IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2015 MGWCC is a subscribers-only crossword. The cost is $26 per year, and you can subscribe (or get a free trial month first) here:
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Macabre crossword promised, macabre crossword delivered: five famous people populated last week’s grid:
18-A [One of three placekickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (November 29, 2000)] = LOU GROZA
20-A [Pianist whose useful surname frequently turns up in crosswords (June 9, 1991)] = CLAUDIO ARRAU
36-A [Singer with dozens of hit singles in the ’50s and ’60s (December 31, 1985)] = RICKY NELSON
52-A [Tobey Maguire portrayed him in the movie “Pawn Sacrifice” (January 17, 2008)] = BOBBY FISCHER
55-A [Gambler and author who wore disguises to casinos worldwide because he was banned from so many of them (September 19, 1987)] = KEN USTON
What were those mysterious dates at the end of each theme clue? The day that each celebrity died. But why these particular five people?
Answer: each one’s age at death was relevant to their career. Like so:
Lou Groza was 76, which was also his jersey number
Claudio Arrau was 88, which is the number of keys on a piano
Ricky Nelson was 45, which is the rpm of single record
Bobby Fischer was 64, which is the number of squares on a chessboard
Ken Uston was 52, which is the number of cards in a deck
We were looking for a well-known U.S. senator, past or present. What number comes to mind when you think of the U.S. senate? 100, which is the number of senators in the senate. And what famous senator died at 100? Meta answer STROM THURMOND of South Carolina, found by 146 solvers.
CanNibble says:
When a member of the house makes the list, THEN I’ll be impressed.
mpstable sets me quite a challenge:
May you reach 225.
And glasser writes:
The members of the John Heiskell Fan Club are going to be miffed!
The only other U.S. senator to die at 100, though hardly famous; he served for about three weeks!
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen at random from the 146 correct entries received, is Dan Egnor of Palo Alto, Calif. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil and notepad set, Dan will also receive a 1-year subscription to a special project of mine which will certainly be ready for public showcasing next week, right? Right.
REGARDING HENRY:
As you have probably heard by now, the great Henry Hook passed away on Tuesday at the age of 60. I’ll have more to say next week about Henry and his influence on American crosswords in general and on me in particular, but for now: Rest in peace, Henry.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is a 10-letter descriptor of the late Henry Hook.
NOTE: The deadline for this week’s contest is WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4th at NOON ET.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2015 MGWCC is a subscribers-only crossword. The cost is $26 per year, and you can subscribe (or get a free trial month first) here:
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.