Crossword by: Marti DuGuay-Carpenter & Jerome Gunderson and edited by Rich Norris
Welcome to the answers to the Thursday October 24 2013 LA Times crossword puzzle! 51 Across gives away today’s theme, Switch Plates. The themed answers are anagrams of the word ‘plates’, these are: petals, staple and pleats. What are you waiting for…start eating!
Across Answers
1. Like much Oscar-night attire CHIC
The Oscars, Oscar Awards, or the Academy Awards started in 1929, and are given every year for distinction in cinematic achievements. The event is attended by the most famous stars in Hollywood and around the world, wearing formal/evening attire designed by top-of-the-line designers.
5. Under-the-sink installation P-TRAP
10. Take a shine to? BUFF
14. Jazz singer Horne LENA
Did you know that Miss Horne lost her father, her husband, and her son all in one year? Sounds pretty tragic, doesn’t it?
15. Island near Curaçao ARUBA
Aruba is famous for its powder white sand beaches and calm and clear waters. It is one of the top vacation spots for tourists around the world.
16. 1930s migrant to California OKIE
The term “Okies” was an offensive term given to the people of Oklahoma who migrate to California in search for work.
17. Far __ EAST
18. River where Romulus and Remus were abandoned
Tiber is the second biggest river in Italy. It is on its bank that the city of Rome was built. However, because it has been silted up, the river is no longer passable to large ships, but tourist boats still run between Rome and Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome.
19. Hot SEXY
20. *Garden display FLOWER PETALS
23. Oklahoma tribe OTOE
24. Sends regrets SAYS NO
28. Crazed Muppet drummer ANIMAL
Animal, the crazed drummer in The Muppet Show is also called the Electric Mayhem and Dr. Teeth.
31. Bright light NEON
33. Bamboozled HAD
34. *Paper fastener METAL STAPLE
36. Where Andy Capp ‘angs ‘is ‘at ‘OME
Andy Capp is a famous British comic strip that has been around since 1957. It was created by Reg Smythe (who died in 1998), and can still be seen in The Sunday Mirror and The Daily Mirror. It is internationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate.
37. Noggin BEAN
Noggin is a slang term which means a person’s head.
38. Go in haste HIE
39. Stretch SPAN
40. Med. lab letters LDL
LDL stands for “Low-density Lipoprotein.” It is considered the bad cholesterol. High amounts of LDL tend to get stuck in the walls of the arteries. If there’s a buildup, it can cause a heart attack.
41. *Feature of some kilts KNIFE PLEATS
45. Actor Wallach ELI
Eli Wallach earned his BA from the University of Texas. He also got his MA in Education from City College of New York
46. Creatures of habit? NUNS
47. Unfancy to the max? LOATHE
48. Ready to be served SEATED
50. Three French horns, in a Prokofiev classic WOLF
Peter and the Wolf, a children’s story, was Sergei Profokiev’s 1936 composition. It is spoken by a narrator, and with the accompaniment of an orchestra.
51. Electrician’s covers, and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues SWITCH PLATES
57. Take a verbal shot at ZING
60. Small porch STOOP
61. Sitarist Shankar RAVI
Ravi Shankar is a famous Indian composer and musician who plays the sitar, a stringed instrument used in Indian classical music.
62. Busy AT IT
63. Mel-Tones frontman TORME
Mel Torme, a singer, composer, writer, producer, and actor also knows how to play the drums, and he does it very well too. At three years old, he began his professional career as a singer.
64. Place for the first 42-Down? EDEN
The garden of Eden was where the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, lived, according to the bible. Over the years, many have argued where Eden is located on earth. Some say that it was in norther Iraq. Some say it’s in the Persian Gulf. Some in Africa, and some in Lebanon.
65. Opens, as a car trunk POPS
66. Sprinter’s asset SPEED
67. Stinky RANK
Down Answers
1. Pitch indicator CLEF
Clef is the French word for key, and is used as an indication for the pitch of notes in music.
2. Get back on one’s feet HEAL
3. “You are __ much trouble!” IN SO
4. Supervillain with a whip CATWOMAN
Catwoman first came out in the spring of 1940. Although she’s known to be somewhat of a villain (introduced firsthand as a supervillain), she is one of Batman’s enduring love interests through the years.
5. Pounds a beat PATROLS
6. Sheer nonsense TRIPE
7. Hick RUBE
A rube is a country bumpkin
8. Disable the security system for, say ABET
To abet is to assist, or at least encourage, another person to commit a crime, or do something wrong.
9. Lightweight umbrella PARASOL
10. Domineering BOSSY
11. Maui strings UKE
The ukelele, or the uke, is translated as “jumping flea,” to describe the player’s moving fingers as he plays the instrument.
12. Tough spot FIX
13. Tina of “Date Night” FEY
Tina Fey is the f1st ever female head writer in the history of Saturday Night Live. She has one brother, who is eight years older than her. Her mother is Greek, and her father is of German/Scottish-American decent.
21. Abbr. for the nameless? ET AL
“Et al” is a Latin phrase which means “and others.” “Et alii” is used for men, and “et aliae” is used for women.
22. Shipping route LANE
25. Patronize SHOP AT
26. Jet legend NAMATH
Joe Namath was called “Broadway Joe” as he always seems to be in the center of all the action whether he’s on the field or off it. He’s one of those people who always seems to be invited in A-list parties.
27. Danish seaport ODENSE
Odense City is where Hans Christian Andersen was born. He is the author of famous children’s stories such as “The Princess and the Pea,” “Thumbelina,” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” He was also the one who wrote “The Little Mermaid,” although I’m not sure if it should be called a children’s tale. It’s very depressing.. But that’s just my opinion.
28. Moseys AMBLES
29. Compass point? NEEDLE
30. Venezia’s land ITALIA
Venice draws thousands of tourists each year for its famous bridges and canals. It is also known for it costumes and crafted masks which locals wear during the carnival.
31. Innocents NAIFS
Naive, innocent.
32. Foil kin EPEE
An epee is a dueling sword which is often used in fencing. Epee is also the french word for “sword.”
35. Deli slicing request THIN
39. Old salt SEAFARER
41. More than suspected KNEW
42. Colony residents NUDISTS
43. Sat (down) ungracefully PLOPPED
44. Hang out in the hammock LOLL
49. USAF E-6’s TSGTS
Tsgt means Technical Sergeant
50. Question before “Yeah, you!” WHO ME?
52. ‘Vette roof option T-TOP
A T-top, or a T-bar is the roof in an automobile which has removable panels on both sides of a rigid bar that runs from the center of a structural bar between pillars to the center of another structural bar. The very1st US-built automobile that featured a T-top was the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette.
53. Pear remnant CORE
54. “Yay, me!” TA-DA!
55. Neck and neck EVEN
56. Hole on the green SINK
57. Static jolt ZAP
58. Skater Midori ITO
Midori Ito is the first female skater to ever do a triple Axel. She was the 1989 World Champion in figure skating, and won a silver in the 1992 Olympics.
59. Swig NIP