners of many martial arts. The color of the martial arts obi signifies the wearer’s skill level.
3. Sleep stage : REM
“REM” is an acronym standing for Rapid Eye Movement sleep. REM sleep takes up 20-25% of the sleeping hours and is the period associated with one’s most vivid dreams.
4. Did a Cuban dance : MAMBOED
The form of music and dance known as “mambo” developed in Cuba. “Mambo” means “conversation with the gods” in Kikongo, a language spoken by slaves taken to Cuba from Central Africa.
5. TV chef Lagasse : EMERIL
Emeril Lagasse is an American chef who was born in Massachusetts. Lagasse first achieved notoriety as executive chef in Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Now famous for his television shows, his cuisine still showcases New Orleans ingredients and influences. Lagasse started using his famous “Bam!” catchphrase in order to keep his crew awake during repeated tapings of his show.
7. Base on balls : WALK
That would be baseball.
8. Spirited horse : ARAB
The Arab (also “Arabian”) breed of horse takes its name from its original home, the Arabian Peninsula. Like any animal that humans have over-bred, the horse falls prey to genetic diseases, some of which are fatal and some of which require the horse to be euthanized.
9. Scads of : MANY
The origin of the word “scads”, meaning “lots and lots”, is unclear. That said, “scads” was used to mean “dollars” back in the mid-1800s.
10. Child star Temple : SHIRLEY
Child star Shirley Temple made her first movie in 1932 at the age of three. She became a star in 1934 with the release of the film “Bright Eyes”. Temple retired from show business at the age of 22, but made a brief attempt to resume her career in the late fifties and early sixties. She served as a board member for several organizations, including the Walt Disney Company. She also ran unsuccessfully for the US Congress in 1874, but was appointed as US Ambassador to Ghana in 1974, and then to Czechoslovakia in 1989.
12. “All My Children” vixen : ERICA
“All My Children” was the first daytime soap opera to debut in the seventies. Star of the show was Susan Lucci who played Erica Kane. The show was cancelled in 2011 after being on the air for 41 years.
24. White with age : HOARY
The Old English word “har” meant “gray, venerable, old”, and came into English as “hoar” (and later “hoary”) with the same meaning. The term “hoar-frost” dates back to the 13th century, and reflects the similarity of the white feathers of frost to the gray/white of an old man’s beard.
25. Sheeplike : OVINE
The Latin word for “sheep” is “ovis”, giving us the adjective “ovine” meaning “like a sheep”.
28. Tripoli’s country : LIBYA
Tripoli is the capital city of Libya and sits on the Mediterranean Coast. The city was founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC and was originally called Oea.
29. 1958 Pulitzer-winning author James : AGEE
James Agee was a noted American film critic and screenwriter. Agee wrote an autobiographical novel “A Death in the Family” that won him his Pulitzer in 1958, albeit posthumously. He was also one of the screenwriters for the 1951 classic movie “The African Queen”.
30. Football carriers: Abbr. : RBS
In football, running backs (RBs) and wide receivers (WRs) often score touchdowns (TDs).
32. “Cheers” actress Neuwirth : BEBE
Bebe Neuwirth is a wonderful actress and dancer who famously played Dr. Lilith Sternin, the wife of Dr. Frasier Crane on “Cheers” and “Frasier”. Neuwirth is a fabulous dancer, having studied ballet at Juilliard. In more recent years she has had starring roles on Broadway, and in 2010 played opposite Nathan Lane in “The Addams Family”. Neuwirth also plays a leading role on the show “Madame Secretary”.
The wonderful sitcom “Cheers” ran for eleven seasons on NBC, from 1982 to 1993. “Cheers” spawned an equally successful spin-off show called “Frasier”, which also ran for eleven seasons and often featured guest appearances of characters from the original “Cheers”. The Cheers bar was styled on the Bull & Finch Pub in Boston (in which I’ve had a pint of Guinness two!). The owner of the Bill & Finch cleverly agreed to the initial interior and exterior shots, charging only one dollar. Since then he has made millions from selling “Cheers” memorabilia, and also from increased trade.
33. Spilled the __: told all : BEANS
“To spill the beans” is to divulge a secret. The expression first appeared in American English, in the early 1900s. The phrase arose as an alternative to “spoil the beans” or “upset the applecart”.
35. Puppet Howdy __ : DOODY
“Howdy Doody” is a children’s TV show that originally aired from 1947 to 1960. The show featured live actors as well as a whole host of puppet characters. There was also the Peanut Gallery, an invited audience of about 40 kids who sat on bleachers on stage while the show was airing.
37. Easygoing sort : TYPE B
The Type A and Type B personality theory originated in the fifties. Back then, individuals were labelled as Type A in order to emphasize a perceived increased risk of heart disease. Type A personality types are so called “stress junkies”, whereas Type B types are relaxed and laid back. But there doesn’t seem to be much scientific evidence to support the linkage between the Type A personality and heart problems.
44. Australian runner : EMU
The large flightless birds called emus make sounds by manipulating inflatable necks sacs. The sac is about a foot long, has a thin wall and allows the bird to emit a booming sound. The type of sound emitted is the easiest way to differentiate between male and female emus.
