LA Times Crossword Answers 1 Jan 13, Tuesday

CROSSWORD SETTER: Don Gagliardo & C.C. Burnikel
THEME: L.A. Times Square … Happy New Year, everyone! The themed answers today deal with New Year’s Eve, and some answers with circled letters (answers associated with the word “time”) are arranged in a SQUARE in the center of the grid to hint at “Times Square” in New York City, site of a famous ball-dropping:

17A. When to don a 40-Down or prepare to throw 11-Down NEW YEAR’S EVE
62A. Ball-dropping site, or what this puzzle’s circled letters form? TIMES SQUARE
11D. See 17-Across CONFETTI
40D. See 17-Across PARTY HAT

30A. Extra SPARE (time)
45A. In the area LOCAL (time)
30D. Tee size SMALL(-time)
31D. No better, no worse EQUAL (time)

COMPLETION TIME: 06m 26s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0

Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
16. __ Miss OLE
Ole Miss is the nickname for the University of Mississippi. The name “Ole Miss” dates back to 1897, the first year a student yearbook was published. The graduating class held a competition to name the yearbook, and “Ole Miss” emerged as the winner. The name stuck to the yearbook, and also as a nickname for the school itself.

19. Lakers’ org. NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers basketball team started out in 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team chose the Lakers name in honor of the nickname of Minnesota, “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. The Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960.

20. Former “Grand Ole Opry Live” network TNN
The Nashville Network (TNN) was a country music cable channel that operated from 1983 to 2003. When TNN closed down it was relaunched with a completely different format as Spike, marketed as “the first television channel for men”.

“The Grand Ole Opry” started out as a radio show in 1925 originally called the WSM “Barn Dance”. In 1927, the “Barn Dance” radio show was broadcast in a slot after an NBC production called “Musical Appreciation Hour”, a collection of classical works including Grand Opera. In a December show the host of “Barn Dance” announced, “For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera. From now on we will present the ‘Grand Ole Opry'”. That name was used for the radio show from then on. The radio show was broadcast from various venues over the years, usually having to move as the show increased in popularity and size. It moved to the a purpose-built Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, located in the Opryland USA theme park.

21. GPS suggestion RTE
GPS stands for Global Positioning System. The modern GPS system that we use today was built by the US military who received the massive funding needed because of fears during the Cold War of the use of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. We civilians, all round the world, owe a lot to President Ronald Reagan because he directed the military to make GPS technology available to the public for the common good. President Reagan was moved to do so after the Soviet Union shot down KAL flight 007 carrying 269 people, just because the plane strayed accidentally into Soviet airspace.

26. Big galoot APE
“Galoot” is an insulting term meaning an awkward or boorish man, an ape. “Galoot” comes from the nautical world, where it was originally what a sailor might call a soldier or marine.

29. “Parks and Recreation” actor Rob LOWE
The actor Rob Lowe is one of the original members of the so-called “Brat Pack” having appeared in the movie “St. Elmo’s Fire”. Lowe is currently playing a regular character on the TV show “Parks and Recreation”. My favorite of his roles though, was Sam Seaborn on Aaron Sorkin’s great drama series “The West Wing”. When “The West Wing” first aired, Seaborn was billed as the show’s main character, but outstanding performances from the rest of the cast and some great writing meant that Lowe’s role became “one of many”. This led to some dissatisfaction on Lowe’s part and he eventually quit the show.

32. Bluesman Redding OTIS
Otis Redding is often referred to as the “King of Soul”, and what a voice he had. Like so many of the greats in the world of popular music it seems, Redding was killed in a plane crash, in 1967 when he was just 26 years old. Just three days earlier he had recorded what was to be his biggest hit, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”.

36. Airline with a kangaroo on its logo QANTAS
QANTAS is the national airline of Australia. The name was originally an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services.

42. Dental layer ENAMEL
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. Tooth enamel is composed of 96% crystalline calcium phosphate.