46. Trump predecessor : OBAMA
By tradition, the Secret Service code names used for the US President and family all start with the same letter. For the Trump First Family, that letter is M.:
- Donald Trump: Mogul
- Melania Trump: Muse
- Ivanka Trump: Marvel
- Donald Trump, Jr.: Mountaineer
- Eric Trump: Marksman
For the Obama First Family, the code names start with the letter R:
- Barack Obama: Renegade
- Michelle Obama: Renaissance
- Malia Obama: Radiance
- Sasha Obama: Rosebud
52. Modern diary : BLOG
Many folks who visit this website regard it as just that, a website. That is true, but more correctly it is referred to as a blog, as I make regular posts (actually daily posts) which then occupy the “front page” of the site. The blog entries are in reverse chronological order, and one can just look back day-by-day, reading older and older posts. “Blog” is a contraction of the term “web log”.
58. Stephen of “The Crying Game” : REA
“The Crying Game” is a fascinating film that made quite a splash when it was released in 1992. Although it was set in Ireland and the UK, it didn’t do well in cinemas in either country yet made a lot of money over here in the US. I think the politics of the movie were a bit raw for Irish and UK audiences back then. It’s an unusual plot, blending Irish political issues with some raw sexuality questions. I won’t tell you about the “surprise scene”, just in case you haven’t seen it and want to do so.
59. Consumer protection org., and a hint to the answers to starred clues : BBB
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private concern (nope, it is not a government agency) that was founded in 1912. It operates like a franchise, with local BBB’s managed independently while operating to a “corporate” set of guidelines.
Complete List of Clues and Answers
Across
1. Eydie who sang with Steve Lawrence : GORME
6. Began a typical triathlon : SWAM
10. Went lickety-split : SPED
14. Construction girder : I-BEAM
15. Prefix with legal : PARA-
16. Epitaph starter : HERE …
17. Six-inch putt, say, in golf lingo : GIMME
18. Distinctive flair : ELAN
19. Eye part : IRIS
20. *A little bit at a time, to a mason : BRICK BY BRICK
23. Heavy favorites : SHOO-INS
26. Those women, in Spain : ELLAS
27. Shabby homes : HOVELS
28. Huge : LARGE
31. Surprise police action : RAID
32. *Next step up after a crib, for some toddlers : BIG-BOY BED
36. Grecian vessel of verse : URN
37. What “is yet to come,” in a Sinatra classic : THE BEST
39. Shogun stronghold : EDO
40. *Hit by *NSYNC about the end of a relationship : BYE BYE BYE
42. When repeated, a Samoan city : PAGO
43. Sleep clinic study : APNEA
44. Got via hard work : EARNED
46. Chicago airport : O’HARE
49. Diplomatic office : EMBASSY
50. *Iconic refrain from the Trammps’ 1976 hit “Disco Inferno” : BURN BABY BURN
54. Playground retort : AM SO!
55. Shapeless mass : BLOB
56. Biting : ACERB
60. Space Race destination : MOON
61. Theater level : LOGE
62. Cygnus’ brightest star : DENEB
63. “Rule, Britannia” composer : ARNE
64. “Goodness gracious!” : EGAD!
65. Founded: Abbr. : ESTAB
Down
1. Jazzman’s job : GIG
2. Japanese sash : OBI
3. Sleep stage : REM
4. Did a Cuban dance : MAMBOED
5. TV chef Lagasse : EMERIL
6. Contractor’s details : SPECS
7. Base on balls : WALK
8. Spirited horse : ARAB
9. Scads of : MANY
10. Child star Temple : SHIRLEY
11. Danger : PERIL
12. “All My Children” vixen : ERICA
13. Newsroom fixtures : DESKS
21. Helpful connections : INS
22. Fathered, biblically : BEGOT
23. Landscaper’s planting : SHRUB
24. White with age : HOARY
25. Sheeplike : OVINE
28. Tripoli’s country : LIBYA
29. 1958 Pulitzer-winning author James : AGEE
30. Football carriers: Abbr. : RBS
32. “Cheers” actress Neuwirth : BEBE
33. Spilled the __: told all : BEANS
34. Barely beats : EDGES
35. Puppet Howdy __ : DOODY
37. Easygoing sort : TYPE B
38. Egg layer : HEN
41. Without exception : BAR NONE
42. Struts like a horse : PRANCES
44. Australian runner : EMU
45. Use sandpaper on : ABRADE
46. Trump predecessor : OBAMA
47. Funny stuff : HUMOR
48. Felonious flames : ARSON
49. Subsided : EBBED
51. Ready, willing and __ : ABLE
52. Modern diary : BLOG
53. Discipline with mats : YOGA
57. Tolkien tree creature : ENT
58. Stephen of “The Crying Game” : REA
59. Consumer protection org., and a hint to the answers to starred clues : BBB
The post LA Times Crossword Answers 23 Oct 2017, Monday appeared first on LAXCrossword.com.