43. Memorable Texas mission ALAMO
The famous Alamo in San Antonio, Texas was originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission was founded in 1718 and was the first mission established in the city. The Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, a thirteen-day siege by the Mexican Army led by President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Only two people defending the Alamo Mission survived the onslaught. One month later, the Texian army got its revenge by attacking and defeating the Mexican Army in the Battle of San Jacinto. During the surprise attack on Santa Anna’s camp, many of the Texian soldiers were heard to cry “Remember the Alamo!”.

44. Longfellow’s bell town ATRI
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “The Sicilian’s Tale; The Bell of Atri”, a narrative poem set in the small town of Atri in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

52. __ Moines DES
The city of Des Moines is the capital of Iowa, and takes its name from the Des Moines River. The river in turn takes its name from the French “Riviere des Moines” meaning “River of the Monks”. It looks like there isn’t any “monkish” connection to the city’s name per se. “Des Moines” was just the name given by French traders who corrupted “Moingona”, the name of a group of Illinois Native Americans who lived by the river. However, others do contend that French Trappist monks, who lived a full 200 miles from the river, somehow influenced the name.

54. Met secretly TRYSTED
In its most general sense, a tryst is a meeting at an agreed time and place. More usually we consider a tryst to be a prearranged meeting between lovers. The term comes from the Old French “triste”, a waiting place designated when hunting.

57. Entertainer Zadora PIA
Pia Zadora is an American actress and singer. Zadora’s most famous role was in the 1982 film “Butterfly” in which she worked with Orson Welles and Stacey Keach. The film was based on the novel “The Butterfly” by James M. Cain and deals with the difficult subject of father-daughter incest.

62. Ball-dropping site, or what this puzzle’s circled letters form? TIMES SQUARE
Times Square in New York City of course isn’t a square at all, but rather a triangle. When the New York Times newspaper opened new headquarters in the area in 1904, the city agreed to the name “Times Square”, changing it from Longacre Square.

65. Victrola corp. RCA
The Victrola was a phonograph in which the turntable and horn could be hidden away in a wooden cabinet. The “Victrola” name was used as the phonograph was manufactured by the Victor Talking Machine Company. The Victor Talking Machine Company was sold to RCA, leading to the creation of RCA Victor.

66. Port east of Tangier ORAN
Oran lies on the Algerian coast, and is famous for being the port where the French Navy was largely destroyed by the British during WWII in order to avoid the French vessels falling into the hands of Nazi Germany after France surrendered. This decisive and unexpected unilateral action by the British sent a very strong message around the world that Britain was willing to fight alone against the axis powers if necessary.

68. Baseball great Mel OTT
At 5′ 9″, Mel Ott weighed just 170 lb (I don’t think he took steroids!) and yet he was the first National League player to hit over 500 home runs. Sadly, Ott died in a car accident in New Orleans in 1958 when he was only 49 years old.

70. Stands in studios EASELS
The word “easel” comes from an old Dutch word meaning “donkey, ass” would you believe? The idea is that an easel carries its load (an oil painting, say) just as a donkey would carry its load.

Down
1. Legume used in the Indian dish dal LENTIL
I love dal dishes, which are prepared from various peas or beans (often lentils) that have been stripped of their outer skins and split. I suppose in Indian terms, split pea soup (another of my favorites) would be called a dal.

7. Mensa figs. IQS
If you ever had to learn Latin, as did I, “mensa” was probably taught to you in Lesson One as it’s the word commonly used as an example of a first declension noun. Mensa means “table”. The Mensa organization, for folks with high IQs, was set up in Oxford, England back in 1946. To become a member, one is required to have an IQ that is in the top 2% of the population.

9. Bathe LAVE
“To lave” is to “to wash, bathe”, from the Latin “lavare” meaning “to wash”.

11. See 17-Across CONFETTI
The word “confetti” is related to “confection”. The original confetti were small candies thrown during carnivals in Italy. This custom migrated to England, and eventually evolved into the practice of tossing small pieces of paper instead of confections.

12. Greek’s neighbor ALBANIAN
The Republic of Albania is a country in the Balkans in southeastern Europe. Albania was made a communist state after WWII but became independent again with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990.

27. Faux __: blunder PAS
The term “faux pas” is French in origin, and translates literally as “false step” (or “false steps”, as the plural has the same spelling).

49. Leafy crown material LAUREL
The Bay Laurel is a shrub that is native to the Mediterranean region, and is the source of bay leaves used in cooking. In Ancient Greece, the laurel leaves and stems were used to make laurel wreaths which were awarded to victors in athletic competitions.

54. Polynesian tuber TARO
The corm of some taro plants is used to make poi, the traditional Hawaiian dish (which I think tastes horrible). When a taro plant is grown as an ornamental, it is often called Elephant Ears due to the shape of its large leaves.

55. Sporty sunroof T-TOP
A T-top is a car roof that has removable panels on either side of a rigid bar that runs down the center of the vehicle above the driver.

56. The Auld Sod EIRE
“Éire”, is the Irish word for “Ireland”. Erin is an anglicized version of “Éire”, actually corresponding to “Éirinn”, the dative case of “Éire”.

58. King Kong’s home, e.g. ISLE
“King Kong” really is a classic movie. It stars Fay Wray as the young woman (Ann Darrow) with whom Kong falls in love. Wray was very interested in the role as she was told that she would be playing opposite the “tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood”. She thought it might be Clark Gable. At least that’s how the story goes …

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Telescope parts LENSES
7. On hiatus IDLE
11. Metered vehicle CAB
14. Develop gradually EVOLVE
15. Landing place QUAY
16. __ Miss OLE
17. When to don a 40-Down or prepare to throw 11-Down NEW YEAR’S EVE
19. Lakers’ org. NBA
20. Former “Grand Ole Opry Live” network TNN
21. GPS suggestion RTE
22. Phrase on a diet food label LESS FAT
24. Has the mike IS ON
26. Big galoot APE
28. Confident crossword solver’s choice PEN
29. “Parks and Recreation” actor Rob LOWE
30. Extra SPARE
32. Bluesman Redding OTIS
34. Pinnacles ACMES
36. Airline with a kangaroo on its logo QANTAS
38. Interpret without hearing LIP READ
41. Thai or Chinese, e.g. CUISINE
42. Dental layer ENAMEL
43. Memorable Texas mission ALAMO
44. Longfellow’s bell town ATRI
45. In the area LOCAL
47. Auditioner’s goal ROLE
51. Sci-fi film extras ETS
52. __ Moines DES
53. Close with a bang SLAM
54. Met secretly TRYSTED
57. Entertainer Zadora PIA
60. Add to the soundtrack DUB
61. Sigh of pleasure AAH
62. Ball-dropping site, or what this puzzle’s circled letters form? TIMES SQUARE
65. Victrola corp. RCA
66. Port east of Tangier ORAN
67. Thrust forward, as with a sword LUNGED
68. Baseball great Mel OTT
69. Hang in the balance PEND
70. Stands in studios EASELS

Down
1. Legume used in the Indian dish dal LENTIL
2. Despite all that EVEN SO
3. “Take it easy!” NOW NOW!
4. Shrewd SLY
5. At any time EVER
6. Ticket specification SEAT
7. Mensa figs. IQS
8. One settling a score, in olden days DUELER
9. Bathe LAVE
10. Watches suspiciously EYES
11. See 17-Across CONFETTI
12. Greek’s neighbor ALBANIAN
13. Wiped out BEAT
18. Cut with a scythe REAPED
23. Program interrupters SPONSORS
25. Close call NEAR MISS
27. Faux __: blunder PAS
30. Tee size SMALL
31. No better, no worse EQUAL
33. Opposite of NNW SSE
35. Average average CEE
37. Prepare to shoot AIM
38. Country expanse LEA
39. Work together INTERACT
40. See 17-Across PARTY HAT
41. Purse fasteners CLASPS
43. Hotshot ACE
46. Extra one who’s “out” ODD MAN
48. Golden years OLD AGE
49. Leafy crown material LAUREL
50. Sets securely (in) EMBEDS
54. Polynesian tuber TARO
55. Sporty sunroof T-TOP
56. The Auld Sod EIRE
58. King Kong’s home, e.g. ISLE
59. Turquoise hue AQUA
63. Close END
64. Young __: tots, in dialect ‘UNS

